Handgun cartridge face-off: 357 Magnum vs. 10 mm Auto

[Smaug]

This is just for fun; don't take it too seriously.

I think a lot of the pistol fans think of 10 mm as a do-it-all. (if you're a handloader, anyway)

Same for 357 Magnum, to the revolver fans.

For the purposes of this poll, assume your only other handgun is a 22LR of your choice. Your choice of one of these two centerfires has to do everything else. Assume you can have two handguns in your caliber. They can each be gunsmith specials, if you want. (since you only have three handguns, they should be JUST what you want)

Explain why and what you'd choose, if you want, and if not, please just vote; don't disparage the poll or thread. Or, if you think it's REALLY stupid, don't even vote.

Photos are worth bonus points and will make the thread more interesting.

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For my part, I'm on the fence, but I think I'd go 10 mm, even though I've never tried it. I think I'd get a big target/hunting revolver and a compact carry gun. S&W makes/made one; I think maybe Ruger did/does too?

In that big gun, I could either hunt or shoot targets at great distances with full power loads. I could load it way down as a target/plinker load.

In the compact carry gun, I could load it down to 40 S&W levels or even a bit less and just have a softer recoil spring. Or, keep the original spring and shoot full power loads. That slide has got to make it easier to shoot than a 357 snubby with Magnum loads, right?

It just seems like a great do-it-all cartridge. Only real downside is the lack of choice in guns, compared to 9x19 or even 357 Magnum.

These would be my choices, off the bat:
Revolver in 10 mm, S&W 610 w/6" barrel. I'd have the trigger gunsmithed and would have half of the underlug taken off.

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For the compact auto, I'm leaning toward a S&W M&P Compact. I'd probably tune the trigger with a trigger kit and fit some low-snag sights. I'd probably sand down the texture on the left side of the grip a bit, as it is quite aggressive and would rub my right love handle raw.

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[mcb]

Moonclips rule. 10mm in a revolver is a wonderful thing.

The only thing better than a S&W 610 would be if S&W would make a 10mm Auto L-frame.

 

[.38 Special]

It kills me to say it - the .357 is a grand old cartridge and I'm very glad I will never have to be without it - but I have to admit that the 10mm is a somewhat more versatile cartridge these days. The .357 is not a very good autopistol cartridge, while the 10mm is a great revolver cartridge - and the 10mm is ultimately capable of more power, if a fellow needs or wants it.

I will say that I consider both to be less-than-ideal for big game, let alone the infamous "bear defense". Yes, they've worked and doubtless will work again, but I'd much rather have the extra cushion provided by by Magnums in the .44 to .50 class.

 

[TTv2]

10mm, not because I prefer it in autos or I like the cartridge, it's really everything. Can put it in a revolver, shoot it or .40 no problem, with Glock 10's you can shoot .40 in those too.

If someone would offer a rim version of 10mm or 10mm Magnum, I would gladly buy a revolver in that over .357 Magnum because I l'm always going to have a Glock 10mm and I'm never going to have a .357 Mag or .38 Special autoloader.

It would basically be a one stop shop caliber that covers my autos and some revolvers.

Plus, 220gr pills in a GP100 going 1050-1100 fps is very nice.

 

[tommy.duncan]

No secret I am a huge 10mm fan,
I like the round. It's very powerful (so is 357 mag), very accurate(so is 357 mag), works great in autos and revolvers.
I love my 357 revolvers but I really love ALL my 10mm pistols!!

 

[WisBorn]

Only center fire handgun cartridge!

I picked the 357mag because it can be in a,
J, K, L, or/and N frame.
The 10mm can be hard to pocket carry (Glock 29).
I went with the versatile revolver light 38s to heavy 357s.

 

[SDGlock23]

The only reason I would choose 10mm is because if it had to be my ONLY other option besides .22, semi autos certainly have huge advantages over revolvers at least in terms of self defense and there aren't any normal sized .357 Mag autos. I would rather my revolver be a .357 than a 10mm but I would have no issues with a 10mm revolver, I've had several over the years (S&W 610, GP100 MC, Blackhawk convertible). I like the 357 Mag better than the 10mm, but in this instance, I would have to choose 10mm (I have two, a G40 MOS and a G29). I guess the two 10mm's I'd have if I could only have two would be a G20 Gen4 and a GP100 Match Champion, or a 4" S&W 610 not sure.

