[Seawolf]

Anyone have any personal experience with this newer .40 cal round? The more I read about it the more interested I am in it. According to the articles they act like this is the Holy Grail of self defense ammunition. 1300 fps, 500ft lbs, and over 10 inches of penetration with a nice big wound cavity? I didn't read anything about recoil so I don't know if the lighter load would reduce recoil at all, but it's also a hotter load so it could actually recoil more I don't know. They said the accuracy was 2 inches at 25 yards which is damn good as well.
I also read that Homeland Security and ICE are issued this load and initial reports from the field are good.

Anyway, It sounds like the .40S&W has grown quite a bit and become one of the most versatile rounds out there.

http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/triton_722/

According to Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow, Cor-Bon has since switched to a Sierra bullet while Triton continues with the Nosler JHP. Producing more than 500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and generating excellent results with law enforcement on the street, this .40 load is indeed stepping into the limelight. This comes as no real surprise because the stubby little semiauto round achieves almost identical ballistics as the famed 125-grain .357 Magnum revolver load that is often regarded as near magical. Indeed, hot, light .40s are achieving enviable success with one-shot stops approaching 96 percent. While such a figure is historical in nature, past performance at least makes it perfectly clear that the .40 S&W has done a great job thus far--when stuffed with the right ammunition, of course.

Triton's answer to the 135-grain Cor-Bon load is the TR40HVA. Featuring a 135-grain Nosler bullet at an advertised 1,325 fps, this load generates more than 500 ft-lbs of energy. The Triton load uses a nickel case sealed at the primer and case mouth as well. This load appears to be one of the best all-around .40 S&W loads in the business. While some Triton loads exceed SAAMI pressure and are marked "+P," none of the .40 S&W loads is so designated. However, these loads certainly cannot be called sedate.

 

[ULVER]

I carried it in my Glock 23, when I still carried that caliber. Cor Bon brought it out first, IIRC; then Triton. Triton was some great, great ammunition! :dancingbanana: Superb quality control. Really miss 'em!

Anyway, the 135gr. .40, @ 1,300fps. did indeed produce ballistic results that were near identical, to the famous 125gr. 357 Magnum 125gr. load. Can't much beat that. :supergrin:

Some may poo-poo the penetration level, but it too, is kin to the 125gr. load, and no one ever had probs with it dropping bad guys.

In law enforcement, bonded bullets are all the rage, and I can understand it. It's a good thing. Maybe not so much needed for civy carry. But once again, the coppers carried thew often fragmenting 125gr. load, with no complaints.

These days, I load my Glock 17 with the "best of both worlds"~~Ga. Arms Gold Dot @ 1,300fps. It has the "magical" +P+ velocity, that made 9mm hollow-points street-proven by police agencies coast-to-coast, plus it has the benefits of a modern, state-of-the-art bonded bullet.

To me, the "magic" of the 135gr. .40 cal., is a good hollow-point, that hits the 1,300fps. mark...

 

[Seawolf]

Thanks for the reply. I guess this stuff has been out for some time now, but it's all new to me. I see 165gr and 180gr primarily, but will start looking for this 135gr stuff.

 

[glockfan2327]

look at this http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1216915

 

[edrobert]

Ahh...the 135gr Cor-Bon @ 1300fps was once king of the hill back during the days when high velocity & fragmentation were popular. I always carried it back in the 90's as it had pretty good real life track record from what I remember. Nowadays everyone likes the deep penetrating & bonded stuff since the FBI says that's what you need. I'd have no problem putting my trust in either.

 

[ColCol]

From their website...



COR®BON's Traditional Jacketed Hollow Point ammunition made its reputation with "high velocity" loads. This high velocity, combined with our exclusively designed, jacketed hollow point bullets, makes for a very effective self-defensive load. Penetration and expansion in our test medium of 10% ballistic gelatin are excellent; expansion is consistently 2 times the original diameter of the bullet. Depending on caliber and bullet weight, penetration is between 9 and 14 inches.

