{"id":1015,"date":"2020-01-22T17:02:40","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T17:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammoforsale.com\/ammo-club\/?p=1015"},"modified":"2021-03-30T20:33:48","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T20:33:48","slug":"357-magnum-vs-10mm-which-is-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammoforsale.com\/ammo-club\/357-magnum-vs-10mm-which-is-better\/","title":{"rendered":"357 Magnum vs 10mm – Which Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to choosing the right caliber<\/a> for your first or next handgun, the choice can be overwhelming. There are tons of options on the market to choose from and each one comes with many pros and cons to the decision. Whether you are looking for home defense, everyday carry, competition, hunting or any other purpose necessary, the choice of firearm you make is a difficult one. One of the big comparisons that come to mind when thinking of the topic of comparing different calibers is which round is better between the 10mm vs. 357 Magnum. Both rounds are exceptional and have their large following of supporters, but to compare the two against each other is tough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is the .357 Magnum so Great?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The leader in the revolver category is the .357 Magnum round. This round is based on the .38 Special cartridge that was developed by Smith & Wesson. The motivation behind the .357 Magnum\u2019s development was to compete with Colt\u2019s .38 Super Automatic. During the Prohibition days of bootleggers and gangsters, law enforcement needed a round that was capable of penetrating car doors and bulletproof vests of the time. Any bullet that didn\u2019t exceed 1,000 fps of velocity did not stand a chance to penetrate the barriers and armor, but Colt\u2019s .38 Super Automatic just edged that threshold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The .357 Magnum gets its name from the diameter of the bullet used and it is the exact same as the .38 Special. The difference is the length of the cartridge; the .357 Magnum is longer to prevent any incorrect loading into the .38 Special rated chambers. Because the .357 Magnum is loaded with more powder, the velocity is significantly more. During its initial development, in order to withstand the higher chamber pressure, the .44 Special handgun was adapted to accept the new .357 Magnum round. The .44 was much better suited to handle the higher pressures created by the .357 Magnum firing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the .357 Magnum has less energy than the larger revolver rounds, its faster velocity and smaller diameter deliver exceptional penetration. The velocity and power make this caliber an exceptional round for hunting, self-defense<\/a>, law enforcement, and target shooting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Competition: 10mm Auto<\/b><\/h2>\n

This round is significantly newer than the .357 Magnum and was developed by Jeff Cooper in 1983. The objective in the creation of this round was to be a mid-velocity round that had much better ballistics than the .45 ACP and more power than the 9x19mm parabellum. Once it began to be produced on a large scale, the power capability over the original design was increased to compete with the trajectory and power of a revolver round in a semi-automatic pistol round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 10mm\u2019s large scale release was a bit rough due to the fact that only one pistol, the Bren Ten, was being made to fit the new round. However, Colt saved the 10mm by launching their Delta Elite pistol chambered for the 10mm, which was a modified M1911<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the FBI utilized the 10mm for its service round, it was soon decommissioned due to its power. The recoil was deemed to be too much for training agents and police officers. Also, the pistols chambered for the 10mm were difficult to handle for those agents with smaller hands. Despite the difficulties that the 10mm experienced in its early years, it has developed a loyal following because of its exceptional performance and reliability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which is better: 10mm vs. .357?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Which<\/p>\n

It can sometimes be difficult to compare rounds against one another, but these two are an easier comparison. While the .357 Magnum is typically a revolver round, and the 10mm Auto is a semi-automatic pistol round, both were developed with specific purposes. We\u2019ve laid out some of the important categories to consider when making a choice between the rounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Penetration <\/b>– both rounds were developed to satisfy the ever-changing needs of law enforcement to penetrate the bad guys of the time. For the .357, police needed a round that could penetrate the steel car doors and body armor of the gangsters and bootleggers during the 30s and 40s. The 10mm Auto was developed in order to put threats down quicker and to minimize casualties. Depending on the specifics of each round and load, the title for this category can go either way. The type of bullet used really is the ultimate factor in the depth of penetration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Velocity <\/b>– during the 30s, bullets that didn\u2019t reach a velocity of at least 1,000 fps did not stand a chance in penetrating the car doors used as cover or the body armor vests worn by the criminals. The .357 Magnum was converted from the .38 Special strictly on the basis to provide more velocity to put the enemies down faster. The 10mm Auto\u2019s velocity compared to the .357 Magnum will be slightly slower due to the fact that many of the bullet weights will be heavier than those of the .357 Magnum. So, on a pure maximum velocity standpoint, the .357 Magnum round is the winner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Energy <\/b>– when comparing the energy that these two rounds pack, the winner is definitely the 10mm. Due to the bigger bullet, the 10mm Auto brings in noticeably stronger force on impact. Looking at a few rounds of similar metrics, here\u2019s what they graded out at-<\/span><\/p>\n

Hornady:<\/span><\/p>\n