Test Gun: G20 with Wolf guide rod and 22lb recoil spring. On the lite side we have the Nosler 135’s and then 2 from Hornady, the 155’s and the 180’s. I used a CCI Large Pistol Primer and 3 different bullets. 10mm Load Data: Again, all once fired brass, mostly Winchester and Underwood. I didnt even really want these but the day I went bullet shopping for 10mm that was all there was at the time. I realize “gut feeling” sure as hell isn’t very scientific, that’s why I urge caution. Going on the micrometer but mostly my gut feeling, I feel fine shooting these. I am over the manufacturers top though, so again….start low and work up slow. I mic’d some cases and compared them too sized ones, no reason to think I was way over the top. 7.5 gr BE-86: Avg Vel. 1363 fps/511 lbs ME That’s what we got from the 38 Super, I say cut it off at 7.3 gr BE-86. Because I used rifle primers, watching primers for pressure probably won’t tell us anything and it didnt, they looked perfect the whole way through. Underwood factory ammo clocked in at 1335 fps/490 lbs ME. Nothing gained with more powder and it exceeds Underwood Ammo speed. Velocity as follows: 6.9 gr BE-86: Avg Vel. Start load was at 6.2 gr BE-86, I didn’t start chrono’ing until I got it up towards max, I was just getting the feel of it with the lesser charges. They (Alliant) have the OAL listed as 1.26, I went shorter, which can increase pressure, so be aware of that. So every last bullet in these tests is an XTP except for the 135 10mm which is a Nosler. I use Hornady XTP’s nearly across the board. Alliant says 6.9 gr BE-86 is max for a 124 grain JHP. That is because according to the research I did, too make “major power factor” the rifle primers take the pressure better. I use CCI small RIFLE primers in all my 38 super loads. All my brass used is either Once fired Winchester +P or once fired Underwood brass. Stock 4.75 barrel Let’s get down to business here. 38 Super Data: Test Gun: EAA Witness Elite Stock 3 with Wolf 22lb recoil spring. This is a great pistol, super accurate, reliable and built like a tank. The test gun for the Super loads has a fully supported chamber. My early 70’s Colt Combat Commander in 38 Super will never see loads over book specs. So whatever you do at least make sure you have a fully supported chamber and a stiff recoil spring. Ok? I pretty much threw the book out on this one. I HAVE EXCEEDED ALL MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS…I AM NOT SUGGESTING YOU DO THE SAME. IF YOU CHOOSE TO TRY THIS AT HOME YOU ASSUME ALL RISKS AND ANYTHING YOU BLOW UP, INCLUDING YOURSELF, IS ON YOU. THIS DATA IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. So, that having been said it’s time for my liability clause. I didn’t buy a 10mm because I wanted to shoot 40 S&W powered loads in it and I didn’t buy a 38 Super with a supported chamber because I wanted 9mm power. (obviously I still want to hit the target) The 38 Super and the 10mm, I want all the speed I can get.
Now on the flip side of that coin there are 2 pistol cartridges that speed is of the utmost importance. I could care less how fast they are, I just want to see ragged holes in my paper. There is nothing like tailor making a rifles perfect recipe. Mostly I reload because I can make more accurate ammo than I can buy. Let’s start out with a bit on my mindset on reloading. BE-86 is a newer powder, so not a lot of data to go on out there, here is a few 38 Super and 10mm loads I’ve been working with and what happened. I like Alliant’s Power Pistol, it is my go to powder for all of the cartridges I reload from 380acp all the way up to 460 Rowland, once I hit 44 magnum I switch to H110. He recommended trying Alliant’s relatively new BE-86, he said to think of it a lot like Power Pistol without all of the flash. for a good powder for high velocity pistol that was flash suppressed. By: Cary Kieffer About 2 months ago I asked my main man Smiddy at Johnson Sporting Goods in Adrian MI.