What Powder for Full Power 10mm Loads

[JohnnyFlake]

Lot's of very good information in this thread. I really appreciate all the input and opinions.

I'll be loading 180gn bullets and I am thinking of buying one pound each of #7 and 800X to try out and see what I come up with. from what I have read, I get the impression that #9 is better for heavier 200gn and up bullets.

 

[ATLDave]

If you believe AA's load data, AA#9 gets you slightly higher max velocities even at 180's. But AA #7 works well at that weight, too, and it's a more flexible powder with good use in other mid-high pressure cartridges, such as 9mm. http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/accurate_load_data_3.5.pdf

 

[rodregier]

800x is alleged to meter poorly if that's an issue for you.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

800x is alleged to meter poorly if that's an issue for you.

Yes, that would be an issue!

Thanks for the heads-up! I now recall reading that in several places. With that in mind, I think I'll get a pound each of #7 and #9 and run some test with each.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, 800X meters poorly and has been referred to as Cornflakes in the past lol.

I would normally recommend you just try AA#7 first but I see in your first post you load other cartridges that can use AA#9 so no waste there. Yes AA#9 can be used in the 10mm but once you try AA#7 you probably will stick with it.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

Yes, 800X meters poorly and has been referred to as Cornflakes in the past lol.

I would normally recommend you just try AA#7 first but I see in your first post you load other cartridges that can use AA#9 so no waste there. Yes AA#9 can be used in the 10mm but once you try AA#7 you probably will stick with it.

Thanks for the suggestion. I may just go with the #7 first and see how it works for us.

 

[Toprudder]

I don't have a 10mm so I can't comment on loads for it.

I will add my +1 on 800x metering like crap. The absolute best I could get with it was about +/- 0.25gn, so if you are loading up towards max I recommend weighing every drop. I have a Chargemaster so that is what I use when working with 800x.

I will say that 800x performs fairly well in 357mag, FWIW. I had to go to the Nosler book for load data, though.

Given the recommendations of AA#7 here, I would say start with that. It is a well behaved powder in 9mm through the whole charge range. I also have had good luck with it in 45acp with 200 and 230gn plated bullets.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

Well, here I go again, changing my thinking for the ??? number of time, but now I am locked into this last decision. I will be buying one pound of each AA#7 and Power Pistol and work with each, to find out which works best for my needs.

 

[GaryL]

I've been using 7.2 gr of Herco with 180gr plated. That's a load I worked up, so YMMV. No idea how it ranks, but get good patterns with it in a Glock 20. Although it meters like corn flakes, that doesn't seem to matter much either.

Why Herco? An old fella I knew who loaded a lot of shotgun in his day was selling off the last of his powder for a good price. So, something about dancing with the one ya brung is working out ok for me.

 

[ljnowell]

Well, here I go again, changing my thinking for the ??? number of time, but now I am locked into this last decision. I will be buying one pound of each AA#7 and Power Pistol and work with each, to find out which works best for my needs.

I think you've made a good choice with those two powders. I like both.

 

[Duvel]

I've been using 7.2 gr of Herco with 180gr plated.

Herco actually works pretty well up to 165s

 

[Elkins45]

AA#9 is my choice for max loads with a 200 grain cast bullet. 800-X is a great performer but if you are loading for true 10mm performance the poor metering quality makes it necessary to weigh each charge. AA#9 flows like water, 800-X flows like gravel.

For midrange plinking loads use whatever you happen to have on hand. Power Pistol is a good choice.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

Oh Well! I stopped at five different local area B&M gun shops yesterday and could not come up with even one pound of either Power Pistol or AA#9.

I am not too upset about the Power Pistol, as I have several other powders in my stash that will work well, from what I have read for med-range plinking loads. I really wanted the #9 for full power loads.

Has anyone ever used 296 or 2400 in 10mm for full power loads? I have a lot of both in my stash that I use for .44 Mag & .454 Casull.

BTW, pricing at the B&Ms has really gone crazy!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Oh Well! I stopped at five different local area B&M gun shops yesterday and could not come up with even one pound of either Power Pistol or AA#9.

