Does your 10mm run reliably with 200gr cast?

Phaedrus/69

Phaedrus/69

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A recent thread has me wondering this. If you have a 10mm auto will it reliably run 200gr cast? Either way, please describe the following:
  • What model is your 10mm?
  • How many rounds of 200gr have you put through it to establish reliability?
  • What is the failure rate with 200gr cast? FTE, FTF, stovepipes, double-feeds, etc.
My research and experiences indicate that a 1911 has the best chance to run it well. Further, most folks that I've heard say their gun runs it reliably have fired less than 1,000 rounds of 200gr cast. I'm very curious to see if this is just a limited data set on my part or if someone really is sitting on a great ten that will run like a sewing machine with 200gr cast.
 
I've run 588 documented rounds of 195gr WFN cast PC in these below, and none outside of the revolver has functioned with them with 100% reliability. The XDs handle them the best so far. The main issues are FTFeed; the projectile nose jams at the top of the chamber before it makes the turn inward, or the nose drags in the magazine and doesn't point up enough and jams at the ramp. I am hoping this is an ammo issue and not a firearm issue, so I'm still tweaking the COAL to improve the reliability. Yesterday, my most recent load was 1.239". I think I'm getting close.

Ruger 1911
XDM 5.25
M610
SIG XTEN
XDMe 3.8
 
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Both my Springfield XDMs have zero issues with 200gr cast. One is the 5.25" target model, and the other is a newer 4.5" service Elite model.

I seat Montana Bullet Works powder coated 200 grain round nose flat point bullets to 1.255". I've fired about 200 rounds of these so far with no failures of any kind.

The two XDMs probably have about 500 to 600 rounds total through each of them. My typical range/practice load uses a 175 grain truncated cone bullet.

I've heard of some guns not being terribly accurate with 220 grain bullets, but reliability issues with 200 grainers is a new one on me.
 
I've ran tens of thousands of rounds of cast 200 gr bullets through 10 or so 10mm. Every gun i have runs fine with them and 180s. I have some heavy spring guns that will choke on 155s occasionally. My 1006 and kinber will choke on most anything sometimes. Never noticed 200s choking more than 155 though. . That is early Glock 20/29, later Glock 20 and 40, witness hunter, sig 220, old blued delta elite and 2010 ish stainless newer delta, and bren ten.

I hunted with 180 and 200 gr cast or 200 GR xtp for 20 years. Some 200s do need to have a bit shorter OAL than listed IMO. Ive used meister,Oregon trail, laser cast, hunter specialties..... pretty much every brand over the years . Everything from heavy doses of Blue dot to lighter loads of Unique.


99 percent of what I've used over 20 years has been heavy handloaded 200 gr bullets or medium range 180s loaded commercially. Probably close to 50/50 between those . With a few thousand 175 gr silvertips. And a few thousand 155s

Never fired a round heavier than 200GR that I remember. If at any point I couldn't find 200 GR I would have but ive always found 200s in one brand or the other. My progressive press has been set up for 200 Gr lead for many years.
 
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I think Crestoncowboy probably hit the nail on the head with regard to seating depth. Max OAL for 10mm is 1.26" however some bullet profiles need to be seated deeper for reliable cycling.

It's possible that commercial 200gr 10mm ammo that's prone to jamming may simply be excessively long for the bullet profile used.
 
My Gen3 and Gen4 Glock 20’s with KKM barrels runs 200, 210 and 220 Lead Hard Cast (LHC) all day long and has been for years. Have I had 2-3 hang ups of some sort? You bet. But I can count them on one hand.
LHC round count alone: >1,500.

My Gen 5 Glock 20, I’ve only shot 40-50 rounds of 210 LHC and no issues. I even used the Glock barrel (I know… “don’t”). I’m waiting for KKM to come out with a Gen5 barrel before I shoot more LHC through it.

My Gen3 and Gen4 Glock 29’s with KKM barrels shoot 200gr without serious issue. I never tried anything heavier with them. 2-3 hiccups at best.
LHC round count alone: <800 rnds

One of my factory stock Colt Delta Elite’s (circa 2008-ish) shoots everything through it. It has the modified frame from the factory to relieve stress fractures. Now to be honest, I haven’t shot as much Lead Hard Cast through it as my Glock 20’s, but it has been shooting 200 and 210gr hardcast since I’ve owned it and it’s never failed. I’ve taken a dozen or more hogs with DoubleTaps’ LHC and Grizzly ammo. I’ve killed countless AR500 steel plates with hardcast as well and out of that specific gun. It’s been a 15 year “test” gun for me with hot ammo, including LHC. Again, maybe 2 hiccups at best.
LHC round count alone: <600 rnds.

