What powder should I try for .40 SW

I just got a dillon and am planning on loading the 5 gallon bucket of .40 sw brass I've been picking up and saving at various ranges for the last few years. I have loaded some with my single stage rcbs and since it was small volume I just bought blue dot 1pound. It seems to throw good out of both powder measures(dillon and RCBS). I believe accuracy to be good, but it does make a lot of smoke. I hear almost everyone uses bullseye, but I am told it is smokey too. What is the shape of the powder for bullseye? Does it throw good? Saw a order on here for both around the same price. think its 97$ for 8 pounds. I searched and see some like unique. What do yall like about your pistol powders? I hope to buy 8 pounds instead of the 1 pounders from vans for $22+. I'm open to all suggestions. Hopefully will get a good bit of discussion as to what you like and more importantly WHY you like it?

Please don't leave off the why you like it part.

I mostly use bullseye for all pistol. I haven't noticed it too smokey and it is relatively clean. I am also a fan of power pistol. I load .40 mostly and I haven't noticed any problems with it. I don't like unique, very dirty and smokey, but some of the smoke depends on the bullet and how they are lubed.

Bullseye and Unique are disc shaped powders.

Smokey....? Are you loaded cast bullets? Most powders are going to smoke with cast bullets.

Look at Win 231 or HP-38 (basically the same powder) for 40 S&W. For a 175-180gr cast bullet my load is 5.0gr of 231.

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For all but mag loads, I use BE. Like SGF said above, most of the smoke comes from cast boolits ... I have not tried Win 231, but have heard from many that it is a very satisfactory powder ... I use BE simply because it measures easily and you can get a "ton" of loads from each pound of powder.

Caution: BE is very fast -- double or heavy charges can be dangerous -- especially in the 40S&W!!

win wst

I shoot a Glock and have never loaded cast boolits. I am loading rainer 180gr FN FMJ and 180gr HP. I have been using the blue dot and 8grains of powder like the minimum charge in the speer manual says for 922 fps. the last 10 I loaded were with 7.8 gr because the 8 gr felt like it kicked harder than my factory PMC's so I'm experimenting now to say the least. anybody got a chrono or a load they like with BE? I shoot a Glock 35 with standard Glock barrel. Guess I'm gonna try BE.

I have used 231/hp-38 with great success. I've got a 4 pound jug of power pistol that I intend to try soon. According to the internet, it's the bees knees.

For accuracy, buy AA5.
Do not try to load max with AA5 or ANY faster burning powder.
.40S&W is a very temperamental round that likes to blow cases over any loading error.
For power, with excellent accuracy, buy Silhouette.
To get into action pistol shooting, where the goal is a very heavy bullet and a very fast powder, try AA2 and N320.
What ever, be careful.

Silhouette is by far my favorite. 7 Grains with a 180 grain bullet gives about 1000FPS.

I want a load that will perform in both my G35 and a 16inch suppressed AR. I want it under 950 fps. I see Bullseye goes down to 750. While I might like this for IPSC in production I'm not sure that will be enough to get down the barrel I think max for BE is around 850fps, not sure on that will have to consult my sierra manual again.

For light loads, use AA2, AA5, Solo 1000, or Competition
For the utmost accuracy, use AA5 and Silhouette
For near MAX loads, use Silhouette or True Blue
The only powder that doesn't measure like water is Solo 1000.

The following loads were shoot out of a S&W 4006:
170 Gr. LSWC, 4.7 Gr Accurate No. 2 = 930 fps
180 Gr. Plated RN, 5.0 Gr Accurate No. 2 = 935 fps
180 Gr. Plated RN, 4.7 Gr Accurate No. 2 = 907 fps
180 Gr. Plated RN, 4.9 Gr Accurate No. 2 = 931 fps

The above loads were very accurate and relatively clean burning. That's all of the personal data I have, just don't shoot a lot of 40 caliber. As a side note I have had very good results with HP-38 in my 45, I assume it would work well in the 40. I hope this info helps.

Thanks I appreciate it. I need to update this now. I went to the gun show and got talked into, Hogdon Clays powder. Supposedly its very clean, accurate, and loads a lot per pound. This is going to be a dual purpose load. Glock 35 and AR15 so I hope this works for me.

I strongly, strongly, STRONGLY suggest not using a powder faster than Unique or 231 in the .40. Yes- that includes clays. The .40 is a very unforgiving cartridge. Read that as very "spikey" with pressures. Use a slower powder and preferably one that will completely fill or overflow a case if double charged. I personally stick with Silhouette for that very reason. Other than the always present risk of double charge, bullet setback (which I consider much more likely in the .40) will have you buying a new gun and/or fingers. A bulky powder may help prevent that.

Experience- What you gain AFTER you need it.

as long as I have the right COAL the bullet setback should be good right? I am also only going to the start load. I am not trying to go fast as it will be a dual purpose load for my supressed gun.

Unique is the only powder I've used in my .40 reloads and it has been working great.

Good deal. I loaded up 10 in 180gr. Ranier with 4.0gr of Clays and shot them Wed at the range. I ran into Goldstein and Captain there and a guy with a chrono, let me use it on my loads. Three successive shots were 803,807,816. I'd say thats pretty darn consistent. I REALLY like this load now. It is accurate and very soft. I'm going to load up a few thousand of them now.