10mm vs 40S&W

I can’t tell you which is better. I’ve never actually shot a 40SW.

But I can compare the recoil from a 10mm to a 45. I traded my 1911 LW Commander, about 35oz, for a Tanfolgio Witness Lim Pro, about 45oz. I feel less recoil with the Witness using factory Sellier & Bellot ammo, 180gr @ 1164fps, than I felt with the 1911 using CCI Blazer Brass factory ammo, 230gr @ 830fps. I do have some hand loaded 10mm that feels similar to the recoil the Commander had, but I don’t know the specs on it. It’s not a perfect comparison, a full size 1911 would probably feel softer than the Witness. But it at least gives a perspective on it.

I’ve enjoyed the Witness so much I’m looking at picking up a 6” Hunter model as well. The grips are large, but I find them comfortable even for my small hands.

As much as I enjoy my Witness and the 10mm, my HD pistol is a PPQ in 9mm. If I needed more than 9mm, I’m going for my .357 rifle.
 
The 10mm's felt recoil is no more than a hottish .45 ACP out of a 1911A1. There's no comparable data on Chuck Hawk's recoil page though.
"...harder to find and more expensive..." Can be fixed by reloading.
 
MINSH101 said:
I would like your thoughts comparing the 10mm against the 40S&W for home defense. I'm not recoil sensitive and looking for a high(er) capacity firearm, compared to .357 magnum, with greater muzzle energy than a 9mm.
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Seems to me I saw a vid on that recently.....Ah, here we go: Paul Harrell:Is a 10mm more powerful than a .40s/w?. Short, worth viewing. Short answer, not always.

Also, if not too much trouble, which manufacture do you prefer? Glock? Ruger? Sig? Other?
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I like my Springfield XD .40s. And no, I don't find .40 "snappy" or unmanageable. No experience or preference in 10mm.

I realize 10mm ammo is, at times, harder to find and more expensive than a 40, but can you really put a price on protecting yourself and those you love?
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We do it all the time.
 
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The 10mm is a versatile round and I like it. But it is a niche round that isn't for everyone. For personal protection against 2 legged threats there isn't enough difference between 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45 ACP to worry about. Buy the one you like and load it with good ammo.

What 10mm offers semi-auto users is the same versatility that revolver shooters get with 357 mag. The milder 10mm loads aren't that much, if any better than the best loads from 9mm, 40 or 45. But it is possible to load 10mm with 200 gr bullets @ or near 1300 fps that will beat anything you can do with 357 mag and come closer to 44 mag than most shooters realize.

10mm recoil BTW isn't bad at all. Even with the hottest loads from Buffalo Bore or Double Tap it is far more comfortable than 357 or 44 mag.

The magnum revolvers LOOK better on paper from 8" test barrels. But in the real world when fired from 3-4" barrels even 44 mag isn't that much better. 10mm truly does match real world 41 mag performance when the 41's are fired from 4" or shorter barrels. Start shooting magnum revolver rounds from 7 or 8" barrels and performance climbs to another level. But other than hunters not many CC an 8" barreled revolver.

I carry a G29, sometimes a G20 when I'm hiking or camping in bear country. It is loaded with Double Tap 200 gr hardcast @ 1300 fps. I've got 16 rounds of near 44 mag power in a gun a full pound lighter and 2" shorter than a 4" revolver. With a simple magazine change I've got 155 gr bullets @ 1200 fps for 2 legged threats in a gun roughly the same size as a G19.

But if I'm not in an area with 4 legged threats the 10mm stays home and one of my 9mm's goes with me.
 
shoot 10mm you might as reload for it. most commercial 10mm ammo is loaded to light loads which are pretty much equivalent to 40sw might be 100fps difference atleast.

40sw cannot handle 200gr bullets well. small margin for error unless you shoot a 1911 with the barrel able to load long 40sw cartridges which some in competition do.

10mm has more room to shoot 200gr and maybe even 220gr bullets with more velocity.

handload 40sw and you can send 180gr slug 1150fps
handload you can get 9mm to send 124/125gr 1300fps which is 357sig factory load speed. can also make 9mm major. look at 9mm +p and 9x21 loads. 9x21 is just 9mm bullet in a case the same as 9mm but 2 mm longer. otherwise its identical.

40sw is limited cartridge 1.135" COL and 35,000psi it would be nicer if 40sw specs were longer COL and stronger brass that can handle same pressure as 9mm +p.

9mm is a marvel it can be loaded to 1.169 at spec max or it can go longer depending on gun mods same with 40sw though 40sw wont see the benefit in more speed.

9mm can handle 38,500psi. most 9mm casings can handle 9mm +p pressure no problem. 40sw dont want to push the pressure some guns can less than full support of the casing.

10mm is big medicine handloading and you can send 200gr bullets fast.
 
