Glock 20 10mm Auto ballistics test with Hornady ammunition.

[Hunter]

Here is my article on testing the 10mm Auto over a chronograph and into ballistic gel. I am pretty proud of this one.

http://www.gunclassifieds.com/blog/10mm-ballistic-gel-test-with-hornady-ammo/

[mkf350]

Nice job.
The 10mm is underrated.

[Rafe Covington]

Excellent article and test, enjoyed it. I shoot the 10 MM in a Glock 20 and a 14 in Tender barrel, both are accurate and fun to shoot.

Rafe

[gunfan]

I have 5 handguns in 10mm Auto, 4 autoloaders and one revolver. This article emphasizes the value of this "marginalized" cartridge. (Yes, it's that important!)

While the .45 ACP is fine, the 10mm makes the .45 ACP pale in significance. The newer cartridge can do anything the old .45 can and much, much more! Anyone that has fired the 10mm for any length of time understands the intrinsic value of then round.

Scott

[Hunter]

Thank you all very much for the feedback, I really appreciate that.
I agree, the 10mm Auto is underrated and does most everything great for a handgun round.

[Lloyd Smale]

well done on your article. Ive been a big 10mm fan for 25 years. Its one of those rounds that should be a heck of alot more popular then it is.

[44man]

You just have too much fun. Great article.
The 10 is just a small .41 mag package.

[khmer6]

Always loved the 10mm. Try some buffalo bore =) I could definitely tell the difference when I accidently shot a mag of self defense rounds and some factory 10mm rounds

[subsonic]

My main carry gun is a G20 I've had for over 20 years.

Not only a great SD pistol for 2 legged trouble, but also one of the better choices for 4 legged people eaters when loaded with the correct ammo.

[subsonic]

Might want to re-word this! :p

"I wanted to be as objectionable as possible on this test"

[subsonic]

I would like to see what happens when you crank those 3 XTPs up to the max velocities they can acheive. I am pretty sure you can gain 100fps on all of those loads while staying under max pressure;-)

800x and AA9.

[Adam10mm]

If you want to do that, I've got a few rounds of Double Tap 180gr XTP ammo that I can send you. This is from the older batches of DT that actually chronoed what they were advertised to do. The original DT 180gr XTP load was advertised at 1350fps from a Glock 20. I ran some ammo over a chrono at an indoor range and it went 1297fps average from a 4.25 inch commander 1911. 53fps slower in a little shorter barrel length is good enough for me. 180gr bullet flying 1300fps from a commander is nothing to laugh at.

[Hunter]

Might want to re-word this! :p

"I wanted to be as objectionable as possible on this test"


Good catch, thank you for that and it is corrected.

I appreciate all the kind words. I also believe the 10mm is way underrated and I am not sure why. I have seen more factory ammo in stock at the local gun stores but it is still expensive.
The Hornady rounds were pretty stout but I agree about pushing the 180gr a little faster and see what it does.
I added a factory Glock 6" barrel and got an average or 70 fps gain with the added 1.5" of bore.
I had looked into Buffalo Bore for some more testing. I was carrying the 200gr Hornady JHP until I saw how much it penetrated and switched to the 180gr. A better compromise I believe.

[gunfan]

That 180 grain from a 6" barrel makes the Buffalo Bore stand up and perform a tap dance. The 10mm is a stone killer and, is, of course, vastly underrated. The reason behind this is the "old wives tales" about how the FBI agents "had difficulty handling the pistols chambered for the 10mm Auto" (This was a gross exaggeration of the facts, because the full-power 10mm Auto loads recoil in the fashion of a .45 ACP+P.)

Another bullsauce tale of the 10mm being "too powerful for the 1911 pistol frame" originated from the "bridge" of metal of the slide stop hole of the Delta Elite. Once the offending metal was removed, the pistol functioned perfectly. No further metal fatigue was ever detected.

Need I continue?

