Starting to play around with reloading for the 10MM. Does anyone have suggestions for a good "lite" load for practice. Thinking of Berry's or Ranier plated bullets. Gun is a 5" 1911 Dan Wesson Razorback. Really looking for something that is good for practice and just enough to nake major power level in case I go down the dangerous road of trying to shoot USPA with it.

Thanks in advance.

I would think that any standard .40 S&W load recipe should fit the prctice bill.

Getting to major power with plated bullet may require some tweeking. I would start with 165 gr. or heavier bullet and HS-6 or slow powder.

Mike

(Bullet Weight in grains * Muzzle Velocity in feet per second) / 1,000 = Power Factor)

Major is 170. That would mean somewhere in the 950fps range for a 180gr bullet.

The load I use to get that is with AA#2. I load a 180gr LTC over 4.8gr. My average velocity is 989.5fps. The spread is pretty low, 22.52fps and the SD is 9.79.

That load should be right in the middle of the loading data for 40 S&W and the weight of bullet and powder type. I had to extrapolate a little as the online data is for either a 175gr or 185gr lead bullet.

One more thing to add is that this was shot out of a M610 6 1/2" barrel. Keep that in mind when trying to develop your load for the Dan Wesson.

*Disclaimer* The posting of these loads in no way implies that they are safe in your firearms. Use at your own risk.

Skip,

Note that OP wants to use plated bullet. I'd expect that fast powders like BE, AA2 or TG will cause it to tumble at 900-1000 fps.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Hoptob:
Skip,

Note that OP wants to use plated bullet. I'd expect that fast powders like BE, AA2 or TG will cause it to tumble at 900-1000 fps.

Mike

Never had that problem Mike with any plated bullets. You use lead data with Ranier's anyway, at least according to their website. I have shot 1000s of plated bullets with no ill affects in this velocity range.

I have had quite a bit of trouble with Xtreme plated bullets keyholing over Titegroup. Velocity, SD and cycling were fine but accuracy wasn't there. HS-6 solved my problem. Heard - but never tried it myself - that Rainier's are less prone to keyholing due to either thicker plating or beveled base.

Have to say that my experience with plated is limited to 9x19 and .38spl/357mag. Things very well can be different in .40/10mm. In other words, take what I say with a grain of salt.

Mike

I've been buying under the belief that X-Treme Bullets have some of the heaviest copper plating.

It was my understanding that there were problems with reliability using "lite" loads in the 10mm which opened the door for S&W to push the 40S&W onto the stage, so to speak.