10mm Auto Lever Action (40 S&W as well)

Would you buy a 40S&W / 10mm Lever Action?

  • YEAH!! 10mm Baby!

    Votes: 17 24.6%

  • NAY!

    Votes: 28 40.6%

  • That's a definite maybe...

    Votes: 18 26.1%

  • Only if it takes Glock mags :)

    Votes: 6 8.7%
  • Total voters
    69
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BreechFace

BreechFace

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How many on here would purchase a 10mm lever action, if one was made by a reputable company such as Ruger (with the advent of purchasing Marlin), Winchester, Henry? Or Rossi, Uberti, Chiappa?

With 10mm roughly equaling 357 Mag on performance or eclipsed by the .44mag/45 Colt, there is definite overlap and begs the question why? I get that.

For me, my woods carry gun is a Glock 40 MOS in 10mm and like the pairing for whitetail hunts with a 10mm carbine. My preference would be for a 16" bead blasted stainless with grey laminate, threaded barrel, and full tube magazine, side loading gate, ability to mount an XS Rail for scout optic.

I think there are some definite performance gains that can be made by handloading with some slower powders for a carbine.

With a lot of states banning detachable magazines over certain capacities and features on carbines, but leaving tube magazine levers alone, it seems more options in common semi-auto cartridges would be a niche market that is under-served. Also, 10mm is seeing a resurgence, which I'm happy to see as maybe I'll be the recipient of some economies of scale on cheap range fodder to feed brass into my reloading operation, as well as advancements in some bullet technology and availability.

I know there are several companies that will modify a Marlin 1894 in 357/38 into a 10mm/40S&W (40 being held by extractor). Now this got me excited, all the talk about great reliability even running 40 S&W and a slicked up action and Douglas barrel all sounded great... But their costs range from $1,800-2,200 + customer provides donor rifle...:what:.

So what say's THR yea, nay or maybe?
 
Not a bad concept, but I think I'd prefer one in .41 mag, over the 10mm. Also don't think I'd trade my .357 lever gun for one. But again, it would be cool.

I would agree that a small light semi-auto carbine might make more sense, like the old Ruger .44mag carbine, or whatever that one is that replaced it that looks more like a mini-14. ?? If I was a fan of the 10mm, (nothing wrong with it, just don't need one) that's where I'd want to go.
 
10mm does not gain as much as 357 Mag (and 41 & 44 Mag) in a carbine length barrel does due to a case volume issue**. The 357 Magnum has more case volume and since the slower burning powders that work so well in carbines are bulkier than fast burning powders the 10mm Auto runs out of case volume for propellent when trying to load to take advantage of the barrel length. You can see this in the chrono data from Ballistics by the Inch website. Many of the 357 Mag and 10mm loads that both generate 650-750 ft-lbs of muzzle energy in pistol length barrel (~5-inch) start to separate the at carbine lengths with very few of the 10mm getting over 900 ft-lbs and most of the 357 Magnum easily exceeding 1000 ftps.

**Yes 357 Magnum only has a 9% larger empty case volume over 10mm Auto but when you start calculating usable case volume after seating the bullet to SAAMI OAL you realize just how much of that case volume is occupies by bullet in the case of the 10mm Auto especially as we get to heavy for caliber bullets.
 
I mean......I don't really see a place for it unless it's in an extremely limited case. 357 easily covers it's power level and then some.

10mm carbines are cool though, I gave an AR in it
 
Tinman357 said:
I'm not waiting. Saving up the shekels to get a conversion done. I personally think its a good move for me that justifies the cost.
Click to expand...

Misery loves company!

Everyone is making good points, many people f which I realize. But still doesn’t make me have less desire for one :cool:
 
Leveraction rifle and sidearm in the same cartridge are an American tradition, going back to black powder days. Especially with Winchester rifle and Colt revolver in either .44-40 or .38-40.

I own a .357 Mag/.38 Spl Rossi lever action rifle and Ruger Security-Six revolver.

I own a .22 Marlin 39A leveraction and Ruger MkII pistol and Heritage Rough Rider revolver.

(Off leveractions, I own a .45 ACP Thompson carbine and 1911A1 pistol clone set from Numrich AutoOrdnance. I could even count my ArmaLite AR-7 Explorer rifle and Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer II pistol if I wanted to, as off leveraction pairs.)

Yep, I have bought the idea of carbine and sidearm in same caliber, if only to simplify ammo supply logistics.

While I have a H&K USP in .40 S&W, I probably would not want a .40 S&W leveraction carbine because I have major bases covered, especially with the .357/.38 pairs.

Now, if I had only a 10mm Auto or .40 S&W pistol, a leveraction rifle in 10mm capable of feeding .40 S&W would be awesome.
 
I’m sure the big appeal in one would be someone who carries a 10mm/40S&W. To me it would be the caveat to desiring one. Understandably so, as there are other rounds that perform better.

I’ve already had my emails sent to lever companies requesting such a beast but I’m not holding my breath.


Tinman357 said:
I'm not waiting. Saving up the shekels to get a conversion done. I personally think its a good move for me that justifies the cost.
Click to expand...

I may be with you in saving up. This is not an itch that I think will go away.
 
Gauging the interest on the polling of this as a cold shower in the morning type of interest. I think I'm out of luck that a manufacturer will take it on. Guess I'll look into procuring a Marlin 1894 and pursue having one made.
 
Last edited:
I love 10mm, and a lever gun in it would be sweet, but its just not a practical business choice when 357mag is already available and a touch better. And pairing my glock with a lever doesnt seem right!

Though a Ruger 96 with a 10rd box mag would be tempting... Ive not handled a 96 that i didnt like.

If looking to convert, a gun in 38-40 would be maybe easier. Its already a .40 cal bore. And with rifling for a 200 grain bullet
 
I don't think there would be enough interest in 10mm to justify tooling up for it. 38/357, 44 special/44 mag, 44-40, 45LC all have some overlap in one way or another compared to 10mm. That being said, I think a 9mm lever gun would sell like gangbusters, especially in mag capacity restricted states. And 9mm is just very popular for handguns and PCC.
 
With a short throw action (BL-22 comes to mind), yeah, I'd be interested.

Until then, Dear Ruger, please make a stainless/laminate Marlin in 327 Fed & while you're at it, a 45 Colt which can handle OAL for Ruger 45 loads.
 
earlthegoat2 said:
What a price point but here is a conversion.

https://grizzlycustom.com/product/marlin-1894-semi-auto-pistol-carbine-10mm-auto/

I think I would rather spend that same money on a Big Horn Armory in 460 S&W or 454 Casull and actually have something that will work on serious game.
Click to expand...

Yes, this rolls around in my head all the time. I've been on the lookout for a Rossi in 454 Casull but to no avail. No doubt I would be happy with a Big Horn Armory, well except for my wallet. A lever in 460 S&W or 454 Casull makes a lot more sense no doubt. But something about having a lever to match my sidearm to bum around in the woods has always appealed.
 
Not as crazy an idea. With the new model PC-9, Ruger is making stuff that is legal in ban states, yet still attractive for people outside ban states.

40 S&W would be a waste of time because they have their PC-40 carbine.
 
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