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357 mag vs 10mm

5.7K views 56 replies 37 participants last post by  Daltond  
#1 ·
As a woods carry gun 357 mag or 10mm......or even 45acp....?
 
#3 ·
Any of those would work.
I had a gen one 10mm Glock 20 I bought for $300 new,back in 1992 ?(not sure the exact year)
Anyway,I loved it.Very accurate and hard hitting round.Traded it to a buddy for a “like new”1991 Beretta 92f desert storm.Got rid of that one years ago too!
Oh well!
 
#4 ·
I vote the 10MM, and here's why................

The 357 has a LOT of muzzle blast for spitting out a std wt. 158 Gr Bullet.........yeah, I know there are heavier bullets available, but it's still load............

The 45 ACP is not as loud to me, and can be loaded with 200 gr bullets that approach 1000 fps if the pistol is prepped for that performance.......I think that's a good woods defense or close in hunting load for Deer and Black Bear with the correct bullet..........

The 10MM can be loaded with 200 Gr bullets that will run safely at 1150/1200 FPS............Yeah, the 10MM is loud too, but its got more energy than the 357 or the 45 ACP.........

I wish I had data here to support what I say, but I've been carrying the 45ACP and/or the 10MM in the woods of VT for decades, and I've become accustom to their abilities in that environment..........

There is nothing wrong with the 357Mag, but I feel the 357 is just too loud for the performance it delivers out of a handgun as a hunting, or woods walking round............

Others will certainly feel differently, and that's fine..............I just gave you my opinion..........

I also like the 45 Colt with a 230 Gr or 250 Gr bullet at 900+ FPS..............

Good luck in your choice.

Tom
 
#5 · (Edited)
My woods gun is a Glock 20. 16 rounds of 180 XTP’s @ 1359fps is a powerful package.


Ive not tried the 200’s or 220’s even though I know they’d be effective.


I shoot a lot of 44 magnum but I don’t carry them much.


Nothing wrong ring with a 357, 44, 45, etc but for me, I like the portability and shoot ability of the Glock 20 or Glock 40.
 
#9 ·
it is according to what I may have to use it for. in my part of the world in SC any would do, 357, 10mm 45acp if I were in bear country bigger is better. for 2 legged vermin any of those will suffice,,,,,,,,,
 
#10 ·
I prefer a good 357 in my hands and if I were facing something down that is what I would want. When it comes to a gun I could keep on me all day and get through the rain and sweat a stainless 1911 or plastic glock is easier to carry without worry. I have owned 10mm guns and do not shoot them much because the brass is expensive and I got to keep an eye on it. A good 45 makes since especially if you do not reload. Put some 45 supers in there if you have big critters around.
 
#11 ·
Woods gun? To me is a good 22. That's not a gun to protect from bears and not a main gun to hunt big game. Saw same type post awhile back and guys were talking about 32s, 380s and 38 snubbies. Those aren't woods guns either, they are SD guns and about worthless for anything else.

Then we have trail guns. I guess it depends on what you think you are going to run into on your trail. Same as in the woods.
 
#12 ·
Woods gun? To me is a good 22. That's not a gun to protect from bears and not a main gun to hunt big game. Saw same type post awhile back and guys were talking about 32s, 380s and 38 snubbies. Those aren't woods guns either, they are SD guns and about worthless for anything else.

Then we have trail guns. I guess it depends on what you think you are going to run into on your trail. Same as in the woods.
I agree............I've used a 4" Colt MT Woodsman on countless Grouse, Squirrels and other small game, but the Original Poster was asking about the 357 vs the 10MM............

We all have perceptions and favorites..............But like you, I don't see 32's and 380's or snubbies as being worth the trouble of carrying them in the woods......for any reason.

Tom
 
#13 ·
10mm fan here. Got my first one in 1990/91 when S&W came out with the model 1006. I've had at least one ever since. Currently have 5. Love the. 357 and 45acp as well but it's hard to beat 16rds of full power 10mm on your hip for just about anything that may bite you. Carry a spare mag or two and your ready for a small war. Yes the G20 is a bit large for concealed carry but that's not a concern for a walkabout woods gun. I have the 10mm G29 for a smaller CCW if needed.
 
