Lately I've felt the call to get a 10mm handgun, maybe a Glock 20. I don't even know why... I've never even fired one. I think it started after seeing the Nuge take a deer out with one. Y'all like 10mm? Why or why not?

great round...the only issue is the price..if you reload or can afford the ammo for it then there really isnt any reason at all to talk you out of one

I recently had the same feelings you did.  I bought a Glock 20SF last week, I love it.  I like powerful handguns, and the Idea of having something slightly different than what everyone else has.

I've got a SW 1076, and I reload for it, but I never shoot it.   It's just not worth the hassle.

SHUN....

The 10mm is a neat round and it makes a sensible choice as a "woods gun".  I have a G20 and for most purposes it has replaced my old Smith Model 66 .357.

Some consider the 10mm to be on the steps of the 41 Magnum, but my chronograph doesn't tell me that.  I can easily get 200gr bullets up to about 1200-1225fps in a stock G20.  That is more snort than any of the .357 loads I wish to shoot through my 4" Model 66.  Plus it gives you the advantage of 15 rounds in the magazine.  Further, the G20 weighs as much loaded as my Model 66 weighed unloaded!

Finally, it is a more compact package than the Smith and it is more compact on my belt.

The downsides to the G20 are the same as they are for all Glocks.  Plastic sights?  Useless.  I knocked the rear sight out of my dovetail by accident.  Replace them with steel ASAP.

The trigger pull is something you need to learn to...well, you probably will never love it.  I put lighter connectors in all of my Glocks and the triggers are still pretty mushy.  KERSPRONG!

If you are a hotrodder in the reload department then consider an aftermarket barrel with more chamber support (and frankly a tighter chamber).  You can get some seriously pregnant cases out of Glocks.  Also keep a number of mainspring assemblies handy and change them out frequently- especially if you are someone who likes stout loads.  

The 10mm case is thicker in the web area than the .40S&W, incidentally.

Finally I have an el cheapo replacement barrel for my G20 chambered in 40S&W.  The shorter 40 feeds without a bobble through the stock 10mm magazines.  A replacement barrel will pay for itself shortly if you are not a handloader.  Plus, the 40S&W in the 10mm feels like a .38 special load in a .357 Magnum.  

Enjoy!

I have a G30 and thought about a conversion or possibly a new pistol. However,I decided that if I get into reloading I would pursue large caliber handguns. I like to be able to find affordable ammo since I don't  reload yet. So no big bores of my own but I'll shoot the hell out of them given the chance to.

Just my line of thinking YMMV

I get 10mm HSM with new brass from local gun stores and shows for the same price or LESS than .45 acp.

I upgraded from a S&W 357 mag revolver to Glock 20 SF to use as my hiking gun about 6 months ago. Having 15 instead of 7 rounds is very comforting and it'll put down just about any 2 or 4 legged critter here in the great NW.

Glock 20 + doubletap ammo = much fun

I have a Dan Wesson Razorback. My favorite handgun to shoot. 10MM is really fun, but too expensive to shoot regularly.

Yes, get a 10.
Vltor Fortis... supposedly coming...

I really love the 10mm, I have 3.  A Colt Delta, Smith 610, and Smith 1076.  I wanted to buy a G20 but I haven't yet.  As said, if you talk to the guys running hot 10mm, you have to get a barrel with better support.   I have to say I like shooting the Delta the most followed by the 610 revolver.  The 1076 is solid and shoots well but not the most ergonomic.

What I don't like about the G20 is the grip, trigger feel, lack of chamber support.  On the up side, it is a Glock, it is tough, reliable, and the lowest cost into 10mm.

What I like most about the 10mm is its versatility.  A wide range of bullets to choose from, a number of powders that work well.  I can load from 40S&W strength to well above 357 / start of 41 mag.  It shoots flat and carries a lot of energy.   It is a reloader's round though.  Very few off the shelf brands load to full 10mm power.  

The Delta


1076 FBI gun


610

You could get a couple of these to look at...Neither are fired anymore...  

Safe queens now.

Um....are you planning on getting a deer with yours?
If not then why not get a .40 S&W or .45 ACP? I haven't kept up on the prices of 10mm ammo but I suspect that .40 S&W and .45 ACP will do whatever you want for a lot less money.

My cousin had an identical Colt Delta 15-20 years ago, the first real handgun I'd ever shot. He sold it, and damn I wish I had bought it.
What do they bring these days?

I got mine 8 and a half but this past year I have seen them 9 bills

New ones around here run $950.  I'm currently thinking about buying one, fitting a .40 barrel, and shooting USPSA single stack with it.

