45acp or 10mm For Hiking Carry?

[NorthBorder]

Have we talked you into a 10mm yet?

 

[GBExpat]

FWIW, I would just stick with .45acp.

Since I do a lot of walking in woods/forest I prefer conservative-velocity low-pressure cartridges, since I am so-often surrounded by close-in sound impulse reflectors.

The corded ear-buds that I keep around my neck can easily handle the impulse if I have to shoot .45acp (.44spl, .38spl, etc).

 

[md7]

If you're worried about cougars, just be sure to have enough wine and chopped fruit to make a few sangrias. That'll pacify her real quick.

And yes, a .45ACP should take care of anything east of the Mississippi. Sure 10mm is more powerful but is it enough of a difference to really make a difference? It's still just a pistol caliber after all.

Well played, well played. I literally laughed out loud at the chopped fruit and sangria comment!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

How much does the brass cost? How much of it can you find in the leaves when the slide locks back?

Me, I carry a Colt New Service in .45 Colt, loaded HOT (around 21,000 PSI)

 

[undeRGRound]

Like others have said.....go with what YOU shoot the best under pressure.

This

I was able to shoot the hottest 10mm stuff fast and accurate, Buffalo Bore 220gr Hardcast going 1200+ with a G20C and put them all in a paper plate size pattern, rapid fire. Felt like hitting a bulldozer with a 2x4 in the palm of my hand afterwards, so I'd recommend something more than a G29 for a Woods Gun. My longslide G20 6.6" barrel handles the hot stuff very well, but I also have a Seattle Slug Plug in the grip void (Gen3) and it adds 3.5oz more weight in the very bottom. The whole rig weighs a lot and tames the recoil very, very well. It's also got a 460 Rowland barrel and that shoots smoother than the old G20c with the Buff Bore 220gr. Substantially better. It's all about the combination

 

[Roverguy]

There is only one possibly justifiable reason to ditch the 45 acp for something in 10mm:

you want to.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There is only one possibly justifiable reason to ditch the 45 acp for something in 10mm:

you want to.

But what is the justifiable reason for ditching a powerful revolver for something that is less powerful and spits your brass all over hell's half acre?

 

[Snowdog]

I'm a fan of both the .45acp and the 10mm. I only have one 1911 in 10mm but have several .45acp 1911s. Any of them will work for trail use.

My trail pistol started off as a .45acp but snuck off and became a juice monkey. Now it's a 'roid-raging 13+1.460 Rowland while though much louder, is still quite manageable in terms of recoil (despite the .44magnum-esque 240gr JHP at 1300 FPS/900 ft-lbs of energy).

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Well... you're hiking.

How much weight do you want to carry?

 

[mokin]

Unless you really want to buy a 10mm Auto, go with your .45. I have a 10mm as well as a couple .357s that are in the EDC rotation. For hiking, I usually carry a .22.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I carry when I’m out on the property whether I am hunting or not. 10mm would be neat but I already have a 45 and if I had a 9mm, which I do, I would carry either of those before specially buying a 10mm for that purpose.

I would like to have a 10mm even but I need a bit better of a reason for it to trump 2 other adequate guns I already have.

 

[WisBorn]

I would like to thank everyone for their responses.
Looks like I will hold onto the XDM 45 compact. And purchase some hardcast +p ammo. I will still carry my 605 357mag in my front pocket, and the Springfield on my hip this winter. Yes, I'm confident that the 45 will handle the critters that I run into while hiking.

To the enablers in the group I will keep a 10mm on my list. I would like to try a 10mm someday (curse of a gun nut - wants to try new guns). Went to PSA in Mount Pleasant before the range yesterday. They had 1 Glock 40 10mm. Looked like a good option for hunting, but larger than I like for hiking.
10mm's and 44mag's are nearly nonexistent in this part of the country. So my itch for a new hiking companion will have to wait for awhile longer before it gets scratched.
My XDM 45 will not help fund a handgun. You guys talked me into keeping it.

The good news is I ran a few rounds through my 41mag and 357mag yesterday. I feel good about carrying them on my Yellowstone trip in a couple of weeks.

Safe hiking and hunting to all of you!

WisBorn

 

[dbmjr1]

"They" say for Brown Bear you want 200 grains or more traveling 1000 feet per second or faster.

Not many brown bear East of the Mississippi.

I travel all over though. I struggled with this.

Do I buy a 10mm, dies, molds, etc ? Do I convert my Kimber to .460 Rowland ?

