10 mm

[RealGun]

I am puzzled by a 10mm revolver's place in the world. It seems like 10mm was a way to bring magnum like power to the semi-auto. If that is valid, then how would it make sense to bring 10mm to the revolver? How is shooting a 10 mm significantly different than 41 Magnum, what I think is the closest revolver round to the 10mm, at least dimensionally? Are we talking about filling the void left by having no 41 Special?

 

[GBExpat]

When I noticed the existence of the 10mm revolver, the first thing that came to mind (after the ) was that there may be a small market for folks who have 10mm autos that may like to have a revolver chambered for same.

Your "filling the .41Mag gap" suggestion sounds valid, though.

 

[jmr40]

They didn't sell a lot of them, but there are a lot of dedicated 10mm revolver fans out there. Those who own them seem to really like them.

 

[Sam1911]

The 610 exists primarily to capitalize on the benefits of the moon-clip system with more power than the super popular 625 delivers. It does make around the same power as a moderate .41 but there's so little demand for the "middle magnums" that it can't be seen as intended to step in to the yawning gulf left by having no .41 Spc.

The 610 is a bit of a niche gun appealing to pin shooters and other gun games guys who want those fast reloads, and are sometimes also used for hunting or carry by the odd/unique/enlightened few.

Sort of like how the 646 exists (existed?) to be something like the ultimate class-killer for ESR shooters in IDPA.

 

[Iggy]

I am an avid supporter of the 10mm round in semi-autos. Had no use for a revolver in 10mm until I discovered moon clips.

If I run across a 10mm revolver that I can afford now, I'll jump on it.

 

[BobWright]

Sometimes enough "wants" is sufficient for the existance of a cartridge/gun combination.

Bob Wright

 

[hariph creek]

I love 10mm. I have no use for it in a wheel gun. The only reason I could justify it would be IF I only loaded for one cartridge but, wanted both platforms.
I like rimmed in a revolver and rimless in an auto.

I know people compare 10mm to .41 mag. I think it's closer to .357 mag loaded to its true potential. Only with less perceived recoil, higher capacity, faster reloads and a (often) more compact package.

 

[SDGlock23]

It was done more than likely "just because". I bought a S&W 610 once and sure it was a nice gun, but shooting 10mm and .40 through an N frame revolver just felt odd, kind of like shooting a .22LR from a full size 1911. I kept thinking it was a big gun that needed a bigger bullet.

 

[philbo]

I've owned several 10mm auto's over the years (S&W 1006, Dan Wesson 1911, and several EAA Witness's). Really am a fan of the cartridge and like some here couldn't fathom why one would want a revovler for an auto round..... until I picked up a 610 in trade. It quickly became a favorite and at this time is the only 10mm I own. Can't really say why it's so, but it just seemed to click for me. An it's not just because I'm too old and fat to spend much time bending over retrieving brass these days but it is part of the reason. The balance and recoil are a good combination in this package and I enjoy shooting it with my other N frame S&W's. Like anything else, hard to judge until you've tried it.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

The 610 came and went as I understand it.By the time I had an extra $900 to put down for one they had gone out of production and shot to over $1,200 for a used one. I might as well get a Ruger Redhawk in .357 and have it converted to .38-40 at that price and still save some coin.

Personally I think 10mm revolvers aren't popular enough to gain a customer base. 9mm revolvers have had a tough time making a come back and there is a larger customer base for them.

 

[RealGun]

until I picked up a 610 in trade. It quickly became a favorite and at this time is the only 10mm I own.

Which barrel length and dash number?

 

[tommy.duncan]

The 10mm is my favorite pistol caliber. I like the 10mm in revolver and I would add another 10mm revolver to my collection in a heartbeat!!

 

[MachIVshooter]

how would it make sense to bring 10mm to the revolver?

Two reasons.

1) As mentioned, there's no faster revolver reload than moon clips and

2) they can use .40 S&W, which is generally the second cheapest centerfire pistol round on the market. Around here, it's a good bit less than .38 special.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I wouldnt want one, contrary to popular belief the 10mm is more into the .357 magnum power range than the .41 , however if I was to get a dedicated semi auto woods gun , itd be in 10 mm.

 

[Saleen322]

The S&W 610 in 10mm is a versatile and highly sought after revolver. 610s are bringing more money now than when they were new. However as mentioned, it only makes sense for those who reload (or a collector). The edges the 10mm has on the 41 mag are primarily in bullet selection and brass availability. There are many more options in bullets for 10mm/.40 caliber than .41 caliber bullets. The .41 magnum and the less common .41 action express are the two calibers you come across the most so bullet makers don't have much incentive to provide a lot of offerings. Shooters who shoot the 45 Auto in revolvers learned quickly the advantage in reloading so the same applies to the 10mm revolver. I don't have one but it is on my short list.

 

[PabloJ]

About year ago I have looked over second hand 6" stainless 10mm revolver. I had one G20 with large pile of 10x25mm ammo yet I have not bought the revolver. I suspect my reasoning was extra .40 and 6" barrels for G20 are whole lot less than $1000. Today I have three G20s more ammo and 15 round magazines. When it comes to revolvers most will pick .357 with more shots or more powerful .44Magnum. I suspect vast majority out there think as I do.