Scott

[jmort]

"The 10mm is a stone killer and, is, of course, vastly underrated."

How so? It is slightly "less gun" than a .357 - it is a great all around cartridge that can do what a .357 can do. Who underrates it? Going with a .460 Rowland would get you in the .41 mag range. That is even better.

[gunfan]

Bullspit that had been proffered by the "gunzines" from 1992-1994.

Scott

[gunfan]

"The 10mm is a stone killer and, is, of course, vastly underrated."

How so? It is slightly "less gun" than a .357 - it is a great all around cartridge that can do what a .357 can do. Who underrates it?

The 10mm has been continually produced since the mid 1970's. In full-power dress, it bridges the power gap between the .357 S&W Magnum and the .44 Remington Magnum. (180 grain bullets from a 5" barrel of a 1911 at 1300 fps, yielding 675 fpe; a 200 grain bullet from the same barrel yields 1225 and 666 fpe.)

Yep, I think that it beats a .357 S&W Magnum. An newer cartridge are "Johnny come lately" newbies. The 10mm came into existence 41 years ago (1972) from Irving Stone and Whit Collins, and was "cannonized" by Jeff Cooper.

Few cartridges can claim that pedigree.

Scott

[jmort]

(180 grain bullets from a 5" barrel of a 1911 at 1300 fps, yielding 675 fpe; a 200 grain bullet from the same barrel yields 1225 and 666 fpe.) Yep, I think that it beats a .357 S&W Magnum.

Nope, wrong, the .357 more energy, better sectional density, better penetration. Sorry .357 "more gun."

Buffalo Bore in 5 inch S&W model 27 Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast =1398 fps 780 ft lbs

I like the 10mm - will probably go with a .460 Rowland but the 10mm fan boys need to keep it real.

[subsonic]

Yes, there are some .357 loads that can hang with the 10mm. But none of the .357's I've seen holds 15+1 and only 2 I know of take a detachable magazine.

The limitation to the 10mm is the overall length. Most .357s can use long nosed boolits seated out into the cylinder where the 10mm has to fit in the magazine - so heavier boolits intrude on powder capacity. I'd still rather have a 10mm than a .357 for stopping power.

[jmort]

"I'd still rather have a 10mm than a .357 for stopping power."

Nothing wrong with that. People will often choose a lower level of power for self-defense. I'll take the more powerful .357. They both will work.

[khmer6]

The 10mm is definitely my favorite auto even more than the 5.7. The 357 has many options and in some loads produce more energy than the 10mm. But light weight bullets in the 357 like 125 the sig can easily match. If given the choice between a 357 revolver and 10mm auto (which can easily hold 20 rounds with the small extension) I'd take the 10mm any day. Add a 6" barrel and you got yourself a hot rod. 357 more energy but 10mm Glock is more gun

[Adam10mm]

The 10mm has been continually produced since the mid 1970's.
Nope. That's wrong. The 10mm was designed in 1983, not the "mid 1970's".


In full-power dress, it bridges the power gap between the .357 S&W Magnum and the .44 Remington Magnum. (180 grain bullets from a 5" barrel of a 1911 at 1300 fps, yielding 675 fpe; a 200 grain bullet from the same barrel yields 1225 and 666 fpe.)
It's closer to being a ballistic twin of the .357 Magnum than beating it. The .357 has a full length barrel whereas the 10mm has part of the barrel length also containing the chamber. Four inch barrel in a revolver isn't the same four inch barrel in a 1911, as the 1911 barrel length measurement includes the ~1.275" chamber length of the 10mm; a revolver's cylinder (chamber) isn't included in the barrel length.


An newer cartridge are "Johnny come lately" newbies. The 10mm came into existence 41 years ago (1972) from Irving Stone and Whit Collins, and was "cannonized" by Jeff Cooper.

Few cartridges can claim that pedigree.

