10mm vs. .45 Super

[Nightcrawler]

That's the thing; you can't quantify stopping power. THere are too many variables.

For instance, if the bullet overpenetrates, not all energy is expended on the target. However, it gives him a second hole to bleed out of.

Other variables?

-Where the bullet enters/exits, and what it hits along the way.
-The constitution and willpower of the target.

Not many, it would seem like. But those two are a DOOZIE. Shoot two seemingly similar people in the same place with the same gun and they might react completely differently.

 

[10-Ring]

Interesting night at the range. Two of y buddies brought up he idea of 10mm vs. 45 super when to my surprise, buddy #1 breaks out a new 6" STI in 10mm and some home loads. WOW! What fun that was...now I'm thinking....another caliber? Maybe a semi -custom 1911 w/ 2 slides, one 10mm and one 45 super I think my opinion has evolved

 

[Sean Smith]

People have hit most of the points already, but to recap:

1. The ballistics of 10mm vs .45 Super (in terms of bullet weight at speed) are essentially identical, once you equalize factors like barrel length. Cor-Bon 10mm ballistics are from 4.6" barrels, while factory .45 Super ballistics are from everything from 5" to 6" V-16 ported barrels.

2. Cor-Bon self-defense loads are, for 10mm, weak. So using them as a basis to say "10mm is no better than .45 ACP +P" is just plain misinformed... or cooking the numbers through unrepresentative sampling. Pro Load, Winchester, Triton, Georgia Arms, Texas Ammunition, and others sell full-power (600+ ft-lbs at the muzzle) 10mm self-defense loads that make .45 ACP +P look sissified.

A Cor-Bon rep has stated they keep their 10mm self-defense ammo power down in order to cater to their law-enforcement customers for the ammo.

3. A 200gr 10mm load is not comparable to a 200gr .45 ACP load. The difference is sectional density. All else being equal, at equal bullet weights 10mm will penetrate alot further than .45 ACP. The sectional density comparison runs something like this (10mm/.45):

135/165-185 (it splits the difference)
155/200
180/230
200/255
220/280

4. On to ammo availablility... on one hand, 10mm is alot more abundant than .45 Super or .450 SMC. On the other, a .45 Super gun can just shoot .45 ACP, which is easier to find than 10mm. However, since you can order bulk practice ammo in 10mm from Georgia Arms for less than most people pay for factory .45 acp at $160/1,000 ($8/50), the difference seems moot to me... unless getting stuff through the mail seems like a radical, scary concept to you.

 

[ArmaLube]

Either will be equal to the task, in terms of stopping power.

As you know, there are a variety of amply powerful handgun cartridges. So, for the similarly capable cartridge varieties, the choice most likely will relate to characteristics of the firearms available.

I like the 10mm because it packs sufficient power, gives great expansion with properly chosen hollow points, and can run at high velocities. My favorite pistol in this caliber is the S&W 1076. Though out of production, used ones can be found. Being constructed of nearly all stainless steel components, this fairly compact pistol is a fine item to own. Very few difficulties related to this model have been reported.

"The 10mm lives!"

"Armalube Hits The Mark!"

 

[Nightcrawler]

So what you guys are really saying is that I should, in fact, add a 10mm on my to-get list of pistols?

*sigh* You don't understand. You know how it goes for me? I found a .45 Colt Smith 25-5, right? So now I "need" a .45 Colt Taurus snubby to go with it. I have a .45ACP CZ-97, and now I need a Sig P245 to go with THAT. Not to mention a .45ACP revolver, which, as Tamara put it, I can never be complete without.

One 10mm would inevitably leave me wanting another, and possibly that Smith revolver to boot.

This is an expensive hobby.