I am not too upset about the Power Pistol, as I have several other powders in my stash that will work well, from what I have read for med-range plinking loads. I really wanted the #9 for full power loads.

Has anyone ever used 296 or 2400 in 10mm for full power loads? I have a lot of both in my stash that I use for .44 Mag & .454 Casull.

BTW, pricing at the B&Ms has really gone crazy!

I don't know anyone who uses either but that doesn't mean it can't be done. Lyman doesn't have data for either. Hodgdon doesn't list data for W296/H100 either. Alliance has data for 2400 with only one bullet and only a specific bullet in that weight, the 180gr Speer GDHP bullet.

Usually when there is little to no data for a powder/cartridge combination there is a very good reason.

 

[dragon813gt]

I found data for 296 in old Winchester manuals. This is from 1997.


This is from 1999


The results are pretty underwhelming for velocity. But the pressures are low. That's not a good thing for this powder.

 

[Duvel]

If you're looking for full power loads then 2400 isn't the right powder.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

Yep! After some research today and based on a number of post, I believe that neither 296 or 2400 would be good choices for reloading the 10mm.

I plan to run around a bit tomorrow and see if I can find any Blue Dot or AA7.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

Longshot is readily available and will do a very good job in the 10mm.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Longshot is great for full power loads.

 

[quaid]

While blue dot worked just fine in10mm for me it does produce appreciable muzzle blast.

I use it for range fun only in top loads most preferably with friends who are already shooters- for the fun'sies.

The manuals will tell you what loads produce the top velocities safely. If I was going off-book I would consider 800x and longshot.

But I always shoot for the fun'sies, and I'd like to keep my fing'ies and toes.

 

[Cbob]

Used to be AA#9 did the "standard" of 200 grains @ 1200fps. Those loads, like the old Blue Dot .357 loads aren't exactly on the books anymore. You can come close, but it will beat up the gun a bit in the process. (the blue dot .357 loads they specifically WARN folsk about now)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, Longshot was my second choice after AA#7.

 

[Elkins45]

Used to be AA#9 did the "standard" of 200 grains @ 1200fps. Those loads, like the old Blue Dot .357 loads aren't exactly on the books anymore. You can come close, but it will beat up the gun a bit in the process. (the blue dot .357 loads they specifically WARN folsk about now)

I have an Accurate manual from the mid-90's that lists 13.5 grains of #9 with a 200 grain bullet. Good luck finding that load listed anywhere today. The current Western Powders manual lists 11.8 and 12.5 grains respectively as max for cast and jacketed. Neither load quite makes it to 1200fps.

I can tell you that I'm never going to put that much in a case. That would terrify me in a stock unsupported Glock barrel!

I don't care for Blue Dot in 10mm: my experience is that it is very 'peaky' and not the best choice when you are getting near the upped edge of pressure limits. One of the reasons I like #9 is because it seems to have a much more linear pressure curve.

 

[41 Mag]

I found long ago that for loads with 135-150gr bullets to use AA-5, load with 160-175gr bullets AA-7, and for those running 180 and up AA-9 was the ticket.

Granted there are other powders which give good performance, but these always turned in top velocities and accuracy for me. Sighted in zeroed at 50yds the 180gr Gold Dot over AA-9 has shot multitudes of 2" and sometimes less groups and taken a dozen plus feral hogs up to 200#.

 

[Duvel]

I have an Accurate manual from the mid-90's that lists 13.5 grains of #9 with a 200 grain bullet. Good luck finding that load listed anywhere today. The current Western Powders manual lists 11.8 and 12.5 grains respectively as max for cast and jacketed. Neither load quite makes it to 1200fps.

I can tell you that I'm never going to put that much in a case. That would terrify me in a stock unsupported Glock barrel!

The new generations (I have a Gen 4) have a better supported chamber.

I'm not suggesting any course of action, but I've loaded over current max in the stock and 2 AF barrels. With new Starline those loads produced no smiles or bulges.

As always, start low and work up your loads.