Can anyone help me decide on a 10mm load?

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  • flightsimmer

    Master
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    Dec 27, 2008
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    S.E. Indy
    I have 1000 rounds of new 10mm Star brass. I've got 1000 Seller & Bellot primers.
    I do cast my own Lee 175gn lead truncated cone bullets but not sure if I want to use them for stiff loads.
    Also, I haven't decided on .400 or .401 JHP's.
    I have plenty of AAC #9 to load them with but have not settled on any specific load.
    I've not been in any hurry to load them as I have plenty of other 10mm ammo on the shelf.
    I have a Colt, Delta Elite, S&W, 1006 and a Mech Tech carbine.
    I would love to start loading the brass but just cannot make up my mind.
    Can anyone convince me of a great all around load? I've got all the time and desire in the world to do it.
     

    trophyhunter

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    Sep 2, 2008
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    South Bend
    This might help you get a little better idea of how your Lee cast 175 TC load would perform, you can pick any bullet/powder/barrel length combination and I can run some more charts for you.

    Code:
    Cartridge          : 10 mm Auto (SAAMI)Bullet             : .401, 175, LEE 401-145-TC
    Useable Case Capaci: 13.911 grain H2O = 0.903 cm³
    Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.250 inch = 31.75 mm
    Barrel Length      : 4.0 inch = 101.6 mm
    Powder             : Accurate No.9
    
    
    Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
    incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
    CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
    
    
    Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
     %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
    
    
    -20.0   76    10.40    897     313   16254   5063     58.5    0.603
    -18.0   78    10.66    923     331   17390   5298     59.9    0.583
    -16.0   80    10.92    949     350   18600   5536     61.3    0.564
    -14.0   82    11.18    975     369   19892   5777     62.6    0.546
    -12.0   84    11.44   1002     390   21274   6022     64.0    0.529
    -10.0   86    11.70   1028     411   22750   6268     65.4    0.512
    -08.0   88    11.96   1056     433   24328   6516     66.8    0.495
    -06.0   90    12.22   1083     456   26020   6765     68.1    0.480
    -04.0   92    12.48   1111     479   27829   7016     69.5    0.465
    -02.0   94    12.74   1139     504   29753   7268     70.8    0.450  ! Near Maximum !
    +00.0   96    13.00   1167     529   31858   7521     72.1    0.436  ! Near Maximum !
     

    flightsimmer

    Master
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    Dec 27, 2008
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    S.E. Indy
    Oh! I forgot to add that the carbine does not like my Lee cast lead bullets, but it is a tack driver with jacketed bullets. I found this out after much testing. My handguns on the other hand do very well with them.
     

    flightsimmer

    Master
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    6   0   0
    Dec 27, 2008
    3,943
    149
    S.E. Indy
    This might help you get a little better idea of how your Lee cast 175 TC load would perform, you can pick any bullet/powder/barrel length combination and I can run some more charts for you.

    Code:
    Cartridge          : 10 mm Auto (SAAMI)Bullet             : .401, 175, LEE 401-145-TC
    Useable Case Capaci: 13.911 grain H2O = 0.903 cm³
    Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.250 inch = 31.75 mm
    Barrel Length      : 4.0 inch = 101.6 mm
    Powder             : Accurate No.9
    
    
    Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
    incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
    CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
    
    
    Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
     %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
    
    
    -20.0   76    10.40    897     313   16254   5063     58.5    0.603
    -18.0   78    10.66    923     331   17390   5298     59.9    0.583
    -16.0   80    10.92    949     350   18600   5536     61.3    0.564
    -14.0   82    11.18    975     369   19892   5777     62.6    0.546
    -12.0   84    11.44   1002     390   21274   6022     64.0    0.529
    -10.0   86    11.70   1028     411   22750   6268     65.4    0.512
    -08.0   88    11.96   1056     433   24328   6516     66.8    0.495
    -06.0   90    12.22   1083     456   26020   6765     68.1    0.480
    -04.0   92    12.48   1111     479   27829   7016     69.5    0.465
    -02.0   94    12.74   1139     504   29753   7268     70.8    0.450  ! Near Maximum !
    +00.0   96    13.00   1167     529   31858   7521     72.1    0.436  ! Near Maximum !

    Yeah, that may be very helpful, thanks.
     

    trophyhunter

    Sharpshooter
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    6   0   0
    Sep 2, 2008
    686
    18
    South Bend
    Here's a load with the Hornady XTP 200g, AA9 and a 16" carbine barrel.

