10 mm vs .45 ACP, Which Should I Purchase?

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iiibdsiil

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Well, our search button sucks, as 10 mm is not searchable as the words are too small...

Right now I have a 9 mm Kahr MK9 for concealed carry. I love it, but am looking for something with both a bigger round, for certain moments. The thing that really got me thinking was when I was in the projects in Miami at a parade with some friends from the car club, and though "Darn, if something happened, would 9 mm REALLY be enough?" I know, I'm probably reading too many of the caliber wars here on the forum...

So, what I'd like is a mid-size either .45 or 10 mm that I could conceal when need be, but use mostly as a car gun, with my Kahr for 99% of the time concealed carry.

I don't want to hear about ammo prices for either, I've got my 9 mm to waste the ammo money on, and I am fine with spending the money on either .45 or 10 mm to practice with. I can always get into reloading ;)

I also don't want to hear about over-penetration. If I'm shooting, I'm shooting. Most anything is going to over penetrate anyways, so let's call it a moot point.

So, the basic question is, 10 mm or .45 ACP for self-defense?

I'm not set on any specific guns yet, although I was eye-balling the new M&P .45. To me, the less safeties the better (don't prefer Glocks, but we'll see...), but as long as it doesn't have that grip safety crap (personal preference) and isn't a 1911 (again, personal preference), I'm down for it.

I know I know, get whichever you shoot best, but I'd like to hear other peoples opinions, and possibly recommendations.

Is there a firearm that allows me to change barrels to shoot both? That'd be the deal breaker...

I'm itching for a new gun here, help a brother out! :D
 
.45ACP ammo ain't cheap but 10mm? The more you practice the better you will be with your firearm. A .45ACP is plenty for SD, but then again so is 9mm. OK 9v45 war officially restarted........
 
I would recommend the .45acp for the fact that ammo will be available anywhere you go, plus the vast amount of ammo choices for that caliber. If you were protecting yourself from the four legged threat the 10mm is probably a better choice.
 
a 10mm is more powerful than a .45acp? i thought the 10mm was just a lengthy .40s&w

although i have heard that a 10mm could stop chuck norris:neener:
 
10MM is more powerful than the .45 ACP but its up to you.

Do you reload? If not, you won't get the full potential out of the 10MM unless you mail order ammo.

I'm selling a G20 with reloading gear if your interested. You can also slave in a .40 cal barrel in the G20 for the hell of it.
 
I think you should look at the gun that fits you best, that wont be hard in 45, but there are not nearly as many different platforms for 10mm.
 
10MM is more powerful than the .45 ACP but its up to you.
Click to expand...

i dont know are they? i was always under the impression that the .45 was a more powerful cartridge. :confused:
 
I'm a small dude, so I don't think I could conceal the G20 without a helluva Hawaiian shirt. I'm going to find a G29 locally to fondle and rent. I'll look at some .45s also. It seems like there aren't a ton of options for the 10 mm without being a Glock or a 1911 style, so it's about down to the Glock 29 if I go 10 mm route, so I'll see if I like the *gasp* Glock.

4 legged kind? I've seen some dudes that looked like they could would make any 4 legged kind shiver. ;)
 
I find the 10mm to be the superior choice for me in every way except 1, availability. If you don't reload, its expensive. Look at a g20, a witness in 10mm, or an older smith and wesson like the 1006
 
With a .45 or .40 you can get carry with a round that is able to provide a one-shot stop in the 96% to 98% range when placed in center mass. A 10mm is overkill for self defense IMO.
If you are going to go in to the woods a 10mm may be ok for small bear, so a 10mm can kind of duplicate as a self-d weapon in the city & woods.

With the price of ammo being what it is 9mm & .40 look real good right now.

If you want a 10mm - get one... But don't let anyone fool you, .40 & .45 are great rounds for self-d
 
a 10mm is more powerful than a .45acp? i thought the 10mm was just a lengthy .40s&w
Click to expand...
40s&w is a shortened 10mm. the FBI originally was using 10mm, but it was too much for most of them to handle so they asked for something easier to manage and thats how the 40s&w came to be.

for a comparison of energy produced by a typical round:
http://www.volny.cz/buchtik/Revo/Ballistic_Info_komplet.htm

10mm is the highest of any semi-easily available semiauto round in terms of energy.
 
If there's ONE thing i dont worry about when it comes to self-defense, its having too much stopping power. (As long as its controllable)

With practice, 10mm is quite controllable.

Sure, 40s&w might have some 94% - 96% (which is debateable, as is any statistic) stop ratio, but i'm going to take every opportunity I have to reduce my chance of being the 6%-4% of unlucky people, who become statistics themselves.
 
after reading your post, I would say 10mm but with thos choices you can't go wrong.either way check out www.doubletapammo.com.
EAA witness is another fine platform for both and they allow you to change caliber by changing uppers.they even have a combo 22lr 45acp thats very reasonable.
 
I have put just about an hour of thought, reflection and review of all of my materials into this answer, and have concluded that there really is no one simple way to answer your question.

In the end, I would suggest the .45 ACP due to the tremendous availability of factory ammunition weights and configurations, and in a multitude of reload formats to boot. As you stated, cost-be-darned...you'll buy the ammo anyhow, and further as you stated, you have a 9mm for cheap shooting. However, unless you intend to always handload, you are going to see that the factories have done their best to effectively neuter the 10MM to levels nearly as-low-as a .40 S&W! In that light, I have to ask, why go 10MM if you always have to handload to get optimal performance?

