Best Powder For Hot 10mm Loads?

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Olympus

Olympus

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I've been shooting an awful lot of target loads lately for .38 and .45, so the only powders I have on hand are HP-38 and Bullseye. I have a bad feeling these powders are too fast for the 10mm. What does everyone recommend for mid to upper level ranges for the 10mm using 180gr FMJs? My dad says Blue Dot, but I've never been real crazy about it. Suggestions welcomed!


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3N37 is worth a try as well, and yes, W-231 and Bullseye are not suitable for top end 10MM loads.
 
You most likely will get top performance out of 800X. Doesn't meter worth a crap but Is an excellent propellant for the 10mm.
 
Well that's not good. Using a Lee auto disc, metering can sometimes be difficult.


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I load 10mm, too, although it has been a few years--and I also use a Lee (Pro) autodisk. For high-end loads, 800X is neet--but doesn't work with that measure, at least not (IMO) with enough repeatability at the upper end.

So, I like AA#7 and 3N37, too. Both work well in the Lee Auto disk.

Jim H.
 
I've been loading the 10 MM round since the mid 80's when I bought my first Delta Elite. i have found Blue Dot to be my favorite powder. I tried AA5 and 7 and found them both to be erratic in velocity and ES when fired over a chronograph. Never tried AA9, it wasn't out yet.
 
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I guess I will give AA9 a try. Never tried any powder from Accurate, so this will give an excuse for trying.

What kind of charges for a standard 180gr FMJ bullet?


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for hot loads i also use both blue dot and AA#9. i have heard excellent things about 800x as well and will likely give it a shot when i finish this jug of blue dot.
 
According to the 2005 Alliant reloaders guide Bluie dot provides the highest velocity within safe pressures. You should check the alliant and Hodgdon websites for more information.
 
For lighter weight bullets, 135 - 150 I use AA-5, mid weight 155 - 180 I use AA-7, and for the heavier loads 180 - 200, I use AA-9.

These have all worked out the best for me and my pistol. It has a 7" barrel so I get a bit more velocity with identical loads. For 180's I have not found a better powder than AA-9 out of mine either and I have tried just about all of them.

Consult their load tables and you will find several good loads for these.
 
My first choice would be AA#9 because it is a really slow burning powder for this appication meaning a 180 gr. bullet. Next in line to AA#9 would be 2400 which is nearly as slow burning, and also works well with heavier bullets for the 10mm. And though Blue Dot will get you into some higher end performce, it isn't as slow burning as 2400 or AA#9 which makes it less desireable to use with the heavier 180 gr. bullets. If you were using the 165 gr. or lighter bullets, Blue Dot or AA#7 would be exceptional choices for both velocity and load density.
Here is some load data that might be helpful for the 10mm using a 180 gr. XTP-HP:
Recomended OAL 1.260"
Primer - Win. WLP
AA#9 - 11.5 grs. - 14.9 grs.
Estimated velocity - 950 fps - 1250 fps

AA#7 - 9.3 grs. - 12.0 grs.
Est. Velocity - 950 fps - 1200 fps

Blue Dot - 7.5 grs. - 10.7 grs.
Est. Velocity- 950 fps - 1250 fps

I didn't find any data in my books using 2400 with a Hornady bullet, but I'm guessing it has nothing to do with it being an unacceptable component match. Below is some data for 2400 with a 180 gr. Speer Gold Dot or Speer TMJ.
OAL - 1.250" is recomended for both, Gold Dot & TMJ
2400 - 11.5 grs. - 12.8 grs.
Est. Velocity - 1051 fps - 1214 fps.
CCI-350 primer is recomended in this application and with several other primer's, according to Speer. However, Alliant data indicates a CCI-300 with the 180 gr. Gold Dot with 2400. Go figure, when do we ever find two different data sources that match grain for grain, primer for primer, and OAL.

I don't load for a 10mm so I'm not well informed regarding primer's that perform best with the powder's listed above. I did however find that Speer's data confilcts with other data such as Hornady and Sierra regarding primer's. Good luck and work up safely by loading a few in increments and using magnum and standard primers with each powder charge increment so you can determine which is best suited.
 
Someone mentioned 800X and it reminded me of a really good reloading experience I had back in the 1980's loading 9mm with it. I hadn't been reloading but maybe 2 or 3 yrs. and my book listed 800X which I already had on had for my shotshell loading so I tried it. I loaded 9mm with it for years because it preformed so well, and quite honestly very hot. I think it was a fairly new powder when I began using it.
Sorry, I kind of got off topic again.
 
I ended up going with Power Pistol because I just bought a big 627 and I want to try it with .357.

But anyway, I started up some loads. My Lyman book says with a 190gr JFP and an OAL of 1.250, the max load would be 7.8gr of Power Pistol. But using my Lee Auto Disk, the closest I can get to the Lyman max without going over is 7.4. The next disk bumps the charge up to 8.0gr. Could I try loading a few at 8.0gr or should I stick to the Lyman manual's safe range?
 
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The most power I can get out of a 10mm is with 800X, 200 gr, and a well supported chamber.

That is a moot point, as that load will make more recoil than any semi auto handgun can deal with, with any practical recoil springs.
 
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