Cast only 40 S&W ???

[sundog]

What would you look for/buy? Gun, mould, etc. Inquiring minds kinda thing, doncha know...

[Frosty Boolit]

I've always used 180gr. bullets in the TC shape. When I started using homecast, I bought the 175 SWC which in my opinion is very close to a TC. Shot with great results in a M&P which I just sold and CZ-75 P-06 which won't be sold.

[NuJudge]

I've been shooting a lot of Lee 175gr Truncated Cone Tumble Lube bullets:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=333143

I've been shooting them in a Beretta 96G, sized .401" and since I have a lot of AA#7, I have been powering them with that.

[sagamore-one]

My Star Firestar runs good with the Lee 175 tc .

[jameslovesjammie]

My CZ75B has been 100% reliable with the following bullets:

Lyman 401638 (175 grain TC)

Group Buy .40S&W/10MM Lite (150 grain TC)

Miha .402-160 (RNFP/RNHP with round and pentagonal HP pins)

Lee .401-145-SWC (only 10 rounds)

If I was going to have only 1 mould of the bunch, it would be the Miha mould with the 5 sided hollowpoint pin. It is the most consistent in dimensions, drops the best looking boolits, and was about the same price as the 4 cavity Lyman. The 5 sided pin doesn't "hang on" to boolits like the round ones can. Plus I have the option of making the boolit a flat point at any time I want.

If you are looking at the 175 grain weight...go with the Lee, not the Lyman. Mine (August 2008) drops boolits .403x.406. It also flash rusted after the first use, unlike any of my "vintage" Lyman moulds.

[robertbank]

I have the Lyman 4 cavity mould in 180 gr. The LTC design works well in my Tanfoglio 5" pistol. PM me for loads Sundog.

Take Care

Bob

[GabbyM]

I'd buy an American made gun.

As far as bullets go. Send me a PM.
I've 155 grain SWC and RN plus 180 gr TCFP.
Like the 155 grain SWC in the 40 but some pistols don't feed SWC. At any rate I can send you an assorted pack so you can choose what mould you like.

[9.3X62AL]

CZ-75B has an attribute that very few 40 S&W pistols share--a 1-16" twist rate. Most OEM 40 caliber barrels use a 1-10" twist, which is ridiculous. My other 40 S&W is a Glock 23, and with its Storm Lake barrel it is a real pleasure with castings. Both pistols love the Lee 175 TC with conventional lube groove. 4.2 to 4.7 grains of WW-231 runs both pistols flawlessly. 4.7 grains duplicates my carry load very closely (W-W Ranger SXT 180 grainers).

[robertbank]

CZ-75B has an attribute that very few 40 S&W pistols share--a 1-16" twist rate. Most OEM 40 caliber barrels use a 1-10" twist, which is ridiculous. My other 40 S&W is a Glock 23, and with its Storm Lake barrel it is a real pleasure with castings. Both pistols love the Lee 175 TC with conventional lube groove. 4.2 to 4.7 grains of WW-231 runs both pistols flawlessly. 4.7 grains duplicates my carry load very closely (W-W Ranger SXT 180 grainers).

Out of my Tanfoglio I get around 900 fps using that load. Certainly one of the most accurate loadings I have found. The 75B is a great shooter as you know. I am looking for one right now. They come up slightly used on our canadian gunutz forum for around $600Cdn which is quite reasonable.

Take Care

Bob

[HammerMTB]

I use the Lee 175TCBB mold- mine is a 6-banger- exclusively. Back when I let myself become influenced about it, I took the BB out of the mold, so it is now a FB. don't think it makes a difference, other than being slightly more difficult to start the boolit when reloading.
They shoot fine, at vels from 800 FPS to whatever the 10MM can drive them.

[9.3X62AL]

R-Bank......

The CZ-75B was love at first firing, no doubt as to that. When that H.R. 218 mess got passed, my old agency got a lot stickier about make/model of CCW arms, and disallowed the CZ. I found a Glock 23 at a good price and got the aftermarket barrel for shooting the Poured Projectiles--believing that Murphy's Law gets few plea bargains. In terms of peace of mind, it was worth every dime spent. Brass is a mite smaller after firing than in the OEM chamber, too. Win/win. And I can't discern a significant difference in point-of-impact at 25 yards between the two barrels.

[Landric]

I am not a fan of the .40 S&W in general. However, I have been considering purchasing one to shoot only cast boolits through at somewhat reduced velocities and, hopefully, somewhat reduced pressure, to avoid the .40 S&W snap that I find unpleasant. I am not sure which mold, probably something in a 155-165 weight range.

