10mm and 100 Yards

Ryushin · January 10 2015 06:40:38 PM MST

I used to shoot small bore pistol steel silhouettes some 30 years ago when I was in my teens. I had a Ruger Mark II with a 10" bull barrel that I used to do quite well with so long ago.

I went to the range a few days ago to sight in two new scopes on his and hers Anshutz 1517 rifles and to and try out 1979 Browning BL-22 and a absolutely mint Winchester 9422M that I bought just before Christmas.

I've been meaning to try out my Kimber Eclipse 1911 in 10mm at a 100 yards but each time something comes up before I can get it done. I had previously worked up a published 10mm load with 12.9gr of Blue Dot and 155gr XTP bullets. I read that Blue Dot's pressure actually increases when it gets cold, so I brought my chronograph again to the range again to see if that was true. Normally I would see just a bit over 1450fps with this load. But today with it only being a bit above freezing I was seeing an average 1496fps (775 ft/lbs of energy) Inspecting the brass I found no more pressure signs then during normal temperatures (which is essentially, none to begin with)

The normal shooting position I use to use when shooting silhouettes was to lay on my back with my left arm bent back behind my with hand on the floor and my head resting against it, my knees bent with my pistol braced against my right leg. Well, considering there was snow on on the ground, that was not going to happen. So I braced my wrist on bag and went to my task. Considering it was chilly, a bit windy, and my eyes where watering, I was fairly pleased with my results.

I was actually impressed that the fixed iron sights where actually probably pretty spot on. I feel I did pretty good considering. Only a 5" barrel compared to the 10" I used to shoot. 10mm vs .22 is another big difference.

The 155gr bullet and 12.9gr Blue Dot is smoking fast. According to the Hornady Ballistics calculator the bullet is still moving at 959fps at 200 yards and is still carrying 315ft/lbs of energy and it's only dropped 26.5 inches. BTW, this load is now my EDC since I've been carrying this pistol for the last month.

Looking forward to warmer weather when I can really see what I can be done with a proper shooting position. Looking at this I feel I should be able to be 10 shots in under a foot with a bit of practice. Maybe it's time to start looking at a longslide 1911 in 10mm. Had a great time to say the least.

The lever actions 22's where also a lot of fun. Cold weather and the wind sure does put a damper on being outside though.

Denver1911 · January 10 2015 06:51:13 PM MST

Outstanding!

100 yards is why I ordered my first 10mm. I look forward to taking an auto out with the revolver gang in the spring.

The_Shadow · January 10 2015 07:31:44 PM MST

Ryushin, Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your experience.
Hope you find the forum enjoyable!
Best regards! ${$default_cheesy_smiley}$

Ryushin · January 10 2015 09:01:33 PM MST

Thank you for the welcome Shadow. I've been a lurker for more then six months since I got my first 10mm Kimber Eclipse.

Denver1911: 100 yards might just be the start. Looking at the velocity and bullet drop, 200 yards looks very doable as well. I'm in Castle Rock. I don't know where you shoot but you might want to check out Ben Lomond Gun Club (blgc.org).

I've become enamored with the 10mm at this point. Almost everything else falls short. Building a 460 Rowland from a Kimber Raptor in the next month or so. So a 10mm Eclipse and a 460 Raptor. I'm a very happy camper.

Wolfie · January 10 2015 09:21:32 PM MST

Nice, I am happy to hit 25 yards out with my Eclipse.

4949shooter · January 11 2015 03:24:09 AM MST

That is good shooting, and shows what a lighter weight bullet in 10mm is capable of.

Denver1911 · January 11 2015 06:05:31 AM MST

Ryushin,

Thanks for the recomendation, but I don't live in Colo.

As for 200 yards ... I couldn't see the target well enough.

As for the 10mm ruling the day at distance ... Maybe for an auto, but my S&W 657 8" revolver in 41 Rem. magnum is gonna be hard to beat. 210 grains at 1400+ fps ... Very nice!

Ryushin · January 11 2015 07:30:47 AM MST

Quote from: Denver1911 on January 11 2015 06:05:31 AM MST
Ryushin,

As for 200 yards ... I couldn't see the target well enough.

As for the 10mm ruling the day at distance ... Maybe for an auto, but my S&W 657 8" revolver in 41 Rem. magnum is gonna be hard to beat. 210 grains at 1400+ fps ... Very nice!

