I have an opportunity to purchase a model 610, 6 inch. I have never fired a 10 mm round. I own 2, 41 magnum Revolvers.
I can’t really imagine the 10 mm being that much better. Is it?

Nope - If you have a 41 mag then you are good. The 610 is just a way to shoot auto rounds in a revolver. The 10mm shines in an auto.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Ammo is the same price as 9x19 in many parts of the country right now.

I’m assuming it can take moon clips? That’s a fast reload and enough of an excuse to buy it ;-)
I’d like one with hot loads in a 1911 pattern gun for bars and such

NOTHING. It's just something to sell. If you already have a solid .45 automatic and some sort of magnum revolver that begins with .4x there is no need for one. If you are one of those exceptional people who can actually use a real, honest handgun (one you can actually wear on your belt) at 100 yards and beyond, then the 10 might have something for you that the .45 doesn't, but certainly nothing that your .41 or .44 Magnum revolver can't easily keep up with - and exceed. JMHO.

What kind of bars do you frequent??!! Lol
OP, I think a 10mm shines in an auto. If you have a 41mag or even a 357, I wouldn't get it unless it was to collect.

I've never seen the attraction or need for one, but that doesn't mean it's worthless or a duplication to some shooters.

I like the 10mm because it’s 1mm bigger than a 9mm; it’s what all other semi auto rounds want to be when they grow up.

Coincidentally, last night I loaded my very first batch of 10mm ammo. Been reloading for decades, but only rifle and rimmed revolver cartridges, but never auto cartridges; .38s will be my next.

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213th FBINA

A couple of months ago I found 14 boxes of 10 mm fmj for $23 a box so naturally I bought all of it. A friend gave me his dies, some primers, .40 casings and about 3000 hard cast bullets, so now I'm looking for a 10mm Smith and some moon clips, lol.

I have a 4" 57, but it's too nice to shoot and ammo is $25/20 rounds--ouch!

With a .41, you fire six rounds, and it's empty.

With a 10mm, you still have 10 left.

In my opinion, the 10mm is a good choice for those that haven't discovered the utility of a 41 Magnum.

That said, I will soon be owning an example of each of the traditional Magnums, but I would consider the purchase of a 4" Model 610, because of the ability to fire 2 cartridges, it adds a little versatility when looking at inventory.

My 9mm 1911 will become a switch barrel in order to fire 38 Super. My 40 P229 has a 357 Sig barrel. You understand the interchangeability of the 38/44 Special with the 357/44 Magnum.

In some respects, an answer to your question would be comparable to why a 1917 or a 25/625 when you can have a 1911! Realistically, have you ever watched a skilled revolver shooter, and accuracy-wise how they can outshoot a person armed with a semiautomatic?

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Judge control not gun control!

He’s buying a 10 mm revolver, so there’s that . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

For a revolver cartridge, is 10mm more available than 41mag? For non-reloaders, that might be a deciding factor.

Otherwise, having a 10mm revolver is great justification for buying a 10mm semi-auto. I don't know of any 41mag semi-autos offhand.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Right before I was able to say it, he said it.

Also The 41 seems to be an inherently accurate cartridge. Probably slightly moreso than the 10 or 40.

In revolvers, it's just another caliber.

In the late 80's I got caught up in the 10mm hype and bought a 1911 style 10mm. Like many 10mm handguns of the time it was just a .45 with a different barrel and recoil spring that was not designed to handle the 10mm. After it broke I sent it back to the factory and after it came back traded it for a 610 no dash since I still had a lot of 10mm ammo and components.

The 610 was a great shooter but after buying a S&W 69 I realized in a revolver there was nothing 10mm could do that a 44 couldn't do better and sold the 610.

If you already own a 10mm semi-auto, want a revolver but don't want to support an additional caliber the 610 is a great choice. But otherwise I would just stick with your 41s unless you just want to buy a new gun in a new caliber. There's nothing wrong with wanting a new gun, you certainly don't have to justify it to anyone here. Wives sometimes think a mere two handguns is enough but we all know better.

Where are you finding .41 Mag ammo for $1.25/round? That’s what 9mm is going for around here.

OP...do you have any more info on the 610? Dash number, serial# range, does it come with box, tools, manual, etc.? If it’s an early first run or even any pre-lock and you can get it at a decent price, I’d say go for it. The collectibility factor is definitely there. Disclaimer: I am a little biased, as I’m a big 610 fan.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

It sounds cool.

That's all the reason you need.

If the 44 magnum had been called the "44 tinkerbell" it would not have gained quite so much popularity.

