10mm Deer Hunting opinions

[RxRob]

Hey guys, I picked up a 10mm Glock 20 earlier this year for service pistol competition and now that hunting season (deer/Elk) is rolling around I had the idea that maybe I could earn my Christmas jerky this year without buying a new gun.

I currently only own a USP .45 compact (long time carry gun), Glock 20 (for competition only up till now), and my .223 AR-15(also for competition only and not legal to hunt with in Washington state anyway, which is were the Navy has me at the moment).

I really don't have the cash to sink into a new gun right now. In the past I've taken deer with a .338 win mag Ruger M77. Never really considered using a handgun before and also never had to get to close to the animal, the M77 let me reach out and touch from far enough away that if the critter knew I was there he didn't think I was a threat.

Anyway any thoughts? From what I've read 10mm is the smallest caliber that's legal. How close do I have to be? I would have just borrowed a rifle from a buddie but that's also illegal here now.

 

[Patocazador]

Most states require a cartridge in .357 mag. or bigger.
Using 10 mm (for me) would depend on what bullets I would have available that were also accurate at 30 yards. The bullets would have to expand AND hold together for penetration if I were to use them for deer.

As with all hunting, the most important thing is shot placement. You would need to get close enough to put your shots into a circle the size of a softball IMO.

 

[Predator55]

I don't see a problem with taking deer and elk. Just make sure you keep shots close and you have a good hunting round. Look at some of the buffalo bore rounds.

 

[Sav .250]

Washington state. Hand gun. Big game. Must have a minimum 4 inch barrel. Fire a 24 cal bullet.

 

[Acera]

If the reason you are not wanting to purchase a new gun is due to the paperwork and restrictions with your job, there is another option. A MechTech 10mm cabine upper for your Glock might be solution.
http://www.mechtechsys.com/glock.php

However I will point out for the same money you can buy a better deer hunting firearm.

I have taken hogs with my G20C loaded with Double Tap hard cast bullets, personally I would have not issue with shooting a deer with it at a reasonable range.



.

 

[CraigC]

The 10mm is fine for deer within 50yds with a good 180gr of heavier bullet but definitely not enough gun for elk. Despite rhetoric from frothing fans, a Glock 10mm is not an ideal sporting piece either. The sights are coarse, the trigger heavy and they are only combat accurate.

If you've never had to "hunt" before, it will definitely require more effort than you've ever put into it. Like bow hunting, handgun hunting is not something to be taken lightly or done with little to no preparation. It requires dedication and a lot of practice at ranges not available at most indoor ranges.

 

[jmr40]

As far as power is concerned the best 10mm loads will match or beat anything you can do with a 357 mag revolver. And it comes a lot closer to short barreled 44 mag performance than most realize. If you're comparing typical 10mm to 44's from 4" or shorter barrels there is little practical difference.

For that reason and the fact that a G20 or G29 is considerably lighter and smaller than any magnum revolver I think they make an excellent choice for bear or other predator protection when hiking or camping.

While it could be pressed into service for hunting, yes even for elk, it is far from ideal. A revolver in 44 mag with a 6-8" barrel puts velocity in another league 10mm can't match. Plus you do get better sights and trigger. I own both the G20 and G29. One of them, especially the G29, accompanies me often while in the woods either hiking or hunting. But I wouldn't attempt to hunt with either of them. There are simply too many better options.

There are lots of budget bolt rifles out there in more suitable calibers that don't cost that much.

 

[H&Hhunter]

A 10mm will most certainly kill deer. If you stick a good 10mm bullet into its lungs it is going to die. I have a G20 and A G40 MOS. With Buffalo Bore 180 gr hollow points I'm pushing a 180 gr bullet at 1400 fps out of the G40. The trick is to be close enough and skilled enough to put that bullet on target. With the factory sights that is about 50 yards for me. With aftermarket sights or an optic on my MOS I can move that closer to 100 yards with a solid rest. I've shot several big bodied mule deer with the 10mm and several hogs always as a finisher. It will definitely kill a deer. As mentioned above it takes skill and discipline to hunt with a handgun.
BTW the G20 is not that much slower with the same ammo.