As for the gun, I was thinking the S&W 4006, which are still easily found on the used market at reasonable prices, will feed anything, and are built like tanks.

[S.R.Custom]

Extensive work with the .40 (years ago) taught me that the .40 S&W really is no better than a 9mm. A max loading of the .40 S&W is no more powerful than a NATO loading of the 9mm, with the only advantage of the .40 being that it cuts a bigger hole. Indeed, manufacturers who make the same gun in both calibers frequently list the same part number for the recoil springs.

That said, my most enjoyable experience with the .40 was shooting it in an old Springfield Omega, chambered in 10mm. With the dual extractors of that gun providing the necessary head spacing, I could load 215 gr. SWC loads to 10mm OAL and intensity, and not have to worry about losing precious 10mm brass...

[robertbank]

I am not a fan of the .40 S&W in general. However, I have been considering purchasing one to shoot only cast boolits through at somewhat reduced velocities and, hopefully, somewhat reduced pressure, to avoid the .40 S&W snap that I find unpleasant. I am not sure which mold, probably something in a 155-165 weight range.

As for the gun, I was thinking the S&W 4006, which are still easily found on the used market at reasonable prices, will feed anything, and are built like tanks.

Take a hard look at the CZ 75B in .40cal. Guns are very solid performers. I shoot cast out of my Tanfoglio (EAA Witness in your world). They are extremely accurate.

Take Care

Bob

[BLTsandwedge]

Somebody gots to talk 610....I'm a big fan of double-duty and waaay too lazy to chase brass all over the freakin' range.....

[shotman]

BLT they dont know what a GOOD gun is a 9mm and 40 are same?????? get real
get a sig and you can shoot all 3 --357sig 40 and 9mm by change of barrels
I have killed 2 deer at better than 50yds with the 357 sig one shot each

[NWFLYJ]

I have a Glock 22 that works well with the Lee 6 Cav Mold 401-175 TC 90690 best groupe was with 4.6 of Unique. Mark

[S.R.Custom]

Somebody gots to talk 610....I'm a big fan of double-duty and waaay too lazy to chase brass all over the freakin' range.....

610s make good pin guns. And you could load .40 brass to 10mm length & intensity as I mentioned previously. But unless you're shooting pins and/or like the moon clip feature, a revolver chambered in 38-40 makes more sense.

[S.R.Custom]

Was having coffee with a friend this morning, and this very topic came up. He reminded me of a pair of Ruger Vaquero Convertibles he's got that have 38-40 and .40 S&W cylinders. So if you're willing to do some digging, there are some interesting options out there.

[patsher]

+1 on the CZ75! It just feels right. Points intuitively, and shoots amazingly. Shoots everything I put through it--J-word, cast, doesn't matter. Bought mine used at a gun show. Like shooting it even more than my Sig, if that's possible!

Pat

[9.3X62AL]

Pat--

I came to the same conclusion about the CZ-75B that you did, and in short order.

The S&W 4006 is a very good pistol, even if made in the USA. There seems to be a tendency for some pistol enthusiasts to look down their noses at any American-made service pistol other than a 1911A1, and that is DUMB. I think highly of both S&W and Ruger service pistols, and have had nothing but good experiences with my examples.

[Bodydoc447]

I have a Ruger in .40 and it is reliable as sunrise. I also have Glocks. I have shot but don't own a Springfield XD in .40. All of them are fine pistols and very reliable. Unfortunately, I have no experience with the CZ-75 but from all reports here and others it is a very fine pistol. Shoot them all and get which ever fits your hand best. All of them will shoot cast bullets. If you have concerns about Glocks then get it an aftermarket barrel and consider it money well spent on your piece of mind.

Just my dos centavos.

Doc

[dpaqu]

I'd like to see more on the subject like what boolits don't feed in what guns.

Best thing about .40s&w? Cheap brass. I must have 2000 + cases. I bought a thousand for 40 bucks from pats reloading.

[robertbank]

I can't imagine any truncated cone boolit not feeding in a ,40cal.

Take Care

Bob

[lead slead]

175gr lees work well out of my M&P 40. I would recommend a lube groove bullet. THe TL bullets I have can give some wicked leading. I have put about 5000 of these through my M&P they shoot well but need to clean the bore about every 2-300 rds to get ride of the leading.

[smokepole]

I bought a Hi-Point 40S&W and shoot 175 Lee TC's out of it. The gun is heavier than most 40's and is not a CCW, but, it is loads of fun to shoot, reliable and inexpensive.

[Brick85]

The only bullets I've had not feed were .402 155 gr round nose bullets. I think maybe RNSWC or something strange like that.

