10MM Backwoods defense load

[astocks2622]

I just bought a tanfoglio witness in 10MM, and want to use it primarily for backpacking and backwoods defense. who makes a good round for this, and do you go with a heavy FMJ or a lighter, faster JHP? let me know what you think.

 

[mavracer]

www.doubletapammo.com
look at 180 xtp or golddot.and you may need heavier recoil spring 22# you can get from brownells.

 

[MachIVshooter]

For defense against nasty critters, I would stick to 180 or 200 grain FMJ. Reason being is that most hollow point rounds are designed not only for terminal effectiveness on humans (read, not very thick targets) but also to expand at lower velocities than what the 10mm pushes. THe result is that driving such bullets as 155 grain XTP's or Gold Dot's at the ~1,500 FPS that the 10mm will results in poor penetration and fragmented bullets.

For human defense, I use 180 grain Golden Sabres loaded to 1406 FPS (5" tube). THe GS's actually perform pretty well at such velocities-much better than GD's. For critter defense, I use either 180 grain FMJ, 200 grain FMJ or 200 grain Hornady XTP's (about the only HP that gets over 12" of penetration). I drive the 200 grain XTP's at 1278 FPS.

And FWIW, running loads like the ones I've described all the time will batter your gun in relatively short order. For plinking and range use, I run 180 grain pills at 1100-1150 FPS.

 

[gandog56]

I like 200 grain Precision Bullets truncated cone moly coated. They don't leave lead in the barrel and feel like they would be nasty when they hit something. I get surprisingly good accuracy from them using 13 grains of AA#9.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=105
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=158

https://dakotaammo.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22_52&products_id=78
https://dakotaammo.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22_52&products_id=79

 

[astocks2622]

I like the sound of the DT 200gr beartooth. how does the hard cast lead affect the life of the barrel? anyone have firsthand experience?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hard Cast Lead is still softer than Copper so it doesn't harm the barrel of a gun any more than FMJ ammo would.

 

[Triple S]

If you were going to shoot the "Heavy" bullets (200-230 gr) from Double Tap out of Glock 20, is it neccessary to change to a heavy spring and after-market barrel or will the factory set-up work just fine?