#14 ·
Concealed carry and usual hiking pistol is a Glock 29 10mm using 180 gr handloads at 1200 fps, alternated FMJ/hollow point (Speer gold dot). In testing was unable to verify the 200 gr FMJ bullet went deeper, probably because the additional velocity of the 180 gr FMJ bullet allowed equal penetration, where as the HP had some additional expansion over the 200gr HP. Anyway, also sometimes carry a 10 mm Ruger full size 1911, velocity upped to 1300 fps.

For years carried a Sig 226 45 ACP in that role, and never felt under gunned. Getting down to it, really do prefer the penetration of a hot 10mm 180 gr FMJ. Which could be useful on a bear shoulder or car door..

No issues with a 357, but have a preference for autos. My 357 days, did prefer to load a hot 125 gr soft point.
 
#15 ·
Nothing against the 10mm but I'll stick with a .357 for two simple reasons. First and most important to me is the ability to have shot loads come up #1 & #2 in the firing sequence for snakes. Second, in the event I need to ward off a two legged predator, the .357 has established a pretty good track record in that regard.
 
#16 ·
I used to always carry a 6 shot (stainless) 45 colt on my excursions in the woods. One day it dawned on my that I have a better option in the safe. A stainless 10mm that can carry 9 + 1, with a couple of 9 round magazines on the other side to balance things out some. The .357 was probably my very first woods gun (S&W 4" 66-1), but like Tom said, that sharp crack of a report when fired was no fun.

The S&W 1076 is my choice these days. Unless I break down some day and get a Glock 10mm. But they're so ............. well, I just think they're ugly. Sure, they won't rust, and they hold something like 15 rounds, ........... but somebody might see it, and ask "Say, didn't you used to carry one of those georgous Mountain Guns?" "And then that sexy 1076 Smith?" "What happened to you?" LOL!

Go with a 10mm, even if it's a Glock. :biggrin:
 
#19 · (Edited)
When I read .357 vs. 10mm it struck me first as a question of revolver vs auto. With few exceptions the .357 is a revolver cartridge and the 10mm an auto cartridge. And about those exceptions, you can get a revolver in 10mm but if you are going to carry something as big as a S&W N-frame into the woods wouldn't .44 Mag or .45 Colt be a better caliber choice? The same goes for a .357 auto. Why carry something as big as an automag that only shoots a .357 bullet? So, in this debate, one's preference for the revolver or the auto may be all you need to decide between .357 or 10mm. I've owned a couple of N-frames, even shot them in competition. But for portability, magazine capacity, and rapidity of aimed follow-on shots (firepower) I choose to carry an auto into the woods.

Let's consider a woods caliber. For the men in Ohio and Connecticut above their .22 rimfires may just be the thing. But for someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest a .22 doesn't cut it. Aside from any potential human threat, we have to deal with the possibility of running into wolves, cougar, black bear, and even a rare, but possible, grizzly. Both .357 and 10mm could handle those (big bear marginal) and I wouldn't want anything smaller. I once shot a deer twice with a .45 acp and it did die - eventually. I'd rather not have to wait for an angry cougar or bear to succumb. Therefore, I choose to give the nod to the bigger bullet of the 10mm.

My woods weapon is a Kimber Longslide in 10mm. I like flap holsters for brush and woods so I had a custom holster made in the style of the military M12. The military M12 was too short for my 6" 1911. My holster incorporates the same hardware as the M12. And, like the M12 version the flap on my holster can be removed and a thumb break strap installed in its place.

10mm Kimber 6" Stainless LS 1911 with custom M12 type holster:
 
#26 ·
When I read .357 vs. 10mm it struck me first as a question of revolver vs auto. With few exceptions the .357 is a revolver cartridge and the 10mm an auto cartridge. And about those exceptions, you can get a revolver in 10mm but if you are going to carry something as big as a S&W N-frame into the woods wouldn't .44 Mag or .45 Colt be a better caliber choice? The same goes for a .357 auto. Why carry something as big as an automag that only shoots a .357 bullet? So, in this debate, one's preference for the revolver or the auto may be all you need to decide between .357 or 10mm. I've owned a couple of N-frames, even shot them in competition. But for portability, magazine capacity, and rapidity of aimed follow-on shots (firepower) I choose to carry an auto into the woods.

