Best 40 sw recipes for 2011 pistol

[joe1719]

I recently acquired an STI Edge in 40 sw and I intend to shoot this pistol for limited div in Major PF
What're some good 40 sw loads that offer the least amount of "snap" while still staying in Major PF?

 

[Dooder]

Oh there's so many. Depends on what powders you have or have access to. Generally heavy bullets with fast powders make soft shooters. N310, E3, Clays, Competition, Prima SV are my favorite powders to use. Unfortunately those are all very difficult to cross paths with, add AA2 and Sport Pistol to that list as well. Slower powders are more popular and accessible. Titegroup is a crowd favorite - I just can't stand the stuff. N320 is also another favorite. 180gr is the bullet to use. 200gr are softer but make the gun roll more. My favorite bullet is the Blue 180gr and powder is Competition. Prima SV and Clays is amazing, but are vaporware these days. Need to load long for 2011's, stick to 1.2" This does depend on your follower setup though.

 

[Dooder]

And congratulations on the Edge. Amazing pistol. Staccato wishes they can make a pistol that is as good as the old STI's were.

 

[joe1719]

Thank you! She's a beauty. Also quite humbling in the sense that this is the first 4 digit price pistol I've ever bought. Everytime I throw a shot out, I know damn well that was on me haha.
With 200gr or just heavier projectiles in general, what is meant by "making the gun roll more?"

 

[doggman61]

That's awesome. LONG LIVE .40!!!!
I just spent the last couple months developing a major load I liked for a G22 to run in L10.
What I settled on is 165 gr blue bullets with 4.4 gr of N320 moving at just over 1000fps to make major.
I tried 180 gr and 200gr blue's with titegroup, clays and a few other powders in various weights.
All ran great but a lot of it comes down to preference so it's probably worth mixing up a few recipes, hitting the range with the chrono and see what feels good to you.

 

[Dooder]

Heavier bullets = more muzzle rise generally speaking. But the roll I'm talking about is the recoi wave, its "boaty" or wavy, a long roll, as opposed to a nice quick pop. Thats my perception at least. Loading 200's down to 850fps makes the impulse "boaty" it rolls up and down. Heavy and slow makes soft but is not all the time desireable, but it may be your thing, have to try to it out and see if your gun tune and shooting mechanics jive with it.

Example, I have a 5" Edge and its nice and quick return with my 180gr load, but with the same load my 5.4 SV has a roll to it. The gun is much heavier, has a different balance and gets that boaty effect. Different guns different tuning, different loads, etc. It can be a deep rabbit hole haaha!

Power factor is a rule for minimum ballistics but you need to find the load that works for you and it maybe 175pf it maybe 180pf, it doesnt matter if that what works for you and your set up.

Some bullets in 9mm work with in my setup at 155pf, some at 135pf.

But I have found Blues in my set ups to be good at 173pf with Competition or Prima SV and it performs single sigit SD.

My advice is to use faster powders. N320 or faster, and that also depends on your powder drop. Not all like sticks like VV or big flakes like Clays. Competition and Prima SV meter quite well and to keep SD low in my set up.

Just have to try some loads out, chrono and see what works. Join Enos forum and search in the reloading forum, tons of info in there and its all competitive shooters from round the world.

 

[doggman61]

Heavier bullets = more muzzle rise generally speaking. But the roll I'm talking about is the recoi wave, its "boaty" or wavy, a long roll, as opposed to a nice quick pop. Thats my perception at least. Loading 200's down to 850fps makes the impulse "boaty" it rolls up and down. Heavy and slow makes soft but is not all the time desireable, but it may be your thing, have to try to it out and see if your gun tune and shooting mechanics jive with it.

Example, I have a 5" Edge and its nice and quick return with my 180gr load, but with the same load my 5.4 SV has a roll to it. The gun is much heavier, has a different balance and gets that boaty effect. Different guns different tuning, different loads, etc. It can be a deep rabbit hole haaha!

Power factor is a rule for minimum ballistics but you need to find the load that works for you and it maybe 175pf it maybe 180pf, it doesnt matter if that what works for you and your set up.

Some bullets in 9mm work with in my setup at 155pf, some at 135pf.

But I have found Blues in my set ups to be good at 173pf with Competition or Prima SV and it performs single sigit SD.

My advice is to use faster powders. N320 or faster, and that also depends on your powder drop. Not all like sticks like VV or big flakes like Clays. Competition and Prima SV meter quite well and to keep SD low in my set up.

Just have to try some loads out, chrono and see what works. Join Enos forum and search in the reloading forum, tons of info in there and its all competitive shooters from round the world.

%100 ^^^^^^
I prefer the quick pop therefore I go with the 165 grainers.

 

[joe1719]

Heavier bullets = more muzzle rise generally speaking. But the roll I'm talking about is the recoi wave, its "boaty" or wavy, a long roll, as opposed to a nice quick pop. Thats my perception at least. Loading 200's down to 850fps makes the impulse "boaty" it rolls up and down. Heavy and slow makes soft but is not all the time desireable, but it may be your thing, have to try to it out and see if your gun tune and shooting mechanics jive with it.

Example, I have a 5" Edge and its nice and quick return with my 180gr load, but with the same load my 5.4 SV has a roll to it. The gun is much heavier, has a different balance and gets that boaty effect. Different guns different tuning, different loads, etc. It can be a deep rabbit hole haaha!

Power factor is a rule for minimum ballistics but you need to find the load that works for you and it maybe 175pf it maybe 180pf, it doesnt matter if that what works for you and your set up.

Some bullets in 9mm work with in my setup at 155pf, some at 135pf.

But I have found Blues in my set ups to be good at 173pf with Competition or Prima SV and it performs single sigit SD.

My advice is to use faster powders. N320 or faster, and that also depends on your powder drop. Not all like sticks like VV or big flakes like Clays. Competition and Prima SV meter quite well and to keep SD low in my set up.

Just have to try some loads out, chrono and see what works. Join Enos forum and search in the reloading forum, tons of info in there and its all competitive shooters from round the world.

Thank you! this is a wealth of information! You mentioned earlier about loading long to 1.2" for 2011 pistols.
i've always stuck to loading to the Hornady manual i have and load OAL to 1.125
What's the reason for loading it to a longer OAL?

 

[Warpspeed]

The standard USPSA load is a 180gr bullet with VV N320 - everything else is a compromise

 

[Dooder]

The 1911 is built for a cartridge that has a median oal of 1.23". Loading longer helps to minimize feeding issues. If you look at 9mm 1911 and older 2011 mags they had spacers in them to place the rounds further forward in the mag so they'd feed. If your rig runs short ammo then cool, if not then load long. Short ammo will tend to nose dive in the mag or pitch up too much after it hits the ramp causing a 3 point jam.

Loading long also increases the internal dimension in the cartridge case which reduces pressure and allows you more possibilities with loading.