10mm -vs- 9x25 Dillon
Does one have an advantage over the other, or why would you pick one over the other?
I was looking at the Underwood Ammo website. Both the 10mm and 9x25 Dillon have close to the same amount of muzzle energy. The 10mm can use heavier bullets and the 9x25 can use lighter bullets. The 9x25 also has higher velocity. The 9x25 should have a flatter trajectory than the 10mm.
I really don't need a 9x25 barrel, but there is this nagging addictive monkey on my back saying "do it; do it; do it..." I have too many calibers already. I don't need another one: More brass, and more equipment to reload. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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Good question; I suspect most would say it's just a matter of personal preference... They each have their respective advantages and disadvantages, as you mentioned, so take your pick. If you prefer lighter, faster, bullets the 9x25 is probably a better option as the lightest 10mm loading usually comes in around 135gr. If you want to run heavier bullets than 9mm can offer, but want similar levels of muzzle energy, 10mm is the way to go. I'd say 10mm is the more practical option simply because it doesn't require reforming brass and new/aftermarket barrels to function in a production gun. 10mm has the benefit of being much more widely accepted than 9x25 Dillon, even though it's still a relatively niche caliber. But if you're into wildcat loadings 9x25 Dillon is pretty neat especially considering that it uses the same brass as 10mm just necked down to 9mm; if you already have lots of 10mm brass and 9mm bullets you just need to neck it down and you're good to go.
Well for me it was the challenge of using this unique cartridge in my S&W 1006. I managed to obtain a new old stock Bar-Sto barrel for Mike McNett of Double Tap ammo. I also purchased a box of each 90gr, 115gr and 125gr Gold Dots to test with.
I have no idea how many barrels he had Bar-Sto make for the 10xx series guns. But I purchased the barrel for the unique provenance of the cartridge from the S&W 1006 platform and to add to my 40S&W Bar-Sto conversion barrel.
(https://s20.postimg.cc/wjpbmozm5/IMG_0336-1.jpg)
This barrel was more of a challenge to fit to the slide and then the frame of the 1006, considering I'm not a gunsmith. But I took my time and worked in small steps to achieve the desired results of lockup and barrel fitment. However that wasn't enough as the chamber needed to be final reamed for the proper chamber depth after fitting to the firearm. So this required the work of a real gunsmith to have the chamber finished. Mr. Van of The Gunworks, 1329 1st St., Sandusky, OH 44870, did a great job to finish my project.
So I tested using some of the Double Tap ammo and was slightly disappointed because the 5" barrel wasn't achieving the higher velocities. But that didn't discourage me knowing I could handload my own ammo.
That lead to the search for a set of 9x25 Dillon dies, yes they are expensive, but the dual carbide sizing sections and they are why they are expensive. I actually continued my search finding someone that was getting out of the 9x25 game and I picked up his dies and some brass for $75 shipped...DEAL! ;D
Since then I had taken and done pull downs if the Dillon ammo and documented and studied the the powder being used. I had never seen that powder but I has suspicions. I put out feelers and sent pictures to friends that helped make a positive ID. It turned out to be LongShot that was being used and I was able to duplicate that loading.
It also allowed me to experiment in the unknown, so I worked up loads with Blue Dot and Power Pistol early on and even try CFE Pistol and AutoComp. Some of which I still need to shoot for results.
I did get a stock length barrel for my G-29 and a 6.02" Barrel for the G-20 adding to my shooting and testing platforms.
Yes I like the cartridge and still learning as time goes on. I have learned a lot and even making use of my various cast bullets from the 9x25 and 357Sig cartridges. 8)
Things i love about the 9x25 dillon.
357 mag bullets in an autoloader!!
125gr gold dots
125gr barnes all copper
140gr barnes all coppet
158gr gold dot
Once you shoot the 9x25, you are addicted. 10mm is fun so of course stick with that, but 9x25 is a step up in fun.