.45ACP, .357 Magnum, or 10mm Auto?

Question

These 3 are probably my favorite handgun cartridges. I can't really choose just one as an overall favorite, because they all have their moments (wow that was deep)

In any situation overall, which cartridge would you prefer? (I'd stick with the .357 magnum)

For self defense, I think the .357 is probably best. The .45ACP is probably a close second, but people tell me you can't use .45ACP for hunting. So the .357 probably wins here.

I think the 10mm Auto is too unwieldy for a self defense situation (unless you're jacked , then it's a perfect round) so it might be better for hunting.

Answer 1

Out of the three the 45APC is my favorite but then I also like the 357 and 10mm.Thank God we can have as many guns as we want here in the USA.

Answer 2

The .45 ACP is my fav for sure it has the most history of all the rounds you named and is a good choice for CCW. The .357 Mag is better for CCW than the .45 since it tends to stay wherever you put it. And they had a problem with the 10mm, it would go through a persons head, then another, then another....

Oh and Derek the .40 S&W doesn't have anything on the .45 ACP in the power department the .40 is just faster.

Answer 3

Out of those three id say 10mm, but personally, i prefer the 40 S&W for self defense. it produces as much power as the .45 and holds more ammo. I say 10mm because it has good power, good capacity and you can even get a light load on it that matches the 40 s&w's power for more controlability in rapid fire. the 10mm auto is also well suited for hunting

Answer 4

I go with H on the Glock20.  The Glock has the ability to become 3 different calibers by just changing out barrels.  You can use the 10mm for that high power knockdown for hunting or "lightning strike" hits in self defense mode.  You can then go to Lone-Wolf Distributors and buy a .357Sig Barrel and load the G20 up w/ .357s or you can buy a .40 barrel and load those.

The OTHER option you have is that you can get a 10mm (Glock & Kimber are the only ones avail that I know of at the time) and either use full power loads or get the slow FBI rounds which are 10mm casings with .40 loads.  2 powers, 1 gun, no barrel swap needed.

Oh, BTW, I love my Glock20.......

Answer 5

i like the 357 for hunting .the 45 or 10mm just for up close using like at work.

Answer 6

For more than a dozen years I've trusted my life to a Glock Model 20 in 10mm.  This one does it all.  It has as much power at a 100 yards as the .45 acp has at the muzzle.  It is good protection against two-legged predators and four-legged predators.  I don't find my Model 20 too unwieldy for self-defense as it is no larger than the Glock Model 21 .45 acp and is hardly larger than a full-size 1911.  Additionally my 10mm has night sights and 15+1 ammo capacity.  It is powerful, user-friendly, accurate, hi cap, rugged and dependable.   It can double as a hunter for up to deer-size game.  

I'm not ready to put away my .357 Magnum revolvers but my 10mm is still the one I would reach for if I were in dire straits.

H

Answer 7

I carry a Springfield Armory 1911 tricked out as much as possibly able in .45 of course. I also have a S&W model 19 in .357 along with 1 Colt King Cobra in .357 and 1 Colt Python in of course .357.  I have hunted with the .357 for years and could'nt be happier with the performance, unfortunately i have also taken human life with both [SOMALIA] and both worked just fine, both are excellent for defensive and offensive situations. As far as those saying you can not hunt with a .45 are true to an extent, legally you can't, but tell that to some of the meat i have ate in years prior.

Answer 8

my favorite is the .357 magnum

Answer 9

Even though I own a .45, I'd want a .357 for overall.

Answer 10

I personally stick with .45ACP.

1) Almost immediate availability of ammo if you are traveling.

2) Generally the firearm used for this caliber will be semi-automatic and be faster at reloading another magazine in an emergency.

.357 is a great cartridge, but it can be slower on a reload, and it has a buttload more kick out of a revolver if the barrel is a shorty.

Go to the average gunshop in the boonies and see what if they have 10mm....

Also, if you are working in police, security or such and you run out of ammo, if you all have the same caliber, anyone can loan you some to save your life.

Answer 11

Get a 500 S&W Wussy!

Answer 12

The 125gr .357 magnum hollowpoint is still king of ballistic wounding despite the increased design/performance of other shells (9/40/45 trio).

BUT. .357 magnum )and even it's weak parentthe .38 spl) are incredibly expensive now (all that brass they use!) and revolvers of good quality are so expensive.  Who would have thought that a Glock would go down to $499 while a S&W 686 would soar to $600!  Kind of sad.  As far as 10mm is concerned, I am one of the "10mm is too much like .41 Mag" crowd.

My favorite shells are the .45ACP, 9mm, and .22.  .17M2 would be if gun makers would get their heads out of their a**es.

Answer 13

I'd have to agree with you, I have all 3 but my favorite is .357 for most things. I like my .45 for concealed carry because it's a little thinner of a gun than the other 2, and the 10 mil does work well for hunting (hogs at least, never tried it on anything else)

Answer 14

Probably .357 mag for all around hunting/self defense.  Though unless you're hunting some insane big game, .45ACP will bring down whitetails and such, no problem.  .357 mag really is a great caliber.