 

[S&W610]

I chose the 10mm because I love the cartridge.
3 610’s a 5 inch and 2, 6.5 inch barrels.
STI Perfect 10
Smith and Wesson 1086
Witness Elite Match
Dan Wesson Pointman 7
Mech Tech Carbine with an STI lower

 

[LoonWulf]

10mm Because I can get it n more gun configurations, and I can load it any which way I want.......

 

[tomrkba]

I prefer semiautos. But I also really like 357 Magnum, especially in S&W N-Frames.


I can never decide. Ugh!

 

[AJC1]

Because this is what I want, not what I can afford it's a lot more fun.
1. 686 with a 6" barrel for hunting and target shooting.
2. Coonan for sd/home defense. It can't be heavier than the full stainless 45 I carry around.
3. My 22 would be the 617 Smith.
The advantage of the revolvers is running the shorter 38s and to be honest I don't know if the 10 will run 40 but I will assume it does. I see this comparison made 357 vs 10mm and the fair play is 41 mag as its waaay closer than a 36 caliber. Unfortunately I have zero desire for a de so 41 in a semi is out.
I vote for the love of the cartridge.

 

[P Flados]

For me, cost matters and I like to shoot a lot. With my acceptable expenditure levels, factory ammo would never allow reasonable shooting volumes. Also, I do not shoot 22s any more and have no desire to go back to using them. My 32s do fine for low cost & low power shooting.

I shoot only bullets I have cast in ammo I have assembled in all of my handguns.

For me, my only need for anything bigger than a mid range load in 357 mag is IHMSA. Knocking down Rams at 200 meters is kind of "out of bounds" for your discussion. If I had to, a 10" contender in 357 mag with a custom 180 gr cast bullet might fill this role just barely. A 10mm would be much less likely to do this function.

I load 38/357s with bullets that range from 85 gr to 180 gr. By volume, most of my 38 and 357 loads are 120 gr or less. This greatly helps me stretch my lead supplies.

Over the years I have gathered plenty of 357 range pickup brass. My 38 special brass stash is huge. My inventory of 10mm brass is small and range pickup is not a reliable source.

Again, if I were forced to make due with only two centerfire guns, a 4" revolver (probably a stainless GP-100) and 10" Contender in 357 mag would probably come as close to "acceptable" as possible. But leaving out all of my other contender calibers, the 327 SP-101 and the Dan Wesson 357 max would be a huge loss.

If I were to find myself regularly out in woods where large bears are a concern, my needs would be different. For this, some folks promote a 10mm auto. I am not satisfied with the typical ammo used for this role, and I would be more trusting with the reliability of a revolver. In my opinion, a heavy bullet load from a 4" Ruger GP-100 would be more optimal if I had to go with a 10mm. A 10mm GP-100 converted to 401 powermag would probably be even better.

 

[CDW4ME]

Poll did not fail.
10 mm Auto, because I prefer auto pistols in general

16 rounds of 10mm Glock 20 > revolver
11 rounds of 10mm Glock 29 > revolver
9 rounds of 10mm 1911 > revolver (wouldn't change my opinion if it was 41 mag or 44 mag; bears don't change it either)

And because "This is just for fun" Sig 365 9mm > 357 mag revolver. Yes, this is fun.

 

[Anchorite]

357 Sig.

 

[chicharrones]

For this thread, I pick .357 magnum because it fits into my revolvers and also fits into my lever gun.

Plus, I'm not going to expand my current cartridge selection with any cartridge I'm not already "invested" in, such as 10mm.

It's partly due to lack of free time. My job has me working long hours and currently most of that is away from home, so I need to focus on shootin' what I already have.

View attachment 1102785

 

[mavracer]

Only center fire handgun cartridge!

