10mm lead load info

Smee78

Smee78

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2009
Messages
617
Reaction score
84
Location
SC/TX
Hi all,

So I decided to start reloading 10mm (found a 1006 for $460 at my LGS, it will look good next to the 1076) and wanted to know for you 10mm shooters, what is your favorite 10mm lead reload is and where do you get your reloading data from? My Hornady manual list fmj/hp mostly, lead info is limited to the discontinued 180GRN lead bullet and my OLD Lyman manual does not even list 10mm/40S&W. I normally run Unique powder.

Thanks,
Smee78
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Lyman's 4th Edition Cast Bullet Handbook has two pages of loads for lead bullets. I won't quote the data, but Unique is listed with 6 different bullets. I suggest you get a copy. I use Blue Dot in my loads for a Glock 21. I also worked up a load with TrailBoss for a lite load that is pleasant to shoot and leaves the brass at the shooter's feet. The 10mm is very powder friendly, according to Lyman, with up to 13 powders listed with some bullets. Bob
 
I rarely ever load lead in the 10MM, preferring to take full advantage of its potential and having a 40 for the under 1000fps loads. However, there are some quite impressive loads that can be achieved with castGC bullets too. The Lyman manual is one of the better sources. I have an old American Handgunner Annual special issue from 1991 on the 10MM that has some load info, but they are mostly upper end loads. The Lyman covers some of them, albeit a bit watered down from those yesteryears of the 10MMs glory (Glocks, you know... screwed it up for real 10 loads! :p)
 
Thanks for the info, Looks like I need to get a new Lyman manual, I fully intend to use FMJ/HP for the thumpers, but when lower power plinking is required, I wanted to stay cheap. :) Blue dot looks good for the higher end ranges, how does it compare to Unique and what else (if any others) have you used it in?
Thanks again,
Smee78
 
AA#7 is one of the classic powders for top end 10MM loads. I also like Blue Dot.

WSF is another classic powder applicable to a wide range. I chrono'd 180gr Hornady XTP at 1227fps from my 1006 based on the 1991 load data when such things were still in the realm of *real* 10MM loads. I find that load serves most of my general needs well.

For 200gr jacketed bullets, AA#9 ain't bad.

I've never used Unique in 10MM loads. The numbers for Longshot look pretty impressive, but I haven't tried that one yet. However, I intend to do so when the need for a real thumper comes along!

BTW, I would recommend getting a copy of Handloader #253 (June 2008) for Brian Pearce's evaluation and loads for a Kimber 10mm with more recent powder offerings. Although Longshot was not included, many other recent powders are there, as well as a number of Unique loads if you like it. The 1006 perhaps can take a little more of the original OMG! loadings than a 1911 style auto, especially with the recoil spring bumped up a few pounds, but they are still impressive 10MM fun loads. AA#9 and VV-N350 top loads indicate pushing 180 Gold Dots at just under 1400fps. I'm impressed!
 
Last edited:
You can use any 40 lead data in the 10mm, it will just run slower. You are going to be working the load up anyway. Unique is always a good choice w/ lead bullets. The new Lyman shows 6.1gr-7.0gr under a 175grLRNFP. Time for a new manual I think? Other good 10mm powders w/ jacketed or lead are AA#7, Longshot, PowerPistol & BlueDot. WSF is basically a spherical Unique, almost identical in performance per charge wt. BLueDot is best used well above midrange levels or it burn incompletely. BTW, yo ucan easily run plain based cast lead bullets to 1200fps+ in the 10mm w/ great results.
 
Last edited:
I've used various 180-190 grain cast bullets over 8.8 to 9.2 grains of AA7 over the years, it gives me about 1000 fps and the accuracy is impressive, I have no desire to run it any faster so a gas check hasn't been necessary. Data is in the AA free download and other sources. I ran many 185 grain Colorado Cast bullets with good results through a 1006 many years ago with AA7.

My current bullet is the 180 gr. FP Missouri Bullet for an accurate economical plinking load.

For a woods load I use a 200 grain Beartooth WFNGC over a good dose of hand weighed 800x which gives me about 1150 fps from a 4.25" Dan Wesson 1911, I run this slightly over book without pressure issues in my gun and components, many in the 10mm crowd run this or other 200 gr. bullets and 800x way over book, and have been doing so for quite some time (which I don't recommend) so I'm comfortable with my load. 800x meters like corn flakes so it's a hand weighed proposition only.

I haven't tried it yet, but my next 10mm powder is going to be Longshot, especially with Jacketed, it's highly regarded by the 10mm crowd.

Keep an eye out for setback issues with used brass, especially when loading a shorter jacketed bullet into a case that had an original longer bullet, for this reason in my particular gun, I pretty much only use only new Starline brass for my jacketed loads. I've found yellow to be better then nickel.

Otherwise loading for the 10mm is easy.
 
Last edited:
Check out the Lyman 49th edition load manual. IIRC, there is data for both a 180gr and a 200gr lead bullet. I have loaded both using Power Pistol with good results.
 
With a 175 or 180gr cast bullet, my favorite 10mm load uses 5.5gr 231 powder.
It is a mild load, accurate in my DE and G20, and I have been using the same cases for close to 20 years.
 
I like 10.5 grains Blue Dot with the 200 grain truncated cone bullet I used to get from Bull-X. Oregon Trail makes a similar bullet in 180 grain so don't know what I'll do when my stash runs out.
 
I don't use Unique, but I use Universal Clays with 10mm lead. Universal and Unique are very close in burn rate with the data being
almost interchangeable. I don't recall the exact charge, but I'm thinking around 6.5. Data is in the Lyman manual.
 
Thanks everyone for the imput, I got a 180grain FP 40 Caliber & 10mm that should be here first of the week and am going to try these and see how they perform.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
N330 load data for 10mm
Replies
1
Views
227
tlawler
tlawler
Kyler Hamann
10mm Magnum Starline brass now available
Replies
1
Views
619
BLUEDOT37
BLUEDOT37
R
Hornady Quick Trickler
Replies
7
Views
405
H Richard
H Richard
AJ
S&B 10MM Cases
2
Replies
21
Views
982
stansdds
S
7
44 Special light load results today
Replies
16
Views
923
Tony Tiger
Tony Tiger

Latest posts

Back
Top