Scott
Never heard the term "cannonized" so I'm not sure what it means. The 10mm Automatic was a SAAMI cartridge in 1983. The 401 Powermag has a more interesting history than the 10mm.

[jmort]

The cylinder gap equalizes the barrel measurement difference. Put the .357 in a Coonan and it goes even faster with no cylinder gap. They are very close, and you Mr. 10mm have a realistic view of the matter.

[Adam10mm]

but the 10mm fan boys need to keep it real.
Yep.


Yes, there are some .357 loads that can hang with the 10mm. But none of the .357's I've seen holds 15+1 and only 2 I know of take a detachable magazine.
That's correct. If someone wants to nip at the heels of .357 Magnum heavy bullets in a bottom feeder, go 10mm. If they want to duplicate the 125gr JHP loads of the 357 Magnum in a bottom feeder, go .357 SIG. That's why I chose the 10mm as my general purpose weapon. Practical ballistic twin (without splitting hairs) to the .357 Magnum in service length barrels with all the benefits of an autoloader.


The limitation to the 10mm is the overall length. Most .357s can use long nosed boolits seated out into the cylinder where the 10mm has to fit in the magazine - so heavier boolits intrude on powder capacity. I'd still rather have a 10mm than a .357 for stopping power.
Most 10mm chambers can take a 1.275" cartridge, since the OAL was based off the .45 ACP which has a 1.275" OAL max.

"I'd still rather have a 10mm than a .357 for stopping power."

Nothing wrong with that. People will often choose a lower level of power for self-defense. I'll take the more powerful .357. They both will work.
Yup. The only reason I don't carry a .357 Mag is I hate revolvers and I'd rather have 8+1rds of 10mm with another 8rd magazine ready than 6rds of 357 Mag with another 6 in a speedloader. I'm faster with a 1911 in 10mm, so that's what I choose. If I can't keep my gun in the fight, it doesn't matter what I have.

[jmort]

"But light weight bullets in the 357 like 125 the sig can easily match"

Where do people dig up this nonsense? Again from Buffalo Bore 125 grain bullets

Sig Mod. 229, 4 inch barrel - 1,430 fps (567 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel - 1,591 fps (703 ft. lbs)

Come on 10mm fan boys keep it real -

[subsonic]

My point about stopping power is that muzzle energy is not something I go by or take as having much worth. It rewards velocity over bullet performance, frontal area, or kinetic energy. A .17-221, .17 Mach 4, or .17 Fireball (all the same cartridge except for the details) can generate 700+ ME, but I'm not picking that cartridge for a gunfight, unless I'm fighting with something smaller than a coyote.

To further illustrate my point, I'd much rather have a top of the line modern 9mm JHP self defense round than a hardball FMJ in .45ACP, or a FMJ .44 Magnum for that matter.

[Adam10mm]

"But light weight bullets in the 357 like 125 the sig can easily match"

Where do people dig up this nonsense? Again from Buffalo Bore 125 grain bullets

Sig Mod. 229, 4 inch barrel - 1,430 fps (567 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel - 1,591 fps (703 ft. lbs)

Come on 10mm fan boys keep it real -
I am keeping it real. The 357 SIG was designed to duplicate the ballistics of the police load 125gr JHP .357 Magnum but do it from a pistol cartridge. The 125gr JHP 357 SIG does just that. The police duty load pushed a 125gr JHP to around 1400fps from 4 inch service revolvers. That's exactly what the 357 SIG does in a pistol. Some overpriced ammunition manufacturer that comes along years later focusing on absolute highest velocity doesn't change history. The 357 SIG was designed when Buffalo Bore didn't exist.

[jmort]

The post had nothing to do with the history of the .357 SIG - it was a statement of fact which is wrong. 10mm is a good all around caliber.

