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10mm vs 357 sig for self defense

47K views 204 replies 71 participants last post by  agtman 
#1 ·
I am considering a Glock 29 or 32 for a new self defense gun. I own many 9mm and 45 acp in various xdms, xd mod 2's and xds's. I just recently fell back in love with Glocks when I purchased the Glock 20 then came the 21 and last but not least the 19. I like the ease of up- grading them like replacing the plastic sights with trijicon HD'S and the never ending aftermarket accessories available. I was curious between the 10mm and .357 sig which one would be considered the best for self-defense. Most of the 10mm ballistic reviews seen to indicate over penetration and the hollow point bullet fragmenting or it is recommended for hunting or a woods gun. Any input wild be very much appreciated.
 
#2 ·
The .357 Sig basically duplicates the ballistics of a .357 magnum. The 10mm comes close to 41 magnum performance with some loads. The 10mm is more versatile in the variety of loads available. There is a 135 grain load in 10mm that should limit over penetration if that is a concern. You can always purchase a conversion barrel for the 10mm and have .357 Sig too. I have a Glock 20 and like it. I can shoot 40 caliber in it also. The 357 Sig is a great round also, but I don't think it can do anything 10mm can do just as good or better.

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#4 ·
I love my 10mm guns, but if you are going to be carrying the gun and don't think regular service calibers are sufficient, the 357 SIG is hard to beat. It carries like a 40S&W gun, but comes with a lot of pop.

If you are talking night stand kind of SD, I would stick with a G20, you can run mild to wild and the hotter stuff hits like a hammer.
 
#5 ·
You need to consider whether the carry size dimension will make a difference; The 32 is a higher pistol, and longer in length too then the 29, but the 32 is slimmer. I only carry IWB, and so for me the baby Glock 33 is all I would consider. But if I had to jump up in size, I'd simply go for the more powerful gun. The 32 has been tested to fire aprox 1,325FPS out of a 4" barrel. (not always the advertised 1,400FPS.) Thus, I really don't see a huge difference between a 115gr 9mm+P doing 1,200FPS, or a 125gr 357Sig doing 1,325. (they're both .355 bullets) Yes, the 357Sig is better then the 9mm+P, but to me, not a great difference if the Sig isn't doing at least 200FPS better then the 9mm. With a 10mm Underwood round, we are talking about 180gr bullet doing 1325FPS out of a 4.6" barrel. Even with your shorter 29 barrel doing 75fps less at say 1,250 fps, that's still a huge difference in energy.
 
#6 ·
I don't have a 10mm yet. But I do have a P320 in 357 Sig that I recently started carrying. If it's purely for self defense/carry, my choice would be 357 Sig. If only because I can get Federal HST's, Winchester PDX1, Ranger T's, Remington Golden Saber Bonded, and Speer Gold Dots for defensive ammo. Since some law enforcement agencies use 357 Sig, there's some great loads available from the big companies, if that matters to you. The P320c and Glock 32 both carry 14 rounds of 357 Sig in a 9mm size platform.
 
#7 ·
Underwood has some lighter bullet weights such as a 135 grain nosler HP at 1600 fps and a 115 grain load at 1700 fps that are something to consider as well. I have shot the 135's before and they are stout but recoil is very manageable. How you are going to carry is the big issue as is the total size of the gun. The 10mm also offers the option of buying a barrel and having 357 Sig as well. No mags to buy just drop it in and shoot.

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#9 ·
The primary problem with 10mm is that it is not considered a "duty" caliber by the big ammo companies any more, so it doesn't receive the cutting edge bullet technology that 9, .357, .40 and .45 do.

Underwood I believe uses higher end bullets, but ones built for .40 velocities.

However, I don't know how much longer .357 Sig is going to be supported, either.

Otherwise, 10mm is a cool cartridge for a reloader and I trust Glock's 10mm platforms more than the .357/.40 guns. The 10mm guns are built for the recoil.
 
#16 ·
Strictly cartridge based? 10mm. Mild to wild and everything in between.

I don't think 'cutting edge' bullet technology in regards to the 10 is a thing...

If a 40 cal bullet is designed to penetrate and expand to (insert whatever) standards at 40 S&W velocities, then that's the velocity it should be loaded at in a 10. Not a bad thing, no over penetration, excellent stopping power.

Now, if you need a bit more penetration, well, there's 200gr hardcast for that ;)
 
#20 ·
Either way I guess. I like 10mm and is carries a little more energy in common loads, but not enough to notice. One thing I noticed while looking at some ammo to compare the 2 - there isn't much 10mm ammo out there any more. Used to be as common as anything else, but Speer doesn't even list a 10mm gold dot. I guess that's why the state police here went to having ammunition custom made, before downgrading to the .40. (It was pretty cool - had their own nickel plated brass with "KSP - 10mm" as the head stamp).
 
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#21 ·
Within the past year, I branched out of the 9mm and .45 pistols and moved into .357 and 10mm pistols. I did a lot of reading in terms of carry caliber.

I'm leaving the 10mm for plinking and the woods. It's a great round and I love it. But, a shooter, whose firing in self defense, is responsible for where that round goes.

