We all know by now that the 10mm was downloaded to produce the SW 40 caliber cartridge. Well I now have a 10mm S&W pistol and I might as well load it to the max SAAMI specs or else I
wasted my money. ( I could have got a SW 40 if I wanted downloaded ammo.)
I have been researching all the factory LoadData manuals for the hottest 10mm Auto loads and way below here is the results of my research.

I am leaning toward mid range size HP bullets of 150gr-165gr for self defense so it looks like I will be using either Winchester AutoComp or Accurate ArmsAA#9 or IMR 800-X.

Does anyone have any experience with these and recomendations as they all produce some pretty impressive performances according to the tables.
I am interested in bulkiness ( dont want to have to compress loads, how clean the powder burns, muzzle flash could be a factor if all other items were equal, cost is always
important, hey and availability might be the most important criteria.


Accurate Arms manual ( 2010 data ) using no 9 powder---------
155gr AA#9 15.9gr 1414 fps
165gr AA#9 15.0gr 1341 fps
180gr AA#9 13.5gr 1242 fps

180 Speer JHP: AA#9 14.5gr 1290fps 32,600psi ( AA Manual #2)
180 XTP: AA#9 13.5gr 1242fps 34,100 psi
( AA Manual #2 )

200gr AA#9 12.5gr 1170 fps (2010 data)

Hodgdon manual (2010 data) -------------------------
135gr Autocomp 9.5gr 1476fps 34,500 psi
155gr Autocomp 8.9gr 1362fps 35,700 psi
155gr IMR 800-X 9.8gr 1350fps 30,000 psi *NOTE PRESSURE

180gr IMR 800-X 9.7gr 1320fps 34,200psi ( 2004 IMR manual )

180gr Longshot 9.5gr 1287fps 34,800 psi
200gr Longshot 8.2gr 1172fps 35,000 psi
***note Autocomp is a Winchester powder

Accurate Manual (edition 3.2.2) re AA#7
180gr Hornady XTP (JHP) max of 10.7gr AA#7
180gr Ranier plated HP, max of 11.0gr AA#7
190gr Sierra FPJ max of 11.2 gr AA#7

Alliant Manual (2010 data)-------------------------
180gr Speer GDHP bullet
180gr Blue Dot 11gr 1295fps
165gr Speer GoldDot Power Pistol 10gr 1314fps

Hornady 7th edition Manual------------------------
Hornady’s 180gr XTP MAX:AA#7 12.0 gr @ 1200fps
155gr HP XTP MAX: AA#7 14.6gr.

Speer #14 Manual-------- 5” barrel
180gr GDHP or TMJ-FN MAX:BlueDot 11.0gr 1295fps
Strangely, this Speer manual does not list AA No.9 for 180gr bullets, but does for some of its lighter bullets in 10mm.

According to Speer their loads don`t exceed 37,500 psi, and a look at Hodgdons web site shows they load to the same levels.

That don`t sound to badly "downloaded" to me....

You say you want full power but you are using bullets on the lighter end of the spectrum. I use 200grain JFPs in my 10mm. I have posted loads elsewhere on this web site (Pistol Shooting).
Peter.

Not all 10mm ammo is down loaded to 40 vel. You also know there is no such thing as 10mm+P. DoubleTap has loaded full power ammo for ever, as is the 175grWSTHP & Hormady 180gr & 200gr offerings. Stick w/ pubished data, getting 1300fps+ w/ a 165gr JHP is safely done & far above the 40. Pushing a 180grJHP @ 1250fps+ is also easily done. I would not go 200gr for SD, just too much penetration.
FWIW, I do NOT like 800X unles you hand weigh every charge, meters very poorly. Longshot & AA#7 have worked well for me. I have some AA#9 I want to try, but haven't gotten around to it.

I've loaded my .40 S&W Sigs to 1276 fps using 155 grin and Power Pistol. I've been very impressed with that powder and it might be one to take a peek at.

I used one of the Sigs to take a small mule deer buck at 40 yards.

My 10mm is in the Javelina with the 7" barrel. I have found that the Accurate powders work very well with bullets from 135 - 180. Using #5 for the lighter, #7 for the mid weight and #9 for the 180's.

Accurate powder meters VERY well and burns clean with all of the loads I have used. For the most part I gave up on the lighter bullets and simply just use 180's for all of my shooting now. The load will easily keep under 2" at 50yds and has accounted for several feral hogs up to around 200#. With the 180's and 13grs of #9 I get an honest 1350fps which is plenty in my book for anything I will ever use it on. The longer barrel helps get it there no doubt.

I have found that both the Winchester bulk 180's and the Gold Dots shoot the very best, and the GD's get the most action.

Give Accurate a try, also don't get too awefully hung up on a brand name in the bullet dept. I have been very impressed with the Winchesters in both accuracy and terminal results on the hogs. They don't give up anything other than price.

Good luck.