10mm vs. 40 S&W: Which Cartridge Is Higher?
September 6, 2024 |
Once we evaluate the 2 cartridges on paper, the 10mm ought to blow the 40 S&W out of the water. Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper designed the 10mm to exhibit higher exterior ballistics than the 45 ACP, and the 40 Smith & Wesson was deliberately designed by weakening the 10mm.
However there could be higher selections than the 10mm for you for varied causes. We’ll evaluate these two cartridges primarily based on their recoil, trajectory, accuracy, stopping energy, effectiveness in self-defense, value and availability, and reloading potential.
Proceed studying to find if the 10mm Auto is supreme – or should you ought to use a 40 Smith & Wesson as an alternative!
10mm vs. 40
The 10mm was created to exhibit higher terminal ballistics (i.e. penetration and enlargement) than the 9mm Luger, in addition to higher exterior ballistics (i.e. efficient vary and muzzle velocity) than the 45 Automated Colt Pistol.
The 40 S&W is a lowered energy load primarily based on the 10mm. It was developed in 1990 by Smith & Wesson and Winchester as a rimless, centerfire handgun cartridge to satisfy the FBI’s necessities for an efficient protection spherical.
How do these two cartridges evaluate? Let’s start with their specs.
Cartridge Specs
Because the 40 S&W was developed from the 10mm Auto, we should always count on many similarities and some vital variations when it comes to the cartridges’ specs.
These two rounds’ bullet diameter, neck diameter, and base diameter are nearly an identical to the bare eye (the 40 S&W base diameter is 0.001” narrower than the 10mm, and the neck diameter of the 40 is 0.009” narrower than the 10mm).
The .40 cal’s shorter case additionally means it’s barely shorter total and has a decrease case capability than the 10mm, resulting in a decrease most strain.
Whereas these two rounds are visually distinct, they are often simply confused on the vary. For those who’re firing each cartridges throughout the identical vary day, hold them separate to forestall a disaster.
Let’s see how the visible variations equate to real-world efficiency.
Recoil
Bullet weight, firearm weight, muzzle velocity, and propellant weight decide how a lot recoil a cartridge generates. There may be by no means an apples-to-apples comparability between any cartridge or caliber. That stated, we are able to present a normal concept of how a lot felt recoil to count on whereas firing these rounds.
The typical 10mm Auto 180 grain load has round 11.5 ft-lbs (foot-lbs) of recoil. To rifle shooters, this doesn’t sound like a lot, however that’s 50% extra recoil than the 45 Auto( one other comparable handgun cartridge).
The typical 40 S&W 180 grain load has a bit over 5.1 ft-lbs of recoil. In different phrases, the .40 S&W usually has lower than half of the quantity of recoil of the 10mm.
Store 10mm Ammo
Whereas some shooters do think about it a bit snappy, recoil-sensitive people ought to go along with the 40 S&W over the 10mm.
The .40 Smith & Wesson takes an early lead as a result of it has much less recoil than the 10mm Auto, permitting for extra correct follow-up photographs as it would have much less muzzle flip, making it a lot simpler to stay on track or shortly get again on track.
Trajectory
Since most self-defense conditions occur inside 25 yards, the trajectory doesn’t matter all that a lot, as each calibers will stay comparatively flat taking pictures at that distance.
Nonetheless, the 10mm is usually used for handgun searching. On this occasion, you’ll seemingly want to fireside over distances larger than 25 yards, which necessitates cautious consideration of bullet drop.
The 10mm has the benefit, because it has a flatter trajectory than the 40 S&W, just because it’s extra highly effective.
Store 40 Cal Ammo
Accuracy
Figuring out the accuracy of a spherical is hard as a result of so many elements have to be thought-about. The shooter’s capabilities, bullet kind, firearm, and taking pictures circumstances all play a major position in figuring out the spherical’s accuracy.
To maintain all the things as equal as potential, recoil and trajectory are additionally elements within the equation and are the first concerns for this text. It’s a lot simpler to be correct with a low-recoil, flat-shooting spherical than a heavy-recoil, arching spherical.
