357 Magnum vs. 10MM

The 357 and 10mm are pretty similar on paper but in reality they are different. .357 is faster and lighter, generally has a more rugged bullet because it’s a 357 and people run them pretty hot for hunting purposes. The 10mm is heavy and slow by comparison

Click to expand...

You are looking at the wrong loads.

I think the hotter loads in either 357 or 10mm are more potent than needed for SD against 2 legged predators. The mid level 357, hotter 9mm, standard 40 S&W or most 45 ACP loads have all proven to work about as well as any handgun load will work.

But if choosing a gun for protection from 4 legged predators the best 357 and 10mm loads are pretty comparable on paper. You can get a 200 gr hardcast from either out the muzzle at 1300 fps from a 4-4.5" barrel. The 357 load will have a little better SD and should penetrate a little more. The 10mm bullet a bit more diameter.

I made the move to a Glock 10mm pistol to serve that role over 20 years ago. My 4.5" Glock is shorter overall than my 3" Smith 629. And significantly smaller than any 4" 357 revolver. More than a pound lighter too. For performance that close I'll take the smaller more compact gun holding 15+1 rounds vs 6 rounds every time for a defensive handgun.

But hunting isn't Self Defense. If I were inclined to handgun hunt I still give the nod to a magnum revolver with a 6" or longer barrel. The longer barrels add some speed and will take the magnum revolver rounds into a category the 10mm can't reach. There just isn't much difference between 10mm and even 44 mag when the 44 is fired from a 4" or shorter barrel. The longer barrels along with better triggers usually mean better accuracy from the revolvers too.

jmr40 said:

I made the move to a Glock 10mm pistol to serve that role over 20 years ago. My 4.5" Glock is shorter overall than my 3" Smith 629. And significantly smaller than any 4" 357 revolver. More than a pound lighter too. For performance that close I'll take the smaller more compact gun holding 15+1 rounds vs 6 rounds every time for a defensive handgun.

But hunting isn't Self Defense. If I were inclined to handgun hunt I still give the nod to a magnum revolver with a 6" or longer barrel. The longer barrels add some speed and will take the magnum revolver rounds into a category the 10mm can't reach. There just isn't much difference between 10mm and even 44 mag when the 44 is fired from a 4" or shorter barrel. The longer barrels along with better triggers usually mean better accuracy from the revolvers too.

Click to expand...

Valid point above. My Glock has a 6" threaded lone wolf barrel, so I pick up some extra FPS there.

I dearly love my .357's. I will tell you one thing........357 in a pistol is a helluva lot hotter than a revolver. My Coonan clocks several hundred fps faster than my Blackhawk. So for performance, I give a slight nod to a 10mm, but I think the two are waaay closer if you compare apples to apples and look between pistols and revolvers. Plus, 38 spc is waaay quieter and has a ton more options, especially in a carbine. I've also yet to see any lever guns in 10/40, but maybe some day. So since I have 4 357/38s and only 1 10mm.......I give the nod overall to .357 in my house.

jmr40 said:

You are looking at the wrong loads.

Click to expand...

This is probably true, but find a gun that can truthfully handle full power 10mm and it not be a dangerous proposition. Glocks have an unsupported section of the chamber. Most 1911 10mms have an unsupported section of the chamber. 10mm does no good if it has to be watered down to keep from blowing the brass and causing a kaboom. I have yet to see an auto loader that is truly built to take the full power loads. Sig possibly, but I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet. I sold a delta elite because of it, and tried out a Glock 20, kimber super jagare, and a few others but none of them gave me any confidence that they wouldn’t come apart in my hand. Witness pistols are supposedly fully supported as well but again I haven’t gotten ahold of one to try it out. I hope to, and would gladly buy one if it is fully supported.

WestKentucky said:

This is probably true, but find a gun that can truthfully handle full power 10mm and it not be a dangerous proposition. Glocks have an unsupported section of the chamber. Most 1911 10mms have an unsupported section of the chamber. 10mm does no good if it has to be watered down to keep from blowing the brass and causing a kaboom. I have yet to see an auto loader that is truly built to take the full power loads. Sig possibly, but I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet. I sold a delta elite because of it, and tried out a Glock 20, kimber super jagare, and a few others but none of them gave me any confidence that they wouldn’t come apart in my hand. Witness pistols are supposedly fully supported as well but again I haven’t gotten ahold of one to try it out. I hope to, and would gladly buy one if it is fully supported.

Click to expand...