I love 10mm, but I don't care for rimless cartridges in a revolver. I think of 10mm being the .357 magnum of autoloaders. I have a 1911 in 10mm, AFAIC it's a perfect combination. It's not as hot a load as .41 Magnum, even though the bullet weights can overlap. I prefer 10mm with a slightly lighter bullet, I shoot 155 and 180 grain loads. A 155 from a 10mm is similar to a 158 from a .357 in both mass and velocity at full power loads, although the .357 is a bit higher SD, which should give superior penetration.

I was a 10mm fan before it was cool. The attraction is a cheap to shoot revolver capable of killing anything in the 48 states. I won’t get into the autos, but with a revolver the 10mm shines as it is the most recoil I want in a < 42 oz revolver such as a 4” 610. The real 10mm loads are 180 grains at 1250 plus. That load beats 357 mag no matter how you look at it with 12% more weight and 12% more sectional density.

Many of us have a very cheap or free source for 40 ammo which shoots great in a 610. That makes for very affordable light practice ammo and reasonably priced 10mm loads for defense. That isn’t something 44mag shooters really get to say unless they cast and hand load because 44spl is more than 44 mag.

Naw, THIS is the .357 Magnum of autoloaders!

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

The Hornady manual lists the 200 grain XTP bullet as a SD of .179, the 158 grain XTP as SD of .177, almost equal. Of course the 10mm MV with that bullet is around 1150 fps, the .357 with the 158 is around 1450 fps (full power loads). The velocity difference makes up for the lighter bullet in kinetic energy, so I'd call it a dead heat. Either way, whatever gets hit probably won't get back up.

I shoot the 155's mainly because I also load and shoot a .40S&W a great deal; I can load that bullet for both guns. My first 10mm was a 2nd gen G20, bought it the month it was released in 1992. kept it until last year, sold it and bought the SR1911.

Of if it were not the choice of Inspector Callahan.

My mistake, I should have said 12% more cross-sectional density referring to a .357 bullet compared to a .40 bullet. I have never seen a major manufacturer, meaning I’m excluding boutique ammo, produce 158gr 357 magnums at more than 1250 for a 4” barrel. I just bought Blazer Brass 10mm that is a 180 grain at 1200 fps in a 5” semi auto. A 5” 1911 and a 4” revolver are apples to apples IMHO.

I have eight times as many 38 and 357 mags as I have 10mms. This is my only 10mm. I have had a 10mm 1911 and a Glock 20 in the last 15 years.

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I have all 3. A 1006 for about 30 years, a 57 nickel 6" pre-lock about 6 years, a 610 pre-lock 6.5" about 5 years. I enjoy shooting all 3.

Variety is the spice of life. A 610 is on my short list right now. Do I need another 10mm gun? not really, but they are cool.

This just my personal opinion (and nobody needs to justify that new gun they want to buy!): for an all-around OUTDOORS firearm, the best choice was settled years ago - a six(ish)-inch barrelled, adjustable sighted .357 magnum in flavor of your choice. Yes, it can be a bit heavy (but the 10mm Smiths are heavy, too). Yes it's a bit long, but that's where the magnum really gets going, and there was a video and pic posted here recently showing LA law enforcement carrying six-inch Colts in suits. The long sight radius really helps, when precision is necessary. It will most likely be more accurate. Some sort of ammunition is usually available, and for less money. It's good for up to deer-sized game, which is the biggest that most will ever need. I personally think that, in a heavy six-inch version, it's the most powerful handgun that anyone can shoot (assuming comfortable grips). It also serves very well as a defensive weapon (as it has for decades).

If bigger game is on the mission list, I think a .41 or .44 is a better choice.

If personal defense is the main mission, there are a lot of 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and .38 Special handguns (and others), out there that will do the job with a lot less fuss, cost, recoil and noise.

I believe the .357 Magnum in target revolver format is the .30-30 of the handgun world. Note that I am not saying it's as powerful, I am saying that it occupies a similar niche for handgun shooters as the old 30 does for rifle shooters.

Now, after all that, I will confess that I find 10mm autos very interesting!

P.S: In a Paul Harrell video a while back, he demonstrated a new gun of his. It was a stock 686+, six inch. He chronographed some Federal 158-grain JSPs and they averaged 1375 fps. That is a plain-vanilla .357 load that has been around for decades and is not very expensive (in normal times!). It also performed well on his famous "meat target".

Otherwise, having a 10mm revolver is great justification for buying a 10mm semi-auto. I don't know of any 41mag semi-autos offhand.[/QUOTE]

Desert Eagle has a 41 mag kit. Darn good setup as well. But, try carrying the thing around, yuck. It’s a range or woods gun only.


