Best 10mm bullet weight?

The 155, 275, 180 and 200gr loads are most commonly encountered. Most would lean toward heavier end of the lineup with optimal loading saying why carry ".300 magnum if one is only going to shoot 150gr loads from the tube". I like Hornady 155gr load best.

180, with 200 a close second. 220 & 230 gr. are specialized, and, IMO, under 165 gr. is too light for full power 10mm.

I voted 180 grain but as a bullet caster and handloader since circa 1970, 1991 for the 10mm, my "favorite" is a function of the purpose.

For range work I prefer a 175 grain truncated cone at about 1,150 fps. For self defense a 180 or 150/155 depending on the season.

If I want to have a 16 shot .357 Magnum equivalent I go with a 150 JHP that clocks across my PACT2 at an average of 1,440 fps.

A decent short range deer load is either the 175 cast or the 180 JHP. Same for pigs but I tend to favor solid cast there.

It all depends ...

I prefer to go heavy for 10mm and lighter for .40 S&W. So 180gr for the former and 135gr for the latter. Just kinda makes sense to me.

In my opinion the 180 is the best all around weight. If I can get by with a lighter bullet, then I don't need a 10mm. The 200 gr bullets are useful, just not as an all around choice. If I want to go heavier than 200 gr I need a 44 mag.

I think that the 10mm is at its best balance of speed & weight with the 180 gr bullets.

For SD, it's hard to beat those 135gr JHP's loaded up to 1600+ FPS. For range/target/plinking, the 180gr take the cake for availability and balance of speed/weight. If I was taking it into the woods for protection or hog hunting, 220gr HCFN is the champion.

If I've got to pick one, it's 180. That's what I've been playing around with loading.

165, as heavy as the 175 and 180 for adequate penetration, but also has more velocity
and bullets like the Gold Dot mushroom very well.

Early reports on the Norma 170 grain and the 180s showed those 10mm loads
to over penetrate on a human body.

I think the FBI has found the 165 in .40 S&W to be ideal as well.

I REALLY liked the Double Tap 165 Gold Dot when I had my 10mms.

The newer BARNES Tac-XP might trump the Gold Dot for CCW use,
but I've not had a 10mm around to shoot it in.




Copper is more expensive than lead, or more people would be buying the Barnes bullet.

It penetrates well and expands perfectly, but the 155 might be a bit light on Deer.
More concentrated on defensive carry than hunting.



The DT 230 gr. Equalizer load would be interesting on animals as well.


That said. I still think that the 165 offers a lot in 10mm.
More info;
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_122&osCsid=e5ku1g3dks8oonhj04gqhkivf5

For SD, it's hard to beat those 135gr JHP's loaded up to 1600+ FPS.

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You can keep 'em. I'll take my 180's @ 1,400 for defense; They actually penetrate.

I like the corbon hunters line in 180. This 250lb Fallow Buck couldnt handle it, so I think a bad guy wouldnt like it either. http://www.shopcorbon.com/CORBON-Hunter/10mm-Auto-180gr-CORBON-Hunter-BCSP/HT10180BC-20/300/Product

I'm returning some Cor-Bon 180gr BCSP's. Not because they don't work or penetrate but they don't meet advertised... three times! I donated some for Gel testing:

Page 2

http://10mm-firearms.com/factory-10mm-ammo/10mm-gel-tests/

For JHPs 180gr is the most versatile weight, 200gr for WFNs. If you handload Speer JHPs, 1300fps is the cutoff impact velocity.

I Have been carrying 155Grain from underwood ammo, always liked light and fast.. but the majority here seems to favor 180Grain so I may rethink my choice. Thanks to the OP for this thread it got me thinking .

Lighter is fine for bullets that hold together, like bonded, XTP, or copper. For old-school bullets, like generic JHPs, 180 at a minimum.

Back when I was putting rounds through my Glock 20 on a regular basis, I mostly shot bullets in the 175 to 180 gr range--mostly Winchester Silvertips or McNett's excellent 180 gr Gold Dot load. I also handloaded 180 gr Hornady XTPs. They did okay but I think when I get around to reloading for the cartridge again, I am going with the 200 gr XTP. The 10mm Auto has the potential to drive a 200 gr bullet at over 1200 fps and I am normally a heavy for caliber kinda guy.

I load 180-200 and practice with those two weights weekly. Less than 180gr I'll grab my 357 Sig.
Dennis

2zulu1 said:

For JHPs 180gr is the most versatile weight, 200gr for WFNs. If you handload Speer JHPs, 1300fps is the cutoff impact velocity.

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Yeah, I'd forgotten about that stuff.

Thanks for refreshing my memory.

I didn't vote because I can use several types of 10mm. But if I did have to pick one, it would be 180gr. However, since multiple magazines are a thing, I believe the 155gr Gold Dots will hold up very well at high speed for human attacker and be extremely effective for the same reason why 357 mag is. Then 220gr hardcast lead by buffalo bore will have the 10mm best chance on bear.

The 180s are probably optimum, but I am currently enjoying the accuracy, lighter recoil, and flatter shooting 155 XTPs loaded to about 1350 fps out of my G29.

M

LOL do they still even make these LOL

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I can make 'em. I have a friend with an IAI Javelina that's never fired a factory round out of the thousands he's put down range with it.

I really don't do 10, brass wasters that they can be. Can't find much of it at the range just laying around like ya can .45ACP or 9x19. If I had one, I'd try to figure out a way to rig a brass catcher with it.

If'n I was gonna hunt with one, I'd probably go with a flat point 200 grain. For self defense, a fast 165 or even 155 grain JHP would likely be my choice. So, for one load versatility, I went with the masses.