10mm vs .40 rounds

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Alan0354

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I am thinking about buying a semi that shoots either 10mm or .40 round. I want to know more about those rounds

1) Which is more popular?
2) Which is more expensive?
3) Which one is easier to buy during this time?
4) I know everyone has different opinion, which guns is the best in these two calibers? I live in Kalifornia.

Thanks
 
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1) .40, but 10mm is kind of in a resurgence the past few years.
2) 10mm
3) 10mm
4) 10mm

Used .40's were going for under 400 just over a year ago, but the nice thing about 10mm's is that, 1911's not included, they can shoot .40 without issue. The 10mm Glocks are most well known for being able to shoot .40 in them and the recoil is like a .380.

If you can pick up a Glock 20SF or 29SF, get it. I do suggest you get the Short Frames tho, the grips on the standard models can be pretty large and uncomfortable.
 
Only the Gen3 Glocks are listed on the CA DOJ Roster which dictates what guns are available for sale to non-LEO’s. P2P deals for non-roster guns are scarce and super expensive, Glocks in general were scarce when I moved away from SoCal in December. Your best bet is probably a G-22. You can check the marketplace at calguns.net, I didn’t find much the last time I checked.
 
If I was stuck with a 10 round limit, 10mm options designed for 10 rounds or less (Don't know about CA availability)
Glock 29SF or a 1911 (Colt, Kimber, Ruger all offer 10mm)
Glock 29 or 1911 is easily concealed under a loose fit shirt.

In before the incorrect blanket generalization that 10mm overpenetrates, mythbusted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Q6bEMJHpY
 
If I was stuck with a 10 round limit, 10mm options designed for 10 rounds or less (Don't know about CA availability)
Glock 29SF or a 1911 (Colt, Kimber, Ruger all offer 10mm)
Glock 29 or 1911 is easily concealed under a loose fit shirt.
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Not only that, but the 10mm Glock platform allows you to use of an aftermarket "drop-in" barrel in .40S&W to shoot that round, ... and if desired, barrels are also available in .357Sig and 9x25 Dillon.

So that's ONE gun (e.g., G29, G20, or G40) that's capable of shooting FOUR different cartridges. Nothing else is needed except the spare barrels.

As far as I know, CA hasn't yet banned (:rolleyes:) the use of aftermarket barrels to do caliber swaps on particular gun-platforms, like a Glock, or an AR (that you already own) where you can swap in different uppers, like going from 5.56 ----> to 300BLK.
 
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I'd say a G29 is your answer if you want 10mm. I had a G20 for years and liked it but added a G29 a few years ago and liked it so much better that the G20 never got used so I sold it.

I can use 10 round G29 magazines or the 15 round G20 mags in mine so I have the versatility of a small gun, or the capacity of the larger gun. For me there was no difference in accuracy and the 50 fps or so from the shorter barrel was never a concern.

You CAN buy extra barrels for it and shoot other cartridges but I've always shot 40 S&W in both of mine with the 10mm barrel. Accuracy and POI were the same either way as was reliability.

If I planned to shoot mostly 40 S&W through it I might have gotten another barrel. But before things got crazy I was able to find 10mm ammo just as easily as 40 S&W and at the same price. I saw no advantage to shooting 40's, but it was nice to know I could.

If you don't need the extra power of 10mm there are a lot of good 40 options including a G23. The G23 is a tad thinner than the G29, but length and height are pretty much the same.

Some of the hotter 40 loads are pretty good. Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap offer some 200 gr loads at about 1100 fps from the 40 S&W. Of course the same load is 1300 fps from 10mm. Other than those specialty loads there is a lot of overlap between 40 and 10mm in most commercial loads. And unless you want it for large predator protection 40 S&W is more than adequate. Probably adequate for large predator protection.
 
1) .40, but 10mm is kind of in a resurgence the past few years.
2) 10mm
3) 10mm
4) 10mm
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That's about right.
.40 will be a very popular round, for a very long time, but it has dropped off the last few years, at the same time 10 has risen, but I'll bet there are ten times as many .40s in circulation.
 
Last time I was at the local rural hardware store that still sells ammo, 10mm was still on the shelf, but all the other major calibers were gone long time ago.

But during normal times, .40 will be easier to find in CA.
 