 
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TRACON said:
My Gen3 and Gen4 Glock 20’s with KKM barrels runs 200, 210 and 220 Lead Hard Cast (LHC) all day long and has been for years. Have I had 2-3 hang ups of some sort? You bet. But I can count them on one hand.
LHC round count alone: >1,500.

My Gen 5 Glock 20, I’ve only shot 40-50 rounds of 210 LHC and no issues. I even used the Glock barrel (I know… “don’t”). I’m waiting for KKM to come out with a Gen5 barrel before I shoot more LHC through it.
Click to expand...

I think people worry far too much about Glock barrels. Shoot what you want but keep them clean.
The only real issue if if you are a reloader, then I would go for aftermarket with tighter chamber to eliminate the smile.

I have been shooting Glocks for 12 or 13 years, and while I don't go out and shoot a lot of lead ammo, I have shot some and just clean the barrels when I get home. Not once have I seen any leading.
I mostly shoot jacketed and my hard cast is powder coated, but still clean barrels after a day of shooting.
 
My Glock 40 runs it reliably but I had to buy a heavier (24lb) spring. It would not cycle them without the heavier spring. I have shot several hundred rounds with it.

It shoots the 200gr better than the 220gr. I have only shot Underwood with it.

I tried an Alpha Wolfe barrel with traditional rifling so I could stabilize the 220s but I switched back to the Glock factory barrel because while the quality of the Alpha Wolfe barrel was great, the specs were tighter and I wanted the looser Glock factory barrel to ensure feeding. If I wanted to I could polish the feed ramp in it, but the 200gr meets my needs fine for now.
 
jmohme said:
I think people worry far too much about Glock barrels. Shoot what you want but keep them clean.
The only real issue if if you are a reloader, then I would go for aftermarket with tighter chamber to eliminate the smile.

I have been shooting Glocks for 12 or 13 years, and while I don't go out and shoot a lot of lead ammo, I have shot some and just clean the barrels when I get home. Not once have I seen any leading.
I mostly shoot jacketed and my hard cast is powder coated, but still clean barrels after a day of shooting.
Click to expand...

I used nothing but lead for a year or two in my Glock 30. 230 grain wheel weight lead at about 800 fps, with Liquid Alox. 200-400 rounds a trip.

Gun would be filthy with Winchester 231 powder, but I never saw any leading.
 
I have a Glock 20 that hasn't jammed on anything I have fed it including the Underwood 200 grain hardcast. I generally run a brass monkey bullet of 182 grains with 8.0 grains of Longshot through it for practice loads. I have fired 100 rounds of the Underwood ammunition through the Glock 20
 
cfullgraf said:
My 10mm gun runs with pretty much anything I feed it.

But then it is a S&W 610 revolver.

:)
Click to expand...

This is the way!:rofl: That would be a sweet gun but as I'm not a big wheelgun guy I'd probably go for a .44 Mag if I was gonna get a bigbore revolver. I'd kind of like a 629 anyway. The Anaconda is appealing but I don't know enough about the new snakes or how well they hold up as they haven't been out very long.
 
Back in the early 90’s I had a 1006 that ran everything.
I’ve now got a Taylor’s&Co. M1911 that has run everything, even some .40’s.
I shoot 10 cast to every jacketed.
 
I was looking at buying a Glock 20 Gen 5 to take with me fishing in Alaska.
I did a lot of reading and was disappointed when I read to not shoot hardcast in the Glock barrel.
I was hopeful when I read that Gen 5s had different rifling but contacted Glock and they still recommend against hardcast.
I don’t really care to spend almost $700 on a new pistol and immediately turn around and buy a $200 barrel plus aftermarket barrels aren’t available for the Gen 5.
I thought about a 4” Ruger Redhawk 44 but, besides being expensive, it’s heavy.
I may just take a chance with the G20 and keep the barrel clean or maybe try the Federal Premium Solid Core.
I wonder how much of it is CYA lawyer talk anyway?
 
My most awesome G40 runs 100% all day long with coated 220grn HC slugs handloaded over AA#9 to near Underwood velocities. Old pic:

237C2028-112A-48EC-A5D3-D3F9FF2A2F0C.jpeg
 
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