45acp or 10mm For Hiking Carry?

What are you concerned about that a 45 ACP won't handle?

Either would work fine. The 10mm Auto is noticeably more cartridge but unlikely to make substantial difference in most situation you are likely to encounter. It all comes down to what you are comfortable with and what you shoot well. Hits count significantly more than misses...

i have a 45acp handload, 265 grain lswc @ 750 fps, similar to this: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=395

luck,

murf

Just an aside if you reload, Tens try their best to throw brass into the next county.

While not pertinent to hiking, it is annoying at outdoor ranges, and brass recovery IS significantly reduced.

FL-NC said:

What are you concerned about that a 45 ACP won't handle?

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My thoughts as well. I don't know that there's anything east of the Mississippi that a .45 couldn't handle as well as a 10mm... I've hiked and fished in cougar (and occasionally, grizzly) country with a .357 (180 gr hardcast) or a .45 ACP since I don't currently own anything in 10mm (although a SIG P-220 SAO in a ten is calling my name). But I'm more likely to suffer a slip or fall on a mountain trail or in a river than I am to need a firearm...

Personally, I wouldn't trade off an XDM of any caliber for any Glock, and I once owned a 2nd Gen G20 for 27 years. If you're looking for an excuse to buy a 10mm, look at the offerings in the 1911 chassis, it's perfect for the caliber. I have a Ruger SR1911 in 10mm as well as a Springfield in .45, and I like them about the same as far as shooting them goes. You won't get 14+1, but if you can't hit your target with 8 rounds, it might be better to throw the gun at it and then run like hell. I do agree with Reinz about 10mm auto's chucking brass out of your zip code.
And what's the matter with carrying the .41M east of the Mississippi? Don't have to chase the brass. Get yourself a nice chest/ low shoulder carry rig and haul it around. I take my M57 on some hikes in the Blue Ridge.

The way I look at it from the perspective of cartridge power, .44 mag > .41 mag > 10mm > .45 acp.

It's the same old argument of "[insert cartridge] is enough." Countered by "Well, it is....til it isn't."

I got rid of my guns chambered .45acp because I didn't feel they were the best option of concealed carry, or home defense, or for the woods. And I got rid of my dies too. I replaced the dies with .40/10mm ones, and am currently waiting on a new G20.

The 10mm is just simply more powerful. You may or may not need that extra power (or ever even need to use the pistol). But it's not going to hurt.

So my question is, why would you not trade that .45acp in for a 10mm? Other than money, what's the good argument against doing it?

I don't know of any scenario (short of a large bear/moose/crackhead wearing the same pajamas for the last month) that I'd feel undergunned with the .45.
So if by replacement you mean cease ownership of the .45 to gain ownership of the 10mm, I don't really see a big upside.

If you mean "should I get a 10mm too?"
Then, yes, absolutely. You need one and will never be whole without it.

Howland937 said:

If you mean "should I get a 10mm too?"
Then, yes, absolutely. You need one and will never be whole without it.

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^^^ THIS

I honestly can't envision a scenario where the 45 wouldn't be enough, but a 10mm... well, heck, why not?

Mac

I like the 10mm more than the 45 in that use case, but am not saying you need a 10mm either.

I'm less of a fan of the 10mm in a small platform like the 29 as you give up shootability (in my opinion) and some velocity.

bangswitch said:

Personally, I wouldn't trade off an XDM of any caliber for any Glock,

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...but I'd trade off the XDM 45 for an XDM 10mm!

sparkyv said:

...but I'd trade off the XDM 45 for an XDM 10mm!

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Ahhh! I see what you did there. Because it's the same. But better.

I am a believer in “go with what you know”.

Trading a known gun and going with an unknown gun leaves you risking remorse. Keeping the known gun and buying another would at least allow you to determine if the new gun / ammo is actually what you really want.

For what it's worth, I have never been able to hit squat with 45acp.
On the other hand, I find my 10mm to be quite accurate.
I'm not sure why, but that is how it works out for me.

I've been an advocate of 10mm for a while. I used to carry a G20, but have gone to the slightly more compact G29. I can still use 15 round mags in the smaller pistol. I prefer it over a revolver since even in bear country I feel 2 legged predators are still the bigger threat. The G29 is smaller and lighter than a 3" barreled magnum revolver with 10-15 round capacity for 2 legged threats and enough power to do anything the hottest 357 load will do.

I carry 2 magazines, one loaded with lighter SD loads and a 2nd one loaded with 200 gr DoubleTap ammo at 1300 fps. That load has taken brown bear and cape buffalo by hunters. It should be fine on black bear.

But with the right loads 45 isn't a bad choice. Buffalo Bore loads a 255 gr hardcast bullet at around 900 fps. From what I've seen it comes close to matching 10mm. If I had a 45 and didn't want to go 10mm I'd feel pretty good with that load. I still like 10mm a bit better due to less recoil, better penetration, and greater mag capacity.

You don't need an excuse to get a 10 mm, you just need the funds.
If it makes you feel more confident in the woods, great. Maybe, you'll defend yourself better if you have to.

If I'm not mistaken, most modern handguns are capable of firing more than one round so just repeat as necessary.
I like those Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman loads in both 10mm and 45 +P.

But if you want a 10, get a 10.

In terms of effectiveness, I’m hard pressed to think of anything a 45 wouldn’t handle reasonably well in the eastern US woodlands for defensive purposes.

Like others have said.....go with what YOU shoot the best under pressure.

I often ask myself the same question. My hiking gun is an XD Mod 2 sub compact .45acp with a 3.3 barrel and it makes a handy consealable as well as an excellent shooter.

I would like to get a 10mm some day. I am sure it would be a fun gun but I have never felt like I ever really needed more gun than a .45acp. And I really like the fit of my XD mod 2 much better than the Glock 29. The XDm in 10mm is a bigger gun than I really wany to carry.

Bottom line is I came to terms with .45acp being plenty powerful enough for anything I am likely to ever run into so anthing else would just be for fun.

If you're worried about cougars, just be sure to have enough wine and chopped fruit to make a few sangrias. That'll pacify her real quick.

And yes, a .45ACP should take care of anything east of the Mississippi. Sure 10mm is more powerful but is it enough of a difference to really make a difference? It's still just a pistol caliber after all.

I think you should get what you want.
Personally I think the .45acp is a great SD round.
I actually have been carrying my 9mm for hikes and scouts.

sparkyv said:

...but I'd trade off the XDM 45 for an XDM 10mm!

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Man, I sure like those powder coated slugs!
Nice

You don't need anything larger than a 9mm in the eastern US for personal protection. So your .45 is perfectly adequate.

Stick with the 45ACP and get the best ammo for woods hiking. That is Underwood Extreme Penetrator +P. I hike in PA often. I carry a 9mm loaded with that ammo. The ammo was designed for the woodsman. It employs a non expanding fluted copper bullet that uses fluid transfer to create substantial wound cavities coupled with with deep penetration. It’s on the expensive side, but worth it. And carry bear spray. That is good against any animal. I sprayed a coyote while vacationing in Cape Cod last month. The animal was getting very aggressive but after one whiff of the spray it was gone.