Recoil spring swap for high energy 10mm hunting loads? DW Specialist

[Rmiked]

I’m planning on shooting a deer or 2 this Fall with DW Specialist 10mm. The factory recoil spring is 22# I’m reading. I’m breaking it in with SB 180 grain and Blazer 200 grain ammo (not high energy). If I were to purchase some Buffalo Bore or Underwood high energy rounds (155 grain, 1500 ft/sec) should I just shoot with factory spring? Energy in these rounds is above 700 ft-lbs. Wilson Combat sells a 24# spring marketed at these higher energy loads. Any experience out there to share? I guess I could shoot the high energy loads and see if functions correctly (loading, cycling, ejecting). I realize the combination of hammer spring and recoil spring will impact proper operation. Won’t be shooting much high energy, just some practice for POA/POI. Then minimal hunting shot. If anyone has been down this road and can share experience I would appreciate it. Thanks

[Bergeron]

If you're not going to shoot that much super-heavy 10mm out of the gun, I'd be tempted to just leave it as is.

155 grains @ 1500 fps gets you a Power Factor of 232.5- a 1911 can do a lot of shooting in the 200-215 Power Factor level, but 230+ is up there. Also, with 155s, you're not going to have as much sectional density for penetration, and the 1500 fps is not going to be high enough cause any wounding effects beyond standard handgun crushed tissue.

I'm more a fan of loads like the Federal Trophy Bonded 180 grain soft points at 1275 fps. You'll get about the same Power Factor as the 155s @ 1500, but also gain a denser bullet for penetration.

If you'd like to regularly hunt with the gun, the small-radius firing pin stops get you some slowing of the slide basically for free. As you mentioned earlier, bumping up the mainspring is even more effective than going to a stiffer recoil spring. You could swap permanently to the small-radius firing pin stop and a heavy mainspring, then go lighter on a recoil spring than factory for standard loads, and not have to use a 24# recoil spring for your hunting loads. At that level, I'd start to be wary of battering on the feed stroke, and also of feed reliability. I'm not saying that I'd expect anything like that, but I'd probably seek out a conversation or two with a 10mm-experienced gunsmith.

[GJM]

All of that, or you could get a USP FS, shoot 45 Super, and not change a thing.

[03RN]

If you're not going to shoot that much super-heavy 10mm out of the gun, I'd be tempted to just leave it as is.

155 grains @ 1500 fps gets you a Power Factor of 232.5- a 1911 can do a lot of shooting in the 200-215 Power Factor level, but 230+ is up there. Also, with 155s, you're not going to have as much sectional density for penetration, and the 1500 fps is not going to be high enough cause any wounding effects beyond standard handgun crushed tissue.

I'm more a fan of loads like the Federal Trophy Bonded 180 grain soft points at 1275 fps. You'll get about the same Power Factor as the 155s @ 1500, but also gain a denser bullet for penetration.

If you'd like to regularly hunt with the gun, the small-radius firing pin stops get you some slowing of the slide basically for free. As you mentioned earlier, bumping up the mainspring is even more effective than going to a stiffer recoil spring. You could swap permanently to the small-radius firing pin stop and a heavy mainspring, then go lighter on a recoil spring than factory for standard loads, and not have to use a 24# recoil spring for your hunting loads. At that level, I'd start to be wary of battering on the feed stroke, and also of feed reliability. I'm not saying that I'd expect anything like that, but I'd probably seek out a conversation or two with a 10mm-experienced gunsmith.

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any whitetail with a 155gr 10mm @1500 provided the bullet is tough enough.

Ive noticed significantly more damage to organs and bones in animals with bullets in the 1200-1500fps way beyond just hole pokers.

That being said, my edc load is a .357 with 170gr swc @1200fps

[Rmiked]

Agreed on the 155 grain at 1500 ft/sec for deer. Since I am new to 10mm I have looked at Buffalo Bore and Underwood offerings, very impressive. If not mistaken they both load 10mm loads within SAMMI specs and none are designated as overpressure (+P or +P+). I would think these higher (+P) loads would be better suited for a revolver vs a semi auto. I am excited to see how a load like 155 grain at 1500 FPS performs on a whitetail.

[Trooper224]

Dan Wesson makes a pretty solid gun. If the heavier loads are used occasionally, I'd leave it as is. Whitetail aren't that hardy, you don't need a cannon to bring them down.