Is anybody loading .40 Supers?

Retrieved: 08/18/2016
Last Post: 12/22/2008

I just set up my 21SF for .40 Super and have dies ordered, but the lack of data looks like I'll be spending many hours at the range coming up with loads "the old fashion" way. I am excited about the DT 230 gr. hardcast and have some 155 gr. X's that I want to figure out something for. If anyone has any reliable data, or ideas of where to find it, it would be greatly appreciated.

TaosGlock
Nov. 23 2008

I had a 40 Super barrel set up with G21. It was the simple drop in bbl. from Lone Wolf Dist. Not sure if they still sell barrels.

I'm not sure that anyone sells brass anymore. Starline did at one time or at least listed it on their site. A year ago or so, Double Tap, per their website, was supposed to be making ammo soon for this caliber.

Triton used to make the ammo, but went belly up if I recall. Their ammo was loaded to 39,000 PSI or about the same as the 10mm. Factory Triton 135 grain bullets from my G21/40 Super barrel gave 1800 fps. The cartridge is designed to give 44 Magnum performance in a semi-auto. It is the 45 Win mag. necked down and with a small primer pocket to give more support in the case head area.

The max PSI of the case is rated by Triton at 50,000 PSI and when Triton tested the 135 grain bullet at it's safe max of 50,000 PSI they got a mind numbing 2000 fps!! This was at safe max pressures too!

The 135 grain at 1800 fps only penetrates 6.5" in Calibrated Gel Tests. The wound channel looks like a hand gernade hit it. A perfect bad guy load. The closest we have in the 10mm is McNett's 135 gr load that performs similar in Gel. (see his Gel Tests at the bottom of the forum index under Double Tap)

All the handload data below is from Tony Rumore, who designed this cartridge, and is mid-range stuff and no 50,000 PSI stuff. It was just below top end 10mm stuff.

Power Pistol was one of the best powders for bullet weight weights to 165 gr. Beyond those weights it was AA#9, AA#7 and H110. Federal Small rifle Primers were used. It didn't specify magnum or not. Remember you are burning 13-20 grains of powder just for the mid-range loads. Also, as you well know from your handloading experience, the last three powders are ball powders with heavy deterrent coatings to control burn rate. This might need a mag. primer but I would try both and watch the Extreme Spreads from the chrono readings. I would opt for a 6" barrel with this cartridge conversion, not the stock Glock 4.6" barrrel choice Lone Wolf offers, or at least offered in the past.

I had dies from Redding and was set to go with this cartridge when Starline dumped the 40 Super from their brass line. I got out of the 40 Super. If brass becomes available, I may give it another shot. BTW, Starline will produce brass for any caliber if you are willing to spend the bucks for a minimum run of 50,000 pieces, IIRC.

The guns that were converted to 40 Super were the G21, S&W 4506, H&K, Sig 220 and the G30. When I talked to Dan at Lone Wolf a few years back he said the slide velocity was pretty high in the G30/40 Super barrel set up and that was even with the heavy spring set up.

How does this compare to the 460 Roland, other that 40 vs. 45? The Roland is loaded to max from Georgia Arms and the listed handload data is at max. The 40 Super beats it if only if you are willing to try to work up to unpublished 50,000 PSI loads.

The best source of info on the 40 Super is the July 2000 issue of Gun World.

Here is some load data: AS ALWAYS, USE CAUTION.

.40 Super Load Data
By Tony Rumore-Triton Ammo (a 10mmTalk member)
Brass Starline
Primer Federal Small Rifle
OAL 1.250"
Crimp Heavy Taper Recommended
Barrel Length 5"

135gr
Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Powder 1350 1400 1450 1500 1550 1600 1650
HS-6 11.7 12.1 12.5 12.8 13.2 
SR4756 10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0 
HS-7 13.4 13.8 14.2 14.6 15.0 
IMR-800X 10.5 10.8 11.1 11.5 12.0 
H-110 18.5 19.3 20.1 20.9 21.7 
Power Pistol 8.5 9.2 9.9 10.6 11.3 12.0 12.7
AA#7 13.5 14.0 14.5 15.0 15.5 16.0 16.5
Viht-N350 9.0 9.5 10.1 10.7 11.2 11.7 12.3
Blue Dot 9.3 10.4 11.5 12.6 13.7 14.8 15.9
AA#9 14.6 15.4 16.2 17.0 17.8 18.6 19.4

