All Purpose 10mm Camp Loading
I realize that 10mm ammo has been discussed in depth here but I'm posing this question in it's own thread as it is fairly specific.
I'm going to head back home to South East Wyoming for a couple of weeks. Most of my time will be spent camping, fishing, and overlanding in the Snowy Range. My Smith 1006 will be doing duty as my "trail pistol" (the purpose it was originally purchased for more that 20 years ago). Back in the old days when I lived in Wyoming I was carrying 175gr Silver Tips as they seemed like the best commercial round available in the 1990s with the limited information out there. Lots has changed - so my basic question is what would be the best loading with the following in mind:
Most dangerous threat - Large Black Bear or Mountain Lion (no Grizzly's in SE Wyoming).
Most likely threat - Aggressive dogs and two legged vermin.
Truly most likely threat - Mosquitoes, slipping and falling, and the Hi-Lift Jack
I realize that most recommend a hard cast full power 10mm load for bear or at least something along the lines of Federals trophy bonded loading, but it seems to me that by going that route I am giving up some of the terminal effectiveness against what I would most likely need to use it on. Going off of LuckyGunner's 10mm tests - my current load, then 180 XTP by Hornady is a nearly ideal SD load, but would taking that into camp get me "Killed in the Woods"?
I am leading towards staying with the XTPs but would like to hear what the current group think is.
All Purpose 10mm Camp Loading
@Suvorov, here are my thoughts:
It took a lot of testing, and some aftermarket parts to make me feel confident with a heavy 10mm hard cast load in my Glock 20. The folks at .460 Rowland have determined that a heavy mag spring will prevent FTF malfunctions. My testing confirms that. As well, I have installed a heavy RSA and added adhesive shims on the mags to prevent them from dropping free under heavy recoil. I am taking this setup up to AK next month.
For a general defense load, I'm using the new Federal HST 200gr. See links below.
I had a 1006 when they were the new hotness. It was the most unreliable gun I have ever owned. I know people like these guns... but at least, based on my sample size of one, that's not what I would want to be carrying for life safety equipment.
For black bears, cougars, and human threats I would vastly prefer to carry my standard CCW, a CZ P-07 in 9mm. The Lehigh XP 9mm looks good to go, and may even be a satisfactory grizzly load.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Clusterfrack
Results of more testing:
42 more trouble-free rounds of Beartooth 200gr lead hard cast over 9.0gr 800X, using
460 Rowland mag spring and
shims. These loads chronoed at 1189fps (sd=6; n=14).
Below is a 10 round 20yd group. The two sub-groups are due to me re-adjusting my grip from the very stout recoil. In any case, this is a very accurate load.
Attachment 37697
I also tested the new
Federal HST 200gr HST (P10HST1S) in standard mags. As expected, they fed flawlessly, including SHO and WHO with a purposely weak grip. Chrono: 1078fps (sd=6; n=16). It's great to see Federal producing a full power 200gr 10mm load, instead of the 900fps 180gr loads of the past. Recoil of the P10HST1S in my G20 was comparable to a .40 cal Glock--heavier than a 9mm, but nowhere close to the recoil from my nuclear hard cast loads.
I will be carrying these loads in Alaska soon. Intel on the ground is that this will be an active bear year. I hope we can observe these beautiful creatures safely at a distance, and avoid trouble.