I just started handloading 10mm for a 320 XTEN and asking about favorite powders for 165 180 grain bullets. I have Power Pistol, Blue Dot, AA9 and WW231. I cant find any AA7 which looks like the most versitle one. I've read that Blue Dot has a lot of blast and flash. What is your opinions

I don’t reload that round. I’d think the W231 would be great with the lighter bullets for range use.

Its liste dfor good accuracy but not with stellar velocity. I probably will try it with some 165's though

I've been using Unique under 200 grainers.

I have settled on Hodgdon CFE Pistol as my primary handgun usage powder. 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, and .44 mag. I have had spectacular results.
There are plenty of other powder choices out there that will give you a higher velocity by 100 to 200 fps, depending on the cartridge.
CFE Pistol meters very nicely in powder measures. I don't even bother weighing it, other than for setting a powder measure. Once set, I weigh only the first and last powder charge.
Now I am stocking only three handgun powder choices in my inventory.

In 10mm, CFE Pistol will equal most factory loadings, or close to it, but will not give you the velocity of the hotter Buffalo Bore, Underwood and similar boutique loadings.
If you are after the last available fps, CFE Pistol powder is not for you.

This is all I stock now for handguns.
Trail Boss for very light mouse fart loadings. (can be hard to find)
CFE Pistol for everything between mild to wild. (available easily)
Lil Gun for high energy .500 S & W loads. (mixed availability)

I know a guy that owns a 480 Ruger handgun, short barreled version. He doesn’t reload, so just shoots full power, factory ammo. Since all his ammo has plenty of blast & recoil, he hardly ever shoots the gun. He jokes that the one box of ammo may last his lifetime.

Yes, the 10mm is well short of the 480 with blast & recoil. I’d still have some mid-loads that reliably cycle for casual range use. One can have the full power loads when desired.

Longshot is superb in 10mm. I found that CFE Pistol, BE-86, and others in that range, ran out of gas trying to achieve 1200 fps or higher with 180 loads.

TR

I've been using Unique which seems to work well. I haven't used it for bullets heavier than 180 grains.

I have loaded a lot of 10mm. But with 180gr bullets. Unique, Blue Dot and No. 7 have all given me good results. Power Pistol worked well too.

Here's are some handy spread sheets to assist you

https://docs.google.com/spread...CsE5Jcbes/edit#gid=0

https://stevespages.com/400p_2.html

My much preferred 10mm powder is Vihtavuori's N-105 which is reportedly no longer being manufactured, regrettable if so, on my part. My current preferred bullets are 180 and 200 gr JHPs. My metrics for performance are (1) around 1150fps for the 200 grain and 1250 for the 180 grain and (2) burning rate profile or pressure curve which suits the recoil preference of my right hand and my pistols' slide recoil springing. The best and most accurate commercial rounds that I ever fired, a decade or more ago, were by ProLoad which are seemingly no longer to be had. They told me they used a commercial(available only by the barrel for mfrs) powder that was most closely matched by AA #7 although I didn't perceive it to be all that close in my pistols.
Your mileage may vary.

Longshot is the way to go.

@Gustofer and @ggile
what recipes are you using for Unique.

Also assuming mild loads with that powder, what is the case lifespan that you are observing (eg how many reloads a case is good for with the recipes you are using) ?

5.5gr gives me ~1050 out of my G20.

ETA: Lyman's (49th Ed.) claims 6.1gr will do nearly that. Maybe my scale(s) or chrono are off. Not sure what they tested it out of though. :shrug: It works for me.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gustofer,

quote:

Originally posted by Orthogonal:
My much preferred 10mm powder is Vihtavuori's N-105 which is reportedly no longer being manufactured, regrettable if so, on my part. My current preferred bullets are 180 and 200 gr JHPs. My metrics for performance are (1) around 1150fps for the 200 grain and 1250 for the 180 grain and (2) burning rate profile or pressure curve which suits the recoil preference of my right hand and my pistols' slide recoil springing.

Ditto. I use N-105 for both 10mm (180g/1250fps) and 357 Sig (125g/1350fps). A big bummer for me if Vihtavuori discontinues it.

Another vote for Longshot. That was my go to for 10, and 357 SIG.