FlyingScot
Lil-Rokslider
Why not look at a Ruger 10mm revolver if your sold on the 10? Or a good old S&W 657 4" mountain gun in 41 mag or S&W 629 mountain gun in 44 mag. 10's are very expensive to shoot, wally world is a source for 44 ammo usually cheap. The auto has its place and will work but a field gun is likely to get shot once or twice ? Either the 41 and 44 have more power and have tailored loads for purchase for big bear defense.
If a revolver is what you want, 10mm doesn't make a ton of sense unless you already have others in the stable and want to share ammo, nevermind how awful the moonclips you need for a rimless case can be when they get the slightest bit bent. I'd go straight to a .41 or .44 mag, as you said.
If you're willing to look beyond Walmart, ammo cost is very much in the favor of 10mm. You can find 10mm (Magtech, S&B, etc) for $0.28/round, while the cheapest .44 mag is all $0.40/round and up.
Proper 10mm is absolutely on par with .41 magnum, but that's been discussed quite a bit on here. That said, just as we overthink our rifle caliber choices (and it's a lot of fun to do so on here!), we keep right on going when it comes to handguns. Far as I know, there isn't any proper tracking of hunting sidearm defense use, but for those that have done the digging, they confirm the universal truth that shot placement and having sufficient penetration to reach the vitals are king, everything else is just icing on the cake.
Having a bigger entry wound and larger wound channel as the bullet expands are certainly good things, but not at the expense of being able to put repeated shots through the boiler room until the threat is dead or running. Leaving capacity out of it (if you need 15 rounds, I think fate has it out for you anyways), proficiently shooting a DA revolver both quickly and accurately is very rewarding, but it takes way more practice and focus than typical semiautomatics. I'd wager most hunters using their sidearm to defend themselves, who practice with their pistols a few times a year if at all, are likely going to be in short supply of both at the time.
Edit: Don’t mean to sound like I’m crapping on wheelguns, I’m very much a fan! Just not for this purpose!
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