Longshot and 10mm

[mleeber]

Been loading 10mm, and everything else, for decades. My goto 10mm powder has been Blue Dot and it works well but I thought I would try Longshot since that is what I load in 20ga and I have a bunch of it (and ot gets me a few more FPS according to the book). I loaded 5 groups of five rounds starting at 8.3gr going up to the "book max" of 9.5gr in .3gr increments. I am using Hodgdon data for the 180gr Sierra bullet but I am actually using Zero 180gr JHPs, bullets I have been using for a very long time and they perform well and look like exact copies of the Hornady XTP without the cannelure. All these were tested out of a new XDm-10 4.5 that I just picked up. All charges were thrown and measured with a Pact dispenser and scale. Bullets were seated to 1.260 and lightly crimped. My results were very surprising. Primers were CCI LP and brass, while consistent within the 5 round groups was either PPU, Hornady or A USA. All rounds showed primer flow (even the blue dot loads) but none of the primers were what I would consider flat. According to Hodgdon's load data 9.5grs out of a 5" barrel maxes out at 1287FPS. I hit that with 8.9grs out of a 4.5 inch barrel. The firing pin hole in the XDm slide is quite large so the primer flow is not as concerning as it would be on say a GLOCK but it was significant. Anyone else using Longshot and seeing some issue towards the top of the "book" loads? For comparison I put the Blue Dot velocities below the Longshot data. In the pic the case marked with red is the top and silver is the bottom charge.

Longshot
Charge.       Ave FPS.       SD
8.3              1212.           2.91
8.6              1259            3.07
8.9              1288            8.69
9.2              1315            8.27
9.5              1353            13.11

Blue Dot
Charge.       Ave FPS.       SD
9.6              1099.           14.92
9.9              1134            15.60
10.2            1163            22.63
10.5            1190            9.23
10.7            1213            9.54

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[The_Shadow]

Some good numbers!  matches what I have seen as well!  Thanks for sharing...

[Taterhead]

My G20 (4.6" barrel) doesn't get anywhere near Hodgdon velocities with 180 max data. It doesn't even get to 1200 fps. If I were in the mid 13s with a 4.5", something doesn't seem right. You are right to have doubts. I suspect something with weighing of powder.

[4given]

Thanks for sharing!

I just bought a XDM 10 4.5 and have been developing loads too! I just loaded 30 rounds of 180gr XTP over 9.0 grains of Longshot lit with CCI 300 primers in Starline cases.  It will be interesting to see how my velocities will compare to yours. I will post my results in this thread. Did you use standard or magnum primers?

[Azrckcrawler]

The barrels on the 10mm XDM's  seem to be on the tighter end of the tolerance scale. I have seen quite a few reports of faster than expected velocities for the given barrel length. How's the accuracy? I have found longshot is easy to get velocity but I never found an accurate charge in any of my 10mm`s. Most groupings were 5 to 6 inches at 12yds, very shotgun like. AA7,  AA9 and Blue Dot all delivered velocity and 1 to 3 inch groups at the same ranges with very little ladder testing.

[astrocreep]

Howdy! First post in here, and it's because I just got my first 10mm. Been needing to scratch a few itches, and the Sig Tacops 1911 was the one that scratched them all. So, I also picked up 1000 Starline cases, since I use it in all my straight walled reloading, and already have a bunch of pistol powders laying around, one of which is Longshot. The disparity in load data for 180 grain projectiles is somewhat disconcerting, but I am experienced as a reloader, so I am working up from what I assume to be a safe starting load, 8.0 grains at 1.260" OAL. I haven't fired the gun yet, and your data provided is not that surprising to me, considering Hornady lists well under 9.5 grains as max, but they are typically conservative for most of their load data. They did have a load for 6.5 Creedmoor with Hybrid 100V that was super hot, exceeding Hodgdon max, and warmer than I like in my rifles. Almost 2900 FPS with a 140 out of a 26" tube, nuts!

But, I digest.

Couldn't really get a good look at your pic of the cases below, but I shy away from looking at primers for pressure indicators, unless in conjunction with brass indicators as well. Bright spots on the head, or expansion are the most trustworthy indicators. I don't even know why I'm writing all this, other than to tell you all what you already know...

