Snyd in your opinion what would you take to the woods a 357 mag with 200gr casts or a 10mm with casts disregarding preference for wheel guns over auto just on straight performance? Been debating between the two but haven't had much time to research cast loads and ballistics between the two.
Well I'll say this. MY opinion doesn't matter and really ain't worth a hill of beans. I've tried to become a student of handgunners that paved the way and figured out all this stuff. I try to point others that direction. I've then applied those findings to my own world. For me that's been casting, loading and shooting 45's... 45 auto, 45 Colt ( standard and Ruger only loads), 454 Casull and soon to be 500 Linebaugh. Well, and 38 spec for plinkin. I continue to seek to learn.
I have no experience with the 10mm but guys like Daniel and some others have killed with them. A local guy here who used to work with Fish and Game who has dispatched hundreds of moose and bear both griz and blackies and is on the board of NRA, teaches local handgun and bear defense classes always goes back to the Ruger GP100 with 180gr cast boolits. He says most people can't accuratly shoot much more than that. I tend to beleive him. I'd say his opinion matters and makes sense for one that does not shoot a lot. Also, he like myself believe that the revolver is more reliable and easier to deal with in the field for most people. I realize servicemen run autos but they also receive a lot of training in what to do when they run into problems. A revolver is a no brainer. Pull the trigger or cock the hammer and pull the trigger.
It seems to me that for woods defense and/or hunting that a guy might as well carry the largest caliber in a firearm that he is willing to carry. And load it with the heaviest boolit practical for that cartridge. For example. If you are willing to pack a 7.5" Ruger Blackhawk it might as well be in a 45 Colt instead of a 357. Why? The 45 Colt in the Ruger will shoot up to a 360gr .452 at 1200fps and do it at lower chamber pressure than a 300gr 44mag. It will punch a larger, longer hole which give us more margin for error in an "oh shit" moment. I'd rather have the 360gr .452 hitting hide, muscle and bone off angle than a 180 or 200gr .358. the beeger heavier boolit will make a beeger looonger hole. More chance of hitting cns. And more than likely 2 holes. 2 large holes will bleed more than one small one. Dont' forget fat on a critter like a bear, it can close up up a small hole in a hurry and stop that small, light bullet from getting where it needs to be. Having said that, a guy needs to be able to shoot, that's why I cast and load my own. Price Corbon, Buffalo Bore or other handgun hunting ammo and it's spendy. It'd cost a pretty penny to shoot 2 or 300 pounds of lead using that ammo.
If a guy is dead set on packing an auto then might as well shoot the 10 but why stop there? Why not shoot a 45 win mag? 300gr .452 at 1100ish. Or a Desert Eagle 50 AE? I'll stick with the wheelguns.
My next gun is a custom 500 Linebaugh in a Ruger Blackhawk 5.5 inch barrel and is being built. .510 525gr at about 1000-1100 fps or 450 gr at up to 1400 and it's a 30,000psi cartridge. Should be fun! well and maybe a little painful
