You can't shoot 10mm through a .40 S&W, can you?
- Thread starter Scrod314
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Dragonfly
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You are correct, no 10mm in any .40 gun.
1KPerDay
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Nope. For one thing it won’t fit in the mag or magwell, unless it’s a 1911 type pistol. Secondly it won’t fit into the chamber. Third, you don’t want to set off a 10mm in a gun not made for it.
RickD427
Member
Actually, you should not attempt to fire .40 S&W in a 10mm weapon, and you can't fire 10mm from a .40 S&W.
You need to consider the headspacing of the cartridges. It's common to fire .38 Special ammunition from a .357 revolver. The cartridge dimensions are the same except for length, and since the revolver cartridge headspaces on the rim, the slight difference in length don't matter none.
But semi-auto cartridges generally headspace on the cartridge mouth. That's why semi-auto cartridges get taper crimped instead of roll crimped. You need to preserve the square edge of the case mouth in order to ensure that the round seats properly in the chamber.
The reason that you can't fire the 10mm in the .40 chamber is that round will not fully enter the chamber and the weapon will not go fully into battery. A properly designed and maintained weapon will not fire under those conditions. An improperly designed or maintained weapon may potentially fire, but if it's not in battery, the result is gonna be kinda catastrophic.
The reason that you should not attempt to fire .40 in a 10mm chamber is that the round will fully enter the chamber, and the weapon will go into battery, but the cartridge will not headspace properly. There will be the potential for it to move forward from the breechface and that can result in an ineffective primer strike. Nothing is gonna blow up, but there's a good chance the weapon will not fire.
You need to consider the headspacing of the cartridges. It's common to fire .38 Special ammunition from a .357 revolver. The cartridge dimensions are the same except for length, and since the revolver cartridge headspaces on the rim, the slight difference in length don't matter none.
But semi-auto cartridges generally headspace on the cartridge mouth. That's why semi-auto cartridges get taper crimped instead of roll crimped. You need to preserve the square edge of the case mouth in order to ensure that the round seats properly in the chamber.
The reason that you can't fire the 10mm in the .40 chamber is that round will not fully enter the chamber and the weapon will not go fully into battery. A properly designed and maintained weapon will not fire under those conditions. An improperly designed or maintained weapon may potentially fire, but if it's not in battery, the result is gonna be kinda catastrophic.
The reason that you should not attempt to fire .40 in a 10mm chamber is that the round will fully enter the chamber, and the weapon will go into battery, but the cartridge will not headspace properly. There will be the potential for it to move forward from the breechface and that can result in an ineffective primer strike. Nothing is gonna blow up, but there's a good chance the weapon will not fire.
AJC1
Member
Depending on what gun you use 40 in a 10 will shoot. 380 will shoot in a 9. Glocks will do this I've seen people do it. Is it correct, no. Is it safe, I dont like it and won't do it, and is not in the design criteria. People do dumb things, even on purpose, not I.
I can't speak for all 10mm pistols, but I've fired a bunch of 40 S&W rounds through my Glocks. I had a friend sell his 40 caliber pistol and he gave me several hundred rounds. There is a little less recoil, but my pistols (G20 and G29) have run perfectly with good accuracy and no change in POI.
It isn't something I'd do on a regular basis mainly because anymore 10mm ammo is easy to find and priced the same as 40. But I've done it enough to trust it to work in an emergency, at least in my guns. And while I'd not buy 40's if 10mm is available, I'm going to shoot up the free ammo I have.
It isn't something I'd do on a regular basis mainly because anymore 10mm ammo is easy to find and priced the same as 40. But I've done it enough to trust it to work in an emergency, at least in my guns. And while I'd not buy 40's if 10mm is available, I'm going to shoot up the free ammo I have.
daniel craig
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Shoot through a gun what it says on the side of the gun and you never have to worry.
I've known a couple guys that do it, and it's been talked about regularly on the enterweebz.
Personally I'm not inclined to try it In my RIA 10mm. Interestingly, the magazines for my gun are marked .40s&w, but are long enough for the 10.
sparkyv
Member
A notable exception; you can most assuredly shoot both 10mm and 40S&W through one of these:
danez71
Member
Instead of just sharing a pic, maybe you can also share what it is and why you say that.
Nice pic though...
Nice pic though...
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So I can't shoot 38 Special in my 586? Damn, that sucks.
deadin
Member
No problem with 38 Spl in a 357 revolver. (headspaces on the rim)
As for 40 in a 10mm. Last time I looked 10mm revolvers use a moon clip and will accomadate 40 S&W with no problems..( Headspaces on the clip,) not the
Jim Watson
Member
Don't joke, there have been serious Internet Inquiries "Is it safe to shoot .38 PLUS P in my .357 revolver?" (Emphasis added.)
Years ago, when you got technical questions answered by mailing a physical letter to the editor of a magazine and hoping yours got picked out of the pile; an editor said he got one asking if the writer could have his .30 M1 Carbine rechambered to .300 Weatherby Magnum. He said he showed his 8 year old a .300 WM cartridge and a Carbine magazine and asked if it could be done. "Nope," said Junior.
bangswitch
Member
If the extractor can capture the cartridge by the case head groove, it works. Something has to keep the shorter case held against the bolt face so the firing pin can hit the primer. It's hard on extractors, but I wouldn't do it even for the heck of it.
Riomouse911
Member
I went to a “walk up” shooting where some gangster mope fired at a house with .45 ACP and .45 GAP rounds through the same Glock then split after about six-seven shots when the gun misfired.
The defense tried to pin the shooting investigation as a frame-up by the responding officers because of the two distinct cartridge cases found. I had to testify about the ability of the .45 ACP Glock to load and fire .45 GAP rounds into the mag and fire them if the extractor held the round against the breechface. The smaller GAP , like the .40 in a 10mm chamber, will fire if sufficiently struck by the firing pin, though it may not be reliable if the hold on the cartridge rim by the extractor is not perfect.
I actually drew representations of the cartridge case fit in the chamber for both the ACP and GAP, showed them the gun and also showed the jury the actual cartridge cases recovered so they could see for themselves.
This, along with the fact that unfired ACP and GAP rounds were later found loaded in the same magazine when it was recovered later on, went far to convict the clown on an attempted murder with gang enhancement case.
Stay safe.
sparkyv
Member
Sure...S&W M610 in 10mm. The 10mm is a great fit for me as I'm a 40S&W shooter and can share projectiles across both calibers. My M610 checks all the boxes for me. 10mm with or without moonclips and 40S&W with moonclips, it is a real pleasure to shoot out to 50 yds. That N-frame just fits my clubs well, and it can handle nuclear power loads with confidence.
lsudave
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I haven't done it myself. I think the stock answer is always- "shoot only what it's chambered in".
I think the more thoughtful answer comes down to mechanical design... 10mm is a bigger load than 40 S&W, same diameter bullet. So, a 10mm should be built stronger, and shouldn't have a catastrophic failure on a 40; the other way around it might.
Now, if one were to dig into the S&W 3rd Gen guns, you would find that there's a small group of people who have converted SOME 40's into 10mm guns. These seem to be experienced gunsmiths who know what's needed to do so "correctly" (they aren't just sticking something in the magazine); and it's not every pistol. The idea seems to be that some models were seriously overbuilt, and could handle the increased stress of a 10mm rd.
I doubt that a 10 mm will fit in most 40SW magazines or chambers.
Generally a 40 SW will fit in a 10 mm chamber or mag BUT it will headspace off the extractor which is not ideal, although I know people do it.
Zaydok Allen
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No, you can't shoot 10mm out of a gun chambered for 40 S&W.
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Zaydok Allen
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