I decided to load .357 Mag with 215 gr LSWC's and shoot them from my Dan Wesson 715.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My woods, hiking, trail riding, etc gun is a Glock Model 40 10mm with my 180gr Swift A frame reloads.i carry that combo in a chest rig. Stays put stays secure, and is easy to reach if I ever need it.

Here in the southeast any critter 2 legged or 4 legged I may possibly encounter will have a bad day.

 

[earlthegoat2]

My 45 is a Glock 21. If I were to finally get a 10, it would probably be a new upper for my G21.

Just another option for you out there.

 

[WisBorn]

My woods, hiking, trail riding, etc gun is a Glock Model 40 10mm with my 180gr Swift A frame reloads.i carry that combo in a chest rig. Stays put stays secure, and is easy to reach if I ever need it.

Here in the southeast any critter 2 legged or 4 legged I may possibly encounter will have a bad day.

That is a good way to carry a longer handgun and a good all around choice.

 

[Leon tP]

Just load for this guy and everything else is covered.



Go hiking folks.

 

[Trey Veston]

Wondering out loud about the effectiveness of the .45 ACP on animals due to it's larger and slower bullet that gets deflected more easily by bone.

I personally witnessed a sheriff's deputy fail to dispatch a deer hit by a car with his .45 acp because his fat slow bullet bounced off the deer's skull. His partner with a 9mm was able to put the deer out of it's misery.

And aren't black bears pretty darn big out East? I know they are pretty small out here with a 300 lb bear being a monster and pretty rare. My brother shot this guy last year and he was about 200 lbs...



But I've heard the arguments against the .45 ACP for woods use. Ironically, I like a .45 caliber bullet for woods carry, but it's either a .45 Colt pushing a 300gr bullet to 1200 fps, or a .450 Bushmaster pushing a 250gr bullet to 2200 fps.

I don't know... Seems a fat bullet going pellet gun speeds is going to lack critical penetration on thick-skinned predators.

But whatever, I will carry my Glock G29 or Ruger Bisley .45 Colt and not worry about what someone 2000 miles away wants to carry.

 

[v8stang289]

I'm not one to disparage a man from getting a new gun if he wants, but I wouldn't really want to trade one for the other.
I like 10mm, and it's certainly a capable cartridge, but I don't own one myself. I do occasionally carry 45acp for woods carry in eastern NC where we have quite a few black bears. I usually carry a 215wfn hard cast loaded to 950fps at acp levels and stepped up to ~1100 if carrying my S&W 625 or Glock21 set up for 45super. I also carry a 230xtp load at a slightly lower velocity.
I do think a 10mm would work well for your application, but I personally wouldn't feel under-gunned with 45acp either.

 

[JFrank]

In Montana people carry just about everything, but IMO the best defense against the Bear is don't piss him off.

Me I carry a good rifle.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Wouldn't any 1911-ish type be kinda heavy & bulky for a woods walk? ...Unless absolutely needed for dangerous predators anyway... in which case maybe a 12 ga slug?

 

[guyfromohio]

I’m a big fan of the .45, especially in 1911. But when I hike, I go S&W 642 with +P. I need light weight more than anything.

 

[SDGlock23]

Here's what I think, unless you really want to trade away your .45 I probably wouldn't. I've had my share of .45's and 10mm's and I'm not really sure it matters one way or the other. One thing to keep in mind with the .45 is that if you want a bit more power you could always run .45 Super (also 450 SMC). Even if you don't want to do that, the .45 ACP can certainly work so long as you're competent with it.

Will a 10mm kill something the .45 cannot? I don't really think so, and I know it's not an option you listed but the .40 is a great choice too and can be had in a smaller sized gun, like a G23 which will be smaller and lighter to pack around and will work just fine against whatever you may encounter. But back to .45 vs 10mm, I still have a 10mm around and sure it's a good cartridge but I'm not convinced it will actually "DO" anything the .45, or .40 for that matter, won't do just as well.

It seems to me that you're setup just fine with a .45 and and .41 Mag, and yeah the 10mm is pretty cool but I don't really think it's going to give you anything that you don't already have, plus if you haven't handled a G29 you might want to do so, I'm a Glock guy but the size of the 29/30 is horrible, I think.

 

[ms6852]

Stick with what you have unless you need justification for another gun, than by all means just get the 10mm. If the spouse is against it, buy it an ask for forgiveness when the time comes. I am not a marriage counselor but I did stay at the Holiday in, and I know what I am talking about.

 

[WrongHanded]

One thing to keep in mind with the .45 is that if you want a bit more power you could always run .45 Super (also 450 SMC).

If guns were available "off-the-shelf" configured for .45 Super, that would make a big difference to me. I'm just reluctant to go messing around to try and run a .45 acp at those greater pressures.