.40 Super; Longshot; 200 gr. XTP

Retrieved: 08/23/2016
Last Post: 08/03/2016

I figured I'd post some results for reloading .40 Super. I developed the load in a very unsafe way: I weighed a bunch of DoubleTap .40 Super 200 gr. Nosler JHP rounds, and subtracted the average weight of one of their cases and the weight of the bullet, and then gave myself a little wiggle room for experimentation (I justified this process to myself in that I have heard that DT uses Longshot powder). I was using a Lone Wolf 4.6" barrel in a Glock 21.

None of these showed pressure signs beyond what is normal from factory ammunition in my Glock: minor cratering and definite striker channel embossing. Primer flattening was minimal (much more like .40 S&W 155 gr. Hornady ammo than a 10mm 180 gr. Remington ammo). They showed only slightly more flattening than the .400 Corbon I also chronographed and posted earlier.

When working up loads, I will weigh bullets individually to give me a better idea of what the results are telling me. Those averages are on here. The target COAL was 1.250", which was the approximate average of the lengths of a sample of DoubleTap ammo.

I have also listed two sets of data for the DoubleTap load for comparison. The advertised velocity on the box was 1350 fps for a 6" barrel and 1300 fps for a 5" barrel. Extrapolating this data, I was expecting to get ~1280 fps from my 4.6" barrel (spoiler alert: it didn't happen).

WARNING: These loads are for informational use. If you decide to use these loads, you do so at your own risk. You assume full responsibility if you get hurt using this data or trying to duplicate it in any way; it is your own fault... and your mistake will probably be immortalized by a YouTube video that gets 500,000 hits and has a string of comments questioning the level of your intelligence.

DoubleTap 200 gr. Nosler JHP
Low: 1181
High: 1228
Avg: 1210
E.S.: 46.85
σ: 12.92
Individual Velocities:
1211
1202
1210
1201
1181
1214
1220
1218
1214
1228

DoubleTap 200 gr. Nosler JHP
Low: 1186
High: 1226
Avg: 1208
E.S.: 39.32
σ: 14.69
Individual Velocities:
1186
1188
1198
1219
1219
1204
1226
1201
1224
1217

9.7 gr. Longshot
Low: 1187
High: 1218
Avg: 1201
E.S.: 30.83
σ: 9.48
Avg. Bullet Weight: 200.0 gr.
Average COAL: 1.2498"
Individual Velocities:
1210
1198
1197
1207
1194
1190
1218
1205
1187
1202

9.9 gr. Longshot
Low: 1212
High: 1254
Avg: 1225
E.S.: 41.72
σ: 11.66
Avg. Bullet Weight: 200.0 gr.
Avg. COAL: 1.2498"
Individual Velocities (1 shot was not recorded by the chronograph):
1223
1218
1224
1224
1221
1225
1254
1222
1212

10.1 gr. Longshot
Low: 1219
High: 1244
Avg: 1232
E.S.: 25.21
σ: 8.83
Avg. Bullet Weight: 199.9 gr.
Avg. COAL: 1.2495"
Individual Velocities:
1219
1226
1237
1244
1232
1221
1232
1241
1240
1224

10.3 gr. Longshot
Low: 1229
High: 1255
Avg: 1246
E.S.: 26.28
σ: 9.74
Avg. Bullet Weight: 200.0 gr.
Avg. COAL: 1.2502"
Individual Velocities:
1237
1254
1253
1251
1231
1246
1229
1255
1253
1246

10.5 gr. Longshot
High: 1246
Low: 1338
Avg: 1266
E.S.: 91.95
σ: 26.55
Avg. Bullet Weight: 200.0 gr.
Avg. COAL: 1.2505"
Individual Velocities:
1263
1263
1261
1265
1248
1246
1338
1271
1262
1247

fstjb2
August 2, 2016

Thanks for sharing the info, I'm just getting ready to build my first loads for the 40 Super, so its good finding a little informational load data out there. I emailed Tony Rumore the other day and got some load data from him that he worked up during development, but there isn't much more out there. I think most of my plinking loads will be 180gr plated, and I plan to build a 220gr HC load similar to the underwood for bear defense.

Elkins45
August 2, 2016

So how does 40 super differ from the 400 CorBon necked down round?

cstarr3
August 3, 2016

The .40 Super is a necked down .460 Rowland, which is a a cut down .45 Winchester Magnum, which was a lengthened and significantly strengthened .45 ACP. The all-knowing Wiki gives the operating pressure of 40,000 PSI for the .460 Rowland. So the .40 Super probably is not that far off, though Triton supposedly put a pressure cap of 37,000 PSI on the cartridge (again according to the Wikipedia). The proof cartridges for the .45 Win Mag have between 15% and 20% higher pressure than the .400 Corbon; 56,000 to 59,500 PSI (again, proof cartridges have higher pressure than standard, safe cartridges).

Having shot both .40 Super and .400 Corbon out of similar length barrels, I can say that with similar bullet weights loaded by the same manufacturer (both by Underwood, for instance), the .40 Super is significantly more powerful. There is about 100 fps difference between the Underwood 150 gr. .400 CB and 10mm, with 10mm having the better velocity. Looking at Underwood's 135 gr. loadings for 10mm, .400 CB, and .40 Super, there appears to be a significant velocity difference between the calibers. The Underwood .400 Corbon is pretty hot stuff, and the fireball from a 4" barrel may singe any hair growing below the wrists. The .40 Super is so powerful that my Glock wanted to go on a field trip every time I pulled the trigger; it was all I could do to keep the muzzle rise below Desert Eagle levels.

In a nutshell, .40 Super is to .400 Corbon what .460 Rowland is to .45 ACP.

cstarr3
August 3, 2016

You've probably heard this a million times, and so I don't mean to be condescending, but...

With the .40 Super, start low, lower than you may even think is necessary, and work your way up, looking for pressure signs. This is a high pressure round, and pushing the envelope is very dangerous.

cstarr3
August 3, 2016

Quote:
Originally Posted by TRX
I have the brass, die set, bullets, a new Nowlin .40 S&W barrel, and I'm waiting on PTG to ship the reamer and headspace gauges.

Waiting, waiting...

Best of luck with that. I am assuming you are working on a 1911, and I'd have to say you are a braver man than I. Of course, I am not a 1911 guy, so I don't know if there is any difference in outside dimensions between a .40 S&W barrel and a .45 ACP barrel, but if you haven't already talked to Nowlin, I would ask them and see if reaming the chamber would still keep it strong enough to properly contain the .40 Super. Also, I am to understand that 10mm tends to batter the 1911 platform much more than the .45 ACP. Performance wise, the .40 Super is to the 10mm what the 10mm is to the .40 S&W, it is that bad-ass. So keep an close eye on signs of emerging problems. You are not likely to see a long life on a .40 Super 1911... but I'll bet it will be tons of fun.

A healthy dose of caution should be used if you want to stay attached to all of you digits.

Keep us posted on how it works out.