The Witness is indeed solid (mine is in .45 and .22, but @Wreck-n-Crew has one in 10mm and I can confirm his is just as stout as mine). The S&W 1006 might as well be made from old tank armor and I have no doubt it will hold up to any load I can put through it except a double charge (and it might even do that). Perhaps surprisingly my XDm-10 also feels quite solid, even with my hottest 10mm loads - those are right at max.

Ballistically, they're so comparable as to be a non-issue except, perhaps, in the heavy 10 loads. 10 is far more versatile, offering the lightest of light 10 in the 40 SW range all the way to nukes. 357 is generally hot or hotter.
Far more significant to my shooting experience is the preferred firearm. Some days a 686 or Python, others a P220.

EricBu said:

I dearly love my .357's. I will tell you one thing........357 in a pistol is a helluva lot hotter than a revolver. My Coonan clocks several hundred fps faster than my Blackhawk. So for performance, I give a slight nod to a 10mm, but I think the two are waaay closer if you compare apples to apples and look between pistols and revolvers. Plus, 38 spc is waaay quieter and has a ton more options, especially in a carbine. I've also yet to see any lever guns in 10/40, but maybe some day. So since I have 4 357/38s and only 1 10mm.......I give the nod overall to .357 in my house.

View attachment 990422

Click to expand...

Nice selection there, love the suppressed lever!

WestKentucky said:

This is probably true, but find a gun that can truthfully handle full power 10mm and it not be a dangerous proposition. Glocks have an unsupported section of the chamber. Most 1911 10mms have an unsupported section of the chamber. 10mm does no good if it has to be watered down to keep from blowing the brass and causing a kaboom. I have yet to see an auto loader that is truly built to take the full power loads. Sig possibly, but I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet. I sold a delta elite because of it, and tried out a Glock 20, kimber super jagare, and a few others but none of them gave me any confidence that they wouldn’t come apart in my hand. Witness pistols are supposedly fully supported as well but again I haven’t gotten ahold of one to try it out. I hope to, and would gladly buy one if it is fully supported.

Click to expand...

Lone Wolf Barrels (and other aftermarket barrels) take care of the unsupported chamber issues and so far have proven reliable in chambering and extraction. I've fired hot loads through mine and only a small amount of chamber bulge, now the stock glock barrel is another story.

Herman B said:

Ballistically, they're so comparable as to be a non-issue except, perhaps, in the heavy 10 loads. 10 is far more versatile, offering the lightest of light 10 in the 40 SW range all the way to nukes. 357 is generally hot or hotter.
Far more significant to my shooting experience is the preferred firearm. Some days a 686 or Python, others a P220.

Click to expand...

Don't forget that a 357 Mag revolver can also shoot 38 Special, 38 Long Colt, and 38 Short Colt. Both cartridges fairly easily play on the light side without issue, especially in a revolver.

Right, that's too important to forget - really enjoy the light 38 plinkers and not chasing brass! I was simply adhering to the two cartridges under discussion.

WestKentucky said:

This is probably true, but find a gun that can truthfully handle full power 10mm and it not be a dangerous proposition. Glocks have an unsupported section of the chamber. Most 1911 10mms have an unsupported section of the chamber. 10mm does no good if it has to be watered down to keep from blowing the brass and causing a kaboom. I have yet to see an auto loader that is truly built to take the full power loads. Sig possibly, but I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet. I sold a delta elite because of it, and tried out a Glock 20, kimber super jagare, and a few others but none of them gave me any confidence that they wouldn’t come apart in my hand. Witness pistols are supposedly fully supported as well but again I haven’t gotten ahold of one to try it out. I hope to, and would gladly buy one if it is fully supported.

Click to expand...

My Witness 10mm has had nothing but a steady diet of full power 10mm loads. Almost 6k on it as of now. 180gr SWc averaging 1252 fps has been the main heavy diet. I also have ran 500 155gr screamers through it as well. No bulge and no kaboom.

When it comes to the full power loads your better off with a heavy bullet over a lighter one on a revolver. Same goes for a .357 mag. Those light bullets are tough on some parts on a revolver. Much more so than a heavy bullet.

When your dealing with a semi auto there is a point of support that is okay . Where the thick webbing of a 10mm case does nit need need the support like the thin part above the webbing. Depending on the gun you may have less support like with some Glocks.

Glock bulge stinks and it shows its ugly head in 10mm spent casings. One day at the orange a guy next to me was shooting his 10mm Glock and we chatted a little being the only 2 with 10mm on the range. He was running some light loaded factory rounds. Anyhow he offered me the brass because I told him I load. I picked up a piece and s hmm owed him the bulge. He didn't even know it.

