Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock Load Data

[Barras Hajile]

Hello all, new to this forum and loading 10mm as well. I recently acquired 500 Hornady Critical Duty 175gr. FlexLock projectiles and I found the factory pull down information on this site very helpful. I'm looking for advice on achieving 1200+ FPS. It looks like the consensus for the powder Hornady used in their load was AA. 5. My powder options are limited to Longshot, Power Pistol, BE-86 and CFE Pistol. Going to be ordering some AA. 9 soon as well. Will also be using new Starline brass and CCI 300 or WLP primers. I'm wanting to find a starting point with the powders I have access to, and which ones you think would be most suitable in regards to recoil, flash etc. any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any preferences, opinions or advice.

[The_Shadow]

Barras Hajile, welcome to the forum!  BE-86, CFE Pistols are said to be a flash suppressed powders.
If you are wanting 1200 fps here is what I would used, (Velocities approximate for each loading.)
BE-86  8.6 grains would be 1250 fps COL 1.255" - 1.2600"
Power Pistol 8.7 grains would be 1235 fps
CFE Pistol 7.8 grains would be 1225 fps
Long Shot 8.6 grains would be 1225 fps
AA#5 9.2 grains would be 1230 fps

[Graybeard]

Welcome to the forum and loading 10mm!

Of the powders you mention, CFE is the only one I have no experience with. The loads that Shadow posted for LongShot, Power Pistol, and BE-86, are nowhere near max for 180gr FMJs or HPs. You should have no issues starting out at those loadings with the Critical Duty 175s.

As far as the flash suppressed BE-86 vs Power Pistol, there is definitely a difference. I ran some hot 9mms a couple of weeks ago at a darkened indoor range. The PP loads had a lot more flash than the BE-86.

[Spudmeister]

Welcome to the forum.  This is a good place to be.

The answer to your question starts with asking what gun/barrel you will be shooting it out of.  If it's a G29 with an OEM barrel then you'll need a real fire cracker of a load to get 1,200 fps MV.  If it's a G40 with a 6" KKM barrel than you'll have trouble keeping the load under 1,200 fps (well... sorta  ). 

I have no idea what powder is perfect for your needs.  But I do know that Power Pistol works very well with lighter loads and very well with heavy loads.  Longshot has problems with lighter loads.  No ideal of BE-86.  I burn some CFE Pistol but not enough to offer a judgement.  What I am saying is you'll find it hard to go wrong with Power Pistol IME.

[Barras Hajile]

   Thanks for the welcome and replies. Loads are for a Glock 20SF with a stock barrel, also have a Lone Wolf long slide with a 6" compd barrel which should give me another 100+ fps.

  Probably going to start out with a test batch of BE-86 being that it is very similar to Power Pistol except less flash. Trying to go for a push rather than a slap because these loads will be for my wife and if I can achieve a lower PF while mitigating flash I think it will be less intimidating for her. I appreciate the confirmation on the flash suppressant properties.

  Thanks for the numbers Shadow, they give me a good base line to work from. Any info for AA. 9 would also be helpful as I'm leaning towards trying that as well. If anyone has loaded these specific projectiles before I'd love to hear your results for 1400+ full potential loads I will be firing. Thanks again all.   

[Kenk]

Evening Barras,
My wife isn't real fond of the full power 10mm slap either. She does however enjoy my 10.4gr Blue Dot load under a 180gr XTP or HAP. She wasn't real happy last weekend shooting some Underwood 135gr Nosler : )

[Barras Hajile]

Having a hard time developing a load for these with AA #9 because the length of the bullet is so long. I find myself creating a compressed load using 13.2 grains of AA #9 and seating to 1.255" Accurate book data shows a 13.5 Gr. max charge for 180 Gr. XTP seated at 1.250" but the XTP's are also shorter at .6210 compared to the Hornady FTX at .7120". I can't find a reference bullet that corresponds with similar weight and length to go off of. I can't seem to get the seating depth in line with a "book safe" charge while keeping the OAL to 1.260" unless I reduce the charge. Don't know what to do, safely except maybe try a different powder. Anybody else have experience with these particular projectiles? Got Longshot, BE-86, Power Pistol and CFE Pistol if they are more suitable, just not sure where to start with these bullets being so long. Is it possible to load these out longer to say maybe 1.280"? Then I get feeding issues, help?

[Graybeard]

I would try the Power Pistol and start with the load Shadow stated, which was 8.7gr, and stick with your COAL of 1.260" or even 1.255". Lengthening it out to 1.280" sounds like there might be problems ahead. A column of rubber tipped bullets rubbing against the front of the mag and hitting the feed ramp early comes to mind.

I've been comparing BE-86 to PP in 9mm lately. There is a noticeable difference in muzzle flash, muzzle blast seems about the same. Perhaps give that a try as well. Both powders should solve your compressed load issue.

[choo2x]

I would try CFE Pistol.  It worked for me getting a 0.725 bullet up to 1,190 fps.  I didn't like how the brass looked after shooting it out of the stock barrel in my G20SF, so I installed a StormLake barrel in mine.  The new *-* brass almost gauges even after being shot with loads approaching maximum pressures.  Be careful shooting max loads out of the stock barrel.

https://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/cutting-edge-190-grain-copper-solid/msg85295/#msg85295