[Adam10mm]

The post had nothing to do with the history of the .357 SIG - it was a statement of fact which is wrong. 10mm is a good all around caliber.
No, the statement was true. Compare the 357 SIG ballistics to any 357 Magnum 125gr load from actual manufacturers, not companies that just assemble components. ATK, Hornady, Remington. Before boutique component assemblers like Double Tap and Buffalo Bore came around. Name some LE agencies that use Buffalo Bore ammunition as their duty ammunition.

Oh, yeah. I've stuffed components together to push a 180gr to 1500fps in my commander 1911 10mm. Lots of LilGun and a large rifle primer. Knock yourself out. Does that make your 357 Mag claims wrong?

[khmer6]

The SIG does a fair job duplicating the 125 load. Heavier loads the SIG does not fair too well at all. Not too many choices for the SIG. Issue with the SIG, I find it finicky as hell reloading. People say the 5.7x28 is one of the hardest cartridge to load for, but I find the SIG to be challenging. Freakshow, 180gr at 1500fps from a commander length that is just insane. Did you have any issues? I'm sure the large rifle primer didn't show any signs of pressure from the hard cup? I assume it was a fully supported barrel? Not being a fan boy of the 10mm. I do accept the fact that their are quite a few loads that the 357 magnum outbeats the 10mm. Either way when you are talking about over 1,000 Joules of muzzle energy from a pistol, I bow down.

[jmort]

"Name some LE agencies that use Buffalo Bore ammunition as their duty ammunition."

They don't go for the best. They use Ford and Chevy not Ferrari. Nonsense question.

[Adam10mm]

The SIG does a fair job duplicating the 125 load. Heavier loads the SIG does not fair too well at all. Not too many choices for the SIG.
That's for sure. The problem with the SIG is it was made with one thing in mind, which it does well, but that's all it does well.


Issue with the SIG, I find it finicky as hell reloading. People say the 5.7x28 is one of the hardest cartridge to load for, but I find the SIG to be challenging.
The SIG is easy to load for. Biggest panic is bullet setback. You control this by the case neck size. ID should be .354" with slight expansion during the powder charge step. Get a bullet on there so it doesn't fall off when the shellplate advances. Then set the depth and crimp.

The SIG is a bottleneck which leads people to believe headspace is set on the shoulder when that is completely false. It's on the mouth.

The SIG is gifted by it being born of the .40 S&W which has been born of the 10mm (and of the .38-40 WCF). Carbide dies are your friend, but not in the SIG. Get a carbide 40/10mm sizer die. Run the SIG brass through that first to size the outside. It won't touch the neck; it only deprimes and sizes the body. No lube. Then run it in the steel SIG sizer die to size the neck, no lube. Normal process from there. Easiest on a 1050 to replace the swage with the steel 357 sizing die, but the 650 is doable with the 550 being a bit trickier. For a 550, could run it on a single stage with .40 carbide sizer then load from there on the 550 with no lube.


Freakshow, 180gr at 1500fps from a commander length that is just insane.
Yep. Actual velocity average was 1511fps for three, 10rd strings. 271.980 IDPA Power Factor.


Did you have any issues? I'm sure the large rifle primer didn't show any signs of pressure from the hard cup? I assume it was a fully supported barrel?
No issues, no pressure sign from primer or case head expansion. It's a ramped 1911 barrel so it's "fully" supported.


Not being a fan boy of the 10mm. I do accept the fact that their are quite a few loads that the 357 magnum outbeats the 10mm. Either way when you are talking about over 1,000 Joules of muzzle energy from a pistol, I bow down.
There are plenty of 357 Magnum loads that beat the 10mm. That load generated 912 fpe or 1,236 joules.

[Adam10mm]

"Name some LE agencies that use Buffalo Bore ammunition as their duty ammunition."

They don't go for the best. They use Ford and Chevy not Ferrari. Nonsense question.
Ford and Chevrolet are more suited to the task at hand, so is Dodge. Ferrari is not well suited to police tasks. That's why they aren't used but in rare circumstances by European outfits.

Speed equals quality, value, and performance. Speed and speed alone, right?

