Hard Cast 40 S&W???

[CWLONGSHOT]

A friend of mine on line Long Windy Road (LWRoad is channel name) on uTube posted a video Sunday I think shooting some Buffalo Bore and Underwood Hard Cast 40 S&W 200g loads!!
He didnt quite get advertised ballistics. I dont shoot factory, but I have 200g Molds and cast some for a test! Using Power Pistol and starting just over a starting load and topping 1tenth over max, I bested 1000 fps a number of times. I saw ZERO pressure signs and will load more of these for accuracy testing later.

 

[CZ93X62]

I haven't gone 'far afield' with the 40 S&W. The entirety of my experience with that caliber has been 170-180 grain bullets, whether The Holy Alloy or the Red-Coated Pretenders. This is not much different than my 10mm shooting, either--all 175-180 grains, with some 200s from the S&W Gen 3s. I haven't tried 200s in my Glocks (20 and 29).

I think to some degree the 40 S&W is at its best with the 180 grain bullets. The cartridge seems to have been built around that bullet weight. The earliest precursors of the 10mm and 40 S&W in the mid-1970s used existing 38/40 WCF bullets which weigh......180 grains. The industry got 'patterned' on the 180 grain bullet and it dominates both 40 S&W and 10mm ammo today. "That's the way it's always been done" carries a lot of weight, it seems.

Norma Projektilfabrik bucked the history when their 10mm loads ran 200 grain bullets at 1200 FPS. It's a great load, but a bit much for Colt 1911 traditional receivers.

 

[Bret4207]

If it says "HARDCAST" it's GOT to be BETTER!!!!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Hahaha of coarse Bret!!

100% man! Actually if ya probed Me id tell ya, I felt the 180g is too heavy in the 40 case. Ill be choosing the 165 & 155 weights for my ammo.

This was just a "lets see what this can do" kind of a thing based off a video from a friend who was shooting Buffalo Bore and Underwood with 200g 40's.

It is nice to know what it can do if the need arose.

CW

 

[popper]

I use 165 which is better than 180 per the ballisticians. 180 FBI is purposely heavy and slow so the gals can handle it.

 

[CZ93X62]

I use 165 which is better than 180 per the ballisticians. 180 FBI is purposely heavy and slow so the gals can handle it.

That may be. Having seen evidence of the 180 grain SXT's effectiveness, I'm satisfied that it works quite well. The 40 S&W might resemble the 357Magnum in one respect--there are no "bad loads" in any bullet weight when it comes to repelling boarders.

 

[Bret4207]

I think all the loads I got for Cindys 40 were 180's. All I know is they seem to hit with authority and the recoil is very manageable for her in the EAA Witness. Kinda agree with Al, no one is going to stand down range and try and catch any of these things!!!

 

[Ben]

A marriage of old and new !
Certainly not what I'd call hard cast.
But, I really like this combination.

Ben

The load was 5.4 grs. of Unique with the 165 gr. HP.

The HP cast bullet was fired into a 5 gallon bucket of wet sand .

 

[RBHarter]

All I run in the 40 is the Lee 401-175 TC . A max jacket load of Unique gets 940 fps MV in an XD40 . I would imagine that another 1/10 of an inch of case and 2" of barrel would make up the difference even with 20-25 gr of bullet .

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

All I run in the 40 is the Lee 401-175 TC . A max jacket load of Unique gets 940 fps MV in an XD40 . I would imagine that another 1/10 of an inch of case and 2" of barrel would make up the difference even with 20-25 gr of bullet .

I like that bullet allot too!!

I have been shooting #7, long shot and most recently Power Pistol. The PP produces some very impressive accuracy and velocity!
In my 6" 10mm one loading is 1375 fps and shoots tennis balls at 50 yards. The g40 is just a step up in feel and control.

CW

 

[popper]

I use w231/hp38 in my XDm40, about 950 fps. Got some WSF haven't tried yet. Hardcast went tail to snout, broke front leg on 150ish hog @ 20 yds. Accurate 165 TC but I started with the Lee 180, just wore it out. That XD would get more use but my stash of spp is getting low. Unfortunately, (not) daughter's place hasn't had hogs (yet) so I may have to go for deer this year. Got to get some cooler weather so I can cast for the henry Long Ranger and get some range time in.

 

[CZ93X62]

All of the Lee TC pistol bullets are first rate.

My carry load in 40 S&W is the WWB JHP, which are the now-superseded Ranger SXT. Depending on barrel length, these clock between 925-950 FPS. Using Hornady 180 grain JHPs, 4.7 grains od WW-231 matches that load ballistically. These are my practice loads in the Glock 23 and CZ-75B that I cart around to repel felons with. Gotta keep the edges sharp.

I'm not running 'low' on SPPs, but I won't complain when they become available at prices less-than-ridiculous.