10mm vs 44 Magazine: Battle of the Hand Cannons
October 15, 2024 |
Deciding on the caliber of your self-defense or hid carry handgun could be a difficult job for those who haven’t executed your analysis. Though there are a lot of choices in the marketplace like 10mm Auto and 357 SIG, the three hottest pistol calibers are 9mm Luger, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP.
Let’s get began!
10mm vs. 44 Magazine Comparability
The 10mm Auto was designed for semi-automatic pistols, whereas the 44 Remington Magnum was meant for revolvers and lever-action carbines (the Magnum Analysis .44 Magazine Desert Eagle being an exception). Whereas many basic variations between the cartridges do exist, in addition they share many similarities.
We’ll start by discussing every cartridge’s technical specs. We’ll comply with with a dialogue on how these specs have an effect on real-world efficiency in areas similar to recoil, stopping energy, and total price.
Cartridge Specs
It’s straightforward to inform these two cartridges aside at first look. The 44 Rem Magazine is longer (1.61” vs. 1.25”) and has a bigger base diameter (0.457” vs. 0.425”) than the 10mm Auto.
The bottom of the 44 Magazine case additionally has a rim (which it wants with the intention to chamber in a revolver cylinder), whereas the 10mm is rimless. The 10mm case as a substitute has an extractor groove, which facilitates operation in a semi-automatic platform.
Although there’s some overlap, the 44 Magazine usually fires bigger, wider, heavier bullets than the 10mm. 44 Magazine bullet weights usually vary from 180 to 240 grain however can go as a lot as 305 grains, whereas 10mm bullets often vary from 130 to 200 grain.
One may assume that the longer case (1.285” for the 44 Magazine vs. 0.992” for the 10mm) and better case capability (37.9 grains H2O for the 44 Magazine vs. 24.1 grains H2O for the 10mm) of the 44 Remington Magnum would translate into larger most stress. However that’s truly not the case. The 10mm has the next SAAMI-approved max stress of 37,500 psi, whereas the 44 Magazine has a barely decrease max stress of 36,000 psi.
Let’s transfer on to see how the cartridge specs have an effect on the recoil of every cartridge.
Recoil
Recoil is a vital consideration when buying a brand new handgun. A spherical with heavy recoil (aka “muzzle flip” or “kick”) will probably be tougher to regulate and successfully decelerate the speed of the shooters’ follow-up photographs.
Recoil is the product of propellant weight, muzzle velocity (fps), bullet weight, and firearm weight. The sooner a bullet exits the barrel, the tougher it kicks again on the shooter. (That’s simply physics, people.) A heavier bullet additionally requires extra vitality to push it out of the barrel on the identical muzzle velocity as a lighter bullet, which is returned to the shooter’s wrists.
Though the 44 Magnum and 10mm pack a punch with excessive kinetic vitality, there’s a worth to be paid for all that energy. That worth is paid in recoil, which is why some shooters name these cartridges “hand cannons.”
44 Magazine firearms, such because the single-action Ruger Blackhawk and semi-auto Desert Eagle, are comparatively heavy. That additional weight absorbs some recoil vitality. Many ammunition makers additionally deliberately load their 44 Magnum cartridges mild to assist scale back recoil.
As a result of full-power 44 Magazine rounds are sometimes pointless for self-defense (excluding protection towards bears), the extra muzzle velocity is broadly thought-about not well worth the drastic improve in recoil.
The 10mm is usually chambered in polymer-framed pistols, which weigh much less and thus soak up much less felt recoil. Nonetheless, the 10mm Bren Ten weighs nearly twice as a lot because the 44 Magazine CA Bulldog, so there’s a variety of firearm weights chambered in 10mm.
Felt recoil is subjective and varies from shooter to shooter, so we’ll use free recoil to find out which cartridge objectively has much less recoil.
A 10mm firing a 180 grain bullet usually has about 11.4 ft-lbs (foot-pounds) of vitality. Whereas this doesn’t appear to be a lot, it interprets into a quick pistol-firing expertise.
A 44 Magazine firing a 240 grain bullet could have about 10 ft-lbs of vitality. Barely much less, and most shooters will battle to inform a distinction. Nonetheless, if we step as much as a 44 Magazine Buffalo Bore 305 grain lead flat-nose onerous forged bullet, the recoil leaps to 30 ft-lbs, on the extent of many rifle cartridges.
This part is a tie. Usually, the 44 Magnum could have barely much less recoil, particularly when firing equally heavy projectiles from related firearms. Nonetheless, the distinction is barely noticeable, and the 44 Magazine can leap to far more recoil when firing heavier projectiles at larger velocities.
Accuracy
Store 10mm Ammo
The accuracy of a spherical is affected by many elements, together with the shooter, bullet, firearm, and environmental situations. The trajectory and recoil additionally play a task, because it’s a lot simpler to be correct with a spherical with low recoil and a flat trajectory.
Assuming that we’re firing a handgun (lengthy weapons are usually extra correct, and so they’re simpler to regulate), it’ll boil down to private desire, ammo choice, and the firearm as to which cartridge you’re extra correct with.
The slight distinction in recoil shouldn’t trigger a shooter to flinch extra with one than the opposite until you’re firing light-weight 10mm bullets and heavy 44 Magazine bullets. I used to be shocked by how correct I might be with my .44 Magazine DE and I’ve heard that the 10mm is fairly snappy, making it difficult to be correct.