    Code:
    Cartridge          : 10 mm Auto (SAAMI)Bullet             : .400, 200, Hornady HP/XTP 40060
    Useable Case Capaci: 10.483 grain H2O = 0.681 cm³
    Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.250 inch = 31.75 mm
    Barrel Length      : 16.0 inch = 406.4 mm
    Powder             : Accurate No.9
    
    
    Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
    incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
    CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
    
    
    Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
     %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
    
    
    -20.0   80     8.16   1044     484   16974    892     72.5    1.700
    -18.0   82     8.36   1069     508   18070    925     73.8    1.656
    -16.0   84     8.57   1095     532   19283    957     75.0    1.613
    -14.0   86     8.77   1121     558   20559    989     76.2    1.572
    -12.0   88     8.98   1146     584   21925   1021     77.4    1.533
    -10.0   89     9.18   1172     610   23389   1053     78.5    1.494
    -08.0   91     9.38   1198     637   24959   1084     79.7    1.456
    -06.0   93     9.59   1224     665   26644   1114     80.8    1.419
    -04.0   95     9.79   1250     694   28455   1145     81.9    1.383  ! Near Maximum !
    -02.0   97    10.00   1276     723   30408   1174     82.9    1.349  ! Near Maximum !
     

    flightsimmer

    Master
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    6   0   0
    Dec 27, 2008
    3,943
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    S.E. Indy
    Buffalo Arms makes a 180gn bullet at .401", it has a cannolure which I wouldn't need and I don't think it would hurt anything for my use and there are plenty of .400" bullets available in other brands.
    My first question is, would the size really matter in this case? I have slugged all of the barrels and that didn't help me to decide because they were all between minimum and maximum, .400+ to .401-.
     

    trophyhunter

    Sharpshooter
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    6   0   0
    Sep 2, 2008
    686
    18
    South Bend
    I don't have the specs for the BA bullet but Hornady does make a similar profile in the 180g XTP, here's that load with AA9 and 16" barrel.

    Code:
    Cartridge          : 10 mm Auto (SAAMI)Bullet             : .400, 180, Hornady HP/XTP 40040
    Useable Case Capaci: 11.246 grain H2O = 0.730 cm³
    Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.250 inch = 31.75 mm
    Barrel Length      : 16.0 inch = 406.4 mm
    Powder             : Accurate No.9
    
    
    Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
    incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
    CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
    
    
    Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
     %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
    
    
    -20.0   79     8.72   1108     490   16371    934     70.4    1.618
    -18.0   81     8.94   1135     515   17440    969     71.7    1.575
    -16.0   83     9.16   1162     540   18582   1004     72.9    1.535
    -14.0   85     9.37   1190     566   19796   1039     74.2    1.495
    -12.0   87     9.59   1217     592   21107   1073     75.4    1.457
    -10.0   89     9.81   1245     620   22508   1107     76.6    1.420
    -08.0   91    10.03   1273     648   24008   1141     77.7    1.384
    -06.0   93    10.25   1301     676   25618   1174     78.9    1.348
    -04.0   95    10.46   1329     706   27348   1207     80.0    1.314
    -02.0   97    10.68   1357     736   29211   1240     81.1    1.281  ! Near Maximum !
    +00.0   99    10.90   1385     767   31217   1271     82.1    1.249  ! Near Maximum !
     

    billybob44

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    Sep 22, 2010
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    In the Man Cave
    Powder Coat those 175 TC's..

    castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?184-Coatings-and-Alternatives
    ^^^
    Here's where you need to go...

    I have cast/coated that EXACT same projectile in my Glocks (G-20, and G-40) with GREAT success..

    My loads are TRUE 10MM loads, and not just some hot .40 S&W load like more than a few Factory 10MM loads are.

    You will find that you can go as "Strong" of a load as any Jacketed projectile without lead...Bill.


    PS: I will bet?? that your Carbine will also "Eat Up" "Warm" Coated Bullets...
     

    flightsimmer

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    Dec 27, 2008
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    S.E. Indy
    castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?184-Coatings-and-Alternatives
    ^^^
    Here's where you need to go...

    I have cast/coated that EXACT same projectile in my Glocks (G-20, and G-40) with GREAT success..

    My loads are TRUE 10MM loads, and not just some hot .40 S&W load like more than a few Factory 10MM loads are.

    You will find that you can go as "Strong" of a load as any Jacketed projectile without lead...Bill.


    PS: I will bet?? that your Carbine will also "Eat Up" "Warm" Coated Bullets...

    Now that sounds like something I would like to try and it would be cheaper than jacketed bullets.

    Does .400 or .401 coated seem to make any difference? This might solve my bullet selection problem.
    Now, how stiff do I want to load them? Hummmm.
     

    Sling10mm

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    Mar 12, 2012
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    If you want FMJ bullets you might check out Precision Delta. They have 180 FMJ's for $140/1000, and you can get them for $119/1000 if you buy 2000 or more. I have used their 200 gr FMJ in 10mm with no issues.
     

    jimbo-indy

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    Apr 3, 2008
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    N.W. Indy
    If you are not set on AA#9, I found that Longshot was a very good powder for 180 and 200 gn jacketed bullets. Was able to duplicate Underwood performance out of my S&W 610 (6 1/2").
     

    billybob44

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    Now that sounds like something I would like to try and it would be cheaper than jacketed bullets.

    Does .400 or .401 coated seem to make any difference? This might solve my bullet selection problem.
    Now, how stiff do I want to load them? Hummmm.

    It takes time, but:
    I cast-size (NO LUBE)to .401"-Power Coat Paint-size again to .401".

    Really the most often mistake loaders make is to use CHEAP powder coat paint.
    Smoke on the castboolts site sells good powder, Eastwood also good, Powder by the Pound also good.
    Mostly stay away from the Harbor Freight stuff.
     
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