Looking for accurate target loads with 180gr. Rainier bullets lets say 950 to 1050 FPS .
Will be shooting them out of a S&W 1006 and a Kimber
Powders I have available:

Bullseye
Red Dot
WW231
Unique
Power Pistol
Universal (kinda saving it for shotguns)
AA#5
AA#7
AA#9
2400
WW296
Lil gun

A great powder for 180gr Rainier Ballistic SWC is Blue Dot.

I am loading the afore-mentioned bullets with 7.8 grains, and it comes out at 1060 FPS. (A bit hot, but still manageable).

AA No5 is also a good slow-burning powder. Slower burning powders give you more of a "swooooooosh" instead of a snappy "Pow". This will affect the feel of the weapon at the crack of the trigger pull. (I prefer it a bit snappier, but some folks like it softer. I prefer snappy with my bolt guns also - much more accurate).

But with the AA No5, make sure you do not go under the minimum recommended load, or your weapon will get filthy dirty. (It needs the higher pressures to burn all the powder).

WW231 is also a great powder for .45 ACP. A lot of competitive shooters use it at the matches. But I'm not sure how it burns with an 180gn 10mm round.

From my personal experience, Blue Dot is the bomb in the 180gn 10mm class. I am still working up a load to try with my 10mm at an upcoming USPSA pistol match. It needs to meet the MAJOR power factor, but it also needs to be responsive and not obnoxious. (Too much flip, and my times for the follow-up shots will suffer).

Shoot with a purpose!

In Christ: Raymond

This post has been edited by RaymondMillbrae: October 7th 2009 1:35 AM

Thanks for the input, but since I don't have any blue dot around I tried 7.2 gr. of Power pistol for about 1000 fps. Nice easy to shoot round but somewhat inaccurate. May be a cycling issue as I have a 22lb. wolf spring in my Kimber also I was using up some 180gr. Berry plated bullets (usually buy Rainers).
Ruled out me just having a bad day because the 180 gr. Hornady XTP's with 13,8gr. of AA#9 were spot on.

This post has been edited by Brutus: October 9th 2009 3:57 PM