Yea, for an auto. Revolvers always take it up another step. My father also was shooting small bore and large bore pistol silhouettes. He had a T/C Contender in .357 Max with what I think was a 12" barrel. I got to shoot a couple of matches with it and I have to say, that thing was bloody marvelous.

Denver1911 · January 11 2015 10:01:58 AM MST

${$default_shocked_smiley}$

Sounds like fun!

Pinsnscrews · January 13 2015 04:29:52 AM MST

I used to shoot IHMSA back in the day. I used a Glock with handloads and 200gr hard cast round nose bullets. At the time, I could knock down 8 out of 10 rams at 200 yards consistently on calm days. A scope mount that attached to the frame was used with a Bushnell Handgun scope. I shot in both Any Sight and Iron Sight classes as well as Freestyle using the Creedmore as noted by Ryushin, as well as the Dead Frog depending in weather. For standing class I used the 'Taco' hold where your off hand held the gun and the scope, fingers over the top of the scope, gripping it, and thumb under the forend, just ahead of the trigger gaurd. At the time,I had someone else doing the handloads as he was handloading for himself. I wish he was still around as he had some awesome molds that he custom ordered, and is what I am working at with my designs. The SWC design he made got me a deer, and 350lb wild pig and a couple of Turkeys.

If you want a really good challenge, check out the "Field Pistol" class in NRA handgun Silohuette or the equivelent in IHMSA. You are shooting steel targets from 40-100 yards with your EDC if you want. If you plan on hunting with your 10mm, this will certainly help. If you want to, you can also shoot in the big bore class like I did back in the day which starts at 60 yards and goes to 200 IIRC. Haven't shot big bore in 20+ years so my distances may be off, but I shot field pistol about a year and a half ago.

sqlbullet · January 13 2015 08:45:24 AM MST

Sometimes when I go out to the desert and have some extra milk jugs I will set them up at 100 yards (paced) and shoot them with my Witness. Standing, 2-handed I average 50% hits.

Ryushin · January 20 2015 08:00:08 AM MST

Quote from: Pinsnscrews on January 13 2015 04:29:52 AM MST
I used to shoot IHMSA back in the day. I used a Glock with handloads and 200gr hard cast round nose bullets. At the time, I could knock down 8 out of 10 rams at 200 yards consistently on calm days. A scope mount that attached to the frame was used with a Bushnell Handgun scope. I shot in both Any Sight and Iron Sight classes as well as Freestyle using the Creedmore as noted by Ryushin, as well as the Dead Frog depending in weather. For standing class I used the 'Taco' hold where your off hand held the gun and the scope, fingers over the top of the scope, gripping it, and thumb under the forend, just ahead of the trigger guard.

If you want a really good challenge, check out the "Field Pistol" class in NRA handgun Silohuette or the equivelent in IHMSA. You are shooting steel targets from 40-100 yards with your EDC if you want. If you plan on hunting with your 10mm, this will certainly help. If you want to, you can also shoot in the big bore class like I did back in the day which starts at 60 yards and goes to 200 IIRC. Haven't shot big bore in 20+ years so my distances may be off, but I shot field pistol about a year and a half ago.

I miss shooting silhouettes. I was out of the shooting sports for 20 years. From 24-44 (long story). Only recently got back into it. So to be able to shoot the above was reassuring to me that with some practice things will start falling into place again. I was only able to shoot big bore silhouettes with my fathers TC Contender in 357 Maximum a few times, but I enjoyed it immensely. Because of this thread and the memories of that round it got me looking into buying/building the same pistol as my fathers. But it looks like the 357 Maximum is only a handloaders round now and brass is hard to get for it now. I'd have to research what is the comparable round being used today for silhouettes. It looks like the 357 Maximum is capable of outstanding accuracy.
http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=121

Quote from: sqlbullet on January 13 2015 08:45:24 AM MST
Sometimes when I go out to the desert and have some extra milk jugs I will set them up at 100 yards (paced) and shoot them with my Witness. Standing, 2-handed I average 50% hits.

It's always nice when things come together. When I was younger I could hit the steel rams with my Mark 2 about 50-60% of the time as well. Today it would probably be about 10%. Going to have to start practicing some more. And now that I'm older and can afford the big bore stuff it takes everything up a level.