 

[Drail]

If a revolver chambered in 10mm is built on a frame designed for .44/.45 cartridges you end up with more steel left in the barrel and cylinder because of the smaller bore and chamber dimensions. More weight and more strength. Same thing applies to the .41 Mag. Look at the chamber wall thickness on a S&W Model 57 (.41 Mag) compared to a Model 29 (.44 Mag). Personally, I prefer a heavier gun if I am going to shoot it a lot, especially with some heavy loads. Originally the biggest advantage of the 10mm in a revolver was because you could use full moon clips for very fast reloads. Now you can get almost any caliber revolver set up for moon clips but 25 years ago that was not the case.

 

[RealGun]

how would it make sense to bring 10mm to the revolver?

Two reasons.

1) As mentioned, there's no faster revolver reload than moon clips and

2) they can use .40 S&W, which is generally the second cheapest centerfire pistol round on the market. Around here, it's a good bit less than .38 special.

1) so, is it a gun favored for competition? For street use, barring simply favoring revolvers, a 1911 or Glock version would rule, wouldn't it, carrying more than 6 rounds?

2) I only shoot case sizes that match what's stamped on the barrel. I presume this would be a reloader's gun.

 

[RealGun]

The S&W 610 in 10mm is a versatile and highly sought after revolver. 610s are bringing more money now than when they were new. However as mentioned, it only makes sense for those who reload (or a collector). The edges the 10mm has on the 41 mag are primarily in bullet selection and brass availability. There are many more options in bullets for 10mm/.40 caliber than .41 caliber bullets. The .41 magnum and the less common .41 action express are the two calibers you come across the most so bullet makers don't have much incentive to provide a lot of offerings. Shooters who shoot the 45 Auto in revolvers learned quickly the advantage in reloading so the same applies to the 10mm revolver. I don't have one but it is on my short list.

As a .41 Magnum owner, reloader, and big fan, I have had no problems with supplies. I have my couple boxes of XTP bullets and all the lead I can load. I would guess that the 41 and 10mm pose about the same challenge in brass, except the revolver allows retaining all ones brass rather than spreading money on the ground and being told there was a rule against picking it up.

That could be a strong incentive...enabling retaining ones brass investment.

 

[RealGun]

If a revolver chambered in 10mm is built on a frame designed for .44/.45 cartridges you end up with more steel left in the barrel and cylinder because of the smaller bore and chamber dimensions. More weight and more strength. Same thing applies to the .41 Mag. Look at the chamber wall thickness on a S&W Model 57 (.41 Mag) compared to a Model 29 (.44 Mag). Personally, I prefer a heavier gun if I am going to shoot it a lot, especially with some heavy loads. Originally the biggest advantage of the 10mm in a revolver was because you could use full moon clips for very fast reloads. Now you can get almost any caliber revolver set up for moon clips but 25 years ago that was not the case.

Changing a mag in a 1911 or Glock can be a pretty fast process too. The assumption must be that one prefers a revolver, but why is a 10mm compelling over existing caliber options? I would like to shoot one to see if it seems to fall between 357 Magnum and 41 Magnum, the phantom .41 Special maybe.

I think the recognition that the 10mm revolver is simply appealing to collectors as something different explains its rising value. That reasoning would likely make the ILS versions of questionable value...just plug 'em and shoot 'em.

 

[philbo]

until I picked up a 610 in trade. It quickly became a favorite and at this time is the only 10mm I own.

Which barrel length and dash number?

My current 610 is a no dash, 6.5" model.
I have owned a couple 610-3 4" models, but preferred the longer barrel for my plinking purposes.

 

[Sam1911]

1) so, is it a gun favored for competition?

As I pointed out in post 4, yes it is a real bonus to certain niches of revolver-type competition. A lot of other folks might like it, too -- the same sorts of folks who like 625s.

For street use, barring simply favoring revolvers, a 1911 or Glock version would rule, wouldn't it, carrying more than 6 rounds?

Well, that's a revolver-vs.-auto question. Sure, almost all autos are faster to reload, and some of them will hold more than 3x the amount of ammo in one mag. If you like revolvers more, that's a bonus you've already agreed to forgo.

2) I only shoot case sizes that match what's stamped on the barrel. I presume this would be a reloader's gun.

Oh really? So no .38s in your .357s? No .44 Spc. or .44 Russian in your .44 Mags? No .45 Colt in your .460 S&W or .454 Casull? Moon clips make 10mm and .40 S&W into the same kind of proposition. Easily shoot whichever you want. 10mm for deer? .40S&W for teaching your kids or for cheap?

 

[MachIVshooter]

1) so, is it a gun favored for competition? For street use, barring simply favoring revolvers, a 1911 or Glock version would rule, wouldn't it, carrying more than 6 rounds?

Only the owners of them can answer that question. For carry, I don't feel that a 6 shot steel L frame makes sense regardless of chambering. It is a large, heavy gun.

2) I only shoot case sizes that match what's stamped on the barrel. I presume this would be a reloader's gun.

So you don't shoot .38 special in a .357, even though this has been a common and perfectly acceptable practice condoned by gunmakers for 79 years? Because that is the same thing as firing .40 S&W in a 10mm revolver.

 

[ATLDave]

Two other points: For those interested in reloading revolvers fast, length of cartridge matters... and shorter is better. A 10mm moon-clipped revo will reload faster than a 41mag.

And some dedicated 10mm fans worry/find that the full-tilt loads beat up their semi-autos too quickly, or blow out cases in unsupported chambers. The former especially is mainly a volume-shooting concern. Those shooters may enjoy a platform that can take an ample diet of full-house loads without durability concerns. A 610 is such a platform.

 

[Sam1911]

Yup, and a six .40 S&Ws in a moon clip will reload slick as greased teflon. Short and fat makes for a fast reload.