The not popular 10mm

[Rainsdrops]

I would like to hear the the opinion from other gun fanatics, why the 10mm isn't popular.
A typical doubletap round has more energy / velocity at 50 yards, than most autoloader produce at the barrel.
The round also fit in the same platforms as 45acp
It shoots flatter and creates large permanent/temporary wound channels.
Most 10mm arms can be converted to 9mm/357sig/40sw with just a barrel change allowing gun mastery.

Here is the statistics of one of doubletap rounds

Caliber : 10mm

Bullet : 200gr Nosler JHP

Ballistics : 1250fps / 694ft lbs. muzzle - 5"bbl
1083fps / 521 ft lbs 100yds 5"bbl
Glock 29 - 1195fps Muzzle

 

[JBP55]

Compared to a 9mm the 10mm holds fewer rounds, costs more to shoot, slower back on target, weights more, ammunition is hard to find, excessive recoil to name a few.
A 10mm may be a good choice if you plan on using it to hunt things larger than humans.

 

[dsonyay]

But compared to the 45acp it holds more. Compared to a 40S&W it holds just as many.

The round count is not a valid reason. 9mm handguns holds more rounds than one chambered in 45, but that isn't hurting 45acp sales much.

I think its just that the round is relatively new as compared to 9 and 45., Is not used by Police Departments, is percieved to have too much recoil, too expensive, and not a big selection of handguns to choose from.

I recently became a 10mm shooter and wonder why it took so long. The 10mm is incredibly versitle. It makes an awesome hunting round. Heck, a Glock 20 loaded with 15+1 rounds of full charge 200 gr lead bullets is a legitimate bear defense load.

First and foremost the 10mm was designed as a self defense round against humans. Not hunting. Using lighter bullets pushed to over 1400fps the energy levels easily exceed 700ft-lbs- and penetration is not excessive. Heavier bullets (200 and 220 gr.) will run deeper.. But if it's a hollow point, it will expand very well without excessive penetration.

One thing I love about the 10 is when driven at the speeds it was meant for, hollow points stop at nearly noting when it comes to expanding.

Reloading is easy and economical. I can easily reload for under 10 bucks a box of 50- about the same as loading for 45.

Self defense. Watch the testing videos on YouTube.. It makes an awesome self defense round.

I know the FBI still uses 10mm in the H&K MP5,, and in Europe (Norway or Finland?) by some law enforcement to defend against polar bears.

I'm beginning to think the 10mm is actually getting more popular anyway. Thanks to Underwood, DoubleTap, Buffalo Bore, and others .. The 10mm is coming around again.

 

[Devilneck]

I have no idea why they aren't more popular. JBP55's reasons didn't preclude me from getting one. I've been shooting .44mag, .41mag, and .357mag for years so recoil was never a worry for me. Getting more rounds than a .45 and more power is nice. I used to see the ammo everywhere. Granted, I'm not shooting USPSA or speed drills with it.

The only thing I'm not liking is the radioactive fallout from the thermonuclear explosions caused when the bullets impact. I'm used to it now though, and my wife no longer has to shave my back.

 

[csbutton]

Probably because not that many people want the responsibility of owning a Weapon of Mass Destruction

 

[tmbold]

I've been saving my cabelas points, almost have enough for a gun. I'm thinking about getting a g20

 

[The_Shadow]

The 10mm has been very popular with me since it was first made and I started with my first, in March of 1990, with the S&W1006, I have collected several makes, models and shoot them often...I handloaded for mine since the very beginning. I have actually worked to educate people about these fine weapons, trying to preserve their history and actually documenting much of the ammo that has been loaded for the 10mm.

Therefore from the 10mm's inception December 15, 1979, Thomas Dornaus and Michael Dixon then seeking advice from Jeff Cooper January 15, 1980, Production of the Bren Ten ran from 1983 to 1986, with fewer than 1,500 total pistols in production.

Thomas F. Dornaus has passed away Tuesday the 11th 2014. I think he was 71.

In the words of Thomas' daughter...

Cristina McAllister
February 13
My father passed away the day before yesterday.
He was a brilliant engineer and mechanical designer, a tinkerer, a mad inventor. He could be stubborn, obsessive and fiercely independent, but he was never cruel or hostile. He was determined to protect my sister and I from the cruelty and ignorance of others, and tried hard to teach us to be good human beings.

