10mm or 45 acp for self defense

[CDW4ME]

I've got a Glock 20SF and 21SF, "got both".
Already carried the "big" pistol for over a year concealed IWB (not saying which).
I have Truglow TFO sights on both.
Shoot both equally well, double taps at 6- 7 yards on 6 inch circles.
I handload but that is not part of the criteria.

Which would be "best" for SD against humans (No bears ect...)
15 +1 of 10mm
13 + 1 of 45 acp

 

[MachIVshooter]

If you can handle the 10mm fine, it's an obvious choice. With modern bullets, .45 doesn't really do anything 9mm won't. 10mm is a whole 'nother ball game, being able to deliver better-than-9mm penetration with a larger, heavier bullet.

 

[Decoy80]

I have no experience with 10mm to base a prefrence from. Thanks for the post. I do know about the 45 and it is very effective at its job. I look foreward to other folks ideas on the subect.

 

[bearcreek]

Both are too wimpy. .50 AE is the only way to go.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Sounds like a draw if you shoot both equally well.

 

[bangswitch]

You can load 10mm with 180-200 gr at around 1150-1250 fps and get energies similar to .41 Magnum. It can be a real hoss. I like 155's loaded to 1450 fps. .45ACP just won't hang with it (but I still love my .45)

 

[Panzerschwein]

10 miker miker with the correct lightweight JHP tac loads.

 

[M1key]

Why both of course. One in each hand.

SC

 

[jjones45]

For self defense against 2 legged predators I would just go with the 45. Cheaper and less recoil in subcompact sized handguns. In full size handguns I might go 10mm. 10mm ballistics are superior to 45 acp but I don't think a perp will be able to tell much of a difference when getting shot at self defense distances. Shooting full house 10mm can open a who new can of worms. I've noticed some 10mm handguns seem to be more prone to malfunctions from limp wristing and such. Those pressures in a 10mm get pretty high and have been known to cause a kaboom in tubberware pistols or wear parts faster in some handguns.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Never liked 40 or 10mm.. harder to sort them out of my brass.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I would buy a 10MM but I have an LAR Grizz 1911. The .45 Win Mag throws 8 rounds of 300 grs bullets at 1,300 fps.

Picture with .45 Win Mag and .45 ACP

 

[Dog Soldier]

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO the 45 is more than enough for SD and while the 10mm is if course stronger, do you need it? I don't think so. I would go with the .45 ACP.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I've got a Glock 20SF and 21SF, "got both".
Already carried the "big" pistol for over a year concealed IWB (not saying which).
I have Truglow TFO sights on both.
Shoot both equally well, double taps at 6- 7 yards on 6 inch circles.
I handload but that is not part of the criteria.

Which would be "best" for SD against humans (No bears ect...)
15 +1 of 10mm
13 + 1 of 45 acp

Split the difference, just change recoil springs in the .45 and have a .45 SUPER!

230 gr at 1100+ fps.

Deaf

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Split the difference, just change recoil springs in the .45 and have a .45 SUPER!

230 gr at 1100+ fps.

Deaf

That-ill leave a mark...

 

[jmr40]

For SD from human threats a 9mm is as effective as 10mm or 45. If you want to protect yourself from 2 legged threats 10mm by a landslide over 9mm or 45. The biggest disadvantage to either of the full size Glocks is their size. If you already own both then sell the 45 and buy more ammo for the 10mm. With lighter loads it is more effective than 45 is with the best loads and with hotter loads is a legitimate bear protection gun.

 

[CDW4ME]

For SD from human threats a 9mm is as effective as 10mm or 45. If you want to protect yourself from 2 legged threats 10mm by a landslide over 9mm or 45. The biggest disadvantage to either of the full size Glocks is their size. If you already own both then sell the 45 and buy more ammo for the 10mm. With lighter loads it is more effective than 45 is with the best loads and with hotter loads is a legitimate bear protection gun.

1st statement is contradictory but then clarified, 10mm is better.
Subsequent comment agrees that 10mm is better.

Edit to add: I don't see the size of them as that much disadvantage. Grip is harder to conceal than slide length, grip/height is about the same as a 1911 or Glock 17. I think the size helps mitigate recoil.

 

[Browning]

I'd go with .45 ACP. Easier to find ammo for it and the exit holes I've seen on JHP .45 ACP have all been HUGE.

If it was a pistol meant for a mix of defense against both animals and people then I'd lean more towards 10mm.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

Against human predators, the old reliable 1911 .45acp loaded with 185gr Gold Dots is all you will ever need! Guaranteed!!!

 

[lpsharp88]

Since you shoot both equally well, why not go for more power? I'd go with the G20. I have one, and have a load for 180gr XTP that hits around 1350 FPS when I chrono'd it.

 

[CDW4ME]

I'd go with .45 ACP. Easier to find ammo for it and the exit holes I've seen on JHP .45 ACP have all been HUGE.

If it was a pistol meant for a mix of defense against both animals and people then I'd lean more towards 10mm.

Edit holes on people?
Ammo availability favors 45 for sure, but I can't go to the local Mart and buy a 50 round box of 45 Gold Dot. I order SD ammo online and in that regard (online) 10mm is as easy to obtain as 45.

 

[CDW4ME]

Against human predators, the old reliable 1911 .45acp loaded with 185gr Gold Dots is all you will ever need! Guaranteed!!!

I like 45 acp, have 230 Ranger T & HST.
I've got 185 Gold Dot in 45 GAP (sucker for niche calibers).
I've carried 1911's too, recently added another (Ruger CMD); still, I prefer a full size 5", extra barrel length is not a hindrance and I'm especially fond of my Baer UTC.
However, despite my recent affair with 1911's (carried them again instead of Glocks for a couple months) I'm already drawn back to higher capacity Glocks.

 

[CDW4ME]

Since you shoot both equally well, why not go for more power? I'd go with the G20. I have one, and have a load for 180gr XTP that hits around 1350 FPS when I chrono'd it.

Sound reasoning.
I think 180 gr at 1,350 fps would recoil more than I want.
Critical Duty 175 gr averages about 1,150 fps for a reasonable power factor (PF) around 200; the felt recoil is similar to 45 acp 230 HST/Ranger T.
I intend to load 180 Gold Dot to about 1,150 fps approximate the recoil of 10mm Critical Duty. That would still be about 150 - 200 fps faster than factory Gold Dot 40 S&W out of a Glock 22/23.

 

[Browning]

Edit holes on people?
Ammo availability favors 45 for sure, but I can't go to the local Mart and buy a 50 round box of 45 Gold Dot. I order SD ammo online and in that regard (online) 10mm is as easy to obtain as 45.

Exit, yes. I'm an EMT and the criminal element in TX apparently loves .45's. Well, them as well as one of the local PD's in one of our 911 districts as well as one guy who was drunk enough where he felt that he shouldn't have his Ruger P90 on him so he tried to unload it while driving and without dropping the mag with his finger on the trigger while pointed at his thigh. At any rate from my completely unscientific observations out of handguns .45 GSW's tend to be the largest

I was more meaning ammo availability on the shelf locally. You'll never see 10mm ammo on the shelf at a gas station near a shooting spot.

 

[Decoy80]

Being a novice as far as 40 SW and 10 mm go what are the best attributes of those cartridges and drawbacks if any. 9mm im in, 45 acp ive been shooting since 1980 espically as the ammo was free and the public was paying a farm kid to shoot. I had the privilige to carry the 1911 and the m-3 grease gun as my personal weapons. The 1911 was heavy to carry and the m-3 ran out of ammo too quick. I currently carry a XDS daily. please enlighten an old country boy, hell im not too old to learn.