loading 10mm for velocity

MeanBean said:

I've loaded to Alliant's BE-86 book max of 8.5 grains and they were very stout loads. However, I do not have a chronograph to verify the book FPS. I used new starline brass, CCI LPP, and an RMR 180gr JFP to a COL of 1.255. This load produced flattened primers in my Glock 40. There were some intermittent flattened primers after loads of 8.2 grains of BE-86. I stuck my most accurate load of 8 grains.
I am looking forward to some chrono numbers on your BE-86 journey. Please keep us posted.

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I recently chronographed 10 mm loads out of my Kimber 6" long slide, using 8.4 grains BE-86 under a 180XTP, using virgin Starline brass and CCI LPP. They averaged 1,316fps, and a 4fps standard deviation! Admittedly, it was only for 5 rounds, and they did not show any serious signs of pressure.

I've kind of forgotten about that post, actually. I've since gotten a chronograph, but I was out of BE-86 for a while and hadn't chrono'd it. I have since gotten a 8lb jug of it, but I want to thin out the herd of older, usable powders first, so it is still unopened. Longshot and power pistol were my most recent loads.

Getting some numbers for this load may be just what it takes to get me back in the reloading room. Winter blues and a job/shift change has kind of stifled my motivation. I also have a Rock 10 I picked up last year that I'm now curious about.

Admittedly I was really new to reloading when I was making those loads. At this point I'm not sure how "flattened" they were, and what that actually meant. The loads were accurate though!

This might be the push that I need to get back in there! Thanks!

It seems like BE-86 might just be the best powder for 10 mm. It is clean, fast, and so far very accurate!

They were very stout loads out of my glock 40. I think a 6inch barrel may have a bit to do with that. I have since changed the sights on the glock as well..

ooohh, now I'm excited.

I did find myself shooting the 1911 a lot more last spring, though..
Either way, I go is fine.

Now I want to shoot!

I bought the 8lber because I liked the powder in 10mm and .40. it's pretty versatile as well, plenty of data for 9mm and .45acp. Not too bad in 45 colt either!

Fatelvis said:

It seems like BE-86 might just be the best powder for 10 mm. It is clean, fast, and so far very accurate!

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That was my conclusion when I tried it. I have not tried 800x, though, but I hear they are discontinuing that powder.

I’m still using 800X and Blue Dot is my backup but maybe I’ll play with BE86 in the near future

Fatelvis said:

I recently chronographed 10 mm loads out of my Kimber 6" long slide, using 8.4 grains BE-86 under a 180XTP, using virgin Starline brass and CCI LPP. They averaged 1,316fps, and a 4fps standard deviation! Admittedly, it was only for 5 rounds, and they did not show any serious signs of pressure.

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That's pretty impressive standard deviation! Looks like I'm going to have to start working up some more 10mm loads with BE-86. Load data shows it meeting or in some cases exceeding blue dot velocity-wise.

My kimber .38 super sure seems to like this powder behind a hornady 124 grain fmj for target loads.

Lennyjoe said:

Took my new G20 with KKM barrel out and shot 800x loads with 180 gr XTP and the factory spring couldn’t handle it. Installed a 20 lb spring to slow down the slide a bit and fed fine from then on.

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Realize that was last year and was going to let dead dogs lay but noticed your still playing with it.

Try a mechtech barrel and the slower powders. Will get you higher velocity’s without off the chart loads.

Craig28 said:

That's pretty impressive standard deviation! Looks like I'm going to have to start working up some more 10mm loads with BE-86. Load data shows it meeting or in some cases exceeding blue dot velocity-wise.

My kimber .38 super sure seems to like this powder behind a hornady 124 grain fmj for target loads.

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Admittedly, I’ve never had SDs that low with pistol or rifle loads of mine, so I was ecstatic when I saw the numbers on my chrony! I know they were accurate, because the SDs were consistently going down as my charge weights were going up. I picked 8.4grns as my stopping point, because 1300fps with that low of SDs already has surpassed my expectations for a great 200yd silhouette load, and I don’t want to punish my brand new pistol by upping the charge.

jmorris said:

Try a mechtech barrel and the slower powders. Will get you higher velocity’s without off the chart loads.

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It’s shooting great now that it’s all tuned in. The 180 XTP and 800X is my go to load until I use up the 4 lbs of that powder I have left. Gonna give BE 86 a try after I run out

I wish Quickload included BE-86 in it’s powder menu. I would love to know what pressure the 8.4\180 XTP load is working at.(Neco are you listening?) lol
I am tempted to measure the head expansion on virgin cases, to try and determine the pressures that way. Can anybody direct me as to how much expansion is the limit point? Thanks!

jmorris said:

Realize that was last year and was going to let dead dogs lay but noticed your still playing with it.

Try a mechtech barrel and the slower powders. Will get you higher velocity’s without off the chart loads.

