10mm Cast Bullet 220gr Question

[Loadinwaytoolong]

I'm going to finally get my 1st 1911.  It's going to be a Ruger SR1911 in 10mm.

Not sure how long it will take me to find one - I'm in MN - not terribly far from where the bad cop helped ignite the current gun and ammo shortage...so the gun racks are pretty bare around here.

I've been loading my own ammo for years.  Started casting my own bullets this year and love it. 

The SR1911 will be mostly for target shooting.  Occasionally for Concealed Carry.  Occasionally to bring along camping.  We get to some really remote areas camping.  Not that we have much in MN that likes to eat people.  And I have Super Redhawk 44mag with 310gr FP hardcast on a pile of H110 for that sort of thing.  More than anything it's because I've always loved the look of a 1911 and 10mm seems like a more interesting caliber than 9mm or 45acp.

My question (having never fired a 10mm) - I was looking at getting an Accurate Molds 40-220P which seems to be similar to the Rim Rock Bullets 220gr (so I'd have some loading data).  Can I use that bullet loaded down for just general target shooting and load it hotter (and maybe with more of a hardcast lead) for any wildlife issues?  My main reason for going that route would be the shortage of all things reloading and gun related.  Simpler just to use one bullet for both and then I can just change the charge and/or powder on the press (Dillon 550) without needing a whole other tool head or readjusting the dies.

Or is better to use 2 different bullets? If so what's a good target bullet in 10mm?  I know I can add more than one bullet on an Accurate Mold block.

With the 44 I run 240gr bullets for general target shooting on the progressive press.  I load the 310s on a single stage press with another set of dies as needed since shooting 310gr bullets really isn't that fun.  Not sure if I should do something similar with the 10mm or if I can get by with one bullet type.

Figure while I'm looking for the gun I can start tracking down brass, powder and making some lead.

Thanks!

[Rick R]

I have the NOE mold for a WFN 200gr bullet that both my Sr1911 and GP100 shoot well at 950fps to 1200fps depend on how much of what powder is between primer and bullet base.  I keep different loads in plastic boxes with meticulous sticky pad labels as to which one is inside.

Then I find loose cartridges or moonclipped cartridges or a magazine in a shooting bag and can't for the life of me remember what load it is. 

I pretty much recently bought the 170gr six cavity Lee mold to use for targets over a mild load and reserve the 200gr for more GeeWhiz!  That should preserve my sanity and 30gr of lead alloy per shot. 
The Lee bullet isn't as accurate as the NOE but it serves well enough to hit 8" plates at 25 yards or Pepper Poppers out to fifty. 

[sqlbullet]

I would pick a 200 grain as the "one" all around bullet.  And I would cheat on that and buy a 5 or 6 cavity RG4 mold from NOE that comes with flat, dish and HP pins so I could actually cast 200 grain, 190 grain and 180 grain bullets all from the same mold.

If you are set on 220 grain, then I would get a cheap Lee 175 grain TC or SWC mold to go with the 220 grain mold.

[Loadinwaytoolong]

Thanks for the replies.  I've done a bunch more reading here and other places.  I think I will go with something in the 200 grain range.   I looked at the NOE RG4 molds and at the moment it looks like everything I can see in 10mm is sold out.  Though they sound interesting with the different pins.  Likewise Lee molds are sold out at Midway and some other places I've checked.  I currently only have lee molds.  Some 6 cavity and a few 2 cavity.  They seem to work fine for me.

I'm going to check a couple places I know that sell reloading stuff in other parts of the state.  If nothing else I'll probably order something like an Accurate 40-195F or maybe something with a little better shoulder for punching prettier holes to get me started and look at NOE when the demand for everything dies down.

[sqlbullet]

Get on NOE's mailing list. Best way to know when they do a run of something.

[Jimmymac46]

I have the same Ruger, new gun and new to 10mm.  Not to jump this post, and perhaps help both of us, any load info with this 200 grain lead bullet using Long Shot, or even Unique or 231? 

Thanks

[Markwell]

    WE too would like to especially  hear what folks are doing with Win. 231 and the 10mm.

    Currently we are loading 6.0-grains of 231 with an old National bullet Co 180-grain FMJ FP for 1092fps and the same 6.0gr. 231 behind a 200gr. XTP for 1074fps.  Will be getting some 200gr. LBT WNFPs soon and would like to crank them up a bit still using 231 if possible since we have a ton of it.  Comments or other loads for the 200gr LBTs would be appreciated.

[Neal]

Win 231 is a fast burning powder. It is best used for target loads.
For full power loads, a slower burning powder like Longshot, AA9,
Blue Dot, and several others, will get you more velocity safer. There
is a thread here with a massive amount of 10mm load data listed.

http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/10mm-load-data-collection/

[sqlbullet]

NeAl nailed it.  231 is really best saved for 9mm or 45 ACP.  Just too fast for best velocity in 10mm

[Markwell]

     Thanks for the replies.

     We have used W231 in most of our light to moderate handguns loads for longer than we can remember. Being an OLD IPSC/IDPA shooter we've consumed a bunch of 231 over the years and have found it more than suitable for most mid range handgun loads, regardless of the cartridge. However, this being our first venture into the realm of the 10mm, we had gathered that the 10mm needed a slower powder to reach it's full potential with heavy hard cast bullets (just like Mag. revolver cartridges); you gents have helped verify this.

    We travel some in big bear country and have found, as we've gotten older, that our favorite 320gr. LBT load in our 5" S&W Model 29s has gotten to be a bit too much for the old joints. Having tried a buddy's 10mm in a 1911 a couple of years ago we found it was easier to put shots on target than with the .44 Mag revolver; seemed easier on the joints also. We now have 2 1911s in 10mm; a Gun Crafter and a Dan Wesson Bruin.  Both have proven to be accurate and reliable and either makes a good back country companion.

    Thanks again for your input.

[Markwell]

     We have latched on to a pound of Accurate #9, have 200gr LBT bullets in hand from Montana Bullet works (sized .401") and new Starline brass.  Loading and testing should happen soon. Hoping to break the 1200fs barrier by just a bit from our 6" 1911 barrels.  Out of curiosity, we will also push the envelope with Win. 231 just to see what is possible.

[Snubbie 357]

I've been loading 10mm for years. My Glock model 40 and my Ruger SR1911 both like 180gr xtp bullets with 10.4 grs of blue dot as well as 200 gr wfn cast bullets with 8.0 grs longshot.