This part can also be a tie as a result of it finally boils down to private desire.
Stopping Energy
Stopping energy is a ubiquitous time period thrown round campfires, gun boards, and gun retailer counters. It’s totally unquantifiable, making it a time period missing worth, nevertheless it sounds important. The essential factor to recollect is that shot placement is extra vital than “stopping energy.”
A well-placed shot with a small cartridge just like the .22 LR will all the time be simpler at stopping a risk than a poorly positioned shot with a bigger cartridge just like the .45 Lengthy Colt.
That stated, we will argue about bullet gap measurement, penetration, and vitality switch capabilities till we’re blue within the face.
The 44 Magazine fires a bigger projectile, which maintains the next vitality downrange. You even have the choice for onerous forged bullets, that are recognized for his or her penetration skills (and just about completely used for searching and protection towards harmful recreation).
The 10mm fires a narrower (and often lighter) projectile and maintains much less vitality downrange. Nonetheless, onerous forged bullets are additionally out there in 10mm, so you’ll be able to nonetheless get loads of penetration from it.
Each cartridges have greater than sufficient stopping energy, which is why they’re each used for bear protection. Nonetheless, I might argue that the 44 Magazine has a bit extra stopping energy as a result of it creates a bigger gap and is extra more likely to penetrate deeper.
The 44 Magazine wins this part.
Looking
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The 44 Magnum is a wonderful massive recreation searching cartridge, and has remained well-liked for that software for many years. The Smith & Wesson Mannequin 29 and Ruger Redhawk have longer barrel lengths, making for extremely correct revolvers. The Marlin Mannequin 1894 lever motion rifle is one other favourite deer searching rifle, particularly in states that prohibit bottle-necked cartridges for deer searching.
The 10mm can ethically harvest deer, however its main “searching” use is bear protection. It simply doesn’t preserve very a lot vitality downrange, making its efficient vary for big recreation pretty restricted.
The 44 Magazine wins this part as a result of it’s significantly better fitted to searching massive recreation animals.
Self-Protection
Many traits make up a high quality self-defense cartridge. Excessive journal capability, accuracy, fast reload time, and decrease chance of overpenetration are a couple of that I all the time take into account.
We all know that neither of those rounds lacks stopping energy, and so they’re comparably correct within the palms of a reliable shooter.
The 10mm was initially meant to exchange the 9mm and 45 ACP for navy operators and regulation enforcement officers. Self-defense lovers have additionally realized the ten mm’s advantages, nevertheless it didn’t outperform the 9mm or 45 ACP sufficient to make them out of date.
The 44 Rem Magazine is a poor alternative for self-defense as a result of it’s overpowered for human-sized targets, and may simply endanger harmless bystanders. Reloading 44 Magazine revolvers is way slower than slapping in one other journal, and 44 Magazine semi-auto pistols are heavy, cumbersome, and have a lot decrease journal capacities than the 10mm.
The 10mm is the clear winner for self-defense.
10mm vs. .44 Magnum for Bear Protection
For these braving grizzly and black bear nation, the 10mm and 44 Magazine are two of the highest cartridges really useful by Alaskan natives. Ask anybody from Alaska: Bear spray is sweet, nevertheless it doesn’t all the time work – and when it doesn’t work, you higher hope you’ve gotten one thing else that does.
Every cartridge has a big benefit over the opposite.
When chambered in a pistol just like the Glock 20, the ten mm Auto has a drastic benefit concerning journal capability. A typical 44 Magazine wheel gun has a 5- or 6-round capability, whereas the Glock 20 magazine capability is 15. I’ve by no means encountered a bear within the wild. But when I crossed paths with one, I significantly doubt I’d go away the state of affairs wishing I had much less ammo.
The 44 Magazine has the next muzzle vitality, so extra stopping energy is transferred to the bear. However for the terminal ballistics to cease an attacking bear in its tracks, it’s important to hit it within the vitals – and also you doubtless solely have six makes an attempt to hit it with a 44 Magazine.
The 10mm has a greater benefit as a bear protection spherical as a result of it nonetheless has loads of stopping energy (particularly when mixed with onerous forged bullets), and over double the journal capability.
The 10mm Auto wins this part.
Firearm & Ammo Price
We’re all restricted to what we will afford. Whereas neither spherical is straightforward on the pockets, the 10mm is far more price range pleasant.
Most 10mm Auto pistols, just like the Glock 20, price below $1,000. FMJ ammo prices about 20 cents much less per spherical, and JHP ammo can price 40 cents much less per spherical.
44 Magazine revolvers just like the Taurus 44 Tracker are sometimes discovered at round $650, however many high-quality revolvers price over $1,000. The Magnum Analysis Desert Eagle prices far more, however man is it enjoyable to shoot till your spouse finds the ammo invoice. Talking of 44 Magazine ammo, Hornady Customized 200 grain XTP is about 35 cents extra per spherical than 10mm Hornady Customized 180 grain XTP.
In the event you’re on the lookout for the budget-friendlier choice, then the 10mm Auto is what it’s best to get … however neither is reasonable.
Proceed studying extra about 10mm vs 44 Magazine: Battle of the Hand Cannons.