At COR®BON, we believe that velocity is king! Higher energies enhance bullet performance and increase stopping power.​

• Caliber: 40 S&W
• Bullet Wt.: 135gr COR®BON Self-Defense JHP
• Velocity: 1325fps
• Energy: 526ftlbs
• Test Barrel Length: 4.0 Inches

This is what I use in my G23 and I'll probably go with their 125gr +P when my G19 arrives. The G23 eats the 135 gr like my dog does beef. This is self defense only as you can't shoot 300 rounds every weekend without going broke.

 

[Seawolf]

Thanks for all the info fellas. Right now I carry the Winchester 180grn PDX1 bonded stuff, but was curious about the lower weight ammo.

Incidentally I picked up a 100rnd box of Winchester white box .40S&W and didn't realize it was 165grn until I got home. I'm used to the 180grn stuff so I am curious if the 165grn will give me a little less recoil.

 

[JW1178]

Well, some like slow and heavy and some like light and fast. It does seem as though the light and fast puts them down the fastest such as the 115gr +p+ in 9mm.

 

[cowboy1964]

10" of penetration, .62" expansion, 82% retained weight. Not very impressive figures. But the cavity pic looks good.

 

[WayaX]

I prefer a heavier bullet with a better sectional density. 135gr in .40 puts the density on the low side. That being said, I'm sure the round is just as effective as any other reputable round.

 

[thegriz18]

I think it works well because it dumps all of its energy quickly.

 

[Old Toryu]

I'm curious how the 135 gr .40 compares to the 125 gr .357 Sig.

 

[ULVER]

I'm curious how the 135 gr .40 compares to the 125 gr .357 Sig.

Very much the same...

The 135gr .40 JHP
The 125gr. .357 Sig JHP
both mimic the wound profile of the legendary, .357 Magnum 125gr. JHP.

Not be forgotten in the "light & fast" catagory, is the type of 9mm load found in my avatar. In full-size nines, the 115gr. +P+ JHP's, made the 9mm, a true fighting caliber. It was restricted to law enforcement (who swore by it's stopping-power), however.

Cor Bon changed all that, by releasing their +P (rated) 115gr. JHP, that did an honest 1,350fps or better!

All calibers and loads mentioned, make for an excellently armed individual.
:wavey:

 

[jing1117]

I just finished testing the 135g load from Federal (the one that came in the grey box / XM40HA)- I believe the bullet is also of the HST design, same exact features as the 180g HST LE that I have. I put it through a chrono and got 1179 fps ave - grouping was also very good - 1.5" at 15 yards off hand - packs a loud bark though - test gun was a Glock 22c. Water jug + media penetration was at 11" - expansion was excellent and everything held together.

Not bad in my book but I actually prefer its 180g counterpart.

 

[thegriz18]

I just finished testing the 135g load from Federal (the one that came in the grey box / XM40HA)- I believe the bullet is also of the HST design, same exact features as the 180g HST LE that I have. I put it through a chrono and got 1179 fps ave - grouping was also very good - 1.5" at 15 yards off hand - packs a loud bark though - test gun was a Glock 22c. Water jug + media penetration was at 11" - expansion was excellent and everything held together.

Not bad in my book but I actually prefer its 180g counterpart.

I wonder if a non compensated barrel will yield a slightly higher velocity.

 

[FlyBoy007]

I think it works well because it dumps all of its energy quickly.

A baseball bat to your arm will "Dump" a lot more energy but it's wont kill you or even necessarily stop you from killing me.

I want absolutely, positive penetration to get deep into the vital organs and break bones. If you don't get to the "boiler room" you can't stop the BG.

I am a fan of heavy and big rather then fast and light, it's works more reliably in my opinion.

I hog hunt, I have used everything from 125gr. .357 to 260gr. .44 mag. including 9mm, .40SW, 10mm, and .41 mag. .45 acp and .45 Colt. Heavy and large beats light and fast by a spectacular margin.

My $.02

 

[CanyonMan]

A baseball bat to your arm will "Dump" a lot more energy but it wont kill you or even necessarily stop you from killing me.