I reload, and if you buy a 10, you should too.  You can load 10mm to just above 40.  Very nice shooting. Some Bullseye under a 180 gr will give you a little over 1000 FPS...

Since I own a SW 1076, I already reload 10mm.  But 10mm is pointless for me.  I don't feel like investing in several thousand pieces of 10mm brass, especially since I have buckets full of .40.   I load to 170 PF and shoot in USPSA Limited.  

Might as well be able to use the same caliber as my Limited gun, and if I fit a new barrel, it will be a hell of a lot more accurate than the factory Delta barrel.

good God don't hold your breath on this happening.  I'm not a glock fan so would choose a 1911 varient.  I just don't want all the hassle of the 10.  I think it's a neat cartridge, I'd just sit in my safe.

I think you can buy a Smith revolver and use moon clips....that also shoots S&W 40s out of it.  Model 610.   I'd probably get more use out of that than an auto loader.

If you are only running gun games, I can see your point.  

Just asking but you don't sound like a fan of the 10.  Have you shot other 10's such as a Delta or G20?  Honestly I am not a fan of the 1076.  The only reason I keep mine is collector value as a FBI gun.  Bore axis is high, its heavy, The slide is very heavy and with it moving that fast, cause more flip.  It was no wonder the FBI dropped it.  It stands up to the 10 like a champ but it is a brick.

As long as the lock up is good Colt Barrels are as good as any and better than most. My Delta was accurate right out of the box.  After fitting a tight bushing (rear lockup is good) it down right tough.  My shooting group does some bullseye at 25 and 50 yards, the 10mm and 38 Supers just do better at the 50.  10s just shoot so flat.

Here is the first mag right out of the box, 13-15 yards off hand


Rest of the first box of ammo

Most of my shooting is competition and training.  I've shot the DE and G20; just picked up the 1076 because I got a good deal on it.  I wish 10mm had gained wider acceptance but as it stands now, the .40 fits my needs better.

10mm is the way to go for Deer hunting, at least for me.

Development of the 10mm round was what caused the explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan before the end of WW2.

Rumor is that Japan was working on a top secret round to destroy the US.  But having unsuported chambers with questionable metalurgy at that time caused blow outs, twice.
So to save face, Japan gave up on the conditions that the U.S. claimed that the U.S. used nukes.  The U.S. agreed but also wanted the development backround and ownership of the 10mm round.

Now you know what was top secret for so many decades.

My 4 10mm guns. A newer delta elite, a smith and wesson 1006 that has been bead blasted since it was a little rough when I got it, a smith and wesson 610 revolver, and a glock 20fs. Got the glock before the sf version was out. Friend liked it so much he has a model 29fs. Down the road I plan to add either a 29sf or a 20sf.

Anyway georgia arms 10mm is mostly what I shoot through them. One of the cheaper vendors for the ammo. I've shot most brands through them though. Pretty much grab it in town when I can.

Love the 10mm handguns. Wish smith and wesson would release the m&p semi auto pistol in 10mm. That or if magpul would release a semiauto fmg9 sbr that I could throw a glock 20 slide in.

I am a 9mm guy for the most part, but have been thinking about  Glock 29.  I was surprised to see some of the termial ballistics information.

Winchester has a website with terminal ballistics information for the "Ranger" line of ammo here

If you look at the 45 auto numbers for the 230 gr +p, it shows expansion of .75 to .79 inches with penetration of 13.2 to 15.7 inches.

The two common 10mm brands of ammo that are "full power" seem to be Double Tap and Buffalo Bore.

Looking through the threads on Glock Talk, it looks like a lot of folks don't believe what Double Tap claims any more, as when folks measure their ammo with a chronograph they always come up with numbers signficantly lower than what Double Tap claims.  Also there are folks who say that Double Tap has sold ammo which is labled as using premium bullets, but actually uses cheaper knock offs, and has sold 180 grain ammo as 200 grain.

That being said, here are the original numbers posted by the owner of Double Tap on GT for teminal ballistics:

Here are official gelatin results for all of the DoubleTap loads!
All of these tests were done using 10% ballistic gelatin provided by Vyse gelatin using all FBI protocols and 4 layers of denim and two layers of light cotton T-shirt in front of the gelatin.DoubleTap 9mm+P
115gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1415fps - 12.00" / .70"
124gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1310fps - 13.25" / .70"
147gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1125fps - 14.00" / .66"

DoubleTap .40 S&W Penetration / expansion
135gr. Nosler JHP @ 1375fps - 12.10" / .72"
155gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1275fps - 13.00" / .76"
165gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1200fps - 14.0" / .70"
180gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1100fps - 14.75" / .68"
200gr XTP @ 1050fps - 17.75" / .59"


