Wow. This is a topic that has interested pistoleros for a long time. The semi-auto 10mm versus the original revolver magnum cartridge. Each has its adherent, each has its pluses. Let’s take a look at them and see if we can resolve this question.
Before we get into it, we’ll take a quick peek at each cartridge’s backstory after a couple of illustrations so we’ll have a better idea of what they were designed to do.
First, the 10mm
Here’s a sampling of 10mm ballistics from ballistics101. It covers Hornady, Lehigh, and PMC.
In the late 1970s, revolvers were the king of the law enforcement sidearm world. The .38 Special and .357 Magnum reigned supreme. But, they were not perfect. Reloading was slow, and capacity was limited. The semi-autos at the time were flawed, as well. They shot cartridges that were easy on the guns and on the shooters. The .45 ACP was king of the semi-auto hill in terms of power, in those days.
Something needed to be done. On December 13, 1979, Thomas Dornaus and Michael Dixon started development of a more powerful semi-auto cartridge, something that would eclipse the .45 ACP and the .357 Magnum in terms of energy.
The next year, their quest led them to Jeff Cooper. (Side note: if you aren’t familiar with Col. Cooper, you need to look him up. He is the father of modern pistolcraft and was a truly interesting personality. He founded the American Pistol Institute - API - which later became Gunsite Academy. Look him up - it’s an interesting read.)
Cooper had been working along the same lines in terms of a better semi-auto cartridge that would better the old .45 in terms of velocity and energy. His target cartridge’s goal was that a .40-caliber bullet fired out of a 5” barrel must retain a velocity of 1000 fps at all ranges out to 50 meters. So, D & D got together and formed the company Dorhaus and Dixon. They set up a factory in Huntington Beach, California, and proceeded to manufacture guns. They took Cooper’s concept even further – he had wanted his cartridge to be called a “.40 Super”, but when they were finished with development, it had become what we know of as the 10mm Auto. They made cases from .30 Remington brass and began taking gun orders in 1982. The resultant gun, known as the “Bren Ten”, was made from 1983 to 1986 and was based on (although not a clone of) the Czech CZ-75. That’s where the “Bren” part of the name comes from - CZ’s plant in Brno, Czech Republic.
The company faced production and quality control issues and went bankrupt in 1986, but the 10mm lived on. Originally loaded only by Norma, the cartridge caught on, after a fashion, and was then chambered in Colt’s Delta Elite 1911.
A further impetus in spurring the development of a more powerful cartridge occurred in 1986, when the event that became known as the “1986 FBI Shootout” in Miami occurred. It had far-reaching consequences. The FBI adopted the 10mm Auto in 1989 as a result of that event. S&W provided the pistols. The 10mm reigned supreme for a few years, until a change was ordered. The .40 S&W was adopted by the FBI in 1997, with pistols being issued, after dropping the 10mm. It was hard on guns and shooters. They switched back to the 9mm in 2015.
The cartridge limped along for a few years, then companies such as Colt and Glock chambered it in pistols, and it took off. Today, it is known mostly as a hunting or dangerous-game protection round and is carried in bear country, among other places. It has accounted for its share of deer, hogs, and other game, as well. I own two guns in 10mm… a Hi-Point carbine that is really accurate, and a Springfield Armory XDM Elite pistol. That is my favorite 10mm pistol.
That, in a nutshell, is the history of the 10mm Auto. There is more info here, if you’re interested.
.357 Magnum
Here’s a representative sampling of .357 Magnum ballistics, from Federal and Fiocchi…
The year was 1935. America was in the grip of the Great Depression, and jobs and money were tight. This was the era of gangster bank robbers who made their escape in cars. Law enforcement personnel at the time were under-gunned, as many bad guys had Thompson sub-machine guns in .45 ACP, and rifles like the BAR, cut down. Police fired back with .38 Special revolvers, as the Colt semi-autos in the only caliber that could punch through car doors then, the .38 Super, were scarce.
Elmer Keith, known as the father of magnum cartridges (he was instrumental in the design of all three revolver magnums… the .357, the .41, and the .44), was a hunter and developer known to push cartridges and guns to their limits. He had been experimenting with heavy .38 Special loads. He got together with Phillip Sharp and Douglas Wesson of Smith and Wesson. Putting their heads together, they came up with a cartridge that went to 35,000 psi pressure - twice that of a normal .38 Special. They decided to introduce a revolver to chamber it, and Winchester produced the ammo. The case of the new cartridge was lengthened by .1” to preclude it from being chambered in a .38 revolver, which would be disastrous. They also gave it a new name, based on the bullet’s diameter… .357 Magnum.