[Hunter]

According to the Hornady manual the max load of a .357 Magnum for the 180gr bullet is 1150 fps and this is out of an 8" Python. The same bullet weight for the 10mm is 1250 and this is from a 5" Delta Elite.
So at least according to Hornady the 10mm Auto edges out the .357 Magnum.

As far as the 10mm being tough to control, here is a short video of my girlfriend Meghan shooting her Glock 29 with mid power loads. This was her second time out with her new pistol

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k482/5x5Photography/th_VIDEO0015-0-0-0-0_zps6e43cfc2.jpg (http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k482/5x5Photography/VIDEO0015-0-0-0-0_zps6e43cfc2.mp4)

[gunfan]

The "10mm being tough to control" was the biggest bunch of lies that were ever spewed out by the press.

Scott

[Hunter]

The "10mm being tough to control" was the biggest bunch of lies that were ever spewed out by the press.

Scott

I agree 110% Scott.

[gunfan]

I can't tell you how many times I have heard the "frame cracking" bull so many times I nearly puke every time it is regurgitated.

Scott

[gunfan]

Let's face facts. The 10mm was subject to a "hatchet job" from the very beginning. John "Jeff" Cooper had it right from the "get." the 10mm auto in it's original loading. (1250 fps for 200 grain fmj bullet from a 5" Government Model 1911 and 1400 fps for a 170 grain JHP.) This is what made the 10mm "billy bad a**" out of the gate!

And they wonder why we adherents become so angry when it had been pointlessly emasculated by the FBI. The 10mm can be downloaded (watered down) to .40 S&W levels, but when it is loaded to it's original levels, it can stop a big, ugly man in short order. I don't expect a lot of people that haven't spent a lot of time with the cartridge to understand exactly it's capability. Having shot it for more than 20 years, I consider myself well versed with the round.

Scott

[ctious]

I have found the 10mm is always more gun than a 357.

My personal loads are in the 900s ft lbs. Out of a 6in gun. I even have one that is over 1000 ft lbs.

The 10mm will keep with a 41 mag in equal barrels and weight bullets.
It will even keep with a 44mag in the lighter weight bullets. Take a 5in 10mm. And a short barrel 44 to keep the barrel length equal. And try almost any 200 gr
oad in the 44. All the OTC bullets will just match the standard 200 gt 10mm load of 1250 fps.

Now let's take a 44 with an 8in barrel and a tc 10 in 10mm. Guess what u see again. As long as bullets weights are equal the numbers are the same. Where the 41 and 44 beat the 10mm is heavy bullets. But as the story goes the 357 is below the 10mm.

[gunfan]

Yes, the original 10mm 170 grain load cranked out 741 fpe (1400 fps for a 170 grain JHP.)

How does that grab you?

Scott

[Adam10mm]

the 10mm auto in it's original loading. (1250 fps for 200 grain fmj bullet from a 5" Government Model 1911 and 1400 fps for a 170 grain JHP.) This is what made the 10mm "billy bad a**" out of the gate!
Those are incorrect velocities. The original factory 10mm Automatic loads made by Norma were a 170gr JHP @ 1300fps and 200gr FMJ @ 1200fps from 5 inch barrels.


And they wonder why we adherents become so angry when it had been pointlessly emasculated by the FBI. The 10mm can be downloaded (watered down) to .40 S&W levels, but when it is loaded to it's original levels, it can stop a big, ugly man in short order. I don't expect a lot of people that haven't spent a lot of time with the cartridge to understand exactly it's capability. Having shot it for more than 20 years, I consider myself well versed with the round.

Scott
I had the pleasure of speaking to a former FBI agent who was there during the testing and was the individual that actually handloaded the 10mm ammunition for the test. The FBI had to test the handloads because they couldn't secure enough ammunition but components were available. The reason the ammunition was loaded to a tested 980fps was the specification that the recoil of the gun and ammo combination could not recoil any more than a 1911 .45 ACP. That was the load that marginally beat the .45 ACP in the tests and got the nod as the new FBI cartridge. The FBI never tested "full power" 10mm Automatic ammunition for the test to pick the next cartridge.

