Which 10mm?

M

MJN77

New member
I'm toying with the idea of buying a 10mm pistol. Have been intrigued by them for a few years but never saw a reason to get one. I don't plan to carry it for self defense as a regular carry piece. I guess it would be more of a "farm gun/ woods gun". Maybe try to take a deer with it some day, but mostly a carry gun when walking the WV hills and hollers looking for missing cattle. The absolute biggest thing I could run into, although pretty unlikely of a confrontation, would be a black bear. More likely would be a wild dog, coyote or a injured cow that needs to be put down. I usually carry a 9mm and on occasion a .45 auto. Sometimes I carry a rifle, but they can get heavy on a long hike. As for as a 10mm, I have been looking at a Sig p220, or a Colt delta elite. I like the looks of the colt and I have always liked a good 1911 and have owned a few. But on research, I have found that the Colt doesn't have a fully supported chamber where the Sig does. While I wouldn't shoot much, if any of the hottest 10mm loads out there, it would be nice to know I could if so desired. I have never held a p220, but I own a p226 and a p227. I like them very much. So I don't think I would dislike the p220 as long as it felt good in my hand. Any advice? What is the consensus of the quality/durability of the Colt? What about the 10mm p220? Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance.
 
Go with the Colt if it's what you want. Unless your reloading the hottest loads or shooting the hottest factory rounds available and on a regular basis the gun will probably out live you.

I reload and haven't ever noticed any extra bulge or experienced any problems with brass shot in my Colt. Mine is fairly new so maybe the newer ones are better than the older versions.

I have no experience with the SIG, but I'm sure it is also a fine gun.
 
the Sig 220 10mm is a dang good feeling gun in your hand, the grip isn't as fat as the 226 but is a fuzz longer front to back to accommodate the longer .45,10mm rounds, they fit my hand like a glove, the Sig can be bought in SAO for a far superior trigger to the DA/SA Sigs and will equal all but the best of the 1911s. IMO 10mm Sig ove the Delta Elite
 
I kind of like the 10mm cartridge.
I really like 1911 model handguns.
I don't like what the 10mm does to 1911 guns. Note: there is no REAL reason to have my attitude. It's just a personal opinion-maybe a phobia...

So when (if) I ever get a 10mm I'd probably get a Glock 20 'cause I wouldn't care much what the 10mm did to the Glock. ;)
 
The Delta was designed when the only 10mm ammunition available was "full power", so if a round is not recommended for use in the Delta, I wouldn't shoot it in anything.
The concept of the 10 was as a replacement for .45 ACP, a 200gr bullet at 1000fps; the Norma ammo of the day, 200@1200 was already HOT.
I have owned my Delta for over fifteen years, have ~3000 rounds through it, but no more than 200 of those have been full-power. Paper targets and tin cans can't tell how fast the bullet is moving.
Unless you are going to put-down thousands of stray cows, there's no need to beat-up the gun with a steady diet of hot ammo.
My only experience with P220 (.45) was a full-house Grayguns custom, and while it was a nice gun, I prefer the Delta in every way.
I have some time on the Glock 20, and it's a great implement. I like it as well as any of my shovels.
You can argue what's "better", but I prefer the Delta's feel, balance, trigger, appearance, logo :), etc.
 
Thanks for the opinions provided.
RickB, as I said in my post, few if any ammo I would shoot would be "full power/hot" loads. But I am leaning toward the Colt. I have always been a sucker for a 1911.
 
If a 1911 is what you are after, spend a couple hundred more and get the Dan Wesson 10mm.

It does have a fully supported barrel, and no mim parts. DW warranty and support is second to none.
 
I've had a 20sf for years and it does OK--it's main attraction being it's nice and adaptable to other caliber barrels.

My next 10mm handgun, hands down without a second thought, would be a modern 6" 1911 style elite/hunter and the sig or para ordnance ones would be at the top of my list.
 
One of the Glocks or the long discontinued Smith 1006 series of guns are the only ones proven to be reliable and hold up to full power 10mm loads. I have a G20 and G29 that are my woods guns. Either of them gobble up Double Tap 200 gr loads at 1300 fps and with controllable recoil.
 
I've had a Delta Elite since the nearly 90's. I have shot many, many rounds through it (although never anything SUPER supercharged) with nary a problem. My carry load for it is the Winchester 175 grain Silvertip, which while by no means the hottest thing out there is still no cream puff.
 
If it were me I would get the Sig out of the two you listed. The Colt is nice but I think its overated, If I was getting a 1911 10mm I would get the RIA. A coworker of mine has one and has been really inpressed plus do you really want to drag either of these nice $1000+ guns through the woods? When I ventured into the 10mm world I picked up a S&W 1076 & 1006, they are tanks and will take alot of use. If I were in your position and was looking for a woods 10mm it would be a Glock no questions about it. It was desgined just for what you are looking to do with it and keep on plugging away. Good luck with your decision.
 
Not really interested in a Glock 10mm. I have a G17 and a G26. I like them both but I don't really want another one. I am also not "sold" on a 1911. Just said I like them and was leaning toward the Colt. I have liked the Delta since I was a kid. But I also like my Sigs, and like the looks of the p220 10mm. Especially the camo "hunter" one. I don't plan to use the really hot loads, so didn't really think a less than fully supported chamber was a problem. Again, the most likely thing it would be called upon to do (although not very often) is finish off a cow. I have done that with .38 special and 9mm a few times in the last 20 years. Just wanted opinions about the DE and Sig. I appreciate all the posts.
 
I really want a 10mm 1911, especially a 6" barrel model. I think in the future I will go with a Dan Wesson as I believe it to be made better and with better parts than the Colt.

I tried a Glock 20 and couldn't shoot it worth a darn. Grip was far too large for my hands. Size 8 gloves
 
Pick up a Para p-16 40 (Canadian Limited) and have the barrel reamed to 10mm. Uses the same 40 S&W mags. All I did was install a EGW flat FPS, 25# main spring and a 22# recoil spring. The whole package was under $700 and I have 17 rounds of full house loads at my disposal. Close to 2K rounds and not one hiccup,
 
Can the ria 10mm handle full power loads?
Click to expand...

I believe that the Colt is the only one that Underwood says shouldn't use their full-spec ammo. I don't believe that any other ammo makers exclude any 10mm guns. At least the earlier Glock 20's and 29's reputedly routinely bulged the cases, but the ammo makers didn't advise against them, I believe. I've also heard a lot of 10mm Colt owners say that they've shot many full-spec 10mm rounds without any problem. The RIA (I believe) does have a ramped barrel, and probably has about as good case support as any.
 
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