Being late to the 10mm game I was wondering what speed do you consider 180gr bullet to be full power.... I have seen underwood numbers as high as 1300fps... I enjoy shooting this pistol ( G20 ) alot and only wish I would have gone to it earlier in life... Right now I am pushing it about 1140fps with 180gr bullet and it seems very accurate but I can easily back it down.... Do you think 1150fps is to much for target practice or is still loaded down compared to full power loads... No sense in adding extra wear and tear on it for shooting paper BUT I also didn't buy a S/W .40 cal either... Glock says if it's within saami it's fine... I know a lot of you respring yours for super heavy bear loads...
10mm question....
- Thread starter Rsadams
- Start date
Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot
Silver $$ Contributor
With pistols, it isn't the velocity that determines max power but that hard to measure pressure value.
Granted velocity is used a lot but with the variety of powders out there, you will max out pressure with some while only attaining a "slower" velocity.
Take Titegroup for instance. pushing a 180 bullet with 6 grs, it hits near max pressure in Hodgdon's test barrel at 36400 psi but only 1154 fps. SAAMI max is 37500 psi for 10mm.
Accurate #9 is a better choice as the max load of 13.5 grs will get you 1242 FPS with a 180gr Hornady XTP
with only 34100 PSI.
I'm using Shooter's word at the moment, Major Pistol, comparable to Accurate #7.
Max load from their data is 11.8 grs to push a Berry 180gr 1268 fps at 37500 PSI or
11.4 grs to push a 180gr Hornady XTP to 1230 fps at 36928 PSI.
My load is 11.0 grs SW Major Pistol with Win LPP, Magtech 180gr FPs and Starline brass.
I measured 1206, 1206, 1207, 1210, and 1197 with the first 5 rounds out of a G20 with a Lone Wolf threaded barrel unsuppressed.
The OPs question "Is 1150 FPS too much for target practice?" I'd say no depending on the powder used.
Granted velocity is used a lot but with the variety of powders out there, you will max out pressure with some while only attaining a "slower" velocity.
Take Titegroup for instance. pushing a 180 bullet with 6 grs, it hits near max pressure in Hodgdon's test barrel at 36400 psi but only 1154 fps. SAAMI max is 37500 psi for 10mm.
Accurate #9 is a better choice as the max load of 13.5 grs will get you 1242 FPS with a 180gr Hornady XTP
with only 34100 PSI.
I'm using Shooter's word at the moment, Major Pistol, comparable to Accurate #7.
Max load from their data is 11.8 grs to push a Berry 180gr 1268 fps at 37500 PSI or
11.4 grs to push a 180gr Hornady XTP to 1230 fps at 36928 PSI.
My load is 11.0 grs SW Major Pistol with Win LPP, Magtech 180gr FPs and Starline brass.
I measured 1206, 1206, 1207, 1210, and 1197 with the first 5 rounds out of a G20 with a Lone Wolf threaded barrel unsuppressed.
The OPs question "Is 1150 FPS too much for target practice?" I'd say no depending on the powder used.
Dave Zander
Sr long range guy
Used to run 1250 to 1300 but that was in a revolver with 180’s. Likely be pretty snappy in a semiauto without a comp.
3Sigma
Silver $$ Contributor
Don't know my velocity, but it is around 1200 with Accurate #9 and a 200gr JHP out if a G40. It is likely similar to 1150 from your G20.
I say that you are in the sweet spot... more than 40 SW velocity, but not pushing hard. I like #9 as I'll overfill the case before I hit overpressure limits on the bigger projectiles.
I say that you are in the sweet spot... more than 40 SW velocity, but not pushing hard. I like #9 as I'll overfill the case before I hit overpressure limits on the bigger projectiles.
Sorry I forgot to say I was using blue dot powder.... I know it's not ideal but during these BS times you have to use what's around.... I ran into a 4 pounds jug cheap enough... Is there any way you guys could post a picture of a case fired out of a Glock that has over presser signs... I have shot tens of thousands of 9mm , no problem... I am new to the 10mm though... Right now loading 10.4 10.5 grains of blue dot behind a 180gr Hornady fmj-fp bullet... I am not trying to push it to max speed but I also didn't buy it to shoot .40 cal speed... Unfortunately most of the shelf ammo is more or less the slow side of 10mm....
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The original Norma loads are what I would call "full power" and while I loaded to those levels for years I don't think it is really needed.
200gr JTC @ 1200 fps 635 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11001
170gr JHP @ 1300 fps 636 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11002
165gr JHP @ 1400 fps 719 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11002
As for powder, for the longest time my go to was Blue Dot, I've used other powders since then (Longshot and Power Pistol) but wouldn't hesitate to go back to Blue Dot if needed. To put it into perspective, I bought a Springfield Armory Linkless 10mm on my 21st birthday and have been reloading for it nearly 30 years.
200gr JTC @ 1200 fps 635 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11001
170gr JHP @ 1300 fps 636 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11002
165gr JHP @ 1400 fps 719 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11002
As for powder, for the longest time my go to was Blue Dot, I've used other powders since then (Longshot and Power Pistol) but wouldn't hesitate to go back to Blue Dot if needed. To put it into perspective, I bought a Springfield Armory Linkless 10mm on my 21st birthday and have been reloading for it nearly 30 years.
Lol , yes it does....
Thinking about dropping down to the 165gr bullets...
Blue dot meters so horrible I bought a charge master just for 10mm charges.... Seriously I have really enjoyed this caliber , just trying not to get to crazy with an automatic... While at gts distributors today I saw a new colt anaconda in .44 and thought hmmmm... Just wasn't trying to spend $1500 in this great economy... Instead I had night sights put on my Glock 20.... See I spent $100+ and saved the $1500.... That's called bidenonomics...lol
Cecil S.
Gold $$ Contributor
Its just me but i like the results with 165grn. JHP. I need a chrono at this point bidenonomics has me playing more with pistol rounds. 10mm is a heavy hitter and the recoil from 180-200 was to much for me to get a follow up shot (just me) and I found i can manage the 165 and load it for JHP preformance. But I really want that chrono! My other favorite round to play with is 357sig.
It’s worth recalling that original Norma spec for 10mm auto was 1300fps for 170gr and 1200fps for 200gr from a 5” 1911 barrel.
In a 4.6” G20, I’d suggest that 180gr is pretty close to full pressure somewhere around 1250.
The underwood loads are likely over book in most instances. I’ve seen tear downs of those loads suggesting they are over 9.2gr of 800-X, which is a somewhat unstable powder that can easily get away from you, even though it is rocket fuel.
Now, I’m not one to shy away from loading a bit past published data in some instances. But 800x isn’t the powder I would push. I’d push Longshot or AA#9, but not 800x.
I sold my 10mm before I was a reloader, but the research I did convinced me that Longshot at around 9.0gr was the place to be with most 180s.
Thanks everybody for your replies , much appreciated for sure.... I think I will be changing powders one day.... Blue dot works and unfortunately it's all I could really find at the time but had to buy a 4 pounds jug.... I also shoot a lot of skeet so I have a few shotguns laying around and plenty of buckshot to load should the need come up.... Blue dot will also work for that also so I figured it at least could have two purposes both 10mm and 12ga heavy loads... From reading on here I think there's better powders out there and hopefully one day I can pick up a few.... I have only been loading Hornady fmj-fp but recently picked up 500 xtream plated bullets just for punching paper and will be working up a load for them next....
Yes I have and I think they are inline with the Hornady manual at 11gr but that's the only load their website lists...
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