The 9mm and 10mm

[Stinkyshoe]

In the next few years I would like to buy a autoloading handgun. It will be for general plinking and target practice. Maybe CCW. I am impressed with what I hear about glocks. I would either like a 9mm or 10mm. Thanks to Sean Smith, a member here at THR, I wish able to see some balistic data comparing 9mm,45acp,10mm,40sw(thanks Sean!) I have never shot a 9mm or 10mm so maybe this a stupid question to be asking. I should probably go to a range and see if I could shot someones 9mm and 10mm. I would really like a Glock because I hear good stuff about them. For as many people as I hear say the 9mm is a very adaquate defense round, I hear two people who say it is not. Please give me your input...Thanks
Ss
P.s. If you could rate them 1 to 4, how would you rank the 9mm,40sw,45acp, and 10mm?

 

[jem375]

forget the 10MM for general plinking, and in your case just get a 9MM, the ammo is cheap............

 

[Dave Markowitz]

All four rounds you mention are very good. However since you stated this will be for target shooting and informal plinking, I suggest a pistol in 9mm. The 9mm has less recoil than the other calibers and the ammo is much cheaper. E.g., you can get Winchester white box 100-count Value Packs of 9mm at Wal-Mart for about $11.

The 9mm is perfectly adequate for defense, as well. Just use good jacketed hollowpoint ammunition from a major supplier (CCI, Federal, Winchester, Remington, etc.) and you'll have a good defensive weapon. And the aforementioned low ammo cost will help you shoot a lot, so you become proficient with it.

I suggest that you handle several different pistols before buying; shoot them at a range that rents them if possible. This will help you avoid buying something you dislike. E.g., while the Glock is a fine pistol, it does not fit my hand well. In contrast, my Browning High Power fits me like it was designed just for me. You could be the opposite.

Other good pistols to check out would be those by Ruger, CZ, SIG, HK, and Beretta, among others.

 

[clubsoda22]

as far as power goes: 10mm, 45, 40, 9mm

As far as sales go: 9mm, 40, 45 (very close to 40), 10mm (way down the list)

As far as my personal preference, i own: 9mm, 40, 45.

If you wanted to hunt both wild and urban game: 10mm

If you don't think you'll ever need to take down a bear with your handgun: 9mm, 40, 45.

If you like the glocks, i'd recommend a Glock 19 in 9mm. 9mm is a perfectly adequate manstopper with the proper hollowpoint ammunition. I use Winchester Ranger Talon. Speer Gold Dot is also a very good round and easier to find.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Take with a grain of salt the opinion of anyone that is especially dogmatic about the practical superiority of one of these rounds over another.


From time to time I carry a 45, 10mm, or 9mm just depending on what kind of mood I am in. I feel equally well armed with all three. Lately, I have favored the 9mm in a Glock 19. Main reason is because i seem to be able to get back on target quicker for follow up shots. The G19 is also an amazingly size efficient gun for the amount of firepower it provides.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's stinkyshoe-

My advice to you would be for you to go to a range that
offers "rental gun's" for use by vistor's. Try out as many
different makes (and or models) as time and money allow.
You need not worry about testing the low-end guns, as
far as defensive purposes are concerned. These would
be the Bryco-Jenning's class, High-Point's, and etc. More
than likely a good starting point would be with the Ruger
and CZ class of firearms; then start working your way up.
In semi-auto's, the bottom line would begin with the 9m/m,
followed by the .357 SIG, then the .40S&W, and the 10m/m.
Save the time-tested .45 ACP for the last thing on the list,
as its milder on the shooter, than the last three listed.

Besides the Ruger and CZ line, try Glock's, Browning's,
Beretta's, H&K's, and SIG's; along with the 1911 variant's.
Most folk's consider Taurus self-loaders a "toss up";
with part of the crowd singing its praises, and the other
side condeming it to the devil. I'm a member of the 2nd
crowd; as I depise their works, their firearm's, and their
history.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Majic]

The 10mm is a great cartridge, but powerfull. Don't let that 1mm fool you as they are really night and day in comparasion. The 10mm is on par with the revolver's .41mag in power. It also takes a large framed pistol because of the potential power.
For economy the 9mm is just fine, and does a fine job defensively. The 10mm will cost more to feed, and you have to learn to deal with the recoil unless you shoot reduced loads.
I recomend starting off with a 9mm then later get you a 10mm for grins and giggles.
The .40SW was developed as a replacement for reduce power 10mm loads. They share the same bullets and the .40SW case is basically a cut down 10mm. A consideration if you want to split the difference between the 9mm and the 10mm. It is not as economical as a 9mm, but packs more power while at the same time is cheaper to feed than a 10mm with a much lower power level.

 

[mrapathy2000]

I like 40S&W myself. it uses 10mm bullets though they dont fly as fast and dont get to the higher grain rounds in 40S&w.

if your in bear country 10mm would be better. 357sig would be better than 9mm, 357sig uses 9mm bullets though is a bit faster.

