Recipe for 180 gr lead bullets with Accurate powders

Kaumheimer · May 03 2016 12:20:49 PM MDT

I'm new to the 10mm club and just acquired a RIA 1911 chambered in 10mm with a 6" match barrel. I'm working on some loads with AA#5, #7 and #9.

I'm shooting mostly 165 and 180 gr HP and FP plated bullets (Rainier and Berry's) and a local guy will be casting me some 180 gr FP bullets with a conical shape like the Berry's FP's. My main interest is shooting longer distances--100+ yds at silhouettes or gongs rather than paper. (So far in testing loads at 25/50 yards I've found #9 to be the most accurate at 12.5-13.5 gr over the 180 HP plated bullets while 11-11.5 gr #7 works pretty well for the 165 gr bullets).

Does anybody have any suggestions for the 180 gr cast or plated FP plated bullets? Does the 6" barrel figure into the equation?

mahalo nui loa

sqlbullet · May 03 2016 12:27:55 PM MDT

I have loaded up to 14.7 grains of #9 behind Lee 175gr SWC bullets. The bullets were cast of isotope lead and air cooled. BHN was measured at about 12. I did not do controlled accuracy testing. Minute or coke can/clay pigeon only.

I would start with the same load you are using for the plated bullets.

Taterhead · May 03 2016 01:55:54 PM MDT

I agree with starting with what is working with plated. Reduce 5% and rework. It would be best if your bullet caster can be sure to size the bullets 1/1000 over bore diameter.

sqlbullet · May 03 2016 03:28:48 PM MDT

Or powdercoat them for you, or send them to you un-lubed and you powder coat and size.

Kaumheimer · May 03 2016 07:10:28 PM MDT

Appreciate the feedback. I just called Western Powders and the guy recommended #5 with a cast lead bullet. Will give it a try and come back to everyone. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with it...

Taterhead · May 03 2016 07:25:43 PM MDT

Quote from: Kaumheimer on May 03 2016 07:10:28 PM MDT
Appreciate the feedback. I just called Western Powders and the guy recommended #5 with a cast lead bullet. Will give it a try and come back to everyone. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with it...

Plenty of experience with plated, but not cast. I like the powder for modest velocities ("FBI Load"). 8.0 under a 180 plated is great. A cast load may use slightly less powder for the same velocity. It meters very well, burns clean, and has reasonable case fill. It is not as efficient as others in the same burn speed family. Probably the only demerit.

The_Shadow · May 03 2016 08:01:44 PM MDT

This might help out some

Kaumheimer · May 04 2016 01:31:53 AM MDT

Appreciate everyone's input.

FWIW I can keep people posted on what I come up with in the load testing. I'm particularly interested in what kind of luck people have had with 6" 1911s and Western Powder products...As mentioned I have #9, #5 and #7.

Benchrst · May 04 2016 06:26:51 AM MDT

#9 is an absolute known quantity with 180gr and up, #7 with 165s and down.

My limited testing of #5 suggests it's suited for more modest velocities.

Pablo · May 04 2016 06:49:29 AM MDT

IMHO #7 is decent plinking for 180gr, but not great. Can't be loaded quite hot enough for my AR. BUT as stated I loaded some hot 155gr and it packed a punch.

blaster · May 04 2016 05:07:30 PM MDT

the only problem I have had with AA #9 in the 10mm is when I seat a hollow pt. bullet. no problems at all with plated or FMJ bullets. that powder didn't compress very well and the bullet noses were getting
deformed and crushed closed. the hole in a 180 gr XTP looked like the hollow pt. of a 22LR! Gold Dots have a big enough hole to begin with so they didn't look too bad. (still smaller than originally) I couldn't seat the bullet any farther out or they hung up in the mag. I went nuts fiddling with my seating die's adjustment. I even drilled & tapped the seating plug so I could thread a long machine screw to go into the hollow point and help seat the bullet and keep the hollow point from being squished closed. finally I switched to Blue Dot powder and never had a problem. its still a compressed load but Blue Dot compresses much better than AA #9.

Benchrst · May 04 2016 07:50:09 PM MDT

Well, 13.4gr (over book) does get a 200gr XTP going 1,260.

Not bad for a plastic autoloader ${$default_grin_smiley}$

The_Shadow · May 04 2016 08:04:01 PM MDT

I have the older AA#9 that was pure (MicroBeads) and couldn't get but 12.6 grains under the 200XTP and it would push the bullet back out from 1.2500", and crush the bullet's nose slightly. The newer AA#9 mostly flatten ball is a little better for getting more in the case.

Benchrst · May 04 2016 08:45:17 PM MDT

1.260 and the nose is a bit closed up ${$default_laugh_smiley}$

Kaumheimer · May 04 2016 09:20:32 PM MDT

Good input. So here's an academic query I have:

Do any of you have a light, target load with say a 180 gr bullet that I could try out with maybe #7 or #5 that doesn't have the kind of recoil usually associated with the 10mm?

In other words, something that approximates the classic "bullseye" load that you can get with a .45 (3.9 gr BE) over a 185 gr swc bullet that is accurate as hell but not punishing in the least? Or...am I asking for too much given that this round is more like a magnum?

mahalo