Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Is it worth loading a 40SW to 10mm performance level?

I have some load data from Ramshot #3 showing load data for 40SW using Ramshot Enforcer (AA4100). The data has 165gr pills moving 1300+fps from a 4" barrel with a pressure of 31Kpsi (SAAMI 40SW MAP is 35Kpsi). I'm wondering what everyone thinks about running a 40SW that fast.

Why would you shoot pills out of a gun?

Why not just get 10.? Don’t be that guy..

It depends on whether that particular model's barrel has a fully supported chamber and to a degree, its reputation for long term durability. I personally would consider a heavier than standard recoil spring, I'd start 1/2 grain below the max load and (you probably already know this) and would not load them in anything except new, probably Federal, brass.

Proceed with care and keep us posted.

The whole point of 40 S&W is that you easily duplicate 10mm/357 Mag ballistics if you want to.
DLA, how many grains of AA4100 are those numbers based on?

15.1gr of Enforcer (aa4100) for a 165gr Montana Gold FMJ, Starline Brass, WSPM primer, 31.8Kpsi. 4" barrel velocity of 1322fps

I'm not sure what it's going to do that's so special.

For hunting of large game, I'll take heavier bullet over higher velocity 9 out of 10 times. MAYBE for deer sized game out to 150 yards that load could offer something.

But pushing the pressure envelope on a .40 isn't something I'm real fond of. The .40 is one of those cartridges that spikes pressure pretty easy (not sure why...similar to the .357 Sig, .243 Win, & 7mm Rem Mag). And add to that, most pistols really aren't stout enough to be a .40 to begin with. So running hot loads in most .40's is best kept to low numbers. Sadly most manufacturers went about it the wrong way when designing .40 pistols, and decades of beefing up the designs hasn't extended the lifespan by much...although it's now rare to have one disintegrate in your hands anymore:)

For self defense, I can't see where such a load would make any perceivable difference over more common loads.

the 40 continues to intrigue me for a woods gun, the 200 grain SWC at 1000 FPS while its not a 10mm when its shot in a G23 size weapon seems a lot of power for the size of the gun.

That's not what I'm doing. If anything, I'm pushing the velocity/recoil envelope for a pistol designed for the 40SW.

There's not enough case capacity to get into trouble with this powder.

Ever notice how the 357Sig out penetrates the 9mm? A fast moving 40SW will out penetrate a slower moving 40SW of the same weight.

after seeing what enforcer apparently does in 45 acp , and at less than +p pressure... I intend to get some next powder purchase and start playing with it .

Nope, never noticed that. In fact faster loads tend to penetrate less, at least up to a point. The best indicator of penetration is sectional density. Basically LONG bullets in relation to diameter penetrate more. If you stay with the same caliber 180 and 200 gr bullets out penetrate 165's and velocity has nothing to do with it. When you change calibers it gets confusing. A 200 gr 45 caliber bullet is short, stubby and does not penetrate well, 230 do much better. A 158 gr 357 is a longer bullet and will beat 200 gr 45's. A 200 gr 357 will out penetrate a 200 gr 40 caliber bullet.

I prefer heavier bullets in the 40 but a fast moving 165 wouldn't be no slouch. I haven't loaded the 40 yet. When I bought my bride her G23, Walmart had Perfecta 180 grain on sale so we stocked up. She shoots it really well. Not bad on recoil at all.

I love Enforcer in the 357 Mag. At book max load it is more accurate than I am. Over the chronograph it is at published velocities or a hair faster with lower pressure than other powders. I am no expert by a long, long way but I would rock on with it, if you are looking for speed.

Cherry pick any cartridge & apply the newest technology & it will perform better than it did.

Apply same newest tech to the rest & you're right back where you started. All are better but there's still a gap in performance between them.

JMR, I would expect the penetration of non-expanding bullets to increase with velocity. Is this incorrect?
I also expect that in an animal target, using non-expanding bullets of equal diameter, the bullet with a lowest sectional density that achieves a given amount of penetration does the most damage(assuming the same path).

Yes, you are correct.
I used the 357sig example because there are numerous YT videos of folks testing the penetration.
Sectional Density is important, but velocity still counts.

tag

Nope.

Very Nice combo