Later, when the FBI and S&W got into it over the S&W 1076 and the FBI dropped the contract with S&W, S&W got the last laugh when they teamed up with Winchester to duplicate the 10mm load in a shorter cartridge, being the .40 S&W chambered for the SIG pistol. Last laugh was the FBI was using a cartridge with S&W's name on it. The FBI could drop a contract, but they still had to see S&W's name on every case head.

[Hunter]

I agree with everything that is said and believe it is true. With that said what kept the 10mm Auto from catching on at least to Super .38 status?
I too have always been a fan and have a few pistols in 10mm, this is one of the reasons that prompted me to put together this review. I have shared this article on a few other forums and I have been message by a few people (gun people) that had very little to know idea of what the 10mm was even was.
The fact it can be downloaded to .40S&W velocities for range use, practice, and training and then brought to spec for an awesome self defense round and even a potent hunting round.
I have to believe it should be more popular.

[Adam10mm]

The fact it can be downloaded to .40S&W velocities for range use, practice, and training and then brought to spec for an awesome self defense round and even a potent hunting round.
The versatility is why I like it so much. I can load it to duplicate a 9mm, .40 S&W, or a .45 ACP with bullet weights ranging from 135gr to 230gr. I can load it to nip at the heels of the 357 Magnum.

But people need to realize although the 10mm can be pressed into service as a thin skinned hunting weapon, it's original purpose was to replace the .45 ACP, not to compete with the 357 Mag or 41 Mag as a hunting cartridge, though the 41 Mag and 10mm were made for the same reason and fell to the same fate. If I had to pick one load for everything I do with it, a 175gr or 180gr bullet at 1250fps is plenty for my needs. Hunting with it for me is more to keep up my marksmanship skills under pressure.

[harley45]

If I lives in a state that allowed deer hunting with the 10mm I would sell my .357s I'm even planning a Black bear hunt with mine in 2014

[gunfan]

Those are incorrect velocities. The original factory 10mm Automatic loads made by Norma were a 170gr JHP @ 1300fps and 200gr FMJ @ 1200fps from 5 inch barrels.


I had the pleasure of speaking to a former FBI agent who was there during the testing and was the individual that actually handloaded the 10mm ammunition for the test. The FBI had to test the handloads because they couldn't secure enough ammunition but components were available. The reason the ammunition was loaded to a tested 980fps was the specification that the recoil of the gun and ammo combination could not recoil any more than a 1911 .45 ACP. That was the load that marginally beat the .45 ACP in the tests and got the nod as the new FBI cartridge. The FBI never tested "full power" 10mm Automatic ammunition for the test to pick the next cartridge.

Later, when the FBI and S&W got into it over the S&W 1076 and the FBI dropped the contract with S&W, S&W got the last laugh when they teamed up with Winchester to duplicate the 10mm load in a shorter cartridge, being the .40 S&W chambered for the SIG pistol. Last laugh was the FBI was using a cartridge with S&W's name on it. The FBI could drop a contract, but they still had to see S&W's name on every case head.

Colt made the 1400 fps quote as part of their advertising campaign for their 1989 Delta Elite Pistols. (I remember the loaded JHP cartridges arranged in a triangle.) It impressed me because the loaded 170 grain maximum ammunition energies paralleled those of the 240 grain mid-range .44 Remington Magnum from a 4" barrel! (741 fpe!)

Norma had to reduce the loads due to the fact that the load suffered from erratic ignition problems and inconsistent velocities. This resulted in the loads being reduced to the 1300 fps levels. (I followed every step of the round's metamorphosis during the 1980's.)