I picked the 357mag because it can be in a,
J, K, L, or/and N frame.
The 10mm can be hard to pocket carry (Glock 29).
I went with the versatile revolver light 38s to heavy 357s.

Yep the way OP set up the scenario 357 is the only one that works for me, if there were some allowance for another center fire pocket gun I would much prefer a 10mm.

 

[Armored farmer]

I will post my slanted, narrow-minded, neverfireda10mm opinion.
I choose 357 I am fully invested in 357 revolvers, carbine, and reloading gear.

I like shooting a single action trigger and I like catching empties in my hand, not spewing them out to play hide and seek.

 

[doubleh]

I agree with the above. 357 can be loaded from mild to wild, no case chasing, and it is an accurate round.

 

[Pat Riot]

Honestly, I have never fired a 10mm handgun. I thought I wanted a Glock 20 then I saw the G40, but I have a problem with recoil in a semiauto. I can take .357 recoil in revolvers but 9mm is about it for me in semiauto. I have severe arthritis in my wrist where the thumb meets the wrist. The action of the slide hurts.

Even still, I would choose .357 for it’s versatility. .357 revolvers can shoot .38 and .357 and the rounds can be loaded light to heavy with no issues with the reliability of the gun.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I enjoy both. Now that i have a 10mm revolver. I shoot 10 mm more often than i used to. No chasing brass.

 

[Choctaw]

I really can't decide. I have multiple guns in each caliber because I like both. I carry black plastic guns for a living so it is always nice to switch to my Blackhawks when out on our place. However, this year I have shot as many pigs with my 10mms as I have with my 357s (revolvers and rifles) and like the results I'm getting. My Glock 40 with a Holosun 407C and cowitness suppressor sights is hard to beat.

 

[sgt127]

I love me some .357 Magnum. I own quite a few. My usual carry when hiking is an SP101 loaded with Hardcast 158 gr. A spare speedloader full. And a speedloader full of rat shot. I’m covered for anything that walks on 2 legs, 4 or, slithers.

I owned a Colt Delta elite for awhile. But, went back to a .45 because I could shoot it a lot faster. It’s a dandy round. No arguments.

But…a .357 and 10mm aren’t an even match up.

This would be.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Not an easy decision to make. 357 is more powerful, and can shoot 38 special. 10mm is not much weaker when loaded to its full potential, and works much better in a semi auto. For SD purposes, a semi auto will be more advantageous.

10mm is cheaper.

Im gonna break the rules, and sell my 22 LR gun and buy two 10mm pistols: a glock 20 and a ruger BH in 10mm with a spare 38-40 cylinder. Id love to have something to hotrod the 38-40 with!

This is coming from someone who has a G20 and a Python.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm going with 357 Magnum because I have tons more experience with it and its versatility. I have several revolvers, shot IHMSA Silhouette with a 357 magnum Contender, and have a couple lever action rifles. I have loads developed from soft to hot.

My only 10mm gun is a S&W Model 610 revolver.

Moonclips rule. 10mm in a revolver is a wonderful thing.

What mcb said.

But I do not have many rounds through my 610 and have not even gotten to hand load any ammunition for it. I do not have much brass for it, mostly because I have not searched very hard.

I may change my mind in the future.

 

[.38 Special]

Not an easy decision to make. 357 is more powerful...

Caliber war!

A lot of factory 10mm is underloaded, for reasons which escape me. Looking at some of the boutique manufacturers known for selling maximum loads we find velocities essentially the same across the board. The 155 JHP can be had at 1500 fps in the 10mm, same as the 158 in the .357, and the 200 goes about 1250 in both as well.

I do note that Buffalo Bore sells a 220 grain 10mm load advertised at 1200 fps. As far as I know, no one is selling anything heavier than 200 grains in the .357 Magnum. I've cast and loaded 220 in the .357, and they were too long to fit any of my cylinders! I had to seat them well above the crimp groove, and then had to start with very light charges. With fast powders I got pressure signs before the bullet would stabilize, and with slow powders I ran out of room before the bullet would stabilize, so I'm not sure 220/357 is a practical combination.

Which means I win.