150gr
Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Powder 1300 1350 1400 1450 1500 1550
H110 17.5 18.3 19.1 19.9 20.7 
Power Pistol 8.2 8.9 9.6 10.3 11.0 11.7
AA#7 13.0 13.5 14.0 14.5 15.0 15.5
AA#9 14.6 15.3 16.0 16.7 17.4 18.1

165gr
Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Powder 1250 1300 1350 1400 1450
Viht-N350 9.0 9.4 9.9 
IMR-800X 9.8 10.2 10.7 11.5 
H110 16.8 17.6 18.4 19.2 
Power Pistol 8.1 8.8 9.5 10.2 10.8
AA#7 12.2 12.7 13.2 13.8 14.4
AA#9 14.1 14.7 15.3 15.8 16.4

180gr
Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Powder 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350 1400
Viht-N350 8.2 8.7 
IMR-800X 8.9 8.7 
h110 15.1 15.9 16.7 
Power Pistol 8.2 8.7 9.2 9.7 
AA#9 12.1 12.8 13.5 14.2 14.9 15.6
AA#7 11.3 11.8 12.3 12.8 13.3 13.8

200gr
Velocity
(Feet Per Second)
Powder 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250
Viht-N350 7.4 7.9 8.4 
IMR-800X 8.0 8.5 9.1 
Power Pistol 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 
H110 13.0 13.8 14.6 15.4 16.2
AA#9 10.8 11.6 12.4 13.2 14.0
AA#7 10.2 10.7 11.2 11.7 12.2 

Postquam
Nov. 24 2008

I've loaded and fired over 3000 .40 Supers through a G21. Warning, like .400 Cor-Bons, .40 Supers will nosedive and frequently jam on the feedramp of a G21, using standard-capacity G21 mags. They feed o.k. with 10-rd, Klintonista mags. I have the same Tony Rumore data that's published here. My favorite powder for .40 Super was AA#7. I generally preferred bullet weights in the 165gr. range, but have loaded a bunch of 180s.

I still have my Redding dies and some virgin .40 Super brass. Doubt that I'll ever load any .40 Super again. Finally went to 10mm, which offers reasonably- close ballistics with a lot fewer reloading headaches!

On the upside, I found .40 Super, which I fired through a reamed .400 Cor-Bon threaded, compensated Accu-Match barrel, to be just about the flattest- shooting, most accurate round I ever shot. I frequently shot @ 100 yds, with iron sights, with remarkable results. Per earlier advice from Peter Pi, Prez of Cor-Bon, I cannelured all bullets that I loaded in either .400 Cor-Bon or .40 Super, and roll-crimped into the cannelure, using an RCBS .400 Cor-Bon seating/crimping die.

You can't neck down .45 Win Mag brass, in order to form .40 Super brass, if I recall correctly.

Postquam
Dec. 20 2008

hwonderdog, on November 28th 2008 8:42 PM, said:
If I may interject. I believe the .40 super is actually a .45 Super case necked down to .40 caliber. A lot like the .400 Corbon, just the pressures are a lot higher.

You certainly may interject, albeit incorrectly! A .40 Super case is the same length as a 10mm Auto case, which is longer than a .45 Super/.45ACP case. Additionally, a .45 Super case uses large pistol primers, while .40 Super uses small rifle or small magnum pistol primers.

wile326
Dec. 21 2008

I have never owned a .40 Super yet. I like the idea. I used to shoot a lot of 38/45 Clerke. Why couldn't you form the brass from cut down .308 or 30-06? This would give you a very strong case. I used it to do this with the 38/45 for some wild rounds.

Postquam
Dec. 22 2008

Redding used to make a case forming die set to turn. 45 Win Mag into .40 Super.

Midway sells an RCBS form die for .40 Super. I assume it uses .45 Win Mag also.

Now I am thinking of a long slide project in .40 Super.

Better go back and check out those "forming" dies at Midway. Besides being outrageously expensive, two dies are actually required, with the base-forming die requiring a 3-ton arbor press. I looked into cutting down .308 cases and forming .40 Super, but the case walls of the .308 are too thick and would require reaming. Lots of trouble to shoot an inconsequential round, in my opinion. The ballistics just aren't a lot better than 10mm.