Kimber TLE II 10 mm

[rls_16335]

I bought a Kimber TLE II 10mm and now I'm looking for general purpose carry ammo. I have been pondering the Hornady 155 XTP or 180 XTP. I will be walking the woods some here in South Carolina, concerned about wild hogs, small dogs, two legged sidewinders and maybe a black bear or puma. I walked the woods for years, never came across a bear, hog or puma; mostly sidewinders, tweakers and yoga pants wearers.
May sidewinder neighbor told me hard cast bullet so I could take down a grizzly. I don't see roaming pack of grizzlies down here in South Carolina.
I'm looking for something that works.

[Graybeard]

If you don't handload, I'd stick with the 180gr XTPs. I chronographed them at 1187fps average with an extreme spread of only 17fps our of my TLE II. If you want something hotter, Underwood or Buffalo Bore will get you there. The factory Hornady 180s have a fairly mild recoil impulse, for a 10mm, so pretty quick follow up shots are possible.

I've never really been a fan of light for caliber bullets like the 155s. I'm sure they're fine on thin skinned 4 legged critters and 2 legged, too. But, even with the extra speed, they still don't get into hydrostatic shock range.

FWIW, I'm in the woods in northern Michigan pretty regularly. I carry my own 180gr XTPs, loaded a bit hotter. Since we've had an uptick in the local bear population, my first two rounds are XTPs and then alternate between RMR 180gr fmj and XTPs. The RMRs have a very wide meplat and I would expect them to perform similarly to a hardcast. No wild hogs, pumas are as scarce as hens teeth, coyotes, the occasional wolf, bears, and 2 legged problems are my concerns.

[Alabusa]

I have 2 loads worked up with XTPs and BE86.
155s @ just over 1400fps...for carry coyotes and deer
180s @ 1250 fps for hogs

Both are very accurate out to 50 yards.

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[Kenk]

Gotta love that BE-86, I have always been a Blue Dot fan, but have switched to BE-86, for most loads

Ken

[Alabusa]

Yeah, I switched to BE86 from Titegroup and will never go back. I shoot it in 9mm as well.

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[Kenk]

Plus I can see after a low light shot 😀