Double Tap Ammo in 10mm Auto for Glock 20/29 - Any Signs of Overpressure?

[Anthony]

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading the many glowing reviews on Double Tap Ammunition for many months and have been considering it for use in my Glock 20/29 pistols, but have been worried about the quality control of the ammunition and overpressure problems.

Have anyone used this ammunition in their 10mm pistols?

If yes:

Which loading(s) did you use?

Did you detect any signs of overpressure problems (e.g., cratered primers)?

How is the realiability and accuracy of the ammunition you have shot?

Would you say their quality control is equal to the likes of Federal or Black Hills?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Erich]

I've never shot anything but DT in my 1076, and the quality is superb. It compares to Federal (I don't shoot Black Hills ammo and thus can't compare it) or any other major ammo maker I've seen. It's boutique ammo, and strikes me as probably being a bit better than the major ammo manufacturers' products, in point of fact.

I've shot the following four different Double Tap loads through my S&W 1076 (4.25" bbl, std rifling). I chronographed them this past New Year's Eve: the range was about fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and at about 5300 feet above sea level. Here's what I got.

180-gr Gold Dot JHP: average 1291 fps, extreme spread - 38 fps, standard deviation - 15.32 fps

180-gr FMJ match: average 1198 fps, ES - 50.30, SD - 21.02

200-gr XTP JHP: average 1141 fps, ES 21.24 fps, SD 9.21 fps

200-gr FMJ-FP: average 1220 fps, ES 63.47, SD 25.31

The 180-gr Gold Dot load kicked noticeably more than the other loads, and threw the brass hell-and-gone the furthest (despite the extra-power Wolff recoil spring and firing pin spring I've installed per Mike McNett's advice). I was quite impressed with its performance, though, and will darn sure keep carrying it as my walking-around-civilization load. I was surprised to see how mellow the 200-gr XTP load developed from the short 1076 barrel. I had been carrying that as my hiking load, but now I'm giving some thought to just going with the warmer 200-gr FMJ-FP load.

Incidentally, I'd been getting noticeable primer swipes, but installing the extra-power firing pin spring that came with the heavy-duty Wolff spring has almost eliminated this.

I don't consider primer swipes to be indicative of overpressure, but of an inadequately sprung gun for the ammo used. I've never seen flattened or cratered primers on my DT shell casings, and I've collected and examined every single one of them. I have five boxes of empties waiting to be reloaded, so I've shot a fair amount of the DT ammo.

These loads are all one-hole accurate at 10 yds from my 1076 if I do my part. I've never had a failure of any kind in over 250 rounds of DT through the 1076.

I hope this was of help.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

No need to worry about Double Tap in a Glock. Mike McNett, founder of Double Tap Ammunition, is a staunch supporter of the 10mm Auto and Glock pistols. If you believe what you hear on GlockTalk Mike uses a completely stock Glock 20 in his load development and testing. The Glock 10mms were developed from the ground up to handle a steady diet of original spec 10mm Auto ammunition--there is nothing fragile about them. Mike achieves the performance he does through intense research, not by taking the Neandrathal approach and simply stuffing more powder in the case--working smarter, not harder as the saying goes.

I have shot a case of his 180 gr Match FMJ load and a couple boxes of his 180 gr Gold Dot load through my 20. I had a couple FTF early on, but these went away when I polished my feed ramp. Double Tap ammunition is as high quality as you can put in your pistol at any price and a bargain for what Mike sells it for. IMO, I would rate it above Federal, Remington, or Winchester in terms of quality. From the moment you open the box, you can tell Mike takes great pride in his work--he is thorough, detail oriented, and it shows. I highly recommend his ammo to anyone wishing to experience the 10mm Auto as it was meant to be.

 

[Curare]

Excellent info. Thanks.

 

[12-34hom]

DT.

Out of my DW "Razorback" i've shot his 135 - 165 grain JHP loadings.

The 165 JHP is what i currently use as my duty load.

Both performed flawlessly. Excellent 10mm ammo.

12-34hom.

 

[Anthony]

Did any of you have to make any modifications to your guns to make them feed the DT ammo reliably?

 

[Lennyjoe]

Anthony, if your truely worried about shooting this ammo out of your stock barrel then why not spend $98 for a Storm Lake barrel from Topglock? That way you can shoot lead without issue either.

http://www.topglock.com/catalog/barrels_stormlake.htm

I put one in since I reload and wanted the extra comfort of having a supported chamber so not to ruin brass with glocksmiles.

 

[Anthony]

Hi Lennyjoe,

It is not the barrel I am worried about, but reliable feeding and wear on the Glock from feeding it a steady diet of this ammunition.

I have seen scattered posts on other boards about reliability problems possibly due to spring weights and such.

As I would carry this ammunition for self defense this would be of the utmost importance and the piece would be fed a steady diet of the stuff to maintain my proficiency with these powerful loadings.

- Anthony

 

[litework]

I used some 180 grain Golden Sabre from Double Tap in my Glock 20 the weekend before last. I actually retrieved the brass. No problems with feeding, shooting, or case bulges.


My Glock 20 has a stock barrel. I added a steel guide rod and stronger spring.

If you want to PM your address, I'll be glad to mail an actual casing for your inspection.

 

[Rockstar]

For Glocks, I'd take McNett's advice and go with a 22# recoil spring. Somebody posted some pics on one of the boards of some severely-bulged DT cases. I guess you'd just have to go to glocktalk, TFL, 1911.com, etc., and do a search.

 

[agtman]

I've shot Double Tap 10mm ammo extensively in both my G20 and G29, but the G20 definitely has seen more DT rounds than its little brother. Both use the stock barrel.

DT ammo fired through my guns includes:

* 200gn FMJ-FP;

* 200gn XTP-HP;

* 180gn GSHP;

* 180gn GDHP;

* 180gn FMJ "practice" load;

* 165gn GSHP;

* 165gn GDHP;

* 135gn Nosler HP.

I haven't yet tried DT's 155gn GDHP (@ 1475fps/749fpe) or their newer 180gn XTP-HP load (@ 1350fps/728fpe).

DT's quality control has been outstanding, IMO. Accuracy was excellent, though each gun showed a preference for certain loads over others. No signs of overpressure problems.

DT's QC is as good as any of the Big 3 (Fed, Remy & Win), and certainly equals Black Hills. While it no longer makes 10mm ammo, BHs certainly makes good ammo in other calibers.

I assume you've seen this early review of DT's 10mm 165gn & 180gn Golden Saber loads when they were first released.

http://bren-ten.com/agtman/id6.html

 

[panzermk2]

I have over 15 10mm's and have used DT for years.
Love it some of the best quality I have ever seen.
can't go wrong with it

 

[Lennyjoe]

No worries mate. I forgot to add the need for a stronger recoil spring. After changing my barrel I toyed with recoil springs. Seems the 22lb spring works best for feeding and reliability. That and the brass doesn't leave the solar system when ejected