10mm vs. .357 Magnum For Alaskan Bear Protection Episode 2: Buffalo Bore HardCast 

Big .357 Magnum Fan !!!🤠

Love that gp100! The bronze turned out very nice

I believe that once you run out of ammo the Ruger will make a better war hammer than the polymer framed Glock. 🤔

Both seem great. Personally I'm a revolver guy so I love the .357

My hubby has a 357 Ruger, with only a 4" barrel. For black bear protection here in Florida, he bought the same Buffalo Bore ammo tested in this video. We feel a lot safe, during our early morning walks - carrying this gun & ammo load !

Thank God! I was worried the. 357 might not be enough. I personally can't shoot much hotter than full house .357. Simply put my wrists aren't as strong as they once were and I would likely just miss with a full house. 44 mag. A hit of .357 is better than a miss with a .44

Very good results out of both. Semiauto fans have user friendly 10mm with greater capacity, wheel gun fans have serious knockdown power with recoil friendly 357. I call it even, simply because have always preferred 6 shooters.

Holy crap! The .357 Magnum is screaming at 973 ft lbs of muzzle energy!!!!! *Grins delightfully*

While I have no problem with the 10mm, .357 mag has been around and helping people stay healthy since 1935. In all honesty, the best one is one that a given person can shoot the best and can carry in a way to be unobtrusive.

I like them both! I stand by my 10mm! Thank you for your time and hard work sir!

Not really a problem for me , we have black bears in parts of the state I live in so either would be fine . I do love that revolver you have, it's really nice. Thanks for sharing.

Great video. Both rounds kick butt. The 10mm penetrated slightly more but the 357 mag seemed to tear the bottles apart more with that 973 foot pounds of energy. I do not have a 10mm (yet) but do have a 7 shot S&W 686 357 mag with a 4 inch barrel. I love it.

357 backs up my 454. Both Ruger Revolvers of course. 👍

Gonna be a late comment but I'd stick with 357! My main gun would be my 444 Marlin!! Great video!!! Hope you never have