40 S&W for USPSA minor 165 vs 180 question

[AR10ShooterinNC]

I have started to take my shooting seriously, I started dry firing every other day, 2 weeks ago. I have Steve Anderson’s and Ben Storger’s books. I have been using a Glock 34 Gen3 for the last 3 years. After reading Ben’s book (Practical Pistol - reloaded) and watching some videos, I have found that I don’t get a consistent grip each time. I have big hands, and I gave my Glock 20 Gen4 a try, I find that I can get a very consistent grip on it. So the past 2 days I have been using the G20 for my dry fire work, it seems to working very well. My question is about loading 40 S&W for minor and production class in USPSA. Would it better to load with the 180gr or 165gr bullets? Cost wise it seems to come out a wash, 180’s cost about .01 more than 165’s, but the 180’s use less powder, about .01 per round. Cases and primers are the same.

 

[Mike Overlay]

What powder are you using? I use clays or claydot under a 180gr bullet for a minor 135 pf round that is stupid flat.

 

[slow is slow]

Don't shoot .40, but I would say order a sample bag from blue bullets of each, load them to 133 or so and see which you like better in your gun. Put it on a timer, and see which works best for you.

 

[Mike Overlay]

And you may have to drop the spring weight of the recoil spring

 

[AR10ShooterinNC]

What powder are you using? I use clays or claydot under a 180gr bullet for a minor 135 pf round that is stupid flat.

I have E3 and CFE pistol on hand, but I'm willing to get a powder that works better. I'm going start working on this load in September, so I have time to get the right powder.

 

[AR10ShooterinNC]

And you may have to drop the spring weight of the recoil spring

I have thought about that too, will be getting some spring sets from Lone Wolf.

 

[Butter]

Do you want to stay in minor?

 

[AR10ShooterinNC]

Do you want to stay in minor?

Yes, I going to shoot production class. But, I have thought about going to limited class, getting some mag extensions to get 21 rounds.

 

[Butter]

Yes, I going to shoot production class. But, I have thought about going to limited class, getting some mag extensions to get 21 rounds.

Gotcha. I missed production in the first post. Ill go back into my hole now

 

[Slappy McTrigger]

@Professor Chaos 's .40 minor out of his 35 is damn near cheating. It is crazy soft shooting. I need to try this out of my edge.

 

[Mike Overlay]

@Professor Chaos 's .40 minor out of his 35 is damn near cheating. It is crazy soft shooting. I need to try this out of my edge.

I did, with my edge. 2.9gr of clays under a 180 @1.175 oal. The front sight doesnt lift out of the rear blade. 135 pf is awesomeness in 40

 

[Slappy McTrigger]

180 needs to go 695 fps to make minor!

I did, with my edge. 2.9gr of clays under a 180 @1.175 oal. The front sight doesnt lift out of the rear blade. 135 pf is awesomeness in 40

I also have an edge in 9mm. I use titegroup and 147 blues for 139ish pf. I should load some .40 minor and do a side by side.

 

[Mike Overlay]

I was averaging 750fps. Great accuracy, excellent gun functions, and used an 11 lb recoil spring, the same set up I use for my 171 pf loads.

 

[Slappy McTrigger]

I was averaging 750fps. Great accuracy, excellent gun functions, and used an 11 lb recoil spring, the same set up I use for my 171 pf loads.

Does steel laugh at it? I'll bet you can see them outbound when the light is just right.

 

[Mike Overlay]

Does steel laugh at it? I'll bet you can see them outbound when the light is just right.

A match with 40 minor, lubed lead = ole smokey

 

[Slappy McTrigger]

A match with 40 minor, lubed lead = ole smokey

I saw your civil war reenactment runs before you burnt that lube off!!

 

[Ben B]

Bullet weight isn't going to make a difference at this point.

Whichever one you like the most and gives you the confidence that you have the best thing available is the right thing to do. Buying the lighter weight bullet and second-guessing yourself over half a cent per round isn't worth it.

Pick one and practice.

 

[NKD]

In all my reloading, 99% of it has been one round. Makes the power factor I need and has good enough accuracy, and it's cheap. I found one that works and have resisted any urges to change it. I just crank them out over and over.
Makes for a seriously boring reloading hobby!

I think I need to get into bottlenecked bolt guns just to find reloading interesting again!

 

[AR10ShooterinNC]

In all my reloading, 99% of it has been one round. Makes the power factor I need and has good enough accuracy, and it's cheap. I found one that works and have resisted any urges to change it. I just crank them out over and over.
Makes for a seriously boring reloading hobby!

I think I need to get into bottlenecked bolt guns just to find reloading interesting again!

I'm the same way from my loads. I have been loading the same 9mm load for the past 5 years. I have a 40S&W major load with a 180gr Blue Bullet that I have been using for the past 3 years. Once I get this 40S&W minor load it will be the one I use for a long time.