First press and equipment reccomendations

[The_Shadow]

The powder I have used for a long time and still good for me is Blue Dot...
In 10mm for the 180 gr. 10.2 grains to 10.4 grains are great target loads COL 1.2500"
In 40S&W for the 180 gr. 8.2 grains to 8.4 grains are great target loads COL 1.1250"

Top end loads can be had with Blue Dot, LongShot, IMR800X, Power Pistol, AA#9, AA#7, a NEW Powder showing is the "NEW CFE from Hodgdon, but I haven't had the chance to work with it as of yet.  It is on my list to test its performance!
There are many loads of differing potential and some of the ones listed in the pull-down section are above most all manuals.

The most flexible manual I could suggest is the Lyman 49th to cover a broad range of bullet types and weights.
The Speer manuals are geared toward their own bullets but I have used that data with many other bullet makes in the same weights. 

Go to each powder makers websites and download their data in the PDF formats and write them for a hard copy to be mailed out to you.  This with be great reference and up to date info! 

[snuffy]

I"ve been using Titegroup and HS6 with good results with an Xtreme 180g HP and Federal primers. Actually shot a much better score in a recent match with a G29 than I did with a G17.
I don't load hot loads but soft to medium, whichever is the most accurate and controllable. For self defense I use Hornady or Underwood.

[tommac919]

what would be a good powder to start with?

Would like to load 180g bullets to about 1050-1100fps.   

yes, the $64k question.... Prob the best answer is what can you get right now!

Actually, there are at least 4 good powders for 10mm ( tho many more ) Blue Dot, Longshot, AA#9 and 800x are a good start.
Some meter better than others so that's also a consideration. There are also the 'classic' powders that work well.

Most of my loading is done on a progressive press. So, I want a powder that meters fairly well, fills more than half the case, and gets a good mid range power range.

I use Blue Dot now as 1) I have it 2) its a pretty good powder for 10mm.

Meter on an auto type press can be hard at times, so the BD ends up max +/- .2 grain... this may seem alot ( and can be ) but if loading at 10.2gr with the max at 11gr, the rounds can fall in 10.0-10.4 area ( mostly lower when off, rounds generally fall 10.1-10.2 ) but still plenty of a safety factor.
The BD with 10.2 comes in at about 1100+ fps.....good start load is around 10gr / 180fmj
I remember it's 7000 gr per pound so 10gr loads makes 700 bullets per

Also BDot fills more than half the case...so, 1) it's easy to see there's powder in the case before head placement, 2) a mistake double charge will be obv as powder spills over the place.

[BT8850]

Blue Dot, Longshot, AA#9 and 800x are a good start

The BD with 10.2 comes in at about 1100+ fps.....good start load is around 10gr / 180fmj
I remember it's 7000 gr per pound so 10gr loads makes 700 bullets per

Also BDot fills more than half the case...so, 1) it's easy to see there's powder in the case before head placement, 2) a mistake double charge will be obv as powder spills over the place.

Those 4 powders seem to be a popular theme in the pull downs. I guess you really cant argue with it. Blue Dot seems like it would be pretty good for my purposes, I'd imagine being so popular and widely usable that it's hard to find right now! Any tips on buying powder? I would assume buying it online would only be beneficial if ordering a lot to offset the shipping, I know I've read on here about primers being expensive to ship. Looking on gunbot I see cabelas has Longshot . . .  What did you mean by "classic" powders?

The powder I have used for a long time and still good for me is Blue Dot...
In 10mm for the 180 gr. 10.2 grains to 10.4 grains are great target loads COL 1.2500"
In 40S&W for the 180 gr. 8.2 grains to 8.4 grains are great target loads COL 1.1250"

The most flexible manual I could suggest is the Lyman 49th to cover a broad range of bullet types and weights.

Go to each powder makers websites and download their data in the PDF formats and write them for a hard copy to be mailed out to you.  This with be great reference and up to date info! 

I just printed off couple of sheets for 10mm and 40sw, hogdon, alliant, accurate - hogdons undoubetly being the most extensive . . . I didn't realize there was so much for free! Thanks for the heads up! Im hoping that some equipment turns up here at the coming gun show, perhaps some manuals to be had.

Earlier I mentioned about primers, is there much variation between brands for the same size primer? I have a feeling right now its another "what you can get" type situation . . .

[tommac919]

  What did you mean by "classic" powders?

bullseye, unique, 2400.

[Geeman]

Favorite powders in decending order for me.

Pistol Power
Longshot
800X (weighed charges only for this one!!!)

I use mostly CCI 300 Primers

Greg

[BT8850]

Favorite powders in decending order for me.

Pistol Power
Longshot
800X (weighed charges only for this one!!!)