Scott

[leftiye]

Ah jus' gotta say Mort, that your .357 load is not an everyday load - may be for you or some, but A 100 plus ft/lbs less (650 ft/lbs) has been what the .357 has been rated at for 40 years now that I've been paying attention. I keep seeing this - there are guns nowadays that will take much hotter loads than guns generally used to withstand. And there are folks who load their redhawks, blackhawks and other shootin' irons to the higher pressures. That doesn't make those loads "standard" loads. Being enamored of the .357 is fine, but it isn't a pervasive condition.

[TheGrimReaper]

Nice job.
The 10mm is underrated.

So true, sad but true. I've only got 2 pistols in 10MM auto and need more.

[gunfan]

Here's a "The Truth About Guns" review from 2011:

Gun Review: Glock 20 10mm Auto
Posted on October 19, 2011 by Ryan Finn

Hype. It’s a word synonymous with 10mm Auto. Developed by Col. Jeff Cooper, carried by Sonny Crockett, known in the firearms fraternity as “the cartridge the FBI couldn’t handle,” 10mm Auto has achieved near mythological status. If everything on the interwebz is to be believed (tip: it’s not) the 10mm auto was so powerful it was putting petite FBI agents on disability. To separate fact from friction [sic], I contacted Glock to get a full-size G20, deep diving into the veiled world of 10mm auto aficionados. First things first . . .
The Glock 20 is a big gun. In its non-short frame (SF) configuration it’s a tenth of an inch wider than a G17 and three tenths of an inch longer. Believe me: you feel every tenth of those inches. At 27.68 ounces the G20 outweighs its somewhat comparable cousin by almost 6 oz. Even without considering the recoil issue, that’s some heavy firepower.
Gen3 Glocks have always felt big in my hands. The G20 is certainly no exception—and then some. That said, with a two-handed grip, the Glock 20 felt comfortable enough for a large framed gun. When I tried it with a one-handed grip I felt as uneasy as a Mormon at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.
At first I attributed my enervation to the Glock’s grip size. That wasn’t the whole problem. I’m an aggressive grip texture kind of guy; the Gen3′s somewhat smooth side panels made the big *** G20 feel a bit slippery in my palms. A bit of grip tape and the G20 was GTG (Good to Go).

I won’t bore you by describing the Glock’s design characteristics. By this point I think we can all agree that Gaston’s guns are black, they aren’t known for their looks and they have one of the best stock triggers found in striker fired pistols.
One nice touch to this particular G20: Glock sent it with night sights. I’ve never been a fan of the stock Glock dot-in-¾’s-of-a-box sights. These tritium filled 3-dots fit the bill perfectly; they’re easy to see in the day, easy to see at night and make target acquisition as simple as Forrest Gump.
For my first range trip with the G20 I headed-out to my local sports store and to buy whatever 10mm ammo they had hanging around. I ended up with Remington 180gr FMJ target loads. All my slow fire shots were touching, my rapid fire strings were beautiful and that Glock trigger was as crisp as an autumn morning in the Bridger Mountains.
Hang on. Where was all this battleship-level recoil I’d read about? Why did I feel like I was just shooting a huskier G22? Slightly disappointed, I dutifully shot up the remaining ammo and returned home to do a little research.
Turns out that when the FBI decided they couldn’t handle the full house 10mm loads, they dumbed them down to something called the 10mm lite or 10mm FBI load. Eventually Smith & Wesson realized that they could replicate the ballistics of that load in a smaller cartridge. Thus the .40 S&W revolution was born, effectively relegating the 10mm to historical obscurity.

