10mm Self-defense Load Testing

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  • Sling10mm

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    Mar 12, 2012
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    [FONT=&quot]A buddy and I went to the conservation club Saturday for some much needed range time. One of the things we wanted to accomplish was testing of some different 10mm Auto self defense loads. We looked at Federal 200-gr HST, Hornady 175-gr Critical Duty, Sig 180-gr V-Crown, Speer 200-gr Gold Dot, and Winchester 175-gr Silvertip. The temperature was 37 deg F, and we were using a Labradar chronograph. All shooting was done using a sand bag as a rest. Energy is in ft-lbs.[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]This is what we found:[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Federal 200-gr HST[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Firearm: Glock 20, Gen 4 Glock 29, Gen 3[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Sample Velocity (fps) Velocity (fps)[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]1 1103 1076[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]2 1111 1052[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]3 1095 1069[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]4 1103 1068[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]5 1097 1061[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Avg. 1102 1065[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]SD 6.3 9.1[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Energy 539 504[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Hornady 175-gr Critical Duty[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Firearm: Glock 20, Gen 4 Glock 29, Gen 3[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Sample Velocity (fps) Velocity (fps)[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]1 1075 1072[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]2 1092 1064[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]3 1093 1074[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]4 1087 1071[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]5 1092 1073[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Avg. 1088 1071[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]SD 7.5 4.0[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Energy 460 446[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Sig 180-gr V-Crown[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Firearm: Glock 20, Gen 4 Glock 29, Gen 3[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Sample Velocity (fps) Velocity (fps)[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]1 1165 1164[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]2 1195 1191[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]3 1178 1169[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]4 1214 1148[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]5 1191 1164[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Avg. 1189 1167[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]SD 18.4 15.5[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Energy 565 544[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Speer 200-gr Gold Dot[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Firearm: Glock 20, Gen 4 Glock 29, Gen 3[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Sample Velocity (fps) Velocity (fps)[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]1 1020 1019[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]2 1066 1023[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]3 1029 1010[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]4 1033 1035[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]5 1039 1028[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Avg. 1037 1023[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]SD 17.4 9.4[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Energy 478 465[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Winchester 175-gr Silvertip[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Firearm: Glock 20, Gen 4 Glock 29, Gen 3[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Sample Velocity (fps) Velocity (fps)[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]1 1133 1135[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]2 1109 1134[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]3 1114 1150[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]4 1113 1151[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]5 1100 1132[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Avg. 1114 1140[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]SD 12.1 9.3[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Energy 482 505[/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot]Not sure why, but the Silvertips had slightly higher velocities out of the shorter barrel of the Glock 29. The HST's were a handful out of both pistols, and the Critical Duty and Gold Dots very mild. I think my preference, as far far feel, is for the Sig V-Crown round, but we are going to do more testing off-hand to see how they feel.[/FONT]
     

    Sling10mm

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    Mar 12, 2012
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    I'm familiar with underwood, but not really looking for nuclear. We are going to go out again and see which we like from a controllability standpoint. The Sig V-Crown didn't seem bad with decent energy. The Gold Dots would be great if they were up at 1100 fps or so, but even at the 1030 fps they are beyond a 45 ACP with slightly better capacity. Not trying to start a caliber war, just trying to find a good, controllable self defense load in 10mm Auto.

    Some 200 or 220-gr loads from Underwood would make good medicine in bear country though!
     

    Sling10mm

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    Mar 12, 2012
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    Do you have a preference between the Gold Dot, XTP, and the Nosler? I guess I never released how reasonable their prices are.
     

    DocIndy

    Master
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    Mar 30, 2010
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    Franklin
    I like the V-Crown and Sigs FMJ load in 10mm. Underwood 180gr. Bonded JHP are my carry load. Might run them through some hogs and test how they perform.
     

    Sling10mm

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    Mar 12, 2012
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    Got back out today and ran those loads through my Glock 29 off-hand. First off, they were all much easier to handle off-hand versus off the bag, but the same general trend as far as recoil. I think all were manageable, and am leaning toward the Federal HST or the Sig V-Crown. I would still like to try the Underwood, maybe with the 180-gr Nosler JHP at 1250 fps. The other two 180's are running at 1300 fps. I wonder if that Nosler bullet is designed for those speeds, or more for the 40 S&W's 980 fps.
     
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