Hottest 10mm load

[DM1906]

A quantified realization:

Every one of my firearms is absolutely capable of accuracy I will never attain.  I'm a "good shooter", but the machines are more capable than I am.  I pick and choose which firearms I shoot, and what degree of accuracy I demand.  My combat weapons require combat accuracy (get the job done, quick and dirty).  My hunting and competition weapons require competition accuracy.  Many of them cross both requirements, and I train accordingly.  I train multiple disciplines, everything from combat survival to one-hole competition.  Every incident, be it planned or otherwise, demands a specific discipline.  The weapon platform and ammunition becomes less important than the discipline employed.  It makes no difference at the time which weapon platform is available to you during a specific incident.  Choose the best option of what's available, and use it according to the discipline required.  This means, simply (a very loose example of extremes), if I have a .30-06 and a .380ACP in possession, and a 300 yd. shot is required, I'm not, obviously, going to choose the .380.  Similarly, if I'm in a small enclosed area, and the target is relatively small and mobile, the .380 would likely be the better choice, despite the infinitesimally fractional power level.  In either case, both weapons are capable of the objective, and rely only on my training and accomplished ability within the specific discipline.  My ability, however adequate, is what I have to work with, and no amount of bullet velocity, power or performance will alter that.  It is my job to make available to the situation the greatest potential of each tool available, which leaves only my ability as a variable.

If you can't control multiple firings of a platform, when multiple firings maybe required, you're using the wrong weapon, or lack sufficient training or personal ability.  If your weapon platform of choice allows this ability, then using anything that doesn't is less than ideal (although this doesn't mean ineffective, necessarily).  In (almost) every situation I may find myself in, chances are I will not have in possession the ideal weapon platform.  The answer?  There is no answer, only speculation.  The exact proper weapon platform will only be known in hindsight.

The OP question, and following appropriate argument, has nothing to do with what's "ideal", specific to any situation.  The question begs the answer, what is the limit, or the limit you've experienced?  When in a race, if you don't know the objective distance and your current position, you won't know where you are in the race, or how your ability may allow you to place.  Knowing, or intelligently suspecting, your limitation gives perspective of your current position and ability.  "A man's got to know his limitations", as said by some famous person.  The limitations can be realized or imagined.  Which do you think would be more accurate?  At what point does it matter?  Some people prefer, if not require, the realization, while others are content with the experience of others (imagined), while other people find the answer somewhere among the two.

[RMM]

Nice post DM, I agree 100% with you (and Shadow).

[REDLINE]

If you can't control multiple firings of a platform, when multiple firings maybe required, you're using the wrong weapon, or lack sufficient training or personal ability.  If your weapon platform of choice allows this ability,...

The question then is;  What is the definition of controlling multiple firings of a platform?  How many how slow is the cut off limit to the extent one is considered failed?

[DM1906]

If you can't control multiple firings of a platform, when multiple firings maybe required, you're using the wrong weapon, or lack sufficient training or personal ability.  If your weapon platform of choice allows this ability,...

The question then is;  What is the definition of controlling multiple firings of a platform?  How many how slow is the cut off limit to the extent one is considered failed?

It would depend on what "multiple firings may be required" means at the time.  Only saying, that no matter the situation, if the weapon platform you have in hand doesn't allow you to do what's necessary at the time, you have the wrong platform or your ability is failed.  Someone else brought up the "follow up shots". I just used it as an illustration, and it applies to many aspects of the discussion. Of course, we know we can't have the ideal weapon/platform available to every situation, which was also part of the point.  To say (or imply) "This is what I use and it is the only thing I will use because I can use it and it should be the only thing you should use because I use it and I'm right" is useless to any discussion.

[sqlbullet]

Multiple firing controllability....

I like the Mozambique drill as a good test of this.  From low ready, put two in the 9" pie plate "chest" and 1 in the 4" saucer "head" in 1.5 seconds at about 10'.  Faster if you can, obviously, but if you can't accomplish very reliably then you need more practice or less gun.

Just my opinion.

[DM1906]

Multiple firing controllability....

I like the Mozambique drill as a good test of this.  From low ready, put two in the 9" pie plate "chest" and 1 in the 4" saucer "head" in 1.5 seconds at about 10'.  Faster if you can, obviously, but if you can't accomplish very reliably then you need more practice or less gun.

Just my opinion.

In the "business", AKA: Body Armor Drill.  Learn it.  Live it.

[REDLINE]

So it's just another aspect of give and take depending on how each individual balances all their options out for a given task or foreseen risk possibility.

[gandog56]

Why?  Because we can.

Still doesn't matter. In 35 + years of reloading, I have YET to find the most accurate load to be anywhere near a max recipe. It's usually somewhere in the middle.

[gofastman]

I recently launched a 220gr cast bullet at 1407fps 
it came out of a 6.6" tube with a comp on it, but still, that is a SPICY meatball
I'll post details of the load once I establish that its not super dangerous

[REDLINE]

220gr cast bullet at 1407fps...6.6" tube...

Wow.  Impressive, scary load or not!

[gofastman]

indeed, i thought maybe it was an error, but it was backed up by 5 high 1300fps readings

[The_Shadow]

gofastman, that might be real values you have seen, but let us consider that you have a longer 6.6" aftermarket barrel and also assume you have a beefed up RSA as well.  The details of the load is not all that are needed but the specification of your equipment as well.  Not saying you CHRONY is wrong but out of spec / false readings are possible. 

I wouldn't advise anyone to try that loading directly without careful attention to the details and testing from lower charge weights and working up to see how those loads.  Not something for the casual NUBBIE reloader or shooter, who doesn't have a clue of what things to look for.

[gandog56]

A quantified realization:

Every one of my firearms is absolutely capable of accuracy I will never attain.


Me neither, but near max loads definitely make my groups get bigger.

I feel I DID come close, here. 21 feet, Dan Wesson Razorback 10mm, my 185 grain (Not even NEAR a max load) reloads

[gofastman]

gofastman, that might be real values you have seen, but let us consider that you have a longer 6.6" aftermarket barrel and also assume you have a beefed up RSA as well.  The details of the load is not all that are needed but the specification of your equipment as well.  Not saying you CHRONY is wrong but out of spec / false readings are possible. 

I wouldn't advise anyone to try that loading directly without careful attention to the details and testing from lower charge weights and working up to see how those loads.  Not something for the casual NUBBIE reloader or shooter, who doesn't have a clue of what things to look for.

good point.
This load is really about 200fps faster than it needs to be, I doubt it would out-penetrate a 1200fps load, probably just smoosh the bullet more on impact.

I think 230grs@1200fps is the most you can get out of the 10, both from an internal and terminal ballistics standpoint

I use some pretty heavy duty safety gear when working with this level of loading.
face shield, Dyneema gloves, and ballistic V0 goggles; because you cant always stop stupid,  but you can occasionally head it off before it kills you.

[gandog56]

Besides, if I want more, that I can barely handle, I pull out my .454 Casull!

I do love my 2 10's though.