Is the 10mm considered to OK for deer?

[teddy12b]

I was watching a TV show the other night called "Handguns" and they were talking about the 10mm.  I've never paid any attention to it in the past and probably wouldn't have given it a second thought until they mentioned a few times that it was fine for deer hunting.  Now I'm not trying to get into the different state laws, or the this state allows it but that one doesn't type of arguements.  In my state (Indiana) it's not legal for me it's just an academic discussion without any real life application. 

I just want to know if the caliber in a pistol is really a reasonable deer gun.  I've heard guys say they've taken deer with a 9mm or 45acp up close but that was in a pinch to feed the family way back in the day.  The way they were talking about the 10mm made it sound like it'd flatten deer within reasonable range.

I looked up 10mm pistols and saw the glock 20 full size 10mm with a 15rd mag and sells for less than $500.  With all the SHTF type of discussions going on out there a high cap 10mm may not be a bad idea, especially for less than $500 new in the box.

What do you all think of the 10mm as a deer gun?

[Lloyd Smale]

if you consider the 357 enough the 10mm is definately just as capable.

[Thebear_78]

The 10mm is an excellent round for close range deer hunting, out to 50-75 yards if you are able to make the shot.   Any good 180-200 grain JSP/JHP will work great.  I carry a glock 20 with a 6" lone wolf barrel regularly as bear protection.   My go to load is 200gr JFP @ 1325fps.   I also shoot som hard cast 220gr loads @ 1150fps.  I know for a fact that either of these loads will penetrate deep enough for big game.  My buddy put a 200gr JFP blazer round with compelete penetion on a 6" blackie, 2 shots, neck to exit out the ham complete penetration.   I have used the 180gr Xtp on whitetail, shot two does at under 25 yards while still hunting in corn fields.  

Properly outfitted, maybe with one of the doctor optics rear sight mounted red dot and a stout load with 200gr XTP, it would make a fine deer/black bear hunting round out to 75-100 yards.    Really any farther out than that pistol bullets start to drop like crazy.

This is my 10mm.  Glock 20 SF with adjustable night sights.

[Empty Quiver]

I have no real world experience. I have found that many 10mm rounds are "down" loaded to near .40S&W levels. Double
tap is routinely quoted as being stoutly loaded.

[kynardsj]

A full power 10mm is a bad dude. If I'm not mistaken, it to a .40 is like a 357 mag to a 38 special. Same diameter bullet, more power. A 10mm has plenty of power for deer within a reasonable range with the proper bullet.

[mcwoodduck]

if you consider the 357 enough the 10mm is definately just as capable.

+1
10mm is basically 41 mag in ballistics.
So if you will shoot deer with a 357, or 41 mag a 10mm in an auto will work just as well.
The only problem is the 10mm bullets are either Self defense or are target. 
And while many will point out that a deer is about same weight and mass as a human.  in hunting you do not care aboput over penitration where in Personal defense you do.
.41 Mag bullets are either hunting or are target.

[Mikey]

"What do you all think of the 10mm as a deer gun?"  Quite capable. 

[teddy12b]

After reading all of this I'm kinda jealous that my state won't allow it now.  That'd be kinda sweet to get glock reliability and capacity in a hunting pistol.  Don't get me wrong, I still like my S&W 44mag but especially if I was in bear country I'd take 15 rounds over 6 any day of the week.

[PA-Joe]

Check with your state wildlife hunting codes to make certain that you are allowed to use a semiauto for hunting. Can't use them here in PA.

[dan3]

I've used the M20 on whitetails out to @85yds - no problem. Only downer is the current price/availablity of factory ammo... handloading is great alternative.

[rawhidekid]

The 10mm can be a good deer gun , but watch out on which gun you get.  The bear-78 has an replacement barrel in his Glock.  Glock comes wih a barrel that has an unsupported ramp.  With hot loads you can blow out a case.  I worked at a shooting range and a customer had a Glock 10mm that was bulging the casess and when I showed him one empty case he quite shooting that load.  Barsto makes a great replacement barrel which will also allow you to use lead bullets.

[coyotejoe]

One of Ted Nugent's shows displayed him with his 10mm Glock popping away at a deer he had wounded. That deer was up and going for quite a while after what he called a "heart shot", not so long after taking a few more.

[myronman3]

blame the shooter for that, not the round.   
  the 10mm?  it is one of my favorite cartridges. 

[Lloyd Smale]

I once watched an episode where ted shot a rhino with his 10mm. Now thats stretching it and he didnt do a very good job with it but ive seen enough pigs and deer shot with one to know it works on them.

One of Ted Nugent's shows displayed him with his 10mm Glock popping away at a deer he had wounded. That deer was up and going for quite a while after what he called a "heart shot", not so long after taking a few more.

[Empty Quiver]

I think some of that stuff Ted does borders on stunts. The pistol "backup" is foolish unless you can demonstrate using it on occasion. It's hard to get a Grizz to charge as you are field dressing an elk, what with the seven crew members around and all the back slapping and shouted Nugeism's.

He's carrying a lot of water for the 10mm crowd and I applaud that, but a rhino hunt needs more than a 10mm backup gun.