10MM Advice

[cowhow]

Spent yesterday in Oklahoma spending time with Dad for Father's Day.

There's nothing about 10mm that can't be argued for just about any big bore Caliber such as a .45. Ammo can be expensive, recoil can be a challenge. Just about every negative thing that you can say about 10mm can be said about 9mm, 40 S&W, etc. You can't just get a CHL, a holster, and a gun and call it good (which I would argue 70% to 80% of CHL holders do). You have to spend quality time at the range and shoot. Practice, practice, practice. Get to know that weapon your're placing your life in trust of.

As with any caliber and model of firearm, not every one of them is for all shooters. Small hands, large hands, carry style, etc all play a role in determining gun choice. Me? A 10mm is kind of coloring outside the lines a bit with a round that's not as ubiquitous as it's kissing cousin the 40 S&W. As for recoil, maybe that's why Glock put a lanyard hole in the grip of the 29.

[ShootDontTalk]

Yes...and no....one can NEVER have too many choices!

Buy one of everything.

[fickman]

I've never shot one.

Before the shortage a few years ago, I think the common wisdom was to shoot commonly available calibers because "they're always available, everybody stocks them, and during the apocalypse, they'll be the first ones restocked."

I think that theory failed (or needs to be modified). For over a year I'd walk in to the stores and see barren shelves in .22, 9mm, .380, .40, .357 magnum, .357 Sig, and .45 ACP while the 10mm boxes were stacked nicely and neatly - mostly untouched.

If you shot 10mm during the shortage, you probably never missed a range date.

I don't think this is a case for making 10mm an EDC, but for those who prepare for all potential scenarios, it might cause you to consider diversity in your alternative caliber selections.

[ShootDontTalk]

I've never shot one.

Before the shortage a few years ago, I think the common wisdom was to shoot commonly available calibers because "they're always available, everybody stocks them, and during the apocalypse, they'll be the first ones restocked."

I think that theory failed (or needs to be modified). For over a year I'd walk in to the stores and see barren shelves in .22, 9mm, .380, .40, .357 magnum, .357 Sig, and .45 ACP while the 10mm boxes were stacked nicely and neatly - mostly untouched.

If you shot 10mm during the shortage, you probably never missed a range date.

I don't think this is a case for making 10mm an EDC, but for those who prepare for all potential scenarios, it might cause you to consider diversity in your alternative caliber selections.

[Glockster]

I've never shot one.

Before the shortage a few years ago, I think the common wisdom was to shoot commonly available calibers because "they're always available, everybody stocks them, and during the apocalypse, they'll be the first ones restocked."

I think that theory failed (or needs to be modified). For over a year I'd walk in to the stores and see barren shelves in .22, 9mm, .380, .40, .357 magnum, .357 Sig, and .45 ACP while the 10mm boxes were stacked nicely and neatly - mostly untouched.

If you shot 10mm during the shortage, you probably never missed a range date.

I don't think this is a case for making 10mm an EDC, but for those who prepare for all potential scenarios, it might cause you to consider diversity in your alternative caliber selections.

That sure wasn't my experience! I did at the time have a 9mm, 10mm, .40, .45, 7.62x39 and the only thing that I couldn't get my hands on was 10mm. After awhile ALL I had left was a box of expensive defensive, and 10mm wasn't available other than small quantities of defensive at CTD, GA, and so on and couldn't find range ammo anywhere. I wasn't in Texas then, so obviously your "actual mileage varied."

[fickman]

Yep - the main place I always took notice of seeing 10mm was Cabela's in Fort Worth.

[The Annoyed Man]

By the way, there's an article in the current issue of American Rifleman (July 2015) titled "Resurgent: The 10 mm Auto" (page 36). It is an interesting cartridge for the fact that it can be loaded up or down as needed, making it versatile, but I'm not sure that it is worth it for me to actually go buy one. I've got another pistol which is also like that, is even more powerful, and will fill the same niche that a 10mm will (if you like revolvers). It's called a 5" Model 29 S&W .44 Magnum. Due to the fact that every 10mm I have personally seen or fired was a full-sized duty gun, I'm not sure that it is a viable choice for concealed carry......unless you like concealing duty-sized pistols.....I'd rather not......

And for hunting, there isn't anything I could hunt with a 10mm that I couldn't also hunt with my .44, and I'm willing to bet that my .44 is more accurate than most semiautos. I'm convinced that 10mm is a good caliber, I don't just need one.

[ghostrider]

. I'm convinced that 10mm is a good caliber, I don't just need one.

what's 'need' got to do with it? :-)


actually, I agree. If I didn't already have a 460 Rowland, I'd build a 1911 in 10mm

[CC Italian]

Well those who know me from my more active days on the board know I love and shoot the 10mm alot. I have chronographed and hunted small-medium size game with my glock 20sf with 6inch factory barrel . Also, i have recovered or fired into old phonebooks (yes they are still good for something) several of the hollwpoint rounds just to see if and how they performed. A basic test on my part.

Here are some reccomended carry loads i have found to be the best for a given situation.

Low recoil carry loads
Hornady 165 critical defense

Federal hydra shok 180(very low end power for 10mm but still a hot 40 in fps)
Hornady 155 xtp (very accurate load)

They are all low recoil and very accurate loads. All except the Federal load are still better in fps than any 40 load of same barrel length.

Mid range power but still low recoil loads imo
Hornady 180xtp (great all around load)
Winchester 175 silvertip

Midrange- high end power

Basically all Corbon and Double Tap loads. I don't carry any of them anymore. To expensive and there is better perfoming loads for cheaper.