Let's consider a woods caliber. For the men in Ohio and Connecticut above their .22 rimfires may just be the thing. But for someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest a .22 doesn't cut it. Aside from any potential human threat, we have to deal with the possibility of running into wolves, cougar, black bear, and even a rare, but possible, grizzly. Both .357 and 10mm could handle those (big bear marginal) and I wouldn't want anything smaller. I once shot a deer twice with a .45 acp and it did die - eventually. I'd rather not have to wait for an angry cougar or bear to succumb. Therefore, I choose to give the nod to the bigger bullet of the 10mm.

My woods weapon is a Kimber Longslide in 10mm. I like flap holsters for brush and woods so I had a custom holster made in the style of the military M12. The military M12 was too short for my 6" 1911. My holster incorporates the same hardware as the M12. And, like the M12 version the flap on my holster can be removed and a thumb break strap installed in its place.

10mm Kimber 6" Stainless LS 1911 with custom M12 type holster:
View attachment 761093
i agree long slide 10 mm nice choice
 
#21 · (Edited)
The .380 is a little small as a "backup" in the woods, for me......
I'd sooner have a little Sig P-938 9MM as a backup in a hiking situation, if I thought it was needed............It's in my back pocket most of the time, anyway...........
But then, I don't think "Back Up" when I'm in the woods...........I'm apt to carry the Delta Elite on my belt and the Woodsman MT in my pack for Grouse (and they're getting scarce!) or Squirrels as I've done in the distant past,...........But now, at 73................I don't have interest in Squirrels or Grouse, so I just have one pistol and some extra ammo/mags..........

Tom
 
#23 ·
since my job takes me into the woods a bit, I suppose you could call my favorite daily carry a "woods gun". I've always found it prudent to carry some type of side arm on many of the properties I survey ... mainly for snakes, but there is always the possibility of having to deal with a rabid critter. We used to even encounter the occasional looney hobo in the woods near the R/R on the outskirts of a nearby town .... and the dope grower's MJ patch in the clearing in the middle of forest land. Down here in NE Texas we aren't apt to deal with bear, moose, wolf, etc., so prepping for that possibility isn't really necessary. Other than two legged scum, the only additional normal threat is the feral hogs, and actually having an encounter with them is sort of a remote possibility. That narrows it down mainly to snakes, rabid critters, or someone's loose idiot pit bull type mongrel. So, I've always carried a wheel gun in the field to have the option of carrying 1 or 2 shotshells in the first two holes during our short 8-9 month snake season and the rest hardballs. I carried inexpensive, blued .38 spl j-frames for lots of years but got downright tired of having to detail clean them 2-3 times per week. Even though the .38 spl did what it needed to do, rain, sweat, mud and blood just aren't good on blued handguns. When I ran across a steal of a deal on a "like new" Ruger SP-101 (.357 stainless) about 10 years ago, it instantly became my #1 companion. Actually, buying that particular gun was what finally prompted me into re-loading a short time later. It's still about being able to load up those most possibly needed shot shells for the snakes and still having 3-4 better suited hardball rounds for the possibility of the bigger critters.

Now, IF I was in bear country, I'd be taking a serious look at the 10 mil (just not too serious - my digitally challenged hands just don't fit the handle of them big grip things)


jd
 
#24 ·
Carried a Charter Arms Bulldog in .357 for years because of the light weight. Kicked the biggest black bear I have ever seen out of his bed one time and at 30ft I felt completely under gunned. Fortunately the bear just sauntered off. These days I carry a hot loaded 1911 (45 super). If I ever get to wander big bear country a 450 bushmaster would let me feel a little more comfortable.
 
#28 · (Edited)
We own a timber tract in rural S.C. When I go down there to work, which is often, I am always carrying a side arm. I am a revolver guy to the bone but you hate getting a nice revolver with a leather holster soaked in sweat. So when it's really hot I find myself carrying a Glock in a kydex holster. I must say Glocks are amazingly rust resistant and reliable. In fact I may start looking for another police trade in Glock while the looking is good.

My favorite handgun cartridge is the .357 but it's easy to see why the 10MM is a popular choice. My preference for the .357 is based my love of revolvers, on not having to grovel around looking for my brass, easy of reloading and that I have two carbines in the caliber.
 
#30 ·
I am not sure if caliber is as much a problem for the woods gun as ease of carry, and you are comfortable shooting. I like to wonder around the farm with my Ruger SBH 7 inch barrel but if I am working I prefer my xd-45, it can take abuse. I have gotten pretty good shot at 30 yds can get a pie plate group but better with the SBH.

I have never messed with a 10 mm or a 41 but many folks like them.