10 requires a larger gun and is typically loaded about like 40 or maybe 100fps more in most factory ammo. 10 ammo can be had that is much hotter but that's not typical range ammo. As a handloaders cartridge the 10mm offers a lot more performance. Availability of 10mm ammo is greater than 40 now because it's been less popular. Long term the 40 is the better choice for a novice.

A 10mm 1911 is a better choice than a 40 because it is designed to have a 45ACP length and 40 is designed to have 9mm length overall to fit in existing gun models so 10 isn't an option in a browning hi power or small framed EAA..

In guns with shorter mag wells, the 40 is the only option. A 40 can still offer blazing speeds when loaded with 135 and 155 grain bullets but due to powder capacity can't push a 180 much past factory speeds. In a 10mm you can push the 180s to 1300ish fps and if you want to shoot 200s, the 10mm is the only option and can get you to around 1200fps.

Both are good cartridges but which is better for you depends on what you are looking for in terms of performance and which model gun you desire.
 
Some people found the 10mm too powerful to handle. S&W engineers came out with the 40 S&W as a compromise. Bigger than a nine, less power than a ten. It swept among law enforcement over existing calibres.

See the first post though for answers to your question. As to which is more available, I dunno. I don't see anything on the shelves anymore; but then again, I haven't looked in months.
 
Alan0354 said:
I am thinking about buying a semi that shoots either 10mm or .40 round. I want to know more about those rounds

1) Which is more popular?
2) Which is more expensive?
3) Which one is easier to buy during this time?
4) I know everyone has different opinion, which guns is the best in these two calibers? I live in Kalifornia.

Thanks
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1) .40
2) 10mm
3) not sure
4) personal preference

Ok, My personal opinion. Was issued a G22, full sized 40 for about 5 years with my agency. Never got to shoot or handle a 10mm. I don't like 40. I prefer a 9mm or 45acp. To me 40 had more snap. The recoil was more abrupt and the muzzle rose more. Now with that being said, it is FAR from difficult to control, I just personally am not a fan and will choose something else.

As for 10mm. I think it is a very cool cartridge and I really need to find a way to shoot one. I am anticipating recoil in the 357-44mag range. There are several problems I see with 10mm. Most factory loads (underwood not included) are watered down because recoil can be stout. The ammo is generally more expensive than 40 and on par with 45 from what I have seen. and lastly the frame is wider. I have large hands so its would not be a huge issue for me, but it is a larger frame size.

Other Pros for 10mm. You can get drop in barrels for .40, .357sig, and 9x25dillon (10mm necked down to 9mm, the big brother to the 357 sig which is a 40 necked down to 9mm)
 
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I think how a gun handles depends more on the gun design than cartridge. Light frame glocks are going to be more snappy than all steel CZ or EAA platforms. A 5 inch 1911 in 45 is less snappy than a 4.25 inch commander in 45.
 
4V50 Gary,

Some people found the 10mm too powerful to handle. S&W engineers came out with the 40 S&W as a compromise. Bigger than a nine, less power than a ten. It swept among law enforcement over existing calibres.
Click to expand...

This has to be the biggest and most often repeated myth on gun forums.

I will guarantee you that the .40 S&W was not a compromise round.

For law enforcement use, the 10MM produced diminishing returns. Its added velocity did absolutely nothing to increase law enforcement efficacy.

The .40 S&W is going nowhere. The 10MM is losing market share.

I'd much rather have a 1911-A1 with 230 grain Fed HST LE .45 ACP +P ammo than any 10MM for any application to include mean critter defense to include griz.

The 10MM requiem was officiated by Colonel Jeff Cooper. He was the father of factory production 10MM handguns. Within a few years, he returned to a 1911-A1 .45 ACP.
 
"This has to be the biggest and most often repeated myth on gun forums."(Sanch), in response to; ("Some people found the 10mm too powerful to handle. S&W engineers came out with the 40 S&W as a compromise. Bigger than a nine, less power than a ten. It swept among law enforcement over existing calibres".)