But he was broken, in body and heart. He struggled with depression, compulsive eating and obesity, and all the painful repercussions of that, physically and emotionally. He struggled with a great sense of failure and self-loathing. It breaks my heart to know how much he suffered, because he was a clever, funny, loving man. I wish he could have loved himself as he loved us.

There are two things that he contributed to my formation that I consider his greatest gifts to me.
The first is a love of science and the wonder of the way the world works. He would pass on his issues of Scientific American and Discover magazines to me when he’d finished with them and we’d have long discussions about all kinds of things – new discoveries and how everything fits together.

The second was an agnostic point of view in counterpoint to my mother’s and grandmother’s Catholicism. He never advocated for one or the other, but urged me to explore and make up my own mind. This gave me the freedom and awareness to expand my exploration of religion beyond the tradition I was raised with, to discover that there are many ways of thinking and seeing and finding meaning in life.

Both of these things have become major facets of my personality, and I continue to explore the material world through science, and meaning through spirituality to this day, which immeasurably enriches my life and brings me much joy.

One thing that warms my heart is that he and Dore were kindred spirits – sharing a love of tools and building and fixing things, cars, motorcycles, etc. – all the boy stuff he could not share with 2 daughters with other interests. It was kind of scary sometimes how much they were alike (you know what they say about marrying your father!). But I know their relationship these last several years brightened Dad’s world, and knowing that I had found a wonderful man to love and take care of me set his mind at ease.
He was a problem solver by nature. When it came to analyzing a mechanical problem and finding a solution, he was inventive and methodical – always trying, testing, adjusting and improving until he accomplished his goal. He was particularly interested in things that helped people – especially things that assisted those with disabilities and physical limitations, which he had first-hand experience with. When his body failed him, he applied his wits, knowledge and resourcefulness to overcome. He was determined not to be a burden, to find ways to continue his work despite the many challenges he faced.

He lived with a lot of pain, but kept on truckin’. I’ll miss him dearly, but at least the pain is over now.
I love you, Dad. Thank you for everything you taught me, for your encouragement and your irreverent sense of humor. You will be missed.

With that said long live the 10mm for the ballistics it brings to bear, from any an all of the platforms made for it!

 

[BayouSlide]

Most people who don't own one (or two or three) have no idea why they might be popular and will offer plenty of specious reasons why they aren't. Those of us who appreciate the caliber (and hand loading is a given to appreciate the caliber and shoot it enough to enjoy it) really don't much give a hoot whether it is the tacticool flavor of the week and keep shooting 'em because, loaded mild or wild, they are a simply hoot to shoot .

 

[Jack]

Most people who don't own one (or two or three) have no idea why they might be popular and will offer plenty of specious reasons why they aren't. Those of us who appreciate the caliber (and hand loading is a given to appreciate the caliber and shoot it enough to enjoy it) really don't much give a hoot whether it is the tacticool flavor of the week and keep shooting 'em because, loaded mild or wild, they are a simply hoot to shoot .

But you just said it yourself, you need to hand load for it to appreciate it. People who don't hand load(the vast majority of gun owners), see the ammo as being too expensive, and/or are utilitarian shooters who prefer 9mms for the reasons JBP listed.

 

[dsonyay]

Its not that all of the ammo is expensive.. Its that there's not a lot of cheap plinking ammo. If you look at the Underwood website his prices for 10mm 50rd boxes are no more expensive that other calibers. And cheaper than others. All he sells is hunting and self defense stuff.

SGammo.com sells PRVI Partisan in 50rd boxes for pretty good prices that would qualify for plinking but not as inexpensive as 9mm range ammo.

Maybe a good reason is lack of cheap plinking ammo. That I would buy as a reason.

 

[dsonyay]

Cheapest is Armscor 180gr fmj at 20.50 a box. By buying it at 1000rd case price.

http://www.ammosupplywarehouse.com/product/140/Armscor-10-mm-FMJ-180-gr-FMJ-1000-rdcase.html

Basically about the price of 45acp by the case (not counting steel cased varieties).

You'll go broke buying at Academy for 10mm.

 

[BayouSlide]

But you just said it yourself, you need to hand load for it to appreciate it. People who don't hand load(the vast majority of gun owners), see the ammo as being too expensive, and/or are utilitarian shooters who prefer 9mms for the reasons JBP listed.