So, I landed on .357 as a carry caliber. I choose G33. The G29 is fat like the the G30. The G33 reminds me of my G26 which, carries/conceals easily. My next .357 buy will be the G32.

I already have the G20 and G40. I wish Glock did a long slide .357. I do not do .40 caliber. I never warmed up to it. I suppose I should get one since they can be had for reasonable money since all the PD's are dumping the .40.

But, for carry, for me, either 9mm or .357.
 
#22 ·
Pure self defense without much versatility as far a bullet weight? Go with the 32. The 10mm platform has more choices as stated above and was my choice because of the variability of it but the 32 is a great choice for purely self defense. And I wouldn't worry about it going away because with a lot of PD's going back to 9's there is going to be some very good deals coming up with department turn ins. I'm considering getting one (32) just for that reason and I already have a 20. Carry with a 32 would be easier but I don't have any problem hiding either one.
 
#23 ·
A man should be able to have what he wants, but you are really over thinking the problem.
10 MM is a hand full even with FS pistols. 357 Sig is a fine option, if you can shoot it, and can be a hand full as well. Yea you have to shoot it because you need to practice enough to be somewhat proficient, and other pistols don't substitute for your carry option.
You have a 9 and a 45 already. the 19 is a good carry size in it handles well and has enough firepower to at least get you in an exit mode, hopefully.
Go rent and shoot both calibers in the pistol that has your interest. Decide from there. Either will work just fine and unless loaded to peak velocity shouldn't be a problem.

Happy Shopping
 
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#24 ·
There is a fairly large law enforcement agency in our surrounding area that used to issue 10mm, but switched to .357 SIG as they started employing smaller and weaker male and female LEOs. Carry whichever you like. You really can't go wrong.
 
#176 ·
Same for a bordering county near me. They went from Glock 20's to Glock 21's though. Must have had to do with ammo cost? There is no 10mm offered by the Big 3 that takes advantage of the cartridge. Hornady and Sig is decent but not in terms of bullet technology and they're not Big 3. I'd personally prefer 230 gr. +p HST or 200 gr. +P GD than 175 gr. Winchester silver tip.
 
#25 ·
I have a 29 and a 32
I prefer the full grip of the 32*
(*Not if legally restricted to 10 rounds, I can't stomach the thought of a 10 round mag in a 32)
5 shot averages from my chrono:
Glock 32

Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,344 fps / 501# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,358 fps / 512# KE
Glock 29
Corbon 150 JHP @ 1,231 fps / 505# KE
Hornady 155 XTP @ 1,256 fps / 543# KE

I've got a 20 velocity is ~60 fps more, could stick a 20 barrel in the 29
Glock 20
Corbon 150 JHP @ 1,276 fps / 542# KE
Hornady 155 XTP @ 1,335 fps / 614# KE
 
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#26 ·
I have a 29 and a 32
I prefer the full grip of the 32*
(*Not if legally restricted to 10 rounds, I can't stomach the thought of a 10 round mag in a 32)
5 shot averages from my chrono:
Glock 32
Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. @ 1,344 fps / 501# KE
Federal HST 125 gr. @ 1,358 fps / 512# KE
Glock 29
Corbon 150 JHP @ 1,231 fps / 505# KE
Hornady 155 XTP @ 1,256 fps / 543# KE

I've got a 20 velocity is ~60 fps more, could stick a 20 barrel in the 29
Glock 20
Corbon 150 JHP @ 1,276 fps / 542# KE
Hornady 155 XTP @ 1,335 fps / 614# KE
''could stick a 20 barrel in the 29''
Don't do it, they are not the same.

LW makes a 4.6'' and a six inch barrel
for the g29, I have both and use them
in my G30 to shoot both 10mm and
40 s&w.
 
#28 ·
Strictly cartridge based? 10mm. Mild to wild and everything in between.

I don't think 'cutting edge' bullet technology in regards to the 10 is a thing...

If a 40 cal bullet is designed to penetrate and expand to (insert whatever) standards at 40 S&W velocities, then that's the velocity it should be loaded at in a 10. Not a bad thing, no over penetration, excellent stopping power.

Now, if you need a bit more penetration, well, there's 200gr hardcast for that ;)
The Hornady XTP 40/10mm bullet was not specifically designed for either the 40 S&W or the 10mm. it was designed to expand from velocities between 750 to 1450 fps.

Underwood loads the 180 grain XTP to 1300 fps with is well withing the limits. The XTP is not "cutting edge" technology but it is proven technology that works very well.

www.hornady.com/assets/files/catalog/2009/19-22_bullets_handgun.pdf
 
#29 ·
The Hornady XTP 40/10mm bullet was not specifically designed for either the 40 S&W or the 10mm. it was designed to expand from velocities between 750 to 1450 fps.

Underwood loads the 180 grain XTP to 1300 fps with is well withing the limits. The XTP is not "cutting edge" technology but it is proven technology that works very well.
Kinda my point.

'Cutting edge' in terms of bullet tech, I think of designs that help cartridge effectiveness, whatever the task.

Take 9mm, bad rap decades ago, but new bullet tech has changed that.

Lots of proven 40 cal designs that don't need to move at 'real' 10mm velocities to be effective, and may even reduce liability if they move a bit slower.

Just saying. .02. Yada yada.
 
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