10mm Revolver or .357

[twally]

I am now casting and hand loading for .40

I also shoot .357 but don't cast or hand load, what I am trying to figure out is, since

I already have the dies and mold for the .40 should I stay with it and buy the 10m

revolver that shoots both 10mm and .40, is the 10mm is a good round to shoot cast

boolits ? Is there any advantage with the 10mm over the .357 Balisticly?

Thank you Wally

[9.3X62AL]

I have no experience with a 10mm revolver, but LOTS of time with 10mm semi-autos--and with 357 Magnum revolvers. Both calibers are capable of running a 200 grain boolit/bullet to ~1200 FPS, and I think this is the basis of the frequent comparison between the calibers. I think the 10mm is a notch or two ahead of the 357, not quite a 41 Magnum though. I have hunted deer with both, and will do so again.

You GOTTA start reloading for your 357s! Cast boolits and a die set make the 357 Magnum VERY affordable to operate.

[Angus]

Cast in the 38/357 is just natural, the two go together like ice cream and summer time. I'd skip the 610 and start casting and handloading for the 357 you have. 357 shoots a bit flatter and penetrates a bit with a given weight since it holds a better sectional density for a given weight. There are also some fabulous 357 molds available, 10mm offers a much smaller selection.

[sqlbullet]

I cast for the 10mm, though not for revolver. I cast both Lee TL 175 gr and a Mountain Mold 200 gr RFN. I think cast bullets are ideal for the 10mm.

[Mntngoat]

I'm having a 10 mm revolver built once my name comes up with Clements. My 10 mm Auto sure anchors hogs.

ML

[sargenv]

I cast and load for the 610 and find that it is a bit more powerful than the 357 with full house loads. I actually had Veral Smith make up an elongated ~185 gr RN for the action shooting game that I play since no one really offered the RN I wanted for it. While the 357 has more bullets available, I still like the 10 since it punches a bigger hole and can load heavier bullets than the 357.. and you can always download the 10 to 357 but not the other way around..

40 S&W/10 mm bullets can be had from 135-220 gr.. Max for the 357 is 200 and those are really pushing it. Also 40 S&W brass is more plentiful these days than 38 spl/357 mag brass. 10 mm is about the same rareness as 357, but I hardly use any for my action shooting needs..

I have long loaded 40 S&W to 10 mm length and the 10 mm revolver allows you to really seat long bullets as opposed to most 10 mm pistols save the ones on the 1911 frame. I have shot 40's loaded to 1.260" in my Para P16 that have about another .1" left in the cylinder of my 610 if I so desired to seat them that long. If you shoot the 10 mm in a Glock, you will need to seat them a bunch shorter and you will be limited to truncated cone or flat point designs and unless you change out the springs, you need to load them to 10 mm power levels.

But then I've always favored revolvers over semi's :)

just to put it out there though... I own both 627's, 610's, a 686, and even a Ruger GP100 in 357. I still prefer the 610 as a platform over the auto pistols in 10 mm and prefer to use the 610 over the 627's unless capacity is an issue (ICORE for instance where the 627 dominates).

[fecmech]

I'd second Als comment, load for the .357! The molds and versatility of that caliber are well known.

[Lloyd Smale]

i had a 3 inch 610 and foolishly parted with it. It was harder hitting then a 357 and was one of the most accurate 6 guns ive ever owned.

[lbaize3]

I have one of the early S&W model 610 pistols with the six inch barrel (non-fluted cylinder). It is easily the most accurate pistol I own. I have shot store-bought lead bullets out of it with excellent results. However, 180gr jacketed bullets with a max load of Accurate #9 is beyond belief in the accuracy department. I noticed the gun's accuracy potential and mounted a scope on it to test the gun. A friend of mine that works at the Texas DPS shot the gun from a rest and put six rounds into one single ragged hole at 25 yards. I have shot the pistol nearly as well. The only things I have done to the pistol is a trigger job and I opened the barrel throat to 11 degrees.

On the back burner is getting a 170 to 180 grain gas checked bullet mold to play with. It will be interesting. Both 40 and 10mm from the pistol shoot well. Of course I also have an 8" model 586 that can do nearly the same with both 38 and 357 bullets.

[BLTsandwedge]

If you do go 610 don't overlook Power Pistol- as in 7.3 to 7.9g- pleasant to shoot and super-accurate under a #401638. This past Saturday I clocked the 7.9g PP/401638 recipe at an average of around 1,215fps from a 6" 610. The 401638 tested 15.4 BhN, I used Lee stick allox and sized them to .401- not even a whisper of lead. While I was at it, I clocked some .40s- if I remember, 6g of Power Pistol pushed the 401638 just about exactly 300fps slower than the 10MM load. I don't have my notebook in front of me, but I can say that the SD on the 10MM load was around 7. To me, that's impressive.

Having said all that, there is a much greater mould selection for the .357. As much as I enjoy the 610, if I could have but one of the two I'd opt for the .357......

