10mm..: the new outdoorsman's choice.?

For me the off the beaten path handgun has to be a revolver. Simpler, more reliable and can handle a greater variety of loads for different situations. No problem with 10 mm, I think it's fine too but assuming both were woods protection revolvers the 44 Magnum is much more versatile. More powerful if max power is required and is easier to shoot if the 44 Special option happens to be what I need.

Charlie Martinez said:

For me the off the beaten path handgun has to be a revolver. Simpler, more reliable and can handle a greater variety of loads for different situations. No problem with 10 mm, I think it's fine too but assuming both were woods protection revolvers the 44 Magnum is much more versatile. More powerful if max power is required and is easier to shoot if the 44 Special option happens to be what I need.

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Many would argue that a modern revolver is not any more reliable than modern Glock, Sigs and similar semi-autos. Three or four generation ago that assumption might have been right, I don't believe it is anymore. Given the abuse in testing I have seen done to many modern semi-auto's, and my own uses and abuse I am willing to believe the quality of the maker has more to do with it than the action type (revolver vs semi-auto). In my experience assuming we are comparing comparable high-quality handguns the reliability and robustness of modern semi-autos and revolvers is so high that it is at best a secondary if not tertiary consideration in selecting an outdoorsman's side arm. I have had both semi-autos and revolvers fail me in competition but never in the field hunting.

You could always ream a S&W 610 revolver to 10mm Magnum. You get nearly41 Magnum power levels with 10mm Mag. Mid level with 10mm Auto, and light plinking loads with 40S&W. All on moonclip for fast reliable reloads.

mcb said:

Many would argue that a modern revolver is not any more reliable than modern Glock and Sigs.

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The people that argue that are usually Glock shooters. Fact is most modern firearms are reliable. Issues encountered are typically going to be individual. That said, malfunctions in revolvers that can't be solved by cocking and firing again are rare. Virtually ANY malfunction in a semi-auto is going to be more involved than that. The main advantages the revolver offers is more power in a similar sized package, better sights, better triggers and greater accuracy.

WrongHanded said:

The way I see it, there's a big difference between finally/eventually stopping a bear with a gun (or bear spray for that matter) and stopping it before it mauls someone. I seem to recall an incident where a guy got attacked by a grizz, and he had a partially loaded Glock 10mm. Well, the gun jammed at some point, he got mauled a bit, got away, got chased, got mauled a bit more, shot the bear a bit more, and finally survived. It went something like that. I wonder if that is considered a success or not.

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I’d like to see the story. The incidents at the link I posted are not simply numbers and statistics, they are stories with perspectives and context.

if you want to counter with bits and pieces of a story that may or may not be accurate based on recollection, that really shouldn’t be applied.

CraigC said:

The people that argue that are usually Glock shooters. Fact is most modern firearms are reliable. Issues encountered are typically going to be individual. That said, malfunctions in revolvers that can't be solved by cocking and firing again are rare. Virtually ANY malfunction in a semi-auto is going to be more involved than that. The main advantages the revolver offers is more power in a similar sized package, better sights, better triggers and greater accuracy.

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Sorry I was less than professional or friendly. It wasn’t my intention.

Bowing out of this thread.

Take care,

Buzznrose said:

I’d like to see the story. The incidents at the link I posted are not simply numbers and statistics, they are stories with perspectives and context.

if you want to counter with bits and pieces of a story that may or may not be accurate based on recollection, that really shouldn’t be applied.

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At this point you could probably find that story as easily as I could. It's anecdotal evidence. One instance. But it's existence raises questions about what is and is not considered a successful use of a firearm against (in this case) a bear. The same is true for bear spray, or any human on human defensive shooting. I'm just pointing that out.

Whether on city streets or in the backwoods, the question of what is enough, will never be clearly answered. Some people choose the absolute minimum or marginal cartridge, some choose a cartridge with a decent track record of success, yet others choose a cartridge even more powerful than that.

Is the 10mm good enough? The specific load would be important. More important would be the shooter's ability with their gun. And even then, the answer may well be, yes it is....'til it ain't.

Defensively, unless you might need to deal with Grizzlies or Moose, a Glock 20 with two mags of Underwood 200 grain hardcast is difficult to beat in the woods. You're good for black bears, snakes, 2-legged snakes, their pit bulls, and other assorted rabid animals. Even with Grizzlies or Moose, I believe, there's certainly still a discussion.

In theory or in actual use? I would hate to know I needed some camp meat and all I had was a Glock.

Nice piece, Armored, but that porting puts me off. Full house loads with that my knock your Stetson off!! LOL...but do like the grips...elegante as the Italians would say...and too, you can still load mild to wild depending on the woods or your preferences. Best Regards, Rod

Buzznrose said:

I’d like to see the story. The incidents at the link I posted are not simply numbers and statistics, they are stories with perspectives and context.

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Well I went looking for it. It wasn't a Grizzly, I misremembered. But it's an interesting story.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/a-new-mexico-bear-attack-finally-stopped-by-a-glock-10mm-pistol/

WrongHanded said:

Well I went looking for it. It wasn't a Grizzly, I misremembered. But it's an interesting story.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/a-new-mexico-bear-attack-finally-stopped-by-a-glock-10mm-pistol/

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Thanks for the info and story. Great info.

I think the guy took the duty too casual. Not a great choice of ammo either. And as we all know, semiautomatic handguns do not like contact shots. But that was the hand he was dealt. He lived…and I’m sure he learned.

He probably would have been better off had he had a big bore revolver with proper ammunition assuming he made good hits.

Buzznrose said:

Thanks for the info and story. Great info.

I think the guy took the duty too casual. Not a great choice of ammo either. And as we all know, semiautomatic handguns do not like contact shots. But that was the hand he was dealt. He lived…and I’m sure he learned.

He probably would have been better off had he had a big bore revolver with proper ammunition assuming he made good hits.

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I agree. He got complacent, and chose the wrong ammo. There's a few lessons in that story for all of us. As you point out, it was the hand he was dealt, and we should all bear in mind that a fight isn't going to be what we want it to be.

A big bore revolver may have served him better. On the other hand, there's another story about a guy who got attacked by a bear whilst walking a road. He had a SRH Alaskan in .454, and though he successfully defended himself, crimp jumped jammed the revolver. Fortunately the last shot he made found its mark and no more were needed.