[fredj338]

I've had no issues getting 1200fps w/ 180gr & LS. I don't consider the 10mm a real hunting piece, so have only dabbled w/ the 200grXTP. I just don't get the 50yd accuracy I want from my Delta or 1006. Maybe a G20 is better.

 

[Meathead9]

I worked up a 180gr load to over 1350fps, and 200gr load over 1260fps, both using under max charges of Longshot (6" barrel). My favorite 180gr load is 9.2gr Longshot, which chrono's about 1300fps in my G20L. This powder is a Top Performer with anything from 135gr-200gr.

 

[nickE10mm]

800X has gotten me some massive velocities but I no longer have the time or inclination to hand weight every round.... SO..... here is my list of favorites:

1. LONGSHOT!!!! (can run light 135 all the way to heavy 200, meters well, best all around)
2. Blue Dot (accurate and versatile, slow burner for heavy hunting loads in long barrels, meters decently)
3. Power Pistol (meters perfectly, a bit faster powder so better for lighter 135-165gr, efficient and energetic powder, can do everything Longshot can in the lighter bullet range)

Also important to mention.... my favorite target powder-puff load powder is HP38 (W231). I load up 5.2-5.5gr HP38 under a 175gr cast or 180gr plated bullet to about 900-1000fps and it tears ragged hole groups with virtually no recoil)

 

[Cwlongshot]

WOW. Such support of longshot!! With a handle like mine you would think I would join the band wagon! But I am sorry to say I have never even tried it!! Guess I'll have to grab s pound!!!

I have burned more blue dot, 800X and AA#7 of those Blue Dot more than any other.

I like the 200 but in reading the 180 XTP may offer better prefomance as its factory rated to higher velocities afforded with that 6" barrel.

I too have a 6" KKM barrel on order and will begin working up a hunting load.

CW

 

[nickE10mm]

WOW. Such support of longshot!! With a handle like mine you would think I would join the band wagon! But I am sorry to say I have never even tried it!! Guess I'll have to grab s pound!!!

I have burned more blue dot, 800X and AA#7 of those Blue Dot more than any other.

I hear ya about BD and AA7.... BD has nearly a cult following in SEVERAL different calibers. There are more people who swear by BD than any other powder I've ever read about.... and I'm not sure why, other than its been around a LONG time and can be used for LOTS of different calibers. Its cheap and makes a big boom... and is accurate as heck, despite not metering as well as some other powders. Its also a bit finiky at low temps (burns slower, higher pressure, be aware). Anyways, despite its quirkiness, BD is still immensely popular. BD doesn't get the velocity performance that LS or 800X do, but its still 'up there' in performance.

Longshot, on the other hand, is quite new and many don't know about it. I've found its a very slow burning powder that works well, like 800X, with a wide range of bullet weights in 10mm. Less flash, meters well (better than 800X AND BD). I consider it a new "wonder-powder", really.

AA7 is probably my favorite powder for medium loads, however, that seems to be the extent of what I'd use it for. It flattens primers quickly and doesn't get the velocity the other powders do. GREAT accuracy though. Plus, I love the smell of it. The thing is, I don't need a powder that only works for medium range as I've got Longshot which is perfect for almost everything I load.

 

[Wolf Spyder]

Everyone here has given good advice for the most part. I have been handloading for a while, and I must admit that for practice loads I really like Unique Powder. It works for almost any handgun chambering from .380acp all the way out to .45 acp to include 10mm and .357 Mag. For that matter you can use any of the powders listed above; AA5, AA7, AA9, Long Shot, Tight Group, 700-X, 800-X, or even Blue Dot. They all have their positives and negitives. The fun of handloading is finding what works for you.

For me I like Unique for practice and 800-X for my Nuclear Loads.

 

[Taterhead]

Most of my pistol loads have been with 10mm Auto. I have used 6 different powders in 10mm. They are listed in the order of favorite to least favorite.

1) Accurate No. 9: Best velocities while sticking with published load data. Great for 155 through 200 grain bullets. In my G20, 200 grainers get into 1200 fps without exceeding book data. 155s go 1415 fps. None of the powders below get there without surpassing book data by a ways. Superb metering. Only downside is that you use a lot of it so less charges per jug. Great for new loaders since it you have to really try to over charge a case. Relatively low flash and clean burning. Works best when warm to hot. Not for light target loads.

2) Hodgdon Longshot: Great all around powder. Good velocities. However, some of the great velocity reports with LS are at charge weights that exceed published data - sometimes by a wide margin. Some 10mm loaders are comfortable loading charges north of book data, but not for everyone. LS meters well, and is more efficient than #9 in terms of consumption. I am using more of this lately.

