I have the 5.25.    I shoot full power handloads, none of this watered down FBI Lite stuff.

I wonder what this version is for?  With spec loads it's overkill for thugs, and recoil should be heavy.  With FBI loads, you're better off with G23 or G19.

I just don't see a use for it.   

For hardcast bullets, I like my XDM.  Standard rifling, polished bore and feed ramp.

I'll look, but I'm inclined to keep my XDM 5.25.  Polished bore and feed ramp are made for handloaders.  All M&P so far feature duty grade bores designed for jacketed bullets, i.e. no polish.   G20 does not have standard rifling.

XDM is the one Smith should have made.

With identical full house loads, my XDM is much softer recoiling than 1911.

Too much recoil.    If I carried 10mm for the street, I'd use FBI lite loads.  Does the same job.

Quote from: DM1906 on April 28 2016 12:24:48 PM MDT
As said, it all depends on the bear. 10mm against a brown bear is nothing more than a deterrent, regardless of the cartridge. Few handguns, short of the big magnums, are better than spray. Black bear are different and size matters (the bear's and the bullets). .40SW with 180 gr. Black Talon can dispatch 350-ish pound black bear. Done it twice out of necessity. 3 rounds in the neck and shoulder (Mozambique-like, if you will). Larger than that, I dunno. .41 and .44 Magnum will stop the 500+ pounders (been there, done that). The 10mm is NOT comparable to .41M, I don't care what anyone says (10mm gets about 1/2 way to 265 gr. @ 1430 FPS). The 180 gr. Underwood you have will about as effective as any 10mm for defensive shooting black bear. They'll penetrate as well as any hardcast, and the bullet won't matter if you miss vitals. Also consider, if you haven't shot that ammo in your pistol before, it may not run. Some pistols don't like the big, flat-nose bullets. Use a pistol to buy time to get the 12 ga, which is what you need. Time. It helps if you have a plan, but the bear has no intention to play by your plan. Chances are, you won't see a bear. If you do, he'll likely scatter before you can break leather. Also, having a yappy dog around helps, both as an alarm, and a deterrent.

Baloney.  10mm with the right ammo kills Grizzlies dead.  Google handgun bear defense 93 cases. 

9mm is Q4318 Winchester NATO 124 grain.

Comes down to capacity.

My 686 carries six with no reload.

My Xdm carries 15+1 with reload.

AA#9 is the premier powder for full house loads in 10mm.  I use it with either 180 grain FMJ or 180 grain hardcast.

  Is your 1911 barrel and feed ramp polished?  This will make for better feeding and easier de leading with hardcast


For FBI light loads, switch to AA#5.   

Is your chamber fully supported?  That increases confidence with full power loads.

Otherwise, 10mm handloading is no different from any other semi auto cartridge.

You could go entry level for $500 or so, e.g. Smith, Ruger, OSA etc.  These will do most people fine, especially those who don't shoot a lot.

I spent a bit less than $1000 out the door for the 6920.  For another $400 over entry level, you get a duty tough mil spec rifle.  I do not regret it.

Now that Colt is not shipping rifles, I'd go BCM M4 mod 0 for the same price.  I have no experience with BCM but pros such as trainers use them.

I'd skip the frontier.   It's cheaper, but inaccurate in my ARs.  M4carbine reports popped primers and case head failures.  It's $2 / 20 rounds cheaper for a reason.

I have the 5 inch version.   Observations:

1.   The gun looks like Darth Vader's personal carry weapon when he's on earth.

2.  It has been 100% reliable with factory fodder, and my handloads.

3.  RP 180 grain is FBI light.  Sig sauer 180 is full house stuff.  They claim 1250 fps.  I haven't chronoed but I believe it.

4.  The bore is polished, like a S&W revolver.  Yay!  This means it works fine with hardcast lead handloads. 

5.  It is reliable with both lite and full power loads, and with factory or handloads.

6.  The ramp is mirror polished from the factory.  Somebody knew we'd be running hardcast handloads and went the extra effort on the ramp and barrel.   Very cool.

7.  There is  no thumb safety, but there is a grip safety.

8.  Gun handles and shoots
Well.  It's not brutal recoil,  but shoot 50 full power and then pick up the M&P9.  That will feel like a .22


9.  Trigger is smooth, but a long and heavy pull.   

10.  Recoil is much lighter than a 10mm 1911.

11.  I have no use whatsoever for this gun, but it's way cool.  15+1 of a load that's a smidgen more than the top .357 magnum loadings is cool. 

Magazines are well made.

I'd buy it again.   

What I do with all handgun cartridges is use a four die set.   The third die only seats, and the fourth die only crimps.  By separating the operations I avoid the problems listed above. 

Ah, but when you shoot it with full power loads, you'll appreciate the weight.