Anyway, thanks for the info on the XD. Hopefully, you and I (as well as everyone else handloading for their firearms) can get a nice, accurate, SAFE load developed that does what we need it to, and does it every time.

Good luck!

[Kenk]

Welcome astrocreep!

[astrocreep]

Welcome astrocreep!

Muchas garcias! 

[slayer61]

astrocreep,
   I'm a fan of Longshot in my 180 grain 10mm rounds. I have found that I like 9 grains in MY guns.

Welcome, shoot safe & have fun

[astrocreep]

Will do. Thanks!

[RDub01]

Hi and Welcome

Testing 180gr bullets with Longshot in my G20-SF I found that primers could drastically change the pressure curve with LS..  Long story short, I found that Rem 2½ primers gave me the higher velocities with the lowest pressure indications.  WLP primers game me the highest. I could only make it half way to the 9.5gr max load before seeing smileys with WLR primers.  CCI 300's were right in the middle.  And I got better groups with Rem 2½s... But that's my gun..  Yours is a fully supported chamber..

[phaloxx]

I was using Unique "off the subject of Longshot". Older load data said 7.8gr was max charge. I loaded a ton up with 7.5gr and my chrono said they were between 1380 and 1410 fps out of the XDM 10 with 5.25 inch barrel. Brass and primers were surprisingly good looking. It was a hot day and I figured my chrono was messed up from the heat. Went back next day and shot 50 more before it got above 80 degrees and same thing. 1350 fps to 1400.

I've since backed off to 7.0 gr even chrono'd them today and was a paltry 1100-ish fps. very manageable very low recoil out of my new sig sauer emperor scorpion. guess that'll be my new range load. as a note, the 7.5gr barn burners were grouping less than 2 inches at 20 yards. really accurate load for as hot as it is. I can't get longshot to shoot very well using either CCI or Federal primers. tried remington, had one blow up as I was hand priming the cases so i'll never use them again.

i've seen people say use magnum primers but I don't really want to waste time refiguring out load data and all the time back and forth to the range going up .3 gr increments to get an accurate load. ill mainly load the longshot for 200gr cast bullets for wood's protection from bears, pregnant yak's etc etc..

[woods_walker]

I've never been a fan of Longshot. I can get the speed but not the accuracy. My standard powders for the 10mm are IMR 800-X and Accurate #9. Both of these give me the highest velocities AND accuracy that other powders don't match.

#9 lets me run high volume loading thru my progressive press. 800-X is my go-to for the very top-end loads. Even though
800-X necessitates hand-weighing every round, the benefit is POWER. And the benefit to this powder is a lower pressure at top velocity than possibly any other powder.

I recently bought some 200 grain WFN-GC bullets from Montana Bullet Works. Since this is my first go-around with a cast bullet of this weight in the 10mm, I chose 3 powders to work up my best load- 800-X, Accurate #9, and Power Pistol. My goal is a 1200 FPS load. My requirement is low ES and SD, low or no pressure signs, and best possible accuracy. And I'm loading it for a 1993 G20 with a stock barrel and RSA.

The Power Pistol loads lagged behind the others- speed and accuracy were lacking compared to the other powders.

Accurate #9 gave me great speed, accuracy, low ES and SD... but I got glocksmiles at 13.1 grains. And 13 grains didn't hit the 1200 FPS mark.

As always, the powder that worked best is the one that is the most labor-intensive: IMR 800-X. My ladder was 8.9, 9.0, 9.1, and 9.2 grains. Every step gave me improved accuracy. Cases landed about 9 feet away at my 3 o'clock. The brass looked perfect with one exception: I'm getting a dent in the side of the case from them hitting the slide. Next day at the range will included 18, 20 and 22 pound recoil springs.

If the OP is truly getting the velocity numbers he claims with Longshot,  then I'm truly impressed with the XD. I hope he'll keep giving us more updates.

[Johnnyreloader]

Longshot is my goto for 180gr 10mm.
I have seen as much as 50fps difference in top load of 9.5grs between CCI 300 and CCI 350.
With 6" Storm Lake barrel in G20, the 300 hits 1325-1350, while the 350 hits 1375- 1400.