With the new information in hand I set out looking for some serious 10mm rounds. Slightly more than a week later, my friendly UPS guy brought me a box full of goodies from Double Tap Ammunition. Wanting to get a full spectrum for testing, I procured some 200 gr hard cast and 135 gr JHP to test as defensive loads. I also ordered some 200 gr FMJ target load to compare to a similar offering from Blazer. The table below lists the rounds’ advertised velocity and energy.
Type DoubleTap 200 gr WFNGC Hardcast DoubleTap 135 gr Nosler JHP DoubleTap 200 gr FMJ Blazer 200 gr FMJ
Velocity at Muzzle 1300 fps 1600 fps 1275 fps 1050 fps
Energy at Muzle 750 ft/lbs 767 ft/lbs 722 ft/lbs 490 ft/lbs
For testing, I fired a five-shot rapid fire strings from 7 yards at a Birchwood Casey Shoot N’ C bullseye target. I went with the 200 gr hardcast and 135 gr hollow points first.

Needless to say, the G20 gun was bucking a bit more with the big boy rounds, evidenced by my throwing a round off target in my first string. The G20’s heavy slide and polymer frame soaked up enough of the recoil to make it comfortable—while retaining enough oomph to let me know I was shooting a very aggressive gun. I needed to work a little to keep the G20 on target, but that’s not what I call “work.”

Shooting the slightly less powerful target/practice ammo, I again managed to throw a round on each of the strings. A little disappointed in my shooting, I tested the viability of the G20 as a duty weapon. I ran the qualification course we use at the Sheriff’s Office utilizing the DoubleTap 200 gr FMJ.
In short, the course requires that a shooter fire 18 rounds and start from 25 yards moving towards the target, utilizing cover, performing two reloads and firing two one handed strings. The results of this test were more than satisfactory. I hit 18 out of 18 for a perfect score. Obviously this would be a very viable and powerful choice for LEOs who can handle such a large handgun.

In the end, I don’t think recoil is what turns people away from a gun like the G20. Contrary to internet lore, the recoil was pretty mild for a cartridge that’s putting up better ballistics than a .357 Magnum. The problem is size.
It takes a relatively large handgun to handle this round; that can be a serious turnoff. I’ve grown more comfortable with the gargantuan G20 as the weather has gotten cooler in the mountains and people have started donning their coats. But this is not the EDC you’re looking for.
As an open carry gun, the G20 has a loyal following among outdoorsmen as a good defensive weapon against all sorts of two and four-legged creatures. So much so that Denmark outfits their Sirius Patrols in Greenland with the G20 to defend against polar bears.
And that, my friends, is where the G20 has found its niche: as an uber-reliable gun that can take any abuse you throw at it while shooting a hard-hitting round that will incapacitate large angry targets in a hurry. The G20 in 10mm isn’t entirely suitable for urban conflict (unless it is), but it’s the perfect hiking companion.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Caliber: 10mm Auto
Barrel Length: 4.60”
Overall Length: 7.59”
Weight: 27.68 oz
Finish: Parkerized Tenifer
Capacity: 15+1
Price: $590 MSRP
RATINGS (out of five stars)
Style *
One star for anti-style style.
Ergonomics * * *
If you’ve got small hands you’ll think you’re in The Land of the Lost. But the G20′s comfortable to hold and fire.
Reliability * * * * *
It’s a Glock. It ate everything I fed it with unwavering reliability.
Customizable * * * * *
Like its lesser caliber brothers, accessories abound for anything and everything Glock.
Carry * * *
About as concealable at Peter North’s third leg. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more effective handgun for bear country. So that counts.
Overall Rating * * * *
An excellent defensive handgun suited for nightstand duty and woods carry.

[GLL]

Too often ignored in many 10mm discussions ! :)

S&W 610
http://www.fototime.com/643C449ED8A4943/orig.jpg
The single most accurate revolver I own !

That great accuracy is much more important to me than the .357/10mm velocity/energy arguments.

Jerry

[gunfan]

Too often ignored in many 10mm discussions ! :)

S&W 610
http://www.fototime.com/643C449ED8A4943/orig.jpg
The single most accurate revolver I own !

That great accuracy is much more important to me than the .357/10mm velocity/energy arguments.

Jerry

I could have told you that. I have a .41 Magnum that shoots at nearly the same level of accuracy.

Scott