This part is a draw because the 40 S&W has decrease recoil, and the 10mm has a flatter trajectory. Recoil-sensitive shooters usually discover the 40 Smith and Wesson extra correct, whereas long-range (i.e. something over 25 yards) shooters usually discover the 10mm extra correct.
Stopping Energy
The 10mm is extra highly effective than the 40 S&W. Within the easiest potential phrases, it, due to this fact, has extra stopping energy. Nonetheless, each cartridges can neutralize a menace shortly, particularly with correct shot placement, which is all the time extra necessary than the stopping energy of a spherical.
Bullet design and propellant load are different concerns for stopping energy. Jacketed hole level (JHP) bullets could have larger stopping energy than full steel jacket (FMJ) bullets as a result of JHPs broaden upon influence, creating a bigger wound channel whereas penetrating deep sufficient to succeed in important organs.
The 10mm simply wins this part as a result of the 40 S&W was deliberately designed to be much less highly effective.
Self-Protection
The 40 S&W and 10mm Auto are each succesful self-defense rounds. Full-size semi-auto pistols (just like the Glock 20 10mm Auto pistol and the Glock 22 40 S&W pistol), usually used for hid carry, come commonplace with 10-15 spherical magazines whereas remaining moderately compact.
When you should concern your self with over-penetration when utilizing both cartridge in a house protection scenario, the 10mm will show barely extra more likely to over-penetrate just because it’s extra highly effective than a 40 S&W spherical.
Two different concerns for self-defense are ammo availability and value, as you need to often prepare along with your CCW to make sure your abilities stay sharp. We’ll focus on these subsequent (spoiler: the 40 S&W is usually cheaper and extra available).
I’ll give the 40 S&W the slight edge as a result of it has a decrease recoil, making follow-up photographs quicker, extra correct, and cheaper to fireside. The 40 Smith and Wesson regains the lead.
Ammo & Firearm Price/Availability
Usually, bigger cartridges will value extra, which holds true for the 10mm and 40 S&W. The fee per spherical of 10mm Auto ammo is usually larger than 40 S&W of the identical model and bullet kind.
The identical is true for the price of the firearms. A Glock 22, chambered in 40 S&W, is barely cheaper than a Glock 20, chambered in 10mm.
It’s additionally usually a lot simpler to search out 40 S&W firearms and ammo, whereas 10mm is much less plentiful however not particularly exhausting to search out (we feature a big assortment of 10mm rounds at Ammo.com).
Whether or not you’re seeking to fill up on a bunch of ammo and weapons or simply searching for the most cost effective choice, the 40 S&W wins this part.
Reloading
Each cartridges could be reloaded. Ample supplies and data can be found to craft handloads for the 10mm and 40 S&W alike. You possibly can reload the spent casings with both cartridge you determine to buy, so this part is a draw.
10mm Temporary Historical past
Jeff Cooper, Whit Collins and Irving Stone developed the ten mm Auto within the Eighties. Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises, Inc. and Norma manufactured the Bren Ten 10mm Auto (primarily based on the CZ-75). Nonetheless, the Bren Ten had a number of points (regardless of being successful with Don Johnson most popular in Miami Vice). Colt primarily saved the 10mm when it created the 1911 Delta Elite chambered in 10mm.
Even with the event of the Delta Elite, the 10mm wasn’t gaining recognition with legislation enforcement or civilians till a shootout in Miami between FBI brokers and financial institution robbers in 1986. After making the 10mm a standard-issued cartridge, the FBI quickly realized that the 10mm had an excessive amount of recoil for a lot of legislation enforcement officers, giving approach to the .40 S&W.
Immediately, the 10mm is primarily used for self-defense and handgun searching. It’s a lot much less common than the 357 Magnum, 45 ACP, and 9mm. It sits in a distinct segment phase, very similar to the 357 SIG. Springfield Armory, Glock, Ruger, and several other different producers manufacture 10mm pistols. Buffalo Bore, Hornady, Federal, Underwood, Winchester, and plenty of different respected ammo makers supply 10mm ammo.
🔥 Curious concerning the battle between 10mm vs 40 S&W? Which cartridge really reigns supreme?
Discover out right here: 10mm Vs 40 S&W: Which Cartridge Is Higher?💥