?? Your opinion, or fact Sanch? :confused:

4V50 Gary, is correct.
FBI and other LEO agencies have this procedure they call "Yearly qualifications", and when an equal opportunity abiding State or Federal agency has officers with small hands... who cannot handle the recoil of a certain caliber / weapon, be it the 10mm, .40 S&W, .357 Magnum, etc., they adopt a smaller caliber. Most agency's currently issue 9mm's and have seen improved qualification scores. That's not opinion or internet myth, but fact.
 
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The reason for the .40 was not that they couldn't handle the recoil of the 10mm, the guns in 10mm were simply large and cumbersome and the .40 was an option to give the same ballistics but in a 9mm sized gun. To this day, that's one of the better selling points of the .40 over the 10mm, smaller guns.
 
Shadow9mm said:
As for 10mm. I think it is a very cool cartridge and I really need to find a way to shoot one. I am anticipating recoil in the 357-44mag range. There are several problems I see with 10mm. Most factory loads (underwood not included) are watered down because recoil can be stout. The ammo is generally more expensive than 40 and on par with 45 from what I have seen. and lastly the frame is wider. I have large hands so its would not be a huge issue for me, but it is a larger frame size.
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Recoil in 10mm isn't bad at all, frankly to me it feels about the same as the .40, maybe a little less at times because the guns are usually larger which tames it a bit. Maybe similar to a 357 but less than a 44 for sure.
 
Sanch said:
4V50 Gary,

Quote:
Some people found the 10mm too powerful to handle. S&W engineers came out with the 40 S&W as a compromise. Bigger than a nine, less power than a ten. It swept among law enforcement over existing calibres.
This has to be the biggest and most often repeated myth on gun forums.

I will guarantee you that the .40 S&W was not a compromise round.

For law enforcement use, the 10MM produced diminishing returns. Its added velocity did absolutely nothing to increase law enforcement efficacy.

The .40 S&W is going nowhere. The 10MM is losing market share.

I'd much rather have a 1911-A1 with 230 grain Fed HST LE .45 ACP +P ammo than any 10MM for any application to include mean critter defense to include griz.

The 10MM requiem was officiated by Colonel Jeff Cooper. He was the father of factory production 10MM handguns. Within a few years, he returned to a 1911-A1 .45 ACP.
Click to expand...

Paul Evancoe's article, and many others, supports 4V50 Gary's assertion...

https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=3519

Alan0354, my opinion pretty much lines up with TruthTeller's, with the exception of the Glocks. I don't disagree with that opinion. I just don't have enough experience with Glocks to honestly give you an assessment.
 
Longshot powder seems to be optimized for 40 S&W and 10mm. The difference between the two with 180 grain bullets is between 100 and 200 fps. The 40 S&W has proven itself and gained most LEO market share.
Regarding Glocks, I have a G23 that is an excellent service pistol. I bought a G30 compact 45 ACP. The G29 10mm barrel from Glock will fit the G30 (Glock does not recommend this as fitment is not 100%), and people do that conversion. I bought the 10mm barrell and set of 10mm magazines. Have not shot them yet. The G23 is smaller and less thick to hold. I think the G23 is a better service sidearm, and can be concealed nearly as easily as my G26 with Pierce magazine extension.
 
shurshot said:
"This has to be the biggest and most often repeated myth on gun forums."(Sanch), in response to; ("Some people found the 10mm too powerful to handle. S&W engineers came out with the 40 S&W as a compromise. Bigger than a nine, less power than a ten. It swept among law enforcement over existing calibres".)

?? Your opinion, or fact Sanch? :confused:

4V50 Gary, is correct.
FBI and other LEO agencies have this procedure they call "Yearly qualifications", and when an equal opportunity abiding State or Federal agency has officers with small hands... who cannot handle the recoil of a certain caliber / weapon, be it the 10mm, .40 S&W, .357 Magnum, etc., they adopt a smaller caliber. Most agency's currently issue 9mm's and have seen improved qualification scores. That's not opinion or internet myth, but fact.
Click to expand...

When you only shoot once per year to qualify, yeah, your not going to be used to stout recoil, its gonna be hard to qualify.... some even fail to qualify using 9mm under these circumstances.... I have personally witnessed it. Last in-service we were given 4 opportunities to qualify, and had to pass at least 2 of them. Of the 10 or so Deputies at the range, at least 3 that I know of failed to qualify, I think It was 4, but I cant say for sure. That is with G17s, at a max of 15yds....
 
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