Looking at the wear on my 10mm I can honestly say it is on more than what I find on a 9mm. Check my post about the 5k round review of my 10mm.

Wreck-n-Crew said:

My Witness 10mm has had nothing but a steady diet of full power 10mm loads. Almost 6k on it as of now. 180gr SWc averaging 1252 fps has been the main heavy diet. I also have ran 500 155gr screamers through it as well. No bulge and no kaboom.

When it comes to the full power loads your better off with a heavy bullet over a lighter one on a revolver. Same goes for a .357 mag. Those light bullets are tough on some parts on a revolver. Much more so than a heavy bullet.

When your dealing with a semi auto there is a point of support that is okay . Where the thick webbing of a 10mm case does nit need need the support like the thin part above the webbing. Depending on the gun you may have less support like with some Glocks.

Glock bulge stinks and it shows its ugly head in 10mm spent casings. One day at the orange a guy next to me was shooting his 10mm Glock and we chatted a little being the only 2 with 10mm on the range. He was running some light loaded factory rounds. Anyhow he offered me the brass because I told him I load. I picked up a piece and s hmm owed him the bulge. He didn't even know it.

Looking at the wear on my 10mm I can honestly say it is on more than what I find on a 9mm. Check my post about the 5k round review of my 10mm.

Click to expand...

I have been on that thread but I didn’t realize it was you! Sounds like I need to pay up. Or possibly just steadily make suggestions leading up to my 10th anniversary. The wife has got me a few guns over the years, and a witness 10 would be a good one.

They are fine pistols. But they are not alone. You have many choices out there.

Mine is a Single Action Only and setup for competition. Although not as well as some of the nicer Tanfoglio Match pistols. When I bought it the price was a little lower. They have since went up a bit. It's a great target gun and shoots lights out. But not an ideal carry piece. Since its SA only you would either run cocked and locked like a 1911 or hammer down with one chambered. Or unchambered.

They make 10mm in steel and polymer frame better suited for carry. SA/DA. But as I said there are more choices that dont suffer from bugle. Even the Glock with a lone wolf barrel is suitable. If you prefer striker fired.

Springfield has the 10mms too. In fact the fellow that quoted me has one. They are good guns and dont suffer from the bulge as is.

Good luck with the wife. Can't wait to see a review if you get one!

Palladan44 said:

Possibly cylinder gap leakage makes for some varying pressure loss from gun to gun in 357 mag.
6" barrel and 10'" barrel in 357 using a slow powder like 296 ought to be the difference in velocity right there. I know there are "slow" wheelguns and "quick" wheelguns due to a few factors.
I did work up blue dot as well in 357, forgot to mention that. But it was still in the lower-mid 1300s. Flashy as all hell, and pressure spikes which seem to occur randomly, based on top hatting of primers. I do recall reading the data for 296, and I was hoping to hit 1400fps based on the data, but never came even close. Real world learning i guess, im NOT an expert just passing along my findings. Cheers!

Click to expand...

If the powder supply wasn't so diminished, I'd say pick up a pound of power pro 300 mp to break 1400 fps with a 158. Alliant lists 18.6 grains at 1690 fps out of a 10 inch test barrel on their website. That stuff sure kicks up my .357 loads a notch.

WestKentucky said:

This is probably true, but find a gun that can truthfully handle full power 10mm and it not be a dangerous proposition. Glocks have an unsupported section of the chamber. Most 1911 10mms have an unsupported section of the chamber. 10mm does no good if it has to be watered down to keep from blowing the brass and causing a kaboom. I have yet to see an auto loader that is truly built to take the full power loads. Sig possibly, but I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet. I sold a delta elite because of it, and tried out a Glock 20, kimber super jagare, and a few others but none of them gave me any confidence that they wouldn’t come apart in my hand. Witness pistols are supposedly fully supported as well but again I haven’t gotten ahold of one to try it out. I hope to, and would gladly buy one if it is fully supported.

Click to expand...

ALL brass will eventually split or blow out if loaded too many times, especially with an unsupported ramp section of the chamber, this is just a fact of life. I've thrown away enough split or bulged .38, .357, .38 super, .45 and 9mm brass to build a statue

Anyway, even though my gold cup delta elite does not have a supported ramp, it has many thousands of full powered loads through it without a kaboom, as does my Tanfoglio. I inspect every case before loading it, and 86 anything I don't like.

Of all the 10's I've owned (which is quite a large number) of them, IMO the Tanfoglio is well suited to a regular diet of hot 10's. I'd like a Sig or possibly a CZ but neither really bring anything to the table that Tanfoglio doesn't at a substantially lower cost.