3) Alliant Blue Dot: Does it all. Lots of load data and very good relative velocities using published data. Dirty at reduced charges. Very clean at max charges. BD has been the most consistently precise powder for a wide variety of bullets and velocities. It is also inexpensive. Loud. Flashy. Meters sufficiently well.

4) Accurate No. 7: Same suitability as BD, but typically not going to get the best 10mm velocities. Good velocities, not great. Fantastic metering like #9. I have found that it seems to like 155 grain Gold Dots. 180 grain bullets at 1150 fps for target loads are great with this powder. Low flash. Clean burn.

5) IMR "Hi-Skor" 800-X: Good velocities. Non-metering so must be hand weighed for everything. I have used more of this in 10mm than everything except Blue Dot. I have not reached the performance levels that others have. The terrific velocities posted by some are at charge weights hugely over book data. A bit loud and flashy.

6) Accurate No. 5: Good for lighter charges. Great metering. A little dirtier than its slower-burning siblings. Seems to group better at lighter charges rather versus heavy. I like the powder just fine, but I just do not shoot may lightweight charges.

Next on my list to try is WSF.

 

[freakshow10mm]

My favorite 180gr load is 9.2gr Longshot, which chrono's about 1300fps in my G20L.

9.2gr LS is my standby load I quote often. It's a winner and what I load behind a 180gr XTP for my defense load.

Longshot is a great powder for the 10mm. It's a reformulated HS-7.

Blue Dot is a great powder too. It's what I started loading 10mm with my Lee hand press in my in-law's basement when I started several years ago (anyone remember?). Flakes are similar to Unique, so metering is similar as well, which is acceptable.

#9 meters like water but density sucks meaning it's not very economical. You're looking at around 15gr being max charge with a 155gr bullet. F that. I used it for a while in my commercial 10mm ammunition but had to order it so often I gave up on it. #7 is a bit better, but still not as economical as others.

Power Pistol is a decent powder, but has flash like Blue Dot. Meters well enough, as it's in the Bullseye family of powders.

AutoComp shows promise, but not at published data. You need to venture beyond published max to really see ROI (return on investment). It's awesome in 9mm Major!

800X can give good velocity, but it meters like crap. It's a large flake shotgun powder developed to be metered in powder bushings, not powder measures for metallic reloading. There's much more to life than hand weighing charges and I simply don't have the patience for it. If someone wants to sit in front of a powder trickler like a chemist working with volatile substances, more power to them. I don't have time for that crap.

#2400 is a seldom used powder for 10mm. Similar burn rate as #9 and Blue Dot. Meters like Blue Dot. Can't really tell the ballistic performance between the three.

On the plinking side, WSF is your friend. Medium burn rate, meters well, great pressure curve, very accurate, readily available. My favorite plinking load is. 6.0gr WSF behind anything 170-180gr (lead or jacketed). It's a smooth recoiling load that is very accurate, easy on the weapon and the shooter, and has a good margin of error.

If you held me to two powders, they would be Longshot and WSF. If you held me to one powder, it would be WSF and you give up the upper end velocity, which is fine.

 

[Taterhead]

9.2gr LS is my standby load I quote often. It's a winner and what I load behind a 180gr XTP for my defense load.

I like that load too (actually 9.3 grains). It functions very well. It is by far what I have shot most with Longshot. I was shooting at an 18 inch steel gong at 165 yards and it worked very well. I would have expected higher velocities though. 9.3 grains gets 1185 fps in my G20. I am curious about the velocities you are getting. I noticed that Meathead is getting 1300 in his longslide.

 

[bush pilot]

AA7 for most of my plinking. I've got a 45# keg in my warehouse, I'll be liking it for quite a while.

 

[freakshow10mm]

I like that load too (actually 9.3 grains). It functions very well. It is by far what I have shot most with Longshot. I was shooting at an 18 inch steel gong at 165 yards and it worked very well. I would have expected higher velocities though. 9.3 grains gets 1185 fps in my G20. I am curious about the velocities you are getting. I noticed that Meathead is getting 1300 in his longslide.

I get 1246fps in a Commander 1911 with XTP bullets. For some reason I can't find out, between 9.2gr and 9.5gr, Longshot has no ROI and may actually lose velocity with increase in powder charge in that range. Only when you go above the published 9.5gr max will you see an increase. Weird and I'm still trying to figure it out. In my experience, 9.2gr and 9.5gr gave me the same velocity, so I just use the 9.2gr load to save on powder.

 

[freakshow10mm]

AA7 for most of my plinking. I've got a 45# keg in my warehouse, I'll be liking it for quite a while.

Yup. AA powders are best when purchased in drums. Then the increase in powder charge is negated by the cost. 12.5gr #9 per round doesn't hurt as much when you're paying ~$10-12/lb delivered.