I want absolutely, positive penetration to get deep into the vital organs and break bones. If you don't get to the "boiler room" you can't stop the BG.
I am a fan of heavy and big rather then fast and light, it's works more reliably in my opinion. my $.02

:thumbsup:





CM

 

[Don Settie]

I just finished testing the 135g load from Federal (the one that came in the grey box / XM40HA)- I believe the bullet is also of the HST design, same exact features as the 180g HST LE that I have. I put it through a chrono and got 1179 fps ave - grouping was also very good - 1.5" at 15 yards off hand - packs a loud bark though - test gun was a Glock 22c. Water jug + media penetration was at 11" - expansion was excellent and everything held together.

Not bad in my book but I actually prefer its 180g counterpart.

Might be good for home defense

 

[fastbolt]

Another resurrected zombie thread on this short-lived LE/Gov .40 load?

I remember when rumors of its potential development were first circulating many years ago. They were thinking about replacing the stout 155gr .40 load being used by some fed agencies - which was hard on weapons and shooters - with a lighter recoiling, lighter bullet weight load.

If I remember right, the bullet weight first being discussed was 125-135gr, but specifically with a lower velocity compared to the hot-rod 135gr commercial .40 loads of the time.

After testing they apparently finally settled on the 135gr bullet weight, and the specified velocity was set at 1200fps, with an allowable +/- of 50fps.

It wasn't very long before the "what was old is new again" demonstrated itself, and the real world practical successes brought attention back around to the original 180gr bullet weight for the .40 S&W.

While the 135-155gr .40 loads were the darlings of the shooting world for some years, the real "sweet spot" for LE, overall, seemed to be with the 165gr-180gr loads. I remember being told by one of the LE/Gov ammo reps, at the height of the .40's popularity, that their contract sales for state & local LE was about an even split between 165gr & 180gr orders.

Now, going on 15 years later, while the 9mm has been enjoying a resurgence of attention in LE circles (especially among trainers of large groups of cops), the 180gr bullet weight in .40 is still arguably the "big dog" when you hear cops talking about duty ammunition. It's been "working" since it was first released for duty back in '90.

I've carried issued .40 loads in both 165gr and 180gr, myself, with more 180gr loads being issued. I do have one compact .40, though, that has exhibited a particular "liking" to the venerable W-W 155gr STHP, so I try to keep a couple of boxes on hand for that gun (4040PD). I still have some remaining 165gr loads from earlier days, but the bulk of my own .40 is comprised of good quality 180gr loads from various major American makers.

I never got around to trying (for carry) any of the short-lived reduced velocity 135gr fed load, myself ... and when I tried an early hot commercial 135gr load on the range I noticed cratered primers in the recovered cases I inspected, and decided to stick with less wild loads.

Different strokes.

 

[hardluk1]

I've been a 40sw shooter since '90 and reloaded practice ammo for it soon after . Not sure how long I started to carrying underwood 155gr ammo , maybe 9 years ago but that stuff averaged 1321 in a tp40 kahr and 1318 in my sig P320c and thats border line 600ftlbs energy . I have carried the 155gr underwood load since and loaded practice 155gr coated SWC for years . I tried I box of Underwood 135gr too . Average velocity with my p320c was 1400 + a bit but I prefer the 155gr "bonded " gold dot that also loaded by geogria arms and underwood has a 150gr sierra loads too and theres also buffalo bore useing the bonded gold dot bullets .

Now I would not use these hot loads in just any ole 40sw . I have a M&P 4.25 40 filled with 180gr hst . My kahr and sig have very well supported snug chambers .

I can tell you the reason I prefer the 155gr gd is I have taken 2 deer for camp meat that showed up under my tree stand . Both bullets passed thru about 17" or tissue , one also braking the spine with a glancing hit and died under the tree . The other deer ran 60 feet before stopping and falling over . Good tissue damage in both with some heart and lung damage to both . Bullets were not recovered but I really did not look . I would not expect a normal 155gr to do as well and would probably go to a 165 or 180gr hst or ranger t series .