Buffalo bore and underwood
Max charge 10mm. Underwood is just as good and cheaper.

While i do like Gold dots the bullet was not meant to run at these speeds.jacket separation is common in 4.5 and longer barrels. With your 3.8 barrel the 165 GD might stay together in a underwood load.

If you run full power 10mm in a hollowpoint i would stay with xtp, nosler or barnes all copper. They all perform better at higher speeds in any grain.

Woods carry
For max penatration look no further than the 220 hardcast from underwood. Like the energizer bunny it keeps going. Expect 45-60 inches of penatration.

180-200Xtp, 200 nosler in any companies loading in a hp round. I carry the 200xtp Hornady factory. It is slower but it penetrates better than most and still expands some. 20-25 inches.

For cheaper but still good power 10mm for practice look at Armscor or Georgia arms in 180 GRAIN.

Hope this helps some, 10MM is a great and versatile round in a semi auto. Imo it is the best do it all round in a semi auto that is mass produced by several firearms companies.

[cowhow]

Well those who know me from my more active days on the board know I love and shoot the 10mm alot. I have chronographed and hunted small-medium size game with my glock 20sf with 6inch factory barrel . Also, i have recovered or fired into old phonebooks (yes they are still good for something) several of the hollwpoint rounds just to see if and how they performed. A basic test on my part.

Here are some reccomended carry loads i have found to be the best for a given situation.

Low recoil carry loads
Hornady 165 critical defense

Federal hydra shok 180(very low end power for 10mm but still a hot 40 in fps)
Hornady 155 xtp (very accurate load)

They are all low recoil and very accurate loads. All except the Federal load are still better in fps than any 40 load of same barrel length.

Mid range power but still low recoil loads imo
Hornady 180xtp (great all around load)
Winchester 175 silvertip

Midrange- high end power

Basically all Corbon and Double Tap loads. I don't carry any of them anymore. To expensive and there is better perfoming loads for cheaper.

Buffalo bore and underwood
Max charge 10mm. Underwood is just as good and cheaper.

While i do like Gold dots the bullet was not meant to run at these speeds.jacket separation is common in 4.5 and longer barrels. With your 3.8 barrel the 165 GD might stay together in a underwood load.

If you run full power 10mm in a hollowpoint i would stay with xtp, nosler or barnes all copper. They all perform better at higher speeds in any grain.

Woods carry
For max penatration look no further than the 220 hardcast from underwood. Like the energizer bunny it keeps going. Expect 45-60 inches of penatration.

180-200Xtp, 200 nosler in any companies loading in a hp round. I carry the 200xtp Hornady factory. It is slower but it penetrates better than most and still expands some. 20-25 inches.

For cheaper but still good power 10mm for practice look at Armscor or Georgia arms in 180 GRAIN.

Hope this helps some, 10MM is a great and versatile round in a semi auto. Imo it is the best do it all round in a semi auto that is mass produced by several firearms companies.

That's exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks, CC Italian. At the moment I'm carrying 155gr Hornady XTP but was probably going to step up to either Hornady or Underwood 180gr XTP. Underwod is a hotter load then Hornady and might be more consistently available, but recoil would also be a bit stiffer.

[ShootDontTalk]

The high speed Underwood loads run a Nosler 135 and that yields 1522fps from the stock G20 and 1668fps from my 6 inch barrel and 800 foot pounds. Considering I can adjust it from a mild .40 target to .41 Magnum performance with 13+1 rounds available makes the 10mm the most versatile round I carry. Water pistol or cannon and anything in-between.

[CC Italian]

Those numbers are a little short of what i reached with that load but seem consistent with what i was getting with the 135 nosler. 1590-1600Fps on average with factory barrel and 1730-1750 fps with the 6inch.

I don't use that load much for carry but great for fireballs at night. Would be a good limited penatration or great coyote load. Massive wide shallow whole!

[cowhow]

This would be my first exposure to Underwood. I've never shot their ammo. I've heard alot about them and watched several YouTube videos. I'm impressed with what I see. Just like sausage you can get it hot or you can get it mild.

[CC Italian]

Yes, low end .40-low-midrange 41 mag loads.

The underwood 220 harcast is about equal to this milder 41 mag load from equal barrel lengths. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/816193 ... -box-of-50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


But that is where the similarities end. Full power 41 mag of equal barrel length leaves 10mm in the dust. The difference is about the same as 40-10mm.

Interestingly enough i was going to go to 460 Rowland but after shooting many different calibers i realized that the Rowland while a step up in bore from rhe 10mm isn't a huge increase in it's ability to take game. Also, the 460 without a comp sucks to shoot.

If you need more than a 10mm in a semi auto step it up to 41,42.9, or 45 colt for more sectional density. Case capacity is what the semi autos can't make up for.

[ShootDontTalk]

If you need more than a 10mm in a semi auto step it up to 41,42.9, or 45 colt for more sectional density. Case capacity is what the semi autos can't make up for.

I agree. I don't have a chrono, so my numbers are based on the consistency of Underwood's published numbers, not any real data. Tnoutdoors9 does a lot of FBI protocol video testing and his tests say the 135 meets FBI criteria. I don't hunt anymore.

If I need more power, I step up to a rifle or 12 gauge. I sold off all my really high powered rifles. They're too expensive since I don't reload anymore either. I have been keeping my eye open for an ex Cowboy action shooter who wants to unload a Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt for a reasonable sum.