10mm has my vote, after 2 pistoles and 100's of
180 & 200gr. loads downrange, I'm an advocate.
First, after much deliberation, picked up a new Ruger SR1911-10mm. Great price with lots of extra features. Dead on at 21ft. and can keep a mag full (8+1) inside 1.5".
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Next, scoured many local gun dens, GB and custom shops for a 10mm commander. Settled on a Nighthawk Custom Commander.
9+1, extremely accurate, well designed and put together.
Gotta have that red fiber front sight, and the Heine back sight is heavy metal. They use the old nitride/melonite finish like the old 1911s. ![[image]](images/uploaded/201901261832545c4ca7d653b65.jpg)
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Picked it up today (after the FL 3-day wait) and started with about 10 mags (90 rds.)
16ft. target, 9-shots, about 2-sec. between shots:
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15-16ft. 60-shot rapid fire:
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Underwood Ammo and Buffalo Bore have some real hot hunting loads, but I'm going with 180gr XTP handloads for pigs here in FL and TN in Oct.
SOME TENS
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Beautiful Classics, almost bought a Colt Elite
but the owner (consignment) wouldn't acknowledge that the pistol was beatup, etc. The Ruger SR1911 surprised me, I've always loved any Ruger, but they really went all out with the bull (bushingless) barrel, great sights, stippling, beadblasted finish, etc.
The Nighthawk was a must have for me, perfect fit for my needs in the commander size and they retained that old 1911 feel...
A REAL 10mm starts at 200/1200 fps
Many factory loads are actually .40 S&W level in a 10 case. Man I'd be miffed to pay premium price and get a 175-200 gr. bullet at 1000 fps. But ignorance is bliss if you don't actually know about it. Blasted chronographs!
I have customized my G21 to shoot 10mm from it's 6" barrel. Using some special slick cast bullets I've shot 230 gr. to 1200 (Longshot rules in 10), the equal of the hot hunting ammo. Limited use for sure. I prefer the 200/1300 lighter cast load. With 15 in the mag that should do. I have a 10mm revolver too that loses no velocity compared to the auto, but it has a 6" and if you count the cylinder that's 8". Maybe that is it?
Most of my 10 shooting is in a 6" and with special slick cast bullets and selected powders. A loader can really get some bark from a custom 10.
Call me the “Naysayer,”
I think the 10 is the solution looking for a problem to solve. I’ve kicked around the idea of the 10 for years but just stayed with the 45. I’ve used standard and +P 200 and 230 gr loads. I have a buddy with a Delta Elite who shoots 180s and has killed 3 deer. All his loads failed to fully penetrate whereas I’ve experienced full penetration about 50% of the time. This is on shots within 75 yards or less.
Another buddy has a G20 but it seems to top out with 200 gr loads and any other bullet weight driven up to around 1200fps or so. The boutique loads don’t seem to do anything more in his Glock.
With these realities I just don’t see any practical benefit to a 10mm over the 45 at relatively comparable velocities. If I can achieve 90% of reliable 10mm performance with a +P 45, I think that’s a strong indicator a 45 Super will best any 10mm load, should I feel the need to do more than what I’ve seen a +P 45 do. And I don’t have to drop in a longer or ported barrel.
The 10mm just doesn’t do anything for me. YMMV..
Citing underpowered factory fodder, some truth.
I also have a .45 Super duper and have shot 185-300 gr. loads from it. I do not recommend the latter, it was a test. Some 230 gr. (Super .45) can also safely do 1300 in limited quantities, in special prepped guns. With a swinging link like the 1911 it takes some very special prep to get away with that for a long time. Throating, comp., special multi stage recoil system etc.
From my experience the 10 and .45 Super are about equal with custom hot loads in special prepped guns. Factory loads the Rowland walks all over the 10, but it's not a "normal" loading. Bullet has a lot to do with it too, your buddy with the 10 was likely hitting those deer with basically .40 S&W hits!
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