AJC1
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I keep seeing videos that compare 10mm to 357. What gives, 44 mag is closer to 10mm than 357. 41 mag would be the closest, is this to just push gun sales.
Pistol round comparisons
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mcb
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357 Mag and 10mm Auto compare nicely. Both run a bit over 700 ft-lbs when push to max pressure with heavy for caliber bullets. The both fall well short of 41 Mag and 44 Mag. 41 Mag can exceed 1000 ft-lbs and 44 Mag can easily exceed 1200 ft-lbs of energy.
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AJC1
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They are comparing a 9mm class gun to a 10mm class gun and most often say the 10mm is better. Compare 10 to 41 and then extol the vertue of additional rounds. Its marketing just like the 350 legend compared to the 30 30.
It seems that you are comparing the diameter of the bullet rather than the actual performance. I'm a huge 10mm fan but I'm also a realist. 10mm is roughly equivalent in power to .357 and that's just how it is.
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AJC1
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Correct I believe in comparing like things.
Similarity in diameter is not the appropriate grouping at all..
The diameter of a given cartridge unfortunately doesn't tell the whole story. Cartridge length and dimensions (if necked) factor in also. The .357 case is 33mm long and generates 35,000 PSI while the 10mm is only 25mm with 37,500 PSI.
In this case the .357 and 10mm both occupy a similar range for bullet weights and reach similar velocities for those bullets, thus the frequent comparisons.
In this case the .357 and 10mm both occupy a similar range for bullet weights and reach similar velocities for those bullets, thus the frequent comparisons.
Riomouse911
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10 mm and .45 Super would be a much closer performance comparison. 
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
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AJC1
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The physics says the larger diameter always has the advantage. Range can equalize but then sectional density being equal would be more fair. The concept is ten is as good or better than .357 where the idea should be its significantly reduced for caliber when compared to equal magnums.
No.
Physics does not address diameter at all. The larger diameter does not always have the advantage. Compare a .38 Spl with a .41 Short Colt
"Magnum" is a marketing appellation.
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AJC1
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Really, the larger diameter at near or equal pressure.
Well, just maybe, but those are things underlying.
Consider mass and velocity first. The, one can get into little things like ogive and sectional density.
In the OP, what factors are you truing to compare?
The Glockodile
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Physics!!!
GeoDudeFlorida
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Exactly.
Comparing 10mm (.400" projectile) to .41Magnum (.409" projectile) leaves the 10mm looking kind of sickly and pale. But, comparing it to a .357Magnum (.357" projectile) makes the 10mm look pretty good... mostly.
C-grunt
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Larger diameter always has an advantage? So 10mm Auto is better than 308 Winchester?
The 357 and the 10mm are compared because they shoot similar weight bullets at similar velocities. The difference between a .357 bullet and a .400 bullet is less that 1/20th of an inch, or about 1 mm.
The wild card that is often over looked is barrel length. Published ballistics numbers for magnum revolvers are from 7- 8" test barrels, which almost no one uses. Published ballistics numbers for semi auto rounds are from 4.5-5" barrels. In the real world most semi's actually have 4.5-5" barrels and real guns actually match those published numbers. The 357, 41, and 44 magnums are in another class as long as they are fired from long barrels, but are significantly slower from 3-4" barrels. Even from 6" barrels they are noticeably below published numbers.
Most magnum revolvers in the real world are 3"-6" in length. And when you compare the overall length of a 4.5" semi, it is almost identical to a 3" magnum revolver and actually smaller than a 4" magnum revolver. When 357 mag is fired from a 4" barrel it is a ballistic twin to 10mm. A 41 mag is only a tiny bit more potent and a 44 mag is closer than most people realize when you start shooting them in guns of comparable overall size.
So yes, any of the magnum revolver rounds will out perform 10mm. But if I need a 7-8" barreled handgun to do it, I'd just as soon carry a short barreled rifle.
mcb
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On one hand I agree that much of the reloading data is very optimistic even from long barrels let alone more realistic barrels. Hodgdons 38 Special data seems like a particularly bad offender in this respect. That said real world data still show the 10mm fall well short of 41 Mag and 44 Mag in comparable handguns. The following comparison is based on real world data from Buffalo Bore since they are a public source that can be confirmed and report velocity data for their ammo from real world guns, not test barrels.
10mm 180gr JHP at 1350 fps from a Glock 20 (4.6 inch barrel, loaded weight ~40oz)) produces 728 ft-lbs of energy.
41 Mag 210 gr JHP at 1451 fps from a S&W Mountain Gun (4-inch barrel , loaded weight ~46 oz) produces 981 ft-lbs of energy. 35% more KE
44 Mag 240gr Gas Check LSWHP at 1466 fps again from a S&W Mountain Gun (4-inch barrel, loaded weight ~46oz) produces 1145 ft-lbs. 57% more KE.
And one more just to show off how much 44 Mag can be above and beyond 10mm Auto.
44 Mag 340gr Hard Cast LFN at 1401 fps from a Ruger Red Hawk ( 5.5 inch barrel, loaded weight ~54 oz) producing roughly twice the 10mm muzzle energy at 1481 ft-lbs**
These are the highest KE of all Buffalo Bores offerings unless I missed one.
** This load is not recommended for S&W revolvers and has a recommended list of firearms it should be used in so I did not included it in my first comparison.
No matter how you slice it 10mm Auto compares well to 357 Magnum but even from medium length barrels the 41 and 44 mag are a nice step up from 10mm Auto in the energy department. That is not to say the capacity of 10mm Auto does not have serious advantages in some situations but from a raw ballistics point of view if you take your time to select or load quality ammunition 41 and 44 magnum have noticeable more ballistic potential than 10mm Auto or 357 Magnum.
In my own loading of 10mm Auto and 44 Magnum. I hate 357 Magnum and have loaded very little of it and no were near its potential when I did.
I have my 10mm cases about as full as I can get them running them right up to max pressure, in fact my favorite load is above published data (but likely not over SAAMI MAP) and I am getting a 200 gr XTP going 1250 fps, 694 ft-lbs from a 6.5 inch revolver. Without reaming it for 10mm Magnum I am not sure how much more I could squeeze from it while pushing a 200gr bullet.
On the other hand my 44 Mag load is a 240 gr XTP going 1340 fps, 957 ft-lbs of energy from a nearly identical 6.5 inch revolver and I am below published max for the powder I am using and I am not using the best powder for maximizing energy. I have loaded to as much as 1400 fps but the above load produces sufficient energy for my use and what my wrists want to bear and does so with no muzzle flash and less muzzle blast than more popular powders like H110.
Yes I am going to be sad with I run out of 800-x as that is my favorite powder for both cartridges and apparently has been discontinued.
-rambling
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AJC1
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So now your comparing rifle to pistol. Apples to tanks comparatively. I see we need cradle to grave explanations for some.
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