As others have said, the two are close enough in performance that I'd select other criteria for narrowing it down. How common are the two rounds in your area? Most likely .357 will have the edge here (10mm is practically non existent in my parts). Do you reload? If not, .357 and .38 will be less expensive. Even if you do, picking up brass gets old so the revolver platform gets the nod here too, for me anyway.
In the end, your best bet will be to try differing platforms chambered in these different rounds. I really can't say what will work best for you, because as an example, my experience is the exact opposite of jmr40's above:
- I've had far more malfunctions with autos than revolvers, particularly polymer frame autos
- Given similar cartridge power, Glocks have more felt recoil to me, simply because they feel like holding a 2x4 - the ergonomics are just flat wrong for my hands (great guns, just not for me)
- With a Glock, I can't hit the broad side of a barn from inside with the doors closed - I shoot .357 revolvers better at any firing rate, slow or fast. Again, this probably has something to do with the ergos that don't work for me.
Two different people, two different experiences.
Also,
Between 10mm and 357 Magnum, which is more suitable for defense? Which has more stopping power and devastating effect on the BG?
Neither are "wonder rounds" that will "devastate" a bad guy just by their power. Only hits count, same as any other round. In the end, I keep my .357s and .44s stoked with heavy special loads. I shoot magnums or specials with about equal accuracy, but I can make follow-up shots quicker with specials, so that's what I stick to. If you find that you shoot 9mm, .40, .45 or .38 notably better, slow or rapid fire, I'd stick with those calibers in your chosen platform, as I believe someone is better served by a more sedate chambering they can shoot instinctively well than a loudenboomer they can't hit the target with.
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