I want to source some 200 grain hardcast, wide meplat bullets for use when hiking. I have bunch of bookmarks to bullet manufacturers, but most that offer 10mm bullets are meant for target/competition. They don't have the hardness or wide meplat for defense of four legged critters.
The only company I have in my collection of bookmarks that makes a bullet that I want is Montana Bullet Works - https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/10mm-lbt-200gr-wfn-pb/ (https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/10mm-lbt-200gr-wfn-pb/). Nothing wrong with them. Seem pretty expensive and just want to see if any of you know of other companies making something similar.
Thanks much.
I get good accuracy with the Montana hard cast in both my glock 40 and my ruger sr1911 using longshot powder.
I have never used these. Here is a link to Rim Rock bullets. This is used in Buffalo Bore Arms ammo.
https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/-40-10mm-200-gr-tc-the-outdoorsman-per-700.html
Rimrock has a 220gr also
So far I have the suggestion of Rimrock Bullets, and in another forum, Badman. Seems like there should be more than that. I guess it depends on what makes a tough lead bullet. I am not fully knowledgeable about this subject, but know a high BHN is not the key factor, as high BHN bullets can be fragile. It depends on the makeup of the bullet, but identifying the important criteria for a lead bullet to work on a large, tough animal, and finding the manufacturers of said bullets, seems a more difficult task than I thought.
These Rim Rock bullets look like a possibility. From what I understand, a 17 or 18 BHN might be more ideal
.40/10mm 200 gr. TC "The Outdoorsman" (BHN 15) Nice heavy weight bullet for the .40 S&W and the 10mm. 3 boxes will fit in flat rate box This is a custom bullet used by Buffalo Bore Ammo Co.
https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/-40-10mm-200-gr-tc-the-outdoorsman-per-700.html
With Buffalo Bore using them, they would likely be just fine
Interestingly, Rimrock lists an almost identical bullet with a BHN of 22: https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/tsh-10mm-200-gr-fp-per-300.html (https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/tsh-10mm-200-gr-fp-per-300.html). Same meplat and bullet weight, but cheaper. Listed as TSH vs TC for the bullet your referenced. Not sure the difference.
From my limited understanding, I would think either one would work well as long at the OAL was short enough to feed reliably, plus the 22 BHN sounds about perfect.
I load the 200gr Montana Bullet Works hard cast RNFP GC over a goodly charge of A#9. Has worked on several bears for my son out of his DW Bruin.
Markwell, thanks for that input. If you may, can I ask a few more questions since your son has had experience with hardcast on bears?
- Which of the bullets on MBW's site for 10mm did you use? I don't see a RN model as they describe them: https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product-category/pistol/?filter_caliber=10mm (https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product-category/pistol/?filter_caliber=10mm)
- What was the context for shooting bears, e.g. over bait or from a tree with hounds, and approximately how far of a distance?
- How did the bears react when shot? DRT or did they run? I have heard some complaints about hardcast sailing right through animals when shot in the vitals, allowing them to run a little before expiring. Not that there are a lot of deep penetrating and expanding bullets in 10mm such as the newer Swift A-frames and and Hornady XTPs.
- Did you have any feeding problems at any point, assuming you used these bullets with the wide .325 meplat? https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/10mm-lbt-200gr-wfn-pb/ (https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/10mm-lbt-200gr-wfn-pb/).
Thanks much.
I use Brass Monkey Bullets. They're 15bhn and shoot great with zero leading thanks to the HiTek coating.
https://brassmonkeybullets.com/40-10mm/200-gr-fp/
You won't believe how fast they get to you. When I order, they are usually at my door in 2 days, 3 at the latest.
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This is what was recommended for bear protection by Montana Bullets.
https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/10mm-noe-200gr-wfn-gc/