I use mostly CCI 300 Primers

Greg

Seems to be a common theme. Do you guys buy your powder/primers online or typically wait for them to show up at local shops, shows, etc? Just don't know if it will be cost effective

[tommac919]

. Do you guys buy your powder/primers online or typically wait for them to show up at local shops, shows, etc? Just don't know if it will be cost effective

I try to buy local for 2 reasons, 1) support the local guy 2) no hazmat fee , even tho price may be a bit higher

BUT, sometimes you just can't get local so it's off to the Net.  When you buy online, try and buy the most of primers&powder you can as the haz-mat shipping fee is averaged to a lower cost.
( I think it's $25 if you buy one pound or 10, primers are hazmat too. Others may know the actual price/limit )

[sqlbullet]

I typically buy pistol powder locally.  Rifle powder I buy in with a couple of friends online.  We generally wait for a good deal on pull-down bulk powder and then buy between 50 and 100 lbs.

I burn a lot of Blue Dot in 10mm.  And a lot of Unique.  Unique is for plinking loads.  Very economical, good enough performance for a paper or can, and the loads are light recoil which is good for teaching friends and children to shoot.

AA#9 is probably one of my favorite performance powders in 10mm, but it is not economical to shoot.  At least around here, Accurate powders are a little more per lb than Alliant powders, and you use 50%-60% more #9 than Blue Dot.  #9 provides an extra 25-50 fps of performance on book, and it completely fills the case.

[BT8850]

We generally wait for a good deal on pull-down bulk powder and then buy between 50 and 100 lbs.

AA#9 is probably one of my favorite performance powders in 10mm, but it is not economical to shoot.  At least around here, Accurate powders are a little more per lb than Alliant powders, and you use 50%-60% more #9 than Blue Dot.  #9 provides an extra 25-50 fps of performance on book, and it completely fills the case.

Good to know, will keep that in mind should my need for that much arise. Im surprised you don't have the BATF knocking on your door buying 100lbs of powder privately LOL!

With regard to the AA#9 filling the case all the way, what's the benefit of a full case? Soley insurance that you don't double charge?

I try to buy local for 2 reasons, 1) support the local guy 2) no hazmat fee , even tho price may be a bit higher

BUT, sometimes you just can't get local so it's off to the Net.  When you buy online, try and buy the most of primers&powder you can as the haz-mat shipping fee is averaged to a lower cost.
( I think it's $25 if you buy one pound or 10, primers are hazmat too. Others may know the actual price/limit )

I'm all for supporting the local guy as long as they aren't a part of the current gouging trend, which happens to be all too common around my parts. There are a FEW around me that have slightly higher than average prices and I'm more than happy to pay the slight markup to keep them in honest business but the ones with 45$ boxes of Tulammo 9mm? No way!

I'll keep the hazmat fee in mind though, sounds like the same ones you get when buying loaded ammo. For now I'll just try to buy a pound at a time local I suppose.

Also, with primers, are all brands of the same size primers the same? For instance will one brand large pistol primer produce more pressure, cleaner/dirtier burn, etc than another brand using the same powder? 

[Geeman]

With regard to the AA#9 filling the case all the way, what's the benefit of a full case? Soley insurance that you don't double charge?

If your getting decent pressure with a load, double it and it will blow the chamber up!!!  I don't use any powder in any caliber that don't fill the brass at least half way.

In addition to that, a decent fill (80% of the volume under the seated bullet) helps with uniform ignition.

Also, with primers, are all brands of the same size primers the same? For instance will one brand large pistol primer produce more pressure, cleaner/dirtier burn, etc than another brand using the same powder?

Primers are just like every component when it comes to reloading.  If you change one component, back down the load and work up again.  If you are pushing the limits, as some of the hotter tear downs listed here, and light them with a magnum primer instead of a standard one, the results can be, and likely will be bad.

My favorite two primers are CCI 300 and Federal 150's, mainly because they are reliable and inexpensive.  Its been a long time since I saw the Federal available anywhere, so I'm down to the CCI ones now.

Greg

[sqlbullet]

With regard to the AA#9 filling the case all the way, what's the benefit of a full case? Soley insurance that you don't double charge?

There is the insurance issue.  Not just of a double charge, but as a compressed load, I am not sure it is possible to get a dangerous charge #9 in a 10mm case and still seat a bullet, at least with 200 grain slugs.

The real reason I like it is the rule of thumb...the fuller the case, the more consistent the ignition, the better the accuracy.  I like CCI primers, but have used others when I get a really good deal.

[BT8850]

I don't use any powder in any caliber that don't fill the brass at least half way.

Sounds like a good rule to go by, I'll definitely keep that in mind!

Thanks for all the input fellas. Tommac sent me a couple of pretty good links and in combination with this here thread I've learned alot so far. I'll keep you all updated. Hopefully I'll be able to find something good at the show! Also, appologies for the delay.

[BT8850]

Just to update, I was able to buy a pound of Longshot and 1k small pistol and 1k large pistol primers at the show over the weekend. Whooo hooo! I wasn't able to find any blue dot, most of what was there was rifle powder so I figured I can start with Longshot. Time to find a press I suppose

[BT8850]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/749997/hornady-lock-n-load-classic-single-stage-press-kit?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Any input on the Hornady kit? Midway has it on sale for 274.99 plus free shipping on orders over 150, seems to be a good deal. The only thing that would concern me is it says the press stroke is 1/4" shorter than the Rock chucker. Wouldn't be a huge deal at this point in time but if I get into loading longer rifle cases it may pose an issue. Also, not sure about the quick change die bushings, seems kind of gimmicky?