embarrassed to carry non full power

[sqlbullet]

Maybe I missed something.  When did bullet weight come into play?  I thought we were talking about full power (Max handloads, Underwood, Buffalo Bore) vs the slightly above 40 S&W power level of most factory/practice/bulk ammo you can buy.

Well, then back to my original question. Why buy a 10mm if you are only going to shoot .40 cal equivalent loads out of it. Just buy a .40 cal and be done with it.

Seriously?

I answered that question here:

Well, why buy a 10mm if you are only going to shoot .40 S&W power stuff in it?

I hear this alot on this board, and on other 10mm boards.

Simple.

Full power 10mm loads are hard on guns.  They are hard on brass.  They are hard on wallets.  And they are hard on joints.  Guns, brass and money can be replaced.  Joints can't.

I almost never need full power 10mm.  I certainly don't need it to chew up potatoes or clay pigeons with my kids.  I don't need to to practice marksmanship. I don't need 200 grains at 1270 fps to enjoy a morning in the desert with my gun buddies.

In fact, I hope I NEVER need it.  Because all the scenarios I would need it in are under dire circumstances in which I would prefer not to find myself.

But, I may need it.  So, I spend my scarce and limited handgun budget on the most versatile handgun round that is commonly chambered.

That is why you buy a 10mm even if you don't mean to shoot full power 10mm auto.

My single anecdotal reference to bullet weight was not included to indicate that only heavy bullets are full power.  I could just as easily said I don't need a 135 grain bullet at 1600 fps, or a 155 grain bullet at 1500 fps or a 165 grain bullet at 1400 fps.  My reference was only to illustrate one example of a situation where full-power ammo is un-needed, not to introduce the irrelevant concept of bullet weight into a discussion about full power ammo.

So, to re-iterate...

The reason to own a 10mm rather than a 40 S&W, even if you will only ever shoot 40 S&W level ammo is to have the flexibility of changing your mind at any time without any additional expense, platform familiarization, etc.  In fact, the only real advantage I see to a 40 S&W gun is it is available in more diminutive sizes than a 10mm.  I personally feel such small guns are actually needed even less often by most shooters than full-power 10mm ammo is.

There are many, many, many good reasons to shoot mostly 40 S&W level ammo in your 10mm, even if you do choose to carry full-power ammo for defense.

[DAVIDF]

Yeah, I have never seen much reason for a .40 S&W. If I want the smaller size gun than my 10mm I'll go with 9mm or less. Even if I want to shoot .40 I'd rather do it out of my G20 with a conversion barrel.

[attrapereves]

Yeah, I have never seen much reason for a .40 S&W. If I want the smaller size gun than my 10mm I'll go with 9mm or less. Even if I want to shoot .40 I'd rather do it out of my G20 with a conversion barrel.

Pretty much spot on. I don't see the purpose of buying a 10mm handgun, only to carry 40SW rated ammo.

I stick with 9mm, 10mm, and 45ACP for handguns.

[gandog56]

Yeah, I have never seen much reason for a .40 S&W. If I want the smaller size gun than my 10mm I'll go with 9mm or less. Even if I want to shoot .40 I'd rather do it out of my G20 with a conversion barrel.

I won't quite go that far. I like my .40 cal S&W SIG. Because I can do this with it, unlike my 9mm.

[CCantu357]

I like the idea of having different power levels. Those subsonic, FBI loads are basically a .40 and seem ideal for urban home defense or taking a CC course. To me it is like shooting .38+P out of a .357, bascially two guns for the price of one.

[gandog56]

I like the idea of having different power levels. Those subsonic, FBI loads are basically a .40 and seem ideal for urban home defense or taking a CC course. To me it is like shooting .38+P out of a .357, bascially two guns for the price of one.

I only shoot .38 as cheap practice fodder out of my .357 mag. If I'm carrying it, I'm using the full blown mag rounds. I mean if you LIKE shooting .38 special, buy a .38 special.

[captaintrips]

I like the idea of having different power levels. Those subsonic, FBI loads are basically a .40 and seem ideal for urban home defense or taking a CC course. To me it is like shooting .38+P out of a .357, bascially two guns for the price of one.

Agreed.

Don't let these "full power or nothing" cowboys make you think you are less of a man because you're comfortable with a 180 grains going 980fps and not 1150......

"If you are going to shoot the weak stuff, you should just buy a 40".....they say....

I guess it's not just the democrats who are trying to tell me which gun I shouldn't have.

[sqlbullet]

Agreed Captian...And I love your username!

[captaintrips]

Agreed Captian...And I love your username!

Thanks!

[denclaste]

captaintrips,
After they blow up their gun due to one tiny error in the loading process they will have learned a valuable lesson; no process is perfect. If you think factory ammo or your own reloads are error proof; you are wrong. I'll keep my safety margin even if I lose a little velocity. Besides, I cant afford to beat my guns to pieces. They get shot every week and I like to keep them going.

[Dave84]

Pretty near fullpower but not nuclear Underwoods is the HPR 180 GR XTP. Shot a box up and it shot great. Kept the other 2 for carry ammo.