Two years back, I rented a G29 and a G30 for side-by-side comparison to see which I wanted to purchase…I walked out with neither! :banghead: The sole difference between the 45 ACP and the 10MM in recoil terms was that the 10MM was slightly faster in recoil, but neither was recoil-problematic. However, given what you said of being small, that usually means small hands too. The Glock 29 & 30 were/are problematic for me to seriously and forcefully wrap my hands around. So for Glock, check the 29 and 30 check the fit…it’s a whole lot of grip!

One consideration that I have not yet seen posted is "straight-line" penetration, as in if you had to shoot through a windshield. Windshields are just about the world's worst target to defeat without destroying the projectile, and/or sending it careening literally 12" off target over the remaining 18" of distance to the driver. I have a two professionally produced videos that show how the various rounds performed on humanoids and hard targets. I do not recall them testing the 10MM, perhaps they did. What I recall was the .45 ACP was the undisputed King-of-the-Hill on penetration, energy-transfer and especially on straight-line penetration due to the 230 Gr. projectile. As the saying goes, "…an object in motion..." and so weight matters. The sole projectiles to out-strip the 230 grain .45 ACPs were the 1 ounce, 12 gauge slug and the 750 grain FMJ, .50 BMG. There's the scoop on the .45 ACP!

You have pointed out the S&W, but don't forget the SA-XD 45 ACP unless the grip safety bothers you. Personally, while I know you say no 1911s, I view that as a potential oversight error. Here is the reason for my HO. I carry my Colt 1911 with the manual safety off, and rely on the grip safety. Over the course of thousands of rounds, the pistol has never failed. But, what is more important is that, for me, is that the 1911 remains the sole pistol that I shoot absolutely consistent, day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year, in spite of reduced practice. I cannot say the same for any other pistol.

And so, understand that I am not saying 1911 for you, I am saying find your hand's equivalent. What single pistol do you fire absolutely consistent, week-to-week, month-to-month and year-to-year in spite of being forced for whatever the reason to reduce your practice time? That is what you should buy...your hand's natural fit, and natural point of aim. Then, as has been stated, see which calibers are offered and make your personal selection.

God bless and be safe,

Doc2005
 
the short answer is both. I have many 10mms and many 45s and I think they are both great. .45 is just fine for self defense, but 10mm will do both self defense and make a fine hunting round as well. If I had to choose between them, it would be a Glock 20 or 29 in 10mm. I carry a Glock 20 every day and I consider it to be the best pistol ever made. It even beats my 10mm 1911.
 
Buy multiple platforms in both calibers. Glock 29, Glock 20, two Dan Wesson Razorbacks (1911 10MM), four 1911's in .45 ACP


I shoot the Glocks slightly better than the 1911's but they don't carry well for me. So my carry pistol is my SA Loaded in .45 ACP. I will probably go to the Dan Wesson Razorbacks after some tweaking.
 
iiibdsiil-.45 all the way!

First off the 10mm is a good stopper, but it does not stop better then the .45acp. The .45 has a lot more quality ammo choices over the 10mm and has the edge in stopping power.:evil: Other reasons for the .45 is that there are some very high quality guns on the market in this caliber. The best mfg. all make .45's The .45 is easier to shoot, I find it easier to place a shot and follow up shots with the.45- In my opinion its the .45 hands down. Smith-Wesson will be putting out their 14rd mag in September or October and the XD is one of the Best Polymer pistols I have ever shot [if not the best] I like the XD so much I have their .45 Tactical and Service model. I have tried the 10mm and could not get it to match up to the .45 You did say self defense and not hunting, so the .45 is the way to go. With all the ammo choices out there in .45acp you just cannot go wrong.

The Best to you and Yours!

Frank
 
I would get the .45. The downloaded version invented for and popularized by the FBI is no more powerful than the .45; the full powered version is needlessly (I'm sure I will get some arguments on this;)) powerful for personal defense against human attack; .45 practice ammo is much cheaper, enabling you to shoot more; and there are more guns available in .45.
 
I like and own both calibers, but the 10mm is definitely my favorite cartridge. You can buy downloaded loads (similar in power to the 40SW) and you can get full power nuke loads (IE: Double Tap) for big time work, like any 2 to 4 legged baddies.

Also, with a 10mm, you can buy 40SW and 357sig barrels and have 3 guns in one. Some platforms may require new mags for the 40/357, but my G20 handles all three loads with standard mags.

My Glock 20 in .357sig guise:
l_3a060d15af70511054ea4056f9d89a5f.png
 
I have heard of a lot of problems in all types of firearms with the 10mm because of the pressure the cartridge creats. I am not sure how true this is but that is what I have heard. I still want a Cold Delta Elite in 10mm. always oved the looks of them.
 
the short answer is both. I have many 10mms and many 45s and I think they are both great.
Click to expand...
+1
I have the .45 for urban/suburban carry, and 10mm when walking in the woods or on the hills.

While neither is problematic in recoil, because it's also my competition round, I find I can score multiple hits faster with the .45. But that's with 250 rounds minimum per week. I may need to switch to .40, though; the cost of brass is killing me, and .40 brass is free if you get to the range after the local police practice.

But if I have to stop something dead in its tracks, I like the energy edge provided by 10mm loaded to its max (i.e. Double Tap). I know for a fact it will stop a charging wild boar, though it's marginal compared to a .44 on a bear.
 
My $.02 worth goes to the .45ACP but in reality, with comparable bullets, both would do the same job. (Same could be said about the 9mm in a +p loading.) The difference is you will get faster follow-up shots with the .45 over the 10mm. With multiple bad guys this could be the difference between winning and losing. Want proof, go to an IDPA or IPSC match and talk to shooters shooting both; the vast majority have shorter split times with the .45 than the 10mm.
 
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