180 Coated Bullets with Longshot Powder

[aOWENc]

Hey everyone!

I used the search function and found some results on this, but I'm a new reloader  and was hoping someone could maybe give a but more of a definitive max charge or starting point for my particular setup.

I'm shooting a Glock 20 with a KKM Barrel. I just got a chronograph as well so I'm looking forward to reporting back with whatever results I get.

I was hoping to pick up some blue dot and Accurate #9, but my local store only had a few pounds of longshot so that's what I'm rolling with.

I'll be using mixed brass and Remington large Pistol primers.

For bullets I have some 180 grain coated FP from Hoosier Bullets. He's a preacher that lives about an hour away from me in Indiana, and he makes a great product for a really good price.

I'm currently planning on starting at 9.0 grains and doing a plunk test with my barrel, my manuals show a minimum OAL of 1.250" for 180 grain lead. I will then work up a latter test and hopefully be able to get 1250 FPS safely.  How does this sound to people with a lot more experience than myself?

Any additional advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

Note: I accidentally posted this in the general reloading section before I noticed there was a 10mm loading section. Mods please feel free to delete my original post in the normal reloading section. Sorry for the confusion.

[The_Shadow]

aOWENc, Well with Longshot and 180 grain bullets I stop 9.6 grains.  I have shot loads above that matching some of the boutique commercial loaded stuff.  Those higher loads actually have over stretched the brass, bulged and some even "SMILED" the casings.  So if you are using used brass you may want to stay at the 9.6 or lower charge weights.

Pushing cast bullets too high can also affect the accuracy...Best of luck!

[slayer61]

FWIW I have used Longshot with a 180 grain JHP, but not (yet) a coated lead. 9 grains of Longshot with a Montana Gold 180 JHP was good for about 1275 out of my Kimber. It's my "STD" 10mm load.

[Graybeard]

LongShot seems to run better as you get to higher pressures. It's great for hot stuff. I typically load FMJ, JHP, and occasionally plated bullets in 10mm. Your cast/coated bullets should get to those pressures a little earlier in a workup than copper jacketed bulets. You might want to start out at about 8.8gr and work up from there.

Too bad you couldn't find any BlueDot. While not the fastest, many of us here have come to the conclusion that it makes for a very accurate load with 180gr bullets.

You should be fine with a COAL of 1.250 or 1.255.

[sqlbullet]

Longshot should get you there, but you will be near a max load.  Shooting cast/coated bullets I would expect to reach their published velocity before I reached their max powder charge due to cast/coated bullets sealing the bore better than jacketed bullets.  A chronograph will be useful to avoid going over pressure.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.  I grew up in Parke County Indiana, though it has been many years since I called it home.  I have many great memories and don't get back to visit nearly often enough.

[aOWENc]

Thanks for all the great replies guys.

I just loaded 25, I started at 8.8 grains of Longshot per Graybeard's advice and worked up to 9.6 grain in .2 increments.

I kept the OAL length at 1.260 as this passed the plunk test and spun freely in my chamber.

I'm going to the range after work with the chronograph to test these and will report back with any data that I get.

[sparkyv]

I've loaded up 180gr PC hardcast up to 9.5gr LS with no detremental  effect to accuracy.  As sqlbullet indicated, I got to just over 1,250fps with 9.0gr Longshot in my M610, but didn't chrony the higher charges.  I've learned to like LS more and more the more I test it, and the same goes for PC hardcast.

Longshot should get you there, but you will be near a max load.  Shooting cast/coated bullets I would expect to reach their published velocity before I reached their max powder charge due to cast/coated bullets sealing the bore better than jacketed bullets.  A chronograph will be useful to avoid going over pressure.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.  I grew up in Parke County Indiana, though it has been many years since I called it home.  I have many great memories and don't get back to visit nearly often enough.

[gnappi]

I've found using FMJ data on coated bullets works fine. Stay there and you'll be OK.