 

[CraigC]

And it comes a lot closer to short barreled 44 mag performance than most realize.

I reckon that's true if you look at the heaviest 10mm loads compared to standard watered-down .44Mag loads. Apples to apples, the .44Mag gets a 355gr to the same velocity the 10mm does with a 230gr. Personally, I would not hunt elk with anything lighter than a 300gr .44, probably more like the 310gr Trueshot or the 320gr WLN from CPBC and the 10mm is just not enough cartridge to have an equivalent.

 

[Hookeye]

I've shot max'd 200s in a 10mm.
Shot great (1st edition Delta).
Not impressed.

When you make a bullet heavier it gets longer. Frontal area and axis play a part in penetrating on line through the target.

So while energy figures on paper may show an advantage or equality, thats not fully telling of what is better when bullets hit meat.

My state now allows 10mm for deer. A long slide 1911 with Bomars and a nice trigger..............oh yeah, should be an easy 50 yard rig. Fun one too.

Alas, Ill probably be running a 10" Contender in .357 mag and hot 180gr handloads. Or a 14" .35 Rem with 150's.

 

[Hookeye]

I've killed a few deer with 180 to 255gr in .44 mag.
300's at max are pretty brutal (on the shooter and non endurance package N frames).
So I tend to run the lighter stuff (since a 629-3 is my fave wheelgun).
180's and 200's max'd out on 296 tend to exit if out a ways.
Up close I've had a couple stay in, but shoulder was hit.

Deer died, quickly, but it wasn't the super smackdown DRT I read on some many forums.

Rifle or shotgun, or MZ..............the deer I shoot must be of a different species, as most don't just keel over, even when hit through the lungs/heart.

I love the .44 magnum. It works. It isn't magical however.
Doubt the 10mm works as good.

 

[Hookeye]

Using conventional handguns at bowhunting distances, might allow for satisfactory results with a wider range of choices.

 

[69Precision]

If the range is short enough of course it will kill them. I hunted deer with a 44 special. At 25 yards it worked fine. Shot 3 does and none of them ran more than 50 feet. That said, the lower end rifles are so cheap these days it's hard to justify using your g20 unless you are just craving a challenge.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

CraigC:

The 10mm is fine for deer within 50yds with a good 180gr of heavier bullet but definitely not enough gun for elk.

Sure glad the moose I shot with my S&W 1086 didn't know that.

Sam

 

[rondog]

I'd just look for a used rifle in a pawn shop, but that's just me.

 

[SwaneeSR]

I'd just look for a used rifle in a pawn shop, but that's just me.

+1

Generally hunting is difficult enough. Why make it harder to be successful. You can go through life trying to only use a crescent wrench. I bet it would not be long before you purchase a socket set.

Life is easier with the right tool. Buy a rifle and do not miss that deer of a lifetime. He emerges from the swamp to walk past those hunters who are not prepared in one way or another.

Swanee


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Hookeye]

It aint all about filling the tag.
How you fill it is worth something.

Handguns are fun.

Recurve bows are more fun

 

[CraigC]

Sure glad the moose I shot with my S&W 1086 didn't know that.

Stunts can be pulled off with anything.

 

[Hookeye]

If you hunt good ground, killing deer gets easy.

So you either hunt the big boys, or have fun with the avg deer.

Handguns, archery gear, or even cool old rifles............adds fun.

I shot a doe with .35 rem to test bullet one yr, still feel bad about it. Great shot, deer down quick (and dead).

But doe tags and rifles don't set well with me anymore.

Was filling tags with Blackwidow recurves, not so sure I'll just pass on all does from now on.

Wish I had a son, conservative, who hunted........let him fill the family freezer.
Alas, my kids are all girls, liberal college ones.

Have pretty much written them off.

If I won the lottery I'd move away and not leave a fwd address.

Life is short, have fun fishing and hunting. If that means a 10mm pistol for venison brats..............go for it.

Family is way overrated.