9mm is nice in compacts like glock26,kel-tec p11,kahr has some nice compact 9's also.

9mm is the cheapest to shoot 45acp and 40S&W bit more expensive. 10mm in my area is hard to find. best reload if you go with 10mm.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The key to the 10mm is its wide power range if you reload for it. The 10mm can be pushed to full power loads which are way beyond the 45 or 45+p. You can also back it down to 9mm power levels if you wish.

As a 10mm shooter, if I were to do it all over again, I would not have bought any 40's. My only reason for wanting a 9mm is because the sig 210 series comes in it. Otherwise the 9mm just is not the power level I want on a day to day basis.

Yes 9mm ammo is cheap, but if you reload like I do, the difference is very small.

 

[FireInTheHole]

I think your choices should be 9mm, .40S&W, or a good .45 (depending on hand size)

The 10mm is more of an advanced pistol as it is very costly to shoot(unless you reload) and has alot of recoil.

With smallish hands a 9mm and .40 are all I can comfortably shoot. I really like both rounds.

9mm can be had for near $.09/shot

.40 for $.13/shot

Advice: try out ever pistol you can before you lay down cash.

 

[10-Ring]

All the cartridges you've mentioned are very good & will serve its user well. In your case tho, I'd recommend a 9mm simply because feeding it is the least expensive of the bunch...in contrast, feeding a 10mm is very expensive.

 

[capt_happypants]

The problem with the 10mm cartridge is that there are only two platforms available to shoot it - Glock and 1911-type semiautos.

Glock offers the full-size Model 20 and the compact Model 29, and Dan Wesson and Kimber both offer 10mm versions of the venerable 1911A1. Other than that, you can't choose between a Ruger, Sig, HK or Beretta.

As for the limited stopping power of 9mm, it's overstated, IMO. Most of the newer defensive loads (Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P and Winchester Ranger 127 gr +P+) have good penetration and expansion.

 

[Majic]

Eaa has the Witness in 10mm.

 

[E=MC^2]

I had a little extra Christmas cash laying around and picked up a Glock 19(9mm) on Friday after finding 5 pre-ban magazines in one of my junk drawers. Right from the start it flawlesly digested 500 rounds without a single malfuntion. I shot much more accurately than I did when I was issued the G19's back in '97, but I've became a much better shooter since then.

Right now this new G19 is riding in a holster on my side where a Colt 1911 was prior. Not that a large number of rounds would be required for most defensive shooting situations but at full capacity it's holding 16 nasty, little hollow-point rounds.

In terms of size, cost, capacity, accuracy, and reliability I think the Glocks are one of the most efficient designs out there. I could of had a standard G19 for $490 but spent an extra $40 for the night-sight version. Sportmans Wharehouse was having a sale on these.

As many have suggested the 9mm will probably be more suitable for target/plinking needs. Of course, Ted Nugent would tell you the 10mm is best for everything. He really promotes the Glock 10mm on his shows and his book. This is probably what I'll purchase next.

FWIW-My 3 1911's are also very accurate and reliable. They are also much heavier while holding half as many rounds.

 

[garrettwc]

There are also a lot of good deals around on the 10MM S&W pistols used.

I will jump on the 9mm bandwagon as well because it is the most suited for your situation.

I love the 10mm, but as mentioned a millimeter in diameter and some more in length make a big difference. I had the opportunity this summer to shoot a Glock 19 (9mm) and a Glock 20 (10mm) side by side. I remember thinking how huge the 10mm cartridge seemed next to the 9.

 

[Bren]

I love 10mms but would suggest a 9mm in a Glock format. Bren

 

[Stinkyshoe]

Thank you all for the replies. I appreciate your thoughts and opinions. I got used to seeing the 45 acp round because a buddy has a 45. Then when I saw a 9mm round one day, I thought for sure it was a 380. This doesn't really mean anything I guess, but the 9mm seems so small(but I don't want to get shot with it).

In Teds book he talks about the accident he had with a 1911 and how it puffed his handerchef into shreds. I think that I would be some what nervous about carrying cocked and locked(remind myself of the 4 rules applying here). I like the visual benefit of a external hammer, so maybe the Ruger or Walther 9mm would be worth a look. I really am interested in getting only one and then shooting it a lot. How do Rugers and Walthers and Glocks compare in wearing after 1000rds? 10000rds?


The 10mm sounds like it packs a wallop. If it truly has 41mag type ballistics, that would be quite the gun for boar and deer. Could anyone rate it in terms of recoil? Is it as bad as a blow back(like a mak 380 for example). It seems nice to have the ammo capacity of 15 rounds if you can find a high cap, but to me it might be hard to shoot in a controlled and rapid manner if it launches my arm in the air. If I couldn't control it then 5 rounds cap or 15 rounds cap would make little difference.