[Johnch]

If you plan on hunting with it
IMO the 10 MM is a better round
But.........Here in Ohio the powers that be say the 10MM isn't long enough , where the 357 mag is
But for general shooting , I like the 357 mag because I can load 38's in it

And if in a pinch
Every mom & pop store that has ammo
Has 38 or 357
But 10mm is a lot harder to find

John

[shooting on a shoestring]

Let me clarify the issue for you. Its not which will you cast for, its which will you cast for first. Within a year you should be feeding both lots of purty boolits dropped from your own moulds.

So start with the one closest to you, and the do the other.

[buckweet]

how about a contender ? in .357 maximum ... now theres a .357 !!!

awsome balistics,

super simple to load for, fantastic accuracy. what more could you ask for ?

[sargenv]

At one point, I was making major with my 610-2 (6.5" tube, non-fluted cylinder) and was using 8.5 gr of Power Pistol under a 140 gr Moly coated Bear creek RN.. I was definitely major as it was being pushed to approx 1350 fps.. It was snappy but still controllable and still very accurate. I have since switched to minor loaded 185 Semi-pointed RN's.. as one gent said when I fired it... "That's not fair!" as he noticed a lack of muzzle rise and fast follow up shots.. :)

[Viper225]

I have had a 610 since they first came out. Mine has been to see Ron Power, and had his Power Custom Combat Job done to it. It is very accurate. Way more power than a 357.
It is not a 41 Magnum, but probably about half way between the 357 Full House and the 41 Magnum Full House with FULL POWER reloads.

NOTE: Full power reloads for a 610 N Frame can be a little warmer than a semi auto can handle.

I was shooting in a IPSC Match with my Revolver several years ago, using some warm loads, which were probably 180 or 200 grain. I hit a Full Size Pepper Popper below the round area and downed it soundly. I heard one of the Scorers comment "Did you see where he hit that target".
I like the 610 revolver. I also have a 686, 625, and a Super Red Hawk 44.
Buy more moulds, you can't cast for just one.

[cattleskinner]

John,

You can use a 10mm here in Ohio for deer. The only rules for a handgun are .38 cal or bigger, straightwall cartridge and 5 inch or longer barrel. I've thought about getting a Glock 20 and an aftermarket 5 or 6 inch barrel to try on deer, I imagine it would work pretty good out to 50-60 yds or so.

[TCLouis]

Go with the 40/10 mm, that way you already have all yo need!

[Johnch]

John,

You can use a 10mm here in Ohio for deer. The only rules for a handgun are .38 cal or bigger, straightwall cartridge and 5 inch or longer barrel. I've thought about getting a Glock 20 and an aftermarket 5 or 6 inch barrel to try on deer, I imagine it would work pretty good out to 50-60 yds or so.


You are correct

Last time I looked
They required the cart. case to be 1" long

But that allowed the 38 spec in , but not the 10 MM
I raised a stink a few years back at the anual meeting

I guess enough guys complained and they heard

John

[Marlin Hunter]

I have not shot a revolver in 10mm. I have shot a revolver in 45 ACP. The moon clips become a pain in the rear after a while. I am guessing that the 10mm also needs moon clips, and that they will be a pain in the rear like the 45 ACP moon clips.

The one benefit to moon clips is that reloading the cylinder is very fast. The 10mm cartridge is impressive and I have been thinking of getting a semi-auto 10mm pistol.

[Shiloh]

Cast in the 38/357 is just natural, the two go together like ice cream and summer time. I'd skip the 610 and start casting and handloading for the 357 you have. 357 shoots a bit flatter and penetrates a bit with a given weight since it holds a better sectional density for a given weight. There are also some fabulous 357 molds available, 10mm offers a much smaller selection.

Gotta agree with this. Many, many combos of boolits and loads for both the .38 Special and .357. There are a lot of molds for both. Especially when you toss in the out of production. molds that can occasionally be found.

Shiloh

[Crash_Corrigan]

I have a Smith 586 with a 6 inch bbl. It is a tack driver with factory or hand loads. This is the gun that I let newbies shoot with .38 wadcutters loaded down. It is easy to use, has great sights, an excellent trigger and recoils like a .22 with those loads. The new shooter gets good results instantly and does not develop a flinch or complain about loud reports or muzzle blast.

The same gun with a 357 loading can produce a long flame and very loud report and good accuracy and enuf oomph to take down critters at up to 100 yds.

Loaded with .38's in +P in a good HP it makes for an excellent house gun that is controllable and accurate which anybody can use. Loaded with full house 357's your second shot will be a mite slower and will penetrate a lot more.

I also have a Ruger BH in .45 Colt that is accurate and easy to shoot. It can be loaded up or down depending on what you need it to do. I can load a 300 grain wide metplat hard cast boolit over a large portion of 2400 powder and get it moving at 1300 FPS. However this is a punishing load and I would only use this for hogs or other big game at close range. My normal loading would be a 255 gr WFNL boolit over a mite of Trail Boss. Accurate but a pleasant loading suitable for a walking around gun but capable of defense against most everything except a bear. Mr. Bear deserves a heavier loading preferably in a 12 gauge rifled slug or my 303 British in a heavy solid bullet.

[pmeisel]

If I could only reload for one, 357 would be it, with the 38 it is just so versatile. And I don't think have molds and dies for 10mm and 357 will crowd your bench too bad.....

[45r]

I'd get a N-frame 357 if you can find one for sale.