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I know Smith has done some 10mm chambered revolvers (because a friend has one and I've shot it). The question is, can you also shoot .40 S&W in one of these, and if so, are there any problems such as horrible accuracy?
 

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The .40S&W is a down loaded 10mm so if the round chambers it won't blow the gun up. Seems like the 10mm was more than the FBI could handle so they got Smith to load it down.
 

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I would guess (not the biggest expert) that it would be rather similar to shooting .38 Spl. rounds in a .357 Magnum revolver. Doable, but the chambers would have to be cleaned well afterwards. The chambers should hold the bullets steady, until they get to the forcing cone.
 

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I know this isn't exactly responsive to the question that was asked, but the solution to this issue for a hand loader would be to just load 10mm cases to .40S&W levels.

I do this all the time for my .357 and .44 Magnums. I always use the brass the pistol's chambers are sized for, then soften the load to the best charge/bullet combination for accuracy. For example, my target load in .44 Magnum brass is a 200 grain RNFP loaded with 6 grains of Universal for about 900 fps.

As David E points out, the problem with using shorter brass is that you get an ugly build-up of carbon between the mouth of the shorter case and the ridge that's machined into the chamber for the longer case.
 

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I know Smith has done some 10mm chambered revolvers (because a friend has one and I've shot it). The question is, can you also shoot .40 S&W in one of these, and if so, are there any problems such as horrible accuracy?
Snake,

Just like .38 Special in a .357...will require more frequent and vigorous cleaning of the chambers. But other than that no consistent problems have been reported that I'm aware of.

The notion that the .40 S&W is a lower pressure version of the 10mm is a bit misleading. It may produce lighter ballistics, but there pressure difference is only 2,500 psi. The .40 S&W is a high intensity handgun cartridge in its own right.

To me, the ability to shoot .40 S&W in a 10mm revolver is a convenience, not necessarily preference. It's nice because there are much more factory defense loads available, and if you don't handload, then practice ammunition is cheaper and much more available.

If you're a handloader, I can't think of really any reason to ever use the .40 cases. You can load to the same ballistics in the 10mm case at lower pressure, making your brass last a LONG time.
 

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Back when we had 10 mms & 40's both in service we figured out that there had been some instances of the 40 being fired in a 10 mm. Back on the old Gun Zone site, Dean had a article posted dealing with this in auto pistols.

In revolvers? Outside the dreaded carbon ring like in .38/.357 ( By the time I got those out of my .357, I decided I'd never do that again. And I haven't-shoot .38;s that is.)the only thing I can think of is related to the relative pressures. That is, the chamber throats are going to get hit ....differently.

I thought I'd read something about a gun with both 10 mm & .40 cylinders (Ruger?). If I'm not imagining things, no significant difference in accuracy.
 

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There was recently a question on another forum about ammo for a Smity chambered in 10mm...perhaps they're starting to gain in popularity. Sounds like it's time for Starline or someone else to come up with a 10mm AutoRim case.

Not that I would ever cheat on you guys with another forum.
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Snake,

Just like .38 Special in a .357...will require more frequent and vigorous cleaning of the chambers. But other than that no consistent problems have been reported that I'm aware of.

The notion that the .40 S&W is a lower pressure version of the 10mm is a bit misleading. It may produce lighter ballistics, but there pressure difference is only 2,500 psi. The .40 S&W is a high intensity handgun cartridge in its own right.

To me, the ability to shoot .40 S&W in a 10mm revolver is a convenience, not necessarily preference. It's nice because there are much more factory defense loads available, and if you don't handload, then practice ammunition is cheaper and much more available.

If you're a handloader, I can't think of really any reason to ever use the .40 cases. You can load to the same ballistics in the 10mm case at lower pressure, making your brass last a LONG time.
Thanks for the detailed answer.

Reason I asked was, I was thinking about the various ".41 frame" size guns such as the Python/Trooper, Smith L, and Ruger GP100. But AFAIK none of these guns have ever been chambered in .41, at least not as a 6-shooter. Is the cylinder maybe not QUITE big enough for 6 .41s? Okay, then, how about .40s? (Smith's 10mm was on the N frame, I believe.) Don't think I've ever heard of any of these guns in 10 or .40.

Now I realize that even if a 10mm will fit, you run the risk of re-inventing the Smith 19 on a larger scale--just a little too much cartridge for long life in the gun. So what about .40s in one, then? (I didn't realize that the pressures were so close.) I'd love to have a gun of this size shooting .40s from snowflake clips. Of course, if you made it, you would HAVE to make it in 10mm "just because" and "why not" but reasonable people will be happy shooting .40s in it, just as we mainly shoot .38s of one sort or another in our .357s MOST of the time.

All just more mental masturbation, I suppose...still, you gotta think about SOMETHING interesting all day at work....
 

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For the curious, with more money than they need:
https://charterfirearms.com/collections/pitbull

Let us know how it all works out.

Geoff
Who traded off a .44 Bulldog from the original company when I ran out of 200 gr. Wadcutters.
If I were to buy a new Pitbull I'd go with the .45ACP. Years ago I traded my AMT .45ACP Backup. Kind of bulky for a pocket pistol but shot true. I hated the roll pins that held it together. If the pins had been regular pins I'd have most likely kept it.
 

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Discussion Starter · #12 ·
If I were to buy a new Pitbull I'd go with the .45ACP. Years ago I traded my AMT .45ACP Backup. Kind of bulky for a pocket pistol but shot true. I hated the roll pins that held it together. If the pins had been regular pins I'd have most likely kept it.
I tend to agree. If I were getting a 5-shot Pit Bull, I'd go with .45ACP or .44 Special rather than .40.

Just read a writeup of the new Kimber revolver--a 6-shot .357--with 3" barrel. I was VERY impressed. It's not a pretty gun but darned if it doesn't push just about all the buttons I want in a carry revolver. I might start a new thread on it sometime soon, if time permits. Would love for Colt to put a 3" barrel on the new Cobra, and then get to handle and shoot the two side by side.
 

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
Kimber is DAO, which negates the advantages of a revolver in my opinion.
Geoff
Who has a S&W M-38 and M-638...as most folks here know.
It's not necessarily a deal-breaker for me for a defensive revolver. And there are many who would consider is a GOOD thing, including Br'er Mas.
 
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