The first revolver chambered in the new cartridge was a S&W “Registered Magnum”, a fancy thing with rich, dark bluing, cross-hatch etching on the top strap to cut glare, adjustable rear sight, and counter-bored chambers. It came in a presentation box and was not cheap. Its price was $60, which is over $1400 in today’s money. (If you were an LEO or a member of a group like the NRA, they cut you a deal.) This gun morphed into what became the Model 27, still available today for about $1200.
As we know, the .357 took off and never looked back. Police agencies loved it… its 125-grain JHP or JSP loads grew to be known man-stoppers over the years, and the thin car doors and windshields of that time (1935) were no match for it. It is a decent hunting round for deer-sized game at close-to-mid ranges (especially out of a carbine’s long tube), and is carried in small revolvers daily by folks who like its wallop. Even out of a short, 2- or 3-inch barrel, it still puts out more energy than a .38 Special +P. I have two short-barreled revolvers in the caliber and have no qualms about carrying them.
Specific Uses For Each
As I said, I own guns chambered for both of these excellent rounds. I also cast bullets for, and reload, both of them. Those are two of “mine” at the top. They are easy to reload, but that’s a different article. What do I use them for?
Common uses first… The 10mm and the .357 are great close-in or mid-range deer loads. They speak with authority, for handgun calibers. I’m partial to hard-cast SWC bullets pushed a bit in velocity. My experience with these types of bullets is that they do not rely on expansion but will go clear through a sideways or quartering deer. I’ve collected many this way. Either of these rounds should work well for that.
Another use is self-defense. Carry a revolver or pistol chambered in one or the other caliber, and you are good to go. Which one you choose has to do with your preference for revolvers or semi-autos… either one will do the job.
What about hiking through the wilds of Alaska? Bear country, par excellence. Folks in the know usually have a 10mm in a chest holster, although I have heard from folks who carry a revolver magnum, be it .357 or .44.
Since the two are so close in stopping power, you would be good either way, although the 10mm’s larger bullet and greater capacity sways some people to choose it. (My XDS Elite holds 16, 10 more than most .357 revolvers hold.). Remember that each has its advantages… the 10mm uses heavier bullets, while the .357 achieves higher velocities – especially in shorter barrels.
So, What Do I Choose?
I think the numbers for each are fairly similar in terms of energy, and that’s the measurement that counts. This is not one of those times when it’s SO obvious that one is ahead of the other… things are pretty equal. There are a couple of thoughts, though.
If you are a reloader, you can customize your loads for the task at hand. But, if you’re not one, you are left with factory ammo only… not a bad thing, anymore. You have to accept the limitations of each platform, the semi-auto vs. the revolver. The wheelgun is more versatile in accepting a wide range of bullet weights and styles, since there is no feeding issues as with a semi-auto… full, flush-seated wadcutter bullets at 1200 fps would work in a wheelgun, but probably not in a semi.
But, you have the capacity issue. At best, with a 357 Mag, you’ll have 8 onboard, with 6 far more likely. I mentioned above my XDM holds 16 and it came with two magazines. That’s the best part of a 50-round box you can have on your person. That should do ya. If fast, follow-up shots are needed, the semi will win that – especially if you have to reload. Reloading just takes longer with a wheelgun - it’s endemic to the breed.
So… if you are OK with 6 or 8 shots and a long-ish reload time, go with the revolver. There are .357s in barrel sizes ranging from 2 inches up, so gun customization is doable in terms of barrel length. With the 10mm, you will have fewer choices, with 4- to 5-inch barrels common.
If you want fast follow-up shots and quick reloads, the semi-auto is indicated. The guns are flatter and usually a bit lighter, so a chest holster is practical.
But, remember that you can get 10mm in revolvers, too, so that muddies the waters a bit. Also, you won’t have to chase your empties and my XDS puts ‘em in the next zip code.
This is truly an “up-to-you” moment. Both of these are rock-solid cartridges with thousands of adherents – you can’t go wrong with either. Here’s a good place to start, in your search for a 10mm. Three-fifty-sevens are common, in every gun shop (brick and online), so your search for one of those should be easy.
Let’s hear from you as to which one of these you like, and why. As for me, I own ‘em both and like shooting and loading/casting for both!
