Mold suggestions for XD 40 pistol

[Caliboose]

My son bought an XD-40 and I have no clue what bullet feeds well for general practice use. Any specific load clues would be appreciated as well as notable problems with reloading the 40 cal.

Thank you,

Glenn

[fredj338]

Most profiles will feed in the XD40, not so with the XD45 though. My buddy casts a 170gr SWC for his, Magma mold.

[cgt]

Im curious too

[jsheyn]

My XD loves RCBS .40-180-FN 558

[popper]

Lee 175 TC or SWC, Accurate 40-165 - pick your version. I use the TC. Never had a feed problem in my XDm. No loading problems other than trying to find a proper expander. I managed to get a 41mag 'M' and have it cut down by a friend.

[johnho]

I use the Saeco 170 TC 043 bullet. Had to keep playing with COAL a bit to function reliably but once done it has worked flawlessly in my XD40.

[robpete]

I run the Lee 175TC and NOE's 160RN. My XD eats them both up.

[Bongo Boy]

The Lee 175TC is very popular, in part because the mold is inexpensive in the 6-cavity format, and the bullet seems to feed well in the several pistols I've fired it in--M&P 40 Pro, Kahr K40, Glock 20 and 29, and EAA Hunter. It seems to be as accurate as any. I don't find it much fun to look at though, not much of a complaint. However, if the bullet drops a little bit fat maybe because you get a tiny bit of debris on the mold faces, then when they come out of the sizer the cylindrical portion of the bullet is longer--for the same overall length you'll then have quite a bit more bullet hanging out, in effect, and that can be a chambering problem. The bullet engages the leade, in other words. The obvious solution is to take more care not to splash micro droplets of lead on your mold when casting. Duh.

But, there are two other bullets I think are just incredible shooters in both 40 and 10mm, and that's the Accurate Molds 401-180B:

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/10mm180grRNFP03_zps8a690597.jpg (http://s182.photobucket.com/user/Bongo_Boy/media/10mm180grRNFP03_zps8a690597.jpg.html)

and of course the MP402-190 gr hollow points from our pals at MP Molds. With the full monty hollow point they come in at just under 185gr, and look pretty cool as well:

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/Handloading/More185Devastators_zpsbccbdb2b.jpg (http://s182.photobucket.com/user/Bongo_Boy/media/Handloading/More185Devastators_zpsbccbdb2b.jpg.html)

Now you've got some options to work with. I just calculated I have enough lead on the floor to make just over 45,000 of these things, and that's just what I aim to do. :)

I like these bullets with a recess line at the nose--if they happen to size too much for any reason (uh, like by using the .400 sizer :( ) that shoulder prevents lengthening of the straight cylindrical section of the bullet. When seated normally, you still don't have premature leade engagement--is my experience.

[popper]

I like these bullets with a recess line at the nose Especially if you want to use PC or H-T coating. Bevel base works best there also. The H-T is slick for pistol. I'm using it in 2 40s and a 9. Cast, store & load 10 yrs later - they still work.

[cgt]

What mould made that?

[Bongo Boy]

The MP Molds 402-190 which I believe was produced as part of a bulk buy coordinated here at this site some time back. I got in well after the group buy itself but at that time there were still molds available so off went the payment. I had serious doubts about how manageable the mold would be, not having ever cast with an hp mold before. As with any mold, you get 'em to the temperature that's right for the mold and off ya go...no pain, no strain. I have not fired an XD at all, but I have to think this nose shape is not going to give any trouble--these matters can be surrounded in mystery and magic, though. I also took a short leap of faith on the brass, seriously wondering how brass could possible work as a mold material. I figured it would be a perfect thing for lead to stick to, and initially I worried it would dissipate heat too quickly to work. After a while I remembered that aluminum is about as thermally conductive as copper, so I put that worry aside. This thing is a sweet little 'top-shelf' bullet factory. Comes with multiple sets of nose pins for flat point, hollow point and flying ashtray levels of commitment.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/Handloading/MP402-190_zps10e8e137.jpg (http://s182.photobucket.com/user/Bongo_Boy/media/Handloading/MP402-190_zps10e8e137.jpg.html)

The other thing I can think of to cast that would be more fun that these hollow points would be really big rifle bullets like for .458 or .470 or something--but that take really 'big' money, too.

[HNSB]

When I had an XD 40, I used the Lee TL401-175-SWC.
I never had feed problems, and they shot great.

[Oreo]

Mihec may still have a few of the 402-190 in stock. Send him a PM if you're interested. I'm biased of course, but imo that 190gr is the very best 40cal mold available for any price. By all accounts I've heard the design shoots and performs as well or better then any other boolit design out there.