End of year load testing.

[fltbed]

The last day of 2021 here in western Pa was fairly overcast, warm (57 degrees) with no wind. So I decided to head out to the range and do some testing.

Test 1. Do Primers matter?  For this test I chose Accurate #9 because It's shown a preference for magnum primers in my revolver calibers (357, 44 & 45 Colt) so I figured it may show some difference in the 10mm as well.  The load is the 200 gr Xtreme FP in new Starline brass with 12.6 gr of #9 shot from my RIA 5" 1911.

CCI #300        ave 1101 fps  ES 27  SD 11
CCI #350        ave 1107 fps  ES 34  SD 14
Win std/mag    ave 1082 fps  ES 35 SD 13
Fed #155 mag ave 1129 fps  ES 31 SD 15

I didn't shoot different targets for each string but all 20 rounds went into a 6" group at 50 yards.  Since their was only a 47 fps difference between the average velocities and 54 fps extreme spread between all 20 rounds, I would say primers don't matter much in the 10mm.

Test 2.  How much do bullets matter.   A couple months ago another member posted a question about velocity with his Blue Dot loads so, since I had the progressive set up, I loaded some with my standard bullet of choice, Xtreme 180 gr HP, along with some Star 180 gr JHP and some poorly made cast coated lead 180 gr RNFP I had laying around.  The Reading powder measure was set up so if you weigh 5 combined throws and divide by 5, it comes out to an average of 10.44 grains.  (close enough)
Brass was all Starline twice fired, CCI #200 primers with an OAL of 1.250, all were 5 shot strings with targets at 50 yards.

Gun 1.  RIA 1911 5" 
Xtreme  ave 1214 fps ES 51 fps SD 22  4" group
Coated   ave 1253 fps ES 65 fps SD 24  7" group
Star JHP ave 1244 fps ES 72 fps SD 25 5" group

Gun 2.  RIA 6" Match Pro
Xtreme   ave 1297 fps  ES 26 fps SD 10 3.5" group
Coated   ave 1319 fps ES 58 fps SD 23 8" group
Star JHP ave 1304 fps ES 42 fps SD 15 4.75" group

A buddy showed up and we went over to the rifle range to shoot his new CZ 457 22 LR at 200-300 yards.  Since I had my RIA Match Pro with me and a few hundred of the Xtreme loads with me, we shot it at the 100 yard target and I surprised both of us by managing a 5" group.  The Xtreme 180 gr HP is still the most accurate bullet I've tested. (especially in the Match Pro)  I never thought I'd say that about a plated bullet but their's no denying the results.

Happy New Year!  And may she be a damn site better than the last.

Jeff

[gnappi]

The last day of 2021 here in western Pa was fairly overcast, warm (57 degrees) with no wind. So I decided to head out to the range and do some testing.

Test 1. Do Primers matter?  For this test I chose Accurate #9 because It's shown a preference for magnum primers in my revolver calibers (357, 44 & 45 Colt) so I figured it may show some difference in the 10mm as well.  The load is the 200 gr Xtreme FP in new Starline brass with 12.6 gr of #9 shot from my RIA 5" 1911.

CCI #200        ave 1101 fps  ES 27  SD 11
CCI #250        ave 1107 fps  ES 34  SD 14
Win std/mag    ave 1082 fps  ES 35 SD 13
Fed #155 mag ave 1129 fps  ES 31 SD 15

>>SNIP<<

I have lots of large pistol primers, but with primers in short supply I guess large rifle (200/250) primers may work just as well but I "thought" rifle primers had thicker cups. Did you have any ignition problems?

[fltbed]

I have lots of large pistol primers, but with primers in short supply I guess large rifle (200/250) primers may work just as well but I "thought" rifle primers had thicker cups. Did you have any ignition problems?

Whoops,my bad.  Corrected.

Thanks for catching that.  I've never tested large rifle primers in any handgun case.

Jeff

[cphills]

OP, it's interesting about the results on the Xtreme plated bullets. Years ago I loaded some plated bullets and I think were over crimped. I swear, they were coming out of my Delta Elite barrel sideways, keyholes in my target at 10yds like a shotgun pattern (don't recall what the load was.....). I read an article in blue press about going with minimal crimp and have been mindful of this ever since but w 10mm I switched to jacketed bullets only. After reading your post, I will be open to try plated again. It would be interesting to see how plated compares to polymer coated.