10mm is an awesome cartridge, plenty for North American critters, no matter how many legs.

I’m a big fan of the 10 auto, bought my first St. Delta Elite over 20 years ago, added a few more semi autos afterwards, a blued DE, a G20 and a S&W 1006





So I had to have a 610. Only took me 20 years to find one, no dash 5”.



Seen a few S&W 57 for sale over the years, but .41 Mag ammo is very hard to find here

Agree with the idea that the 10 is the 357 of auto cartridges except it can throw heavier bullets.
Main reason I have been tempted to get a 10 revolver is the somewhat lame excuse of not having to search for brass. But for the cost of the revolver I can buy a lot of brass. So for me, 10 stays as an auto cartridge.

10mm Auto is way cool, I have a few.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I have nothing against 10mm, owned one myself in the past. However, it does nothing a 357 Magnum won't in a lighter gun with more capacity. If you're buying an N frame why not get a 41 or 44 which the 10mm cannot and never has duplicated. Or get an 8 shot 357 Mag. At it's best the 10mm is about equal to a good 357 Magnum. People that think it's something more are living in a fantasy world.

Really? Must be a glock. My single stack 1911 & 1006 only hold 9. ! don't do glocks.

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S&W Accumulator

Run that357 out of a 4-5 In.barrel and you'll never ever see 1450 fps. It will be close to the 10 velocity.

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S&W Accumulator

Liking both the 10mm round and revolvers, that's enough for me.

BTW Idon't have a 10mm semmi-auto.

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Let's be careful out there

Since you are just talking N-frame revolvers, already have two .41 Magnums and don't own any 10mm semi-autos, unless you can get a SMOKIN' deal on the 610 I would not bother. You won't be gaining anything at all other than adding another two cartridges to your inventory (10mm and .40 S&W).

Have been shooting .41s since about 1974. Just started shooting 10mm about five years ago. Have one Glock and several 1911s as well as a Ruger GP-100 which I consider one of the finest all-around revolvers I have ever owned. That said the .41 in a revolver is just head and shoulders above the 10mm.

Bob

My 58 is in excellent condition but not too nice to shoot.
I lucked out big time and stocked up on .41 Mag ammo
before the prices skyrocketed.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I can't say anything about 41mag never shot one, on the other hand I'm in love with the 10mm in the S&W auto platform, I could only imagine it in a revo...

Not that it helps just IMO

Tlawler brings up a good point just for collectable reason...

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This is the way....

XDM in 10mm.

I was a little surprised at first at how many carry a Glock 10mm up here for bear protection. After some research I found there are some substantial heavy bullet loads available for the 10 specifically for that purpose. I carried a 10mm Special (40 S&W) Glock as a duty weapon and have always liked it, though now I have a 48 9mm on my hip most days, simply for the weight reduction.



The 610 has intrigued me, especially the four inch. I am a big fan of four inch N frames. I have thought for some time that S&W should bring out a run of Mountain Guns in 10mm. I'd buy one. I have also occasionally pondered having a four inch 28 rebored and chambered for a 401 Powermag, a rimmed 10mm so to speak. I have one of the single action Powermags and over 700 rounds of brass. Seems like a four inch 28 would be a natural for that conversion.



As has been stated, you'll not gain anything over your present 41 magnums. But does that matter? To me a 610 sounds like fun and certainly a useful iteration. Nobody ever accused gun nuts of being practical.

In timed matches started holstered I fired my 3 7/8" 610 more than any other revolver. I will step out on a limb and write that is what most owners use 610s for. Revolvers that can not use moon clips are not competitive. One competitor brought a .41 Magnum that was altered to accept moon clips to local matches.

Only one. The clips for rimmed revolver cartridges are much thinner than 10 mm and .45 ACP clips. During filling and emptying they are easily bent. Once bent they act as spring cushions causing missfires. That occurs more frequently in in match tuned revolvers that can only reliably set off Federal primers. Also, the longer the cartridge the further the noses of clipped cartridges wiggle out of alignment. In full moon clips .357s are the slowest cartridges to reload. Despite their short comings, 686s set up for matches and firing shortened spit wad power cartridges in shortened .38 Special cases often are the revolver to beat. However, the match director can set up his match so that 625s are more competitive.

The only revolvers that are faster to reload than 610s are 625 .45 ACPs. Round nose bullets and thin walls between chambers enable tossing .45 moon clips into the cylinder with a slight spin with the revolver only in your peripheral vision. If the match layout puts more emphasis on fast reloads or the steel is set so that it requires more momentum to knock it down, 625s are the most competitive revolvers. That's that.

