40 S & W reloading for IDPA & USPSA?

pscgrad

I recently got involved with shooting IDPA & USPSA. What a rush! I need to start hand loding to help out with the cost. I do have a redding press and dies for the 40 S & W. My question is what would you advise to use for a bullet weight and or type. And where is there a good web page for load data? Anything you suggest will be greatly appreciated.

NeoBlackdog

I'm using Berry's 180 grain flat point with CCI primers and 4.0 grains of Titegroup. The Berry's are a plated bullet and they reccomend that you keep velocities low. Otherwise you will strip the plating right off of 'em. It's a pretty soft shooting load so you can put lots of 'em downrange without feeling it too bad at the end of the day. I run these loads through a Glock 23, 27, and 35 and have not had so much as a hiccup with them.
The Glock 40's have a partially unsupported chamber so you don't want to try and push your reloads to super high velocities/pressures if you're shooting a Glock.
As far as data goes, try this for basic information.
http://www.hodgdon.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html
I would reccomend that you buy multiple books with reloading data and keep them on hand for reference.

pscgrad

Thanks for the info.

rsnyder55

Some ranges have restriction for bullet types.

At the outdoor range we shoot IDPA, I use Lazercast bullets. A little less expensive, but hard enough that they don't lead up your barrel. Lead bullets are not recommended for barrels with polygonal rifling.

pscgrad

I'm shooting the Springfield XD.