DoubleTap .357 Sig
115gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1550fps - 12.25" / .71"
125gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1450fps - 14.5" / .66"
147gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1250fps - 14.75" / .73"

DoubleTap .357 Magnum
125gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1600fps - 12.75" / .69"
158gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1400fps - 19.0" .56"

DoubleTap 10mm
135gr JHP @ 1600fps - 11.0" / .70" frag nasty
155gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1475fps - 13.5" / .88"
165gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1400fps - 14.25" / 1.02"
165gr Golden Saber JHP @ 1425fps - 14.75" / .82"
180gr Golden Saber JHP @ 1330fps - 16.0" / .85"
180gr XTP @ 1350fps – 17.25” / .77”
180gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1300fps - 15.25" / .96"
200gr XTP @ 1250fps - 19.5" / .72"
230gr Equalizer @ 1040fps - 11.0" and 17.0" / .62" and .40"

DoubleTap .45ACP
185gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1225fps - 12.75" / .82"
200gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1125fps - 14.25" / .88"
230gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1010fps - 15.25" / .95"

If you believe the numbers (a big "if"),  what you are gaining over the 45 is increased penetration.  It also depends on whether you believe in "kinetic energy" or "tissue destruction/ penetration" for putting things down.   At this point, I am not sure that 10mm offers enough of an advantage to me over .45 if I a going to go with a bigger caliber.  45 has the advantage of cheaper prices, and more availibility, but the disadvantage of fewer rounds in the gun on average.  I am still thinking about the advantages.  Anyone have any other insight?

WIN

If you want a firearm for self defense- not hunting- then I would go with a .45ACP.

If you want to hunt, however, the 10mm really shines.  I was happy with the performance of the .357, but my 10mm easily trumps it.

As for Doubletap ammunition I have only chronographed the 200gr XTP at just over 1200fps out of a stock G20.  The advertised velocity is 1250.  That is an insignificant difference.  

The power of the 10mm is real- but do you need it?  Probably not for self defense.  

I do CCW a G29 with 180g XTP's.



Georgia Arms finally has some Canned Heat 10mm back in stock for $200/500, so plinking isn't ridiculously expensive anymore... (Still not cheap by any means though...)

I have a WC CQB Elite in 10mm....it's a hell of a shooter. I have a G29 also but it bulges my brass so bad I wont shoot it anymore. I refuse to buy a 40 cal because it is a wimpyfied 10mm. I reload and I can wimpyfy it myself if I choose to.

Get one....you wont be sorry.

I was an admirer of the 10mm but never thought I would own one. About 6 months ago I found a Wyoming Arms 10mm for cheap ($200). Though these are not super nice they do go bang and the example I have is respectable in both accuracy and recoil. They use Delta Elite mags and are stainless. Mine had obviously not been shot very much as was near NIB. Having said that the 10mm is a STOUT cartridge. Last gun show several dealers had factory Remmy for $28 per box. You can find it online for $35-$40 per box. I reload my own so it's much cheaper. My 10mm is just a fun range gun so it's not like I need 500 plus rounds on hand. I wouldn't tell you to get it as your main gun because of the cost...but if you don't mind spending a little more...go for it...it's a fun caliber to shoot.


http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member14760.png

Yeah, the factory barrel bulges it just like any other Glock, but i've got a Firedragon aftermarket extended/ported target barrel (G29) for paper, and brass comes out of it looking brand new.  Lone Wolf Distributing makes some good aftermarket barrels with extra chamber support as well...



I've never had a failure of any kind with either the stock or FD barrel, but i carry it with the stock barrel...





 

Having played with, shot all kinds of factory loads and handloads through a 10mm and succeeded in blowing it up I am of the opinion that the 10mm needs a minimium of five inches of barrel and does its best work with a barrel length of six to seven inches.

The cartridge is marvelous, far,far better than the .40 short and weak and is best utilized as a hunting cartridge for all but the very best shooters.
Those willing to take the time to master the gun and the cartridge will find the 10mm to be one of the very best all around cartridges ever developed and the only fault is inadequate firing platforms now available.

Glock are you listening you puffy little bastard??
A 6" Longlide, target grade sighted, scope platform adaptable G20 is desperately needed on the market to keep this cartridge alive and breathing.

Quit trying to turn your pistols into hand rasps and put out something shooters really need you goofy old fart!

amen.  can i sign the petition?








 

I think i petitioned for a factory G20L about a year ago



There are a few custom G20 longslides out there though....





 

Have money to burn (for ammo), reload or never plan to shoot it and you'll be fine.