What’s so great about 10 mm?

[crazyphil]

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.

 

[jughed440]

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"

 

[Marty Weatherup]

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.

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.

 

[Rock185]

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

 

[k22fan]

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?

 

[medezyner]

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?

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!

 

[mtgianni]

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

 

[Univibe]

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).

 

[DR505]

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!

 

[Racer X]

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.

 

[cladd1]

I really like my new Glock 20 - that being said if I need to go heavier I can use my SW 44 magnum or 460V.

 

[Marty Weatherup]

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?

Here's my take for what it's worth. I have lived up here for 18 years and have been a firearms instructor for 15 of those years and have been a wildlife intervention trainer for the past 7 years.


In wildlife intervention scenarios, where a person is assigned the job of providing bear coverage for a work crew, they are required to have, by USFW regulations, force options other than lethal. I don't know of any rifles that can make the change from lethal, to less lethal to pyrotechnic deterrence with the ease and speed of a pump shotgun. In fact I have never seen less lethal or pyrotechnic rounds for rifles.


Stepping out of the professional world and into the civilian world one is certainly free to carry what ever they like . A 12 gauge slug is a formidable tool, but then so is a large bore rifle. You may however, find high power optics to be more of a hindrance than help when trying to find a bear's nostrils at 10 yards on 14 power. I have more than once reminded hunting partners to turn their mega scopes down to the lowest setting as we entered into thick stuff. Most set their scopes as high as they can and never change the setting. I would rather have an open sighted, large bore weapon, be it shotgun or rifle, were I to face down a charging bear. I've had a fair number of close encounters with bears, but fortunately all have ended amicably with neither of us leaking bodily fluids.


So as to no get too far off track on the OP's thread, what is the 10mm good for? The 10mm is a viable option for bear protection. I was in a couple shops today and the only handgun ammo I found was Buffalo Bore 10mm, 480 Ruger and 475 Linebaugh. Lots of 10mm bear stuff. I might personally choose a bigger gun but that's because I have them. I certainly wouldn't be afraid to go afield here with a heavily stoked 10mm.

 

[ken158]

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?

A handy short barrel 12 ga with slugs that create 2300 + ft lbs of energy is 2 1/2 times the energy of a 44 mag and can be brought into action accurately and very quickly (as long as it isn't propped against a tree). Not a Glock guy but would take a Glock 20 10mm with 800 ft lbs of energy over anything else in bear country. Given the proper holster it would be very comforting and unobtrusive to carry.

 

[bigben55]

I agree about the 10mm vs .357mag ballistic equivalency. Look at Underwood and Buffalo Bore offerings....they are pretty much equal. The difference is 6rds in a revolver vs 15+1 in a Glock 20. I think 10mm is silly in a revolver, and the only reason I see for a 10mm revolver is, if you have 1 or more 10mm semi autos and want a revolver but don't want yet another caliber to stock up on.

 

[GaryHK]

Literally a 357 for the auto crowd w/o going to Coonan/Desert Eagle platform.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

You're not limited to one or the other

I think S&W missed the mark by chambering the 10mm Auto in a N-frame only.

IMO, it would have been better suited in a snubbie L-frame like the new 2-3/4" M69 that they recently beefed up. That would be a cool size.

But since they went the N-frame route go ahead & up the game by converting it to a 10mm Magnum. Shoot the 10AUTO & 40S&W in it too, if you like.

The 10MAG is a much better match for the 41MAG & there's way more variety in bullet weight/styles for .40/10mm if you handload, & you really need to handload for either.

I'm glad I converted mine to 10MAG but there's still room in the stable for my 41MAG revolvers & 10AUTO pistols.

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[challer61]

The 10mm is a great caliber for several purposes. It's a great hunter for deer and pigs. It's a great backup in bear country but certainly not the primary weapon. For these purposes get the full power loads from the likes of Underwood and Buffalo Bore. Range ammo in 10mm is not much more than .40SW. Bullet selection for bear is critical because you need penetration, not quick expansion. I have never understood the desire to put auto loads in a revolver for my purposes. The upcoming P320/10 will very likely continue the revival of the 10mm

 

[jughed440]

The 10mm is a great caliber for several purposes. It's a great hunter for deer and pigs. It's a great backup in bear country but certainly not the primary weapon. For these purposes get the full power loads from the likes of Underwood and Buffalo Bore. Range ammo in 10mm is not much more than .40SW. Bullet selection for bear is critical because you need penetration, not quick expansion. I have never understood the desire to put auto loads in a revolver for my purposes. The upcoming P320/10 will very likely continue the revival of the 10mm

Semi-auto rounds in a revolver isn't such a bad idea if you want to shoot full power factory loads, or hand loads. The 610-2 can easily handle them, while most semi-autos cannot take that abuse....but of course there are exceptions.
No bears around here. 10mm is a great choice for woods carry in this area. But so is .357, so I'll carry either a 627, or a G40 with a Burris FF3 mounted on it.

 

[jdh]

Well poo,

Winchester dropped the velocity of the 175 grain Silvertip from 1275 to 1200 FPS. It is no longer more potent than the 41 Magnum 175 grain Silvertip which is still shown at 1250 FPS, which is almost the perfect duty round for the 57/58.

 

[Laketime]

The 10mm coupled with the Bren Ten in 1983 was at its magical time. I bought into the whole craze back then but soon made my way back .45 acp. Not sure of the purpose of that round in a six gun, but never understood the need for a 9mm revolver either .