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I tried this but only got 1,450 fps with a 180gr bullet. That's not much faster than the 1,419 fps I got with a 7 inch barrel.

Ssshhh!! Stop telling everybody about BE-86!

sequins said:

I'll load some BE-86 once I can find some bullets. RMR has been out of stock since I made this thread

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I’ve found that it’s hard to beat the Hornady XTP for pure accuracy. And it seems to be more available that RMR or Berrys

sequins said:

I'll load some BE-86 once I can find some bullets. RMR has been out of stock since I made this thread

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RMR has .40 FMJ, 180 gr, if you’re looking for those. I think they just came back into stock within the last couple days.
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...tal-jacket-round-nose-flat-point-bullets-new/

Sounds like I need to try BE-86.

Craig28 said:

I started playing around with Alliant's BE-86 recently and it seemed promising. It's basically a faster burning, flash suppressed formulation of power pistol.

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Toprudder said:

BE86 is my preferred powder for 10mm

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Fatelvis said:

They averaged 1,316fps, and a 4fps standard deviation!

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Fatelvis said:

It seems like BE-86 might just be the best powder for 10 mm. It is clean, fast, and so far very accurate!

Click to expand...

Lennyjoe said:

but maybe I’ll play with BE86 in the near future

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Craig28 said:

That's pretty impressive standard deviation! Looks like I'm going to have to start working up some more 10mm loads with BE-86. Load data shows it meeting or in some cases exceeding blue dot velocity-wise.

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I marked Longshot. Details are important though. I do not load 10mm over published max(at least SOME legit handbook max. They vary enough that I may have surpassed some handbook). I have not loaded 10mm with AA#9 or N105. I have loaded 10mm with Unique (just plinking loads) 800X, Power Pistol and Longshot. All made good loads. Longshot got the most speed and lowest deviations without exceeding published data.

sequins said:

Is 800x really pushing far enough past 1300 to be worth hand trickling?

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The bane of squeezing out the most oomph in 10mm :lolz:

Longshot probably comes in a close second.

I am not sure how many 10MM loads I have reloaded, chronographed, cataloged, in many different handguns to understand it's lethality by these specs


Including factory rounds. Before this craziness started 10MM was on a serious comeback you can see all factory and reloads I have tested and still yet to test here at my 10MM Loading Depot 10MM Loading Depot | Day At The Range
Scroll down to the bottom and you will see the spreadsheet.

That leads me to a scary question itself, do you think 10MM will come back as strong as it was before the pandemic? I sure hope so.

As for powders I like AA#9, BE86 Longshot is low on the list because I do shoot a lot of 10MM revolver as can be seen on the page above. Longshot is said and I have viewed 400 rounds of of just longshot compared to AA#9 and there was more top strap cutting (Flame Cutting) with Longshot in revolvers. Many even on this forum has said this is myth, I know what I have seen but also figure it like this. If I can get close to or equal to what longshot could provide in the way of terminal ballistics with peace of mind using a different powder then why not.

Mr. Revolverguy some say I am a 10MM Aholic and still learning more about it every day.

Thanks for this thread.

Nosler 135s and longshot for ~ 1600fps

I've been loading for a 10mm since back in the late 80s. I got an IAI Javelina 7" for hunting. I've gone through all available bullet weights and loaded from mild to wild with all, searching for THE load.

During this adventure I used Starline brass and Win primers for 90% of my loads. Powders used is grocery list long, but AA has had the best results in overall accuracy and velocities from my pistol.

What I found in real field trials was the 180gr Gold Dot moving along at 1300fps or thereabouts does about all one could ask for on feral hogs and whitetail deer out to a bit over 50yds and probably further.

Year before last I picked up the G40, added a KKM barrel and went to town on cast bullets. Can't say one way or the other if KKM is best or not, they just happened to have the barrel in stock when I wanted it. That said, the combo shoots awesome, using cast loads or jacketed with the same AA-9 charge and 180 - 200gr bullets. I haven't taken a deer or hogs with this one yet but see no reason it won't preform equally as well.

I personally don't see the real world need to push the envelope on the loads. Top end listed loads are plenty potent for 98% of huntable game, and probably more than most average shooters can handle without LOTS of practice.

Have fun, but be safe.

I'm bringing this thread back up, due to all the talk of BE-86.

I just loaded my first 50 10mm cartridges. RMR 180gr FMJ-FN in new Starline brass with CCI 300 primers. 10 each @ 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.3, and 8.5gr. COAL is running 1.250-1.255", which is less consistent than I'd like, but likely due to new Starline brass having a lot of friction, and the bullets seating rather deep in 10mm.

I'll be picking the G20 up next week and will run some accuracy tests with these loads. Then evaluate and run something over the chronograph either next weekend or the weekend after. Assuming everything goes to plan.