I'm looking for a relatively light boolit to cast in bulk for IDPA. I have one of the Miha molds, but I think it'd be much easier to cast a few hundred a month from a 4- or 6-banger mould than from a double. I think that 15 grains of difference might make enough difference to make IDPA bad practice rather than good, if I'm carrying 165's or 160's.

[Trey45]

Nothing but high praise for the CZ75B 40S&W.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=394&pictureid=2659
With Mihecs 40 160 penta pin HP's
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=415&pictureid=2850
This gun's a shooter.

[jameslovesjammie]

CZ 75B .40...slight modifications

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c129/jameslovesjammie/gun%20stuff/CZ75B%2040/2010-10-13_12-10-59_15.jpg

[exile]

My Christmas present this year is a Storm Lake ported barrel in .40 S & W for my Glock .32
(.357 Sig). It is not here yet, but we will have to see how that works out. I would really like to try the Lee 145 grain boolit in that barrel. Now you guys have got me wanting a CZ-75B in .40 S & W. My wife spent 10 years in the Czech Republic as a missionary, so she wants a CZ-75, but in 9mm, so it will probably never happen, but it's a thought.

Glad to hear that the .357 Sig will do the job on a deer. Not sure it would be legal in NE, but it is still good to know.

Here is a question for you. If I bought the Lee 145 grain mold, could I shoot them sized out of the Glock, and unsized out of my Ruger Blackhawk in .41 magnum? I wonder what the unsized diameter of a cast .401 boolit is? Just curious.

Merry Christmas to all, and thanks to God for sending His Son to earth on our behalf.

exile

[jameslovesjammie]

Here is a question for you. If I bought the Lee 145 grain mold, could I shoot them sized out of the Glock, and unsized out of my Ruger Blackhawk in .41 magnum? I wonder what the unsized diameter of a cast .401 boolit is? Just curious.

Mine drops at .402. Quite a bit too small to work in the .41.

[exile]

Thanks for the information, I have always been curious about that.

exile

[Digger]

Two extremes from small to large in hand guns , one Keltec 40 s+w and Ruger P-91 in 40 ....as far as soft shooting 40's (silly statement) ..135 gr is really nice
I also have the Mihec mold in the 40 sw and it produces a nice boolit with all the choices , creates some nice custom loads for the little Keltec .
Then turn around and load up for the Ruger , Wow! that thing will eat all that you can feed it and ask for more !.
Big pistol that it is .....

[dogbert41]

Lee TL 175 grain TC, after leementing, come out 180 grain in wheel weight. Other than an occasional box of Wallyworld Winchester to eventually break in the barrel, it's all I shoot for .40 S&W.

Pistol is S&W M&P .40 C with fully supported chamber. I can load hot, but I prefer .40 light.

Jameslovesjaimie, your CZ looks AWESOME. I really wanted to give the CZ a keep, but my fingers are just too short for the platform. That custom trigger you have on yours looks like it would make all the difference for my hand. I take it it's not double action?

[scrapcan]

If you go the cz or glock route, you can run the 9mm barrel in a 40 upper. Have done it with glock and with a cz75. You cannot go the other way without an upper change unless you have a very out of spec 9mm slide.

I shoot a Springfield P-9 which is a tanfoglio cz75b clone and it will use witness parts as mine has a few in it currently. I wish it were the 40 upper instead of the 9mm, for the previous mentioned reason.

It really depends on what you want to do with the gun when you shoot cast. If it is a range gun or game gun, an all steel gun would my choice. If it is a carry gun the all steel gun would not be my Choice.

I HAD a star firestar 40. That thing had so many sharp edges It would have taken a lifetime to melt it to make it comfortable to shoot. It however digested everything it was feed, including cast bullets. But as mentioned it was not comfortable to shoot with any load.

[jameslovesjammie]

Jameslovesjammie, your CZ looks AWESOME. I really wanted to give the CZ a keep, but my fingers are just too short for the platform. That custom trigger you have on yours looks like it would make all the difference for my hand. I take it it's not double action?

dogbert41,

No, it is a 75B converted to single action. I installed the competition hammer, tactical rear sight, flat aluminum single action only trigger, polished the insides, resprang it, and put on some wood grips I got from a member on the CZ forum.

Head on over to the CZ forum (which is owned and moderated by Armoredman who is a member here as well). If you are having a difficult time with trigger reach, there are a few different combinations that members have used to get a shorter trigger pull. That and different grips will get you where you want your finger to be.

[Piedmont]

Anybody know what twist S&W put in the M&P .40? I slugged and looked one over in 9mm and it was .355" and slower-than 1 in 14. Just right for cast.