Firing my 610 I was the highest scoring revolver shooter for awhile. I was over taken by a competitor who usually fired a .38 Super 686. Why the odd revolvers? This is a hobby. Collectors and hoppyists love odd ball stuff. Ultimately practice, not equipment, wins sporting events.

My 610 did have one advantage over other revolvers. Before 9mm revolvers became common, in normal years, 40 S&W was the least expensive factory revolver cartridge. Swinging buy Wal-Mart for a $16 100 round box of Win. white box .40 S&W was not a wildly unreasonable thing for a reloader to do. Unlike spit wad power .38s factory .40 always whacked the steel right down.

Now if the O.P. only shoots his revolvers off the bench for groups than at 100 yards and beyond his .41s have an edge over all the revolvers I've written about. The 610 is one of S&W's tightest grouping models but it's no .41 Magnum.

If I were tramping around in an area inhabited by big brown bears, I would
not rely on a revolver or a semi-auto. I would carry a shotgun with very
large slugs. If my only choice was a handgun, it would be a 10MM semi-
auto because it holds more rounds than a revolver, and I might need
every one of them.

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In Omnia Paratus

Don't buy it. I love 10mm and don't need anybody else hogging all the ammo... just kidding. Buy it while you have the opportunity.
I edc a G29 and have several other 10mms, including a 610 and 1006...and if somebody asks you why mess with 10mm when there's .41 Magnum, just say "why mess with .41 Magnum when there's .44 Magnum"

As one who has spent the last 18 year tramping around bear country, both brown and white, I will say the shotgun is a fine tool if you are knowingly going into a bear encounter. However, I have on several occasions seen shotguns leaning against trees while the owner was fishing several yards away. And there have been more than a few guys found themselves looking longingly at their shotgun leaning up against a tree. On the other side of the bear.



Long guns just are not handy when one is fishing or working around camp. And bears have a way of showing up unexpectedly regardless of one's level of situational awareness. A handgun on one's body is far better than a shotgun leaning against a tree. And it needs to be one the owner can use with the confidence they can deliver the shot when needed. Power is good, accuracy is better.

Plink, While I am a very long time fan of the 10MM, and have owned a variety of 10MM pistols and revolvers, it is not "better"/ballistically superior to your .41 Magnum at all. I've loaded and shot my share of Magnum cartridges, .357, .41, .44, .454 Casull, etc. I consider the 10 to approximate .357 ballistics. I still shoot 10MMs, but .41 Magnums, they ain't...

Classic12, Looks like you are cornering the Swiss 10MM market

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

I'm going to drift the thread further off track and ask what's the attraction to shotgun slugs for Sasquatch, oops, I mean bears? A typical 1 ounce 12 gauge slug is only about 435 grains. Many rifles fire heavier bullets and they give you the option of aiming for the nostrils. Is it just that shotguns are presumed to swing into action faster?

I liked my 10MM, but I felt it came up a bit short for hunting. When I got into handgun hunting, my 29-2 was the "go-to", but what really fit the bill was my 6" 1911 converted to 460R. Load it with underwood hardcast and let the party begin. It has been 100% reliable and not much more recoil then the 10MM...just need to get into reloading!

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The 10mm exceeds the 38-40 by at least 10% and the cartridges are easier to come by.

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Front sight and squeeze

I think this is the bottom line:

IN REVOLVERS: 10mm is not worth the trouble. It does nothing that .357 magnum won't do. If you want .357 magnum power in a revolver, skip 10mm and go .357 magnum. If you want a forty-caliber bullet in a revolver, step up and get a .41 Magnum.


IN SEMI-AUTOS: here's where 10mm shines. If you want a pistol that carries the equivalent of 16 .357 magnum cartridges, and shoots softer than the revolver, get a 10mm (Glock or XDM).

I like 10mm. I was issued an MP-5/10 in 10mm and loved that little sub-gun.

I also have a .40 S&W Vaquero that Alan Harton worked on and re-chambered to 10mm...now it is a real revolver.



I had so much 10mm ammo stored away, and the Vaquero takes a while to shoot any amount of volume, that I bought a Dan Wesson Razorback to help shoot it up!

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No good deed goes unpunished.

If I were to own just 2 fully automatic firearms, they would be a MP-5/10 and a GI issue BAR in .30-'06. Still waiting on my RIA 1911a2 in 10mm. Damn 10 day waiting period even with a CWP.