How hard is reloading 10mm compared to 308win. Is there any difference?
What about the accuracy of Glocks? Has anyone locked one in a ransom rest? What about off hand using the given sight radius? I know this might sound crazy but I would be maybe dissatified if it couldn't group better than an 1.5" at 25 yards. Will Glocks do this? Will Walthers? Will Rugers? That is the part of me that "romanticizes" having a gun better than me. I realize a gun could probably pattern 5" at 25 yards and still be good for sd, but like I said I am at this point not familiar enough with handguns or confident enough to entertain ccw permit(it scares me kinda,would I have the permit because I am a chicken,because I feel inadaquate, would I be able to make the right choice,what if some disarmed me and hurt someone else?????), but I really value being able to be as accurate as possible(like everybody at the THR!!)
Sorry to ramble, thanks for all the help! Please keep your comments coming!
Ss

 

[Stinkyshoe]

Oh I forgot to ask...I did once get to pick up a 1911 and my hand hung off the bottom 3/4". Is this common? Is this how glocks are too?
Thanks
Ss

 

[Bren]

That 1911 must have been a compact (shorter grip). 1911's are my favorite guns and in 10mm my favorite platform. It seems Glocks have more AD's than 1911's but safety is between the ears, not the gun.

The 1911 will be more accurate than a Glock .

The 9mm may look small but is very efficient and has more power than the much longer 38. It is also cheap to shoot!

To me, 10mm's don't have much recoil unless they are loaded real hot (the way they should be) Factory ammo in 10mm isn't much to right home about, even Cor-bon is mild to shoot in a full size gun. No 10mm's aren't just for hunting.

I strongly suggest you get a 9mm and get some range time in before playing around with 1911's and 10mm's.

Yes, Rugers and Wathers worth looking into and so is a CZ-75, infact think about $350 and get a quality 9mm that feels good to you. Try a Ruger and CZ. Bren

 

[caz223]

Everybody needs at least one 9mm wonderpistole.
Cheap to shoot, hi capacity, easy to learn, cheap ammo, etc.
Wish I had started with a 9mm, would have been a better shot sooner.
I own a G20, a razorback, and a smith 610, and would recommend the 10mm caliber in general, and the G20 specifically.
Whenever I'm having a bad day, I enjoy making the steel plate dance at the local range....
The 10mm knocks those steel plates DOWN.

 

[9x19]

I like the 9mm best, in both Glocks and 1911s...

Here's a pretty good article on the 9mm:

www.sportshooter.com/gear/tlg_9mmadvocacy.htm

I have pistols in the following chamberings, and rank them as listed:

1) 9x19mm
2) .38 Super
3) .45 ACP
4) 10mm Auto
5) .40 S&W

 

[Sean Smith]

For your stated purposes, 9mm would probably be the best choice.

FYI, here are the comparative ballistics data you were looking for:

http://www.geocities.com/mr_motorhead/10tech.html#ballistics

Only thing I'd point out is that the cost of 10mm practice ammo is overstated; you can find it for the same or lower prices than .45 ACP if you shop around. I recently got Federal AE for $10/50 delivered, and Georgia Arms always has 10mm ammo for low prices.

http://www.georgia-arms.com/pistol.htm#ee

Of course, reloading can bring down your cost-per-round, just like with any other cartridge. But just because the morons at the corner store charge $15+/50 for 10mm doesn't mean you have to get hosed... unless you are scared of that modern innovation known as mail.

 

[W Turner]

Like many people here have already stated, I think that 9mm is probably your best bet. It is cheap to shoot, and is effective in the right loadings.

Don't let the "enormous" recoil of the 10mm scare you off though. The recoil is not any worse than that of a .45acp, it's just different. The .45 is more of a slow push back into your hand, whereas the 10mm is more of a quick pop.
The best way I know to compare the recoil of the two is to imagine the .45 as someone putting thier hand against the muzzle of your pistol and shoving backward; the 10mm is more like someone using the same amount of force and popping the end of the muzzle from about 3" away.
Ammo cost is no contest, 100 rds. for ~$11 at Wal-Mart trumps $10 per fifty from Georgia Arms anyday, but the cost for 10mm is not prohibitive.


Mino

 

[Mike Irwin]

Happy Pants,

EAA has the Witness, and Smith & Wesson has recently chambered 10mm revolvers.

 

[Majic]

Recoil will be heavier than any blow back .380acp pistol, but the 10mm will be a bigger and heavier handgun which will soak up alot of it.
Handloading is pretty easy as with any other straight wall case. Plenty of data is around for mild reduced loads for plinking up to the full house power packing loads that makes it truly shine.
Accuracy is very good, better than alot of cartridges I think, but your goals depends on you. Since you seem like a new handgun shooter they may be a little optimistic on your part. Shooting handguns are decidedly different than shooting rifles.
The 10mm is not a cartridge to learn handgun shooting with. It is better to learn on a weaker cartridge then move up to it after you have developed and mastered the basics. That is where the 9mm shines oer the 10mm. If you really haven't shot handguns except to fire a few shots from one evey now and then I suggest you start from the beginning with a good .22lr. to master the mechanics.

Everybody needs at least one 9mm wonderpistole.

Well someone can have the one allocated for me as I personally have no need or want of one.