.460 Rowland vs 10mm Auto

T

TruthTellers

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I've generally been of the mindset that if I want a heavy hitting, big bore handgun, it would be a revolver. I'm starting to rethink that philosophy and would like to know between the .460 Rowland and the 10mm Auto, what are the pros cons?

Obviously, 10mm has higher capacity and is ready to get off the shelf with a Glock 20, 29, or 40. It's also able to convert to shoot stuff like 9mm, .357 Sig, 9x25 Dillon, which is cool to have the option for.

On the flipside, the .460 Rowland is much more powerful than 10mm and is not difficult to turn a current .45 ACP pistol into a .460.

This is just what limited thoughts I can form on the two cartridges. Between the two, if cost was not a factor, which would you choose and why?

I'm not saying that I'm ready to buy one or the other tomorrow, I'm just asking because maybe years down the road I'll want a powerful automatic and I'll be choosing between these two.
 
I have the glock g40, it is a very accurate and hard hitting firearm. I definitely recommend it, and i am not a fan of plastic guns. No experience with the 460 rowland, but that round has always piqued my curiosity.
 
I would go with 10mm for the simple reason is that there is more product availability in ammunition, and components if you reload. The Rowland does offer good ballistics at the cost of harder to find. As well as more expensive ammo, and components.
 
45 Super and .40 Super belong in this conversation conversation as well if we are discussing exotic chamberings.

I went with the 10MM - I bought both a G29 and, very recently, a Colt Delta Elite. But I am wary of non-factory "standard" chamberings so that drastically colored my decision.
 
Hmm... I would love a .460 Rowland pistol. I reload, so the only ammo-related issue is brass (I would not be the one trying to make .45acp brass work). It depends on what you want. If you want a turn-key solution, then 10mm is for you. If you are willing to drop a little money into a proper .460 conversion, and you like the idea of the project/power of the round, then I would go that route. It's not something to be done willy nilly, though. You are basically taking firearms designed around the .45acp round, and then shooting a cartridge with double the pressure through them.

is not difficult to turn a current .45 ACP pistol into a .460.
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I wouldn't call it difficult, but it's not as easy as adding a few extra pounds on the recoil/mainspring and rolling on with it. For the sake of pistol durability, a proper .460 conversion would include a compensator to increase lock time (or at least counter some of the rearward slide momentum), a chamber with very good support, and some stiffer springs. If that's your speed then go for it, I think it would be a fun project. If money wasn't an issue I would have a .460 Rowland project.
 
I'd say the apples/apples comparison for 10mm would be .45 Super; they have similar velocities for a given bullet weight.
If you already own a .45 ACP, converting it to .45 Super would be a lot easier and cheaper than buying a new 10mm, and if you are already handloading .45, all you need is .45 Super brass and some load data.

.460 Rowland gets you considerably more velocity and energy, if you need it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-e3BTkzr_M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8EXZyBc3qY
 
No matter how you look at it cost and availability is always a factor. I'd still buy 10mm. The best 10mm loads from Double Tap launch a 200 gr hardcast bullet at 1300 fps, about the same speed as a 230 gr 460 Rowland. The 460 shows more energy, but I'd bet money the 10mm bullet out penetrates it. If you're shooting large 4 legged animals penetration trumps energy.

Multiple tests with rifles show long 220 gr bullets fired at 30-06 speeds beat short fat heavy 400+gr bullets fired from rounds such as 444 and 45-70 on large bear. I'd bet the same applies to hand gun bullets.
 
The big advantage of the 10mm over the 45 Super is that it is a standard, not a "boutique" cartridge and that the Glock is chambered for it (Glock spells reliability even if you're not a fan of plastic guns). That's coming from an early and dedicated 45 Super fan. I shoot the Buffalo Bore 45 Super 255g hardcast at just over 1100 fps through the 6" barrel of my Springfield V16 Long Slide. If I were going 45 Super, I'd shop for a V16 Long Slide on gunbroker or wherever. It's built for it and is an amazing pistol.



 
No matter how you look at it cost and availability is always a factor. I'd still buy 10mm. The best 10mm loads from Double Tap launch a 200 gr hardcast bullet at 1300 fps, about the same speed as a 230 gr 460 Rowland. The 460 shows more energy, but I'd bet money the 10mm bullet out penetrates it. If you're shooting large 4 legged animals penetration trumps energy.
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And the 10mm would likely have a flatter trajectory too.

Hmm, I see the points being made here and they make sense; the 10mm and its possible conversions are easier to get into than .460 Rowland.
 
I say .460, simply because it is more powerful. Launching a .451 255gr pill at 1300fps is no joke.

It gives you an excuse to start reloading too
 
Lead ammo in factory Glock barrel is a no go.

I have a 460 Rowland. I also have 10mm. Two very different beasts. The main benefit to 10mm is that you can generally pick up factory ammo off the shelf and there are far more choices to pick from. 460 R is an online order only from a few limited suppliers. If you do not reload, then I would stick with 10mm. If you do reload, then the 460 Rowland becomes a consideration. .45acp dies work - you just need the 460 brass which is available - otherwise it's like loading .45acp. 10mm is also a fantastic round for the reloader as well. Another difference is the Rowland is essentially a barrel, spring, and compensator kit that you can swap in and out of your gun. It is not a permanent modification. Going 10mm generally means buying another pistol that is exclusively a 10mm.

One solution is to get a Glock 21 -AND- the 460 Rowland compensated package for the Glock 21 -AND- a Glock 10mm barrel plus some 10mm mags = the best of all three worlds in one pistol!
 
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Sgt Pepper, I don't currently have a .45 ACP semi auto pistol, nor a 10mm. I would be starting from scratch with these two and yes, I would be reloading for them because they are not common, the .460 R much more so than the 10mm.
 
Don't see any 460 Rowland on any shelves at the LGSs. Unobtainum. :rolleyes:

Happily, the 10mm AUTO be everywhere. Ubiquitous. ;)

Lead ammo in factory Glock barrel is a no go.
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Incorrect, my dudenal.

Through the 6.2" factory barrel of my 10mm Glock 40, coated lead boolits are indeed a go-go, and quite accurate.

Just last week I shot up about 300 10mm handloads topped with SNS's 220gn coated FP HCs. Cute little dark red pills, those. Run hot, they hit like a sledgehammer and form tight little groups.

Works for me. :cool:

 
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I thought about it to. As attractive as it is, after doing my research I am just sticking with the 44 magnum.
 
Another difference is the Rowland is essentially a barrel, spring, and compensator kit that you can swap in and out of your gun. It is not a permanent modification. Going 10mm generally means buying another pistol that is exclusively a 10mm.
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Actually, no. With just a simple barrel-swap, the 10mm Glocks are the more caliber diverse pistol. They're truly 4-in-1 guns.

Say you've got a Glock 20. Beyond the stock 10mm barrel, you can easily obtain 3 spare aftermarket tubes from various vendors chambered in .40S&W, .357Sig, and 9x25 Dillon.

All are 10mm-derivative cartridges, and they'll run fine with the stock 10mm magazines and recoil assembly.

Nothing else needed, except the ammo. :cool:
 
It seems like there are enough die-hard 10mm fans out there that ammo and/or reloading supplies should always be readily available. You should not have any issue buying moderately powered off-the-shelf ammo or hotter ammo online or components to develop the exact load you want if you reload.

The 460 has been around for something like two decades but has never really taken off. Amazing ballistics! Fantastic concept and engineering. But it is just not taking off commercially. I would call it a "boutique" cartridge and there is a very good chance it could be all but extinct in a few years.
 
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