Some of us handload everything…it's just the way we roll. That said, I was practicing with my latest 10mm acquisition on Saturday and pulled a few boxes of Doubletap 180 gr Match and Gold Dot from the ammo cans of factory stuff and those rounds, especially the 180 gr match, were not only scary accurate but a pleasant handful to shoot. But frankly, I don't see how people that don't hand load ever get to shoot enough to put a big smile on their faces. Between practice and maybe a weekend competition, 500 rounds won't last very long in my gun bag . 10mm is an interesting round because it works from mild to wild and a number of places in between…it's VERY entertaining to hand load for, especially if you enjoy load development and experimentation.

 

[Jack]

Some of us handload everything…it's just the way we roll. That said, I was practicing with my latest 10mm acquisition on Saturday and pulled a few boxes of Doubletap 180 gr Match and Gold Dot from the ammo cans of factory stuff and those rounds, especially the 180 gr match, were not only scary accurate but a pleasant handful to shoot. But frankly, I don't see how people that don't hand load ever get to shoot enough to put a big smile on their faces. Between practice and maybe a weekend competition, 500 rounds won't last very long in my gun bag . 10mm is an interesting round because it works from mild to wild and a number of places in between…it's VERY entertaining to hand load for, especially if you enjoy load development and experimentation.

That's the thing though, I bet loading 10mm isn't too far of from the cost of buying freedom munition 9mm. As it relates to hand loading, I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the stuff I need together so I can put my dillon to work for the first time.

 

[Jmfox3]

I think it's really hard for a new gun caliber to enter the commercial market and take hold. Most calibers that get traction with the military or police get a place in the commercial market. Calibers that make it big in the movies also get a decent following; aka 44 Magnum..."well do ya punk?" Prior to the movie the 44 Magnum really had a narrow following and after the movie gun shops couldn't keep it on the shelves. The 35 Remington is still/was a far better round than the original 30-30 but I'm not sure guns are manufactured in that caliber any more. Rounds that I love that probably will never achieve a viable commercial following: 327 Federal Magnum; 6.8 SPC; 460 Rowland; 308 Hornady Leverevolution.

 

[jvr]

bren 10; wow! A gun Don Johnson made popular. I mean Sonny Crocket Also; glock's site states their 10mm is for hunting animals.

why are 41 mags popular?

 

[Jack]

I think it's really hard for a new gun caliber to enter the commercial market and take hold. Most calibers that get traction with the military or police get a place in the commercial market. Calibers that make it big in the movies also get a decent following; aka 44 Magnum..."well do ya punk?" Prior to the movie the 44 Magnum really had a narrow following and after the movie gun shops couldn't keep it on the shelves. The 35 Remington is still/was a far better round than the original 30-30 but I'm not sure guns are manufactured in that caliber any more. Rounds that I love that probably will never achieve a viable commercial following: 327 Federal Magnum; 6.8 SPC; 460 Rowland; 308 Hornady Leverevolution.

10mm had tons of traction with LE prior to the switch to 40

 

[dsonyay]

Even without switching barrels.. You can load 40s&w in the Glock 20 mag and they will chamber and shoot fine. I've been reading plenty on this. Why do it? Because in an emergency you can grab a box of 40 and it will work. The round is just a little shorter.

Also.. Its kinda like the 38spcl/357mag package.

People don't ask "why didn't you just buy a 38spcl if that's what you're gonna shoot?". One can shoot the SFC to SFC missle when they need to or drop to the 40short and weak if they want to shoot light.

I keep hoping the SEAL team decides to use a 10mm as a special weapon... That would end the low 10mm handgun sales. Haha!

 

[Rainsdrops]

And it's inherently accurate. if you zero an 180gr (1300fps)-at 50 yards, the round I typically hitting 6 inches low.
One could hit a 12 inch target from 15 to 100 yards with no sight / hold adjustment.

I can't buy ammo for it at Walmart. But academy has it, so does cabelas, bass pro and jims. With today's technology doubletap & underwood is a credit card and keystroke away.

I have a few 10mm's. The recoil / follow up shot isnt and issue until. I load 200 grainers

 

[323MAR]

My favorite range trip with my G2 Glock 20 involved destroying a milk jug from 50 yards.

 

[dsonyay]

I keep hoping Ruger makes a GP100 in 10mm.