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What Load in Your .40?

3K views 55 replies 54 participants last post by  packinaglock 
#1 ·
I use the 180 Grain HST in all of my 40s. Seems to have an easier impulse on the hand than the faster lightweights, but is plenty accurate and powerful. Penetration and wound potential best any other round or caliber, save perhaps the 230 gr 45 HST.

What are you using for defensive load?

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#10 ·
I have always carried GD 165. Way back when I first got the .40 I called Glock to get some freebies
(Remember when they used to do that?) The GS I spoke with said they get the best performance out of the GD 165. Something about the best cycling performance with 165 gr.
Stuck with it all these years. I was also told to put TW25 B on the rear slide guides.

Gun has been 100% since day one.If I want a slower hard hitting bullet it's .45 for me.
 
#16 ·
165gr Hydra Shoks. Load hits with authority. Medium snappy on recoil, but gives good service w/ our G23's.
 
#17 ·
I have a good stock of Winchester Ranger T-series 180gr and a source where I can currently get more for $12.50/box of 50. So that's what I use. The beauty of .40 is there is plenty of energy, penetration, and it already starts out at .400 so it's not quite as bullet-specific as something like 9mm, IMO.
 
#18 ·
I've got another 1500 165gr RNFP bullets to shoot up for fun and practice. "Carry load" (city) is a similar load under a 155gr XTP that shoots pretty close to POA.

After that I will be testing 180's with the intention of having a flat nose or LSWC practice / farm load, and a JHP (XTP) load that all shoot to a similar POI.

I prefer the way 180's feel and shoot in the .40, it's just a matter of figuring out what the G23 likes.
 
#19 · (Edited)
165 gr. Remington Golden Sabers in my G23 EDC. The numbers are good and that ammo gives me more consistent grouping than HSTs of any weight in my G23's.

In my M&P Full Size .40, 165 gr. Hornady Critical Defense for HD use because: it is one that groups consistently, enough but not too much penetration for inside the home use, and I have a stash from the shortage days.

If I carry the M&P, Federal HST 180 gr. But for hiking/hunting I use the Hornady 180 gr XTP or Doubletap 200 gr hardcast lead, depending on where I am going. The H. Critical Duty 175 gr. is a top grouper in my M&P, but I don't anticipate needing barrier busting much. My M&P shows a definite grouping preference for 175-180 gr, with H.C. Defense 165's being the exception.
 
#20 ·
In the past, 165 Gold Dot.
Now, 165 HST. Golden Sabre 165 has always been a favorite as well.
I have never gone with heavy for caliber anything. It doesn't seem to fit for me.
 
#33 ·
This, and the PDX1 overrun, Q4369.
 
#27 ·
Depending on what load is closest at hand when loading one or another of my .40's, and their magazines, I typically use either W-W 180gr T-Series, Rem 180gr Golden Sabre or Fed 180gr HST. I think I have all 3 of those loads in different .40's & their corresponding mags at this time, as they were all loaded at different times.

In earlier times I also used the original W-W 180gr Ranger load (first JHP developed for the .40), the Rem 180gr Express, and for a short time the W-W 165gr T-Series. (All were earlier issued loads.)

While I've used virtually all of the available bullet weights in .40's over the years, I've come to prefer the 180's.

Interestingly enough, while some of the lighter bullet weights have enjoyed their time in the sun among LE/Gov users, the general trend seems to be that the LE/Gov has "rediscovered" the 180gr bullet weight.
 
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