.40S&W 180gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion) Winchester Ranger Talon
Bare Gel: 13.8”/.68”
Through Denim: 14.3”/.70”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.4”/.64”
Through Wallboard: 13.1”/.66”
Through Plywood: 15.1”/.64”
Through Steel: 17”/.52”
Through Auto Glass: 12”/.61”
Note: other quality .40 S&W 180 gr. rounds have very similar performance.
10mm Norma 170gr(1350fps): (Penetration/Expansion) Norma load FBI tests from 1989.
No credible testing for full power 10mm loads presently.
No demin test at that time.
Bare Gel: 16.4”/.58”
Through Heavy Cloth: 17.8”/.52”
Through Wallboard: 17.2”/.54”
Through Plywood: 16.5”/.57”
Through Steel: 17.9”/.48”
Through Auto Glass: 12.3”/.55”
There is about a 15 year technology gap between these .40S&W and 10mm loads. However, the reduced power 180gr load of 1989 wasn't much different.
10mm 180gr(980fps): (Penetration/Expansion) 1989 FBI load Sierra JHP
Bare Gel: 13.6”/.59”
Through Heavy Cloth: 15.4”/.56”
Through Wallboard: 16.1”/.55”
Through Plywood: 14.3”/.57”
Through Steel: 15.3”/.50”
Through Auto Glass: 12.1”/.52”
There are no recent, reputable tests on 10mm ammunition that I know of--largely because law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, long ago switched to the .40. There is nothing inherently wrong with the 10mm, and, according to Dr. Gary Roberts, the 10mm is superior to the 9mm in sub-guns.
The longer 10mm cartridge necessitates larger magazines, which, in turn, necessitates larger gun grip sizes. Additionally, the high-velocity Norma FBI load required a bit heavier gun (Smith & Wesson 1076) to keep recoil at a reasonable level. And, again, the 10mm has higher pressures (more gun wear), more muzzle blast, more muzzle flash, and more recoil---all of which do nothing to increase performance.
Subsequently, the FBI abandoned the 10mm in favor of the .40, and the .40 has become the cartridge of choice for sidearms in most of the LE community. With the 10mm falling out of favor in LE and not enough demand in the civilian sector, ammunition manufacturers have not devoted effort to upgrade and expand 10mm offerings, and prices are higher.
Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with the 10mm. It is simply that current .40 ammunition outperforms available 10mm ammunition in terminal ballistics, and the .40 mitigates or eliminates other disadvantages of the 10mm.
Bare Gel: 13.8”/.68”
Through Denim: 14.3”/.70”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.4”/.64”
Through Wallboard: 13.1”/.66”
Through Plywood: 15.1”/.64”
Through Steel: 17”/.52”
Through Auto Glass: 12”/.61”
Note: other quality .40 S&W 180 gr. rounds have very similar performance.
10mm Norma 170gr(1350fps): (Penetration/Expansion) Norma load FBI tests from 1989.
No credible testing for full power 10mm loads presently.
No demin test at that time.
Bare Gel: 16.4”/.58”
Through Heavy Cloth: 17.8”/.52”
Through Wallboard: 17.2”/.54”
Through Plywood: 16.5”/.57”
Through Steel: 17.9”/.48”
Through Auto Glass: 12.3”/.55”
There is about a 15 year technology gap between these .40S&W and 10mm loads. However, the reduced power 180gr load of 1989 wasn't much different.
10mm 180gr(980fps): (Penetration/Expansion) 1989 FBI load Sierra JHP
Bare Gel: 13.6”/.59”
Through Heavy Cloth: 15.4”/.56”
Through Wallboard: 16.1”/.55”
Through Plywood: 14.3”/.57”
Through Steel: 15.3”/.50”
Through Auto Glass: 12.1”/.52”
There are no recent, reputable tests on 10mm ammunition that I know of--largely because law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, long ago switched to the .40. There is nothing inherently wrong with the 10mm, and, according to Dr. Gary Roberts, the 10mm is superior to the 9mm in sub-guns.
The longer 10mm cartridge necessitates larger magazines, which, in turn, necessitates larger gun grip sizes. Additionally, the high-velocity Norma FBI load required a bit heavier gun (Smith & Wesson 1076) to keep recoil at a reasonable level. And, again, the 10mm has higher pressures (more gun wear), more muzzle blast, more muzzle flash, and more recoil---all of which do nothing to increase performance.
Subsequently, the FBI abandoned the 10mm in favor of the .40, and the .40 has become the cartridge of choice for sidearms in most of the LE community. With the 10mm falling out of favor in LE and not enough demand in the civilian sector, ammunition manufacturers have not devoted effort to upgrade and expand 10mm offerings, and prices are higher.
Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with the 10mm. It is simply that current .40 ammunition outperforms available 10mm ammunition in terminal ballistics, and the .40 mitigates or eliminates other disadvantages of the 10mm.
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