 

[fredj338]

I like that load too (actually 9.3 grains). It functions very well. It is by far what I have shot most with Longshot. I was shooting at an 18 inch steel gong at 165 yards and it worked very well. I would have expected higher velocities though. 9.3 grains gets 1185 fps in my G20. I am curious about the velocities you are getting. I noticed that Meathead is getting 1300 in his longslide.

WIth 9.1gr of LS under a 175gr STHP, right @ 1245fps+ in a 5" Delta or 1006.
With 9.4gr under a 165gr RGS, 1275fps+ in either. Good accuracy too.

 

[VN350X10]

I've seen a lot of good, usable powders listed, almost all will work for 10MM.
My own observations:

800X: Has nasty lot-to-lot variation, be careful.
Blue Dot: Works for all bullet weights, lots of flash & bang, decent accuracy.
AA-9: Clean, meters like water, best with 180-200 gr bullets.
Unique: Good for cheap plinking loads, not as dirty as it used to be.

My own personal favorites, not mentioned by anybody else.....
VhitaVuori N340 & N350.
N340 is great for 135-165 gr bullets
N350 for heavier.
You can duplicate ORIGINAL Norma velocities with these powders.
Meter well
Burn exceptionally clean
DOWNSIDE.....Vhit powders are expensive, moreso since Hogden became the importer, and they can be hard to find. But they work very well & are virtually oblivious to temperature change causing pressure/velocity issues.
Worth a try.
If you want to go to a heavy hunting load with a 200 gr bullet, N105 is going to give you great ammo, especially with an aftermarket 6" barrel.

I'm not going to list my loads here, do the research on Vhit's website, thier data is spot on. And work up your loads.
One warning....DO NOT USE MAGNUM PRIMING WITH VHIT. POWDERS.
This one I learned the hard way.....When they say "DON'T", they ain't kidding.
Besides, in controlled testing over my own chrono, it don't help anyway !

Load Safe !

uncle albert

 

[gunsup]

AA-9 :bowdown:

 

[noylj]

I like N105

 

[Cwlongshot]

Well two local dealers came up dry for longshot yesterday... gonna call Cabelas and maybe make the run this week end...

I did find some GD bullets.. but at almost 40$ for 100 I left them on the shelf... I would like to try some 135's but none of those where found either.

I did grab 200 Win Silver tips form Graffs last week...

CW

 

[21 shooter]

I've seen a lot of good, usable powders listed, almost all will work for 10MM.
My own observations:

800X: Has nasty lot-to-lot variation, be careful.
Blue Dot: Works for all bullet weights, lots of flash & bang, decent accuracy.
AA-9: Clean, meters like water, best with 180-200 gr bullets.
Unique: Good for cheap plinking loads, not as dirty as it used to be.

My own personal favorites, not mentioned by anybody else.....
VhitaVuori N340 & N350.
N340 is great for 135-165 gr bullets
N350 for heavier.
You can duplicate ORIGINAL Norma velocities with these powders.
Meter well
Burn exceptionally clean
DOWNSIDE.....Vhit powders are expensive, moreso since Hogden became the importer, and they can be hard to find. But they work very well & are virtually oblivious to temperature change causing pressure/velocity issues.
Worth a try.
If you want to go to a heavy hunting load with a 200 gr bullet, N105 is going to give you great ammo, especially with an aftermarket 6" barrel.

I'm not going to list my loads here, do the research on Vhit's website, thier data is spot on. And work up your loads.
One warning....DO NOT USE MAGNUM PRIMING WITH VHIT. POWDERS.
This one I learned the hard way.....When they say "DON'T", they ain't kidding.
Besides, in controlled testing over my own chrono, it don't help anyway !

Load Safe !

uncle albert

What kind of velocity and accuracy do you get with N340 and 135's? I have some Nosler 135's and would like to push them to 1500 if possible out of a G20. I have a replacement barrel for it. I'm sure I can get the powder, and have N320 on hand. I really like the VV powders, just don't like the price.

 

[VN350X10]

I've never clocked my 340 loads with the 135 gr bullets, as the accuracy wasn't to my liking, so I didn't bother developing the loads any farther than the starting level.
My G20 seems to prefer 155 gr Remington jhp bullets & I'm getting 1470 ave. mv from them. They also clock about 1440 out of my G29.
Sorry I can't help more on the 135's.

uncle albert

 

[WeeWilly]

I am new to 10mm loading and so I tried a number of powders so far.

All the loads I have tried were with 180gr bullets (I have a lot of them).

Right now my overall favorite is Longshot.

If I were loading 200gr bullets, I would probably favor AA#9.

If cost is no factor, VV-N105 is pretty dreamy but a pound doesn't last very long and the invoice from Powder Valley is always double when loading VV's.

If you threw a dart at the following list, you probably would be pleased with whichever one you hit:

Longshot, AA#9, Blue Dot, VV-N105.