As was pointed out, the 10mm comes into its own when handloaded. With a 200 grain bullet it has about 2X the room for powder as a 40 S&W. Accurate and hard hitting with more rounds than a revolver there is a lot to like with the 10mm. But when it comes to self defense, 9mm is the way to go. The 40 is okay but holds fewer rounds than the 9, more recoil in a compact, and ammo costs more. YMMV
 
As noted above (and elsewhere on this forum), even those that subscribe to the "9mm/.40/.45 acp there all the same" mantra will often give pause, and do consideration, to the qualities of the 10mm.

Having said that, I think over-penetration would be a real concern in home defense. I think .40S&W is a sound choice.

I have a Delta Elite... it's more of a "special occasion" gun.
 
40 is fine! I use 165gr HP for home and carry out of a Glock, M&P40 or Kahr CM40. I have 10MM but pretty much keep it in my break glass in case of war collection!
 
Out of those two I'd go .40S&W for home defense. Less noise and flash indoors, less likely to over penetrate. However, I'd prefer something slower moving and thus less likely to over penetrate and also quieter (i.e. less likely to cause noticeable hearing loss) for home defense where the encounter will most likely be indoors. For me .45ACP, .45LC and occasionally .38+P are my primary home defense choices. Though for CCW, .40S&W is one of my top choices, and the revolver equivalent to 10mm (.357mag) is one of my top choices for woods use (and occasional CCW when I'll primarily be outdoors and less mix of indoors and outdoors).
 
Arizona Fusilier said:
As noted above (and elsewhere on this forum), even those that subscribe to the "9mm/.40/.45 acp there all the same" mantra will often give pause, and do consideration, to the qualities of the 10mm.

Having said that, I think over-penetration would be a real concern in home defense. I think .40S&W is a sound choice.

I have a Delta Elite... it's more of a "special occasion" gun.
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Penetration dependent of bullet:
Underwood Nosler 135 gr. - 11''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGQgnlPlb0&t=311s
Underwood 165 Gold Dot - 12.1''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHYEhGlw87M
Doubletap 125 10mm Barnes: 12-14''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkdmV-tw1Nk
Winchester Silvertip 175 - about 16''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmNL30om6Eo
 
bullet can be a factor. other factors are bullet velocity,range to target and material bullet is impacting such as leather,denim etc.

light bullets can fly fast but stop fast. heavy bullets dont slow down very well.
 
I love the 10mm and have and would carry my 1076 Smith or full size 1911 but that's also the problem with it the guns available. With the 40 I get most of the 10mm's capability in a much smaller and lighter package and yes I know about the G29 it just doesn't work for me.
 
"QUOTE"

40sw is limited cartridge 1.135" COL and 35,000psi it would be nicer if 40sw specs were longer COL and stronger brass that can handle same pressure as 9mm +p.

40 SW brass is plenty strong--I load it long (OAL 1.250) w/180gr cast bullets 13.5gr #9 & shoot it in a G29 w/a Storm Lake barrel.

It's a hefty load.:D
 
Most barrel makers can provide barrels in .400 Cor-Bon, which is quite a nice round.

.40 Super is basically .400 Cor-Bon +P++. Bar-Sto and Storm Lake don't list the barrels on their web sites, but they'll make one up in .40 Super. And you can still buy new .40 Super ammo, and Starline sells the brass.
 
Duck of Death said:
"QUOTE"

40sw is limited cartridge 1.135" COL and 35,000psi it would be nicer if 40sw specs were longer COL and stronger brass that can handle same pressure as 9mm +p.

40 SW brass is plenty strong--I load it long (OAL 1.250) w/180gr cast bullets 13.5gr #9 & shoot it in a G29 w/a Storm Lake barrel.

It's a hefty load.:D
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your wasting powder. can load shorter and use less powder.

I never said you cant load out of saami specs I know people do it alot in competition and say it has less recoil then again most of them are shooting in 1911's with 40sw barrels with a deep throat cut.

lots of people on brian enos forum talk shop on it all day long.

per the accurate 40sw data I have your 2.5gr over book load atleast and .125" over col. longer the col less pressure per book load though bump it up slowly and you can get back to max pressure.

whats your load flying on the chrono?
if I had to guess your probably pushing lead speeds.

my preferred hefty load in 40sw is with longshot powder. no matter the bullet weight it sends them as good as 40sw can only exception is a couple Vihtavouri powders.

somewhere on the net and maybe my computer is pic of what happens to 9mm case when fired out of battery. the 9mm case expanded alot without casehead seperation. 40sw would blow if it happened.
 
"QUOTE"
whats your load flying on the chrono?
if I had to guess your probably pushing lead speeds.

You do know that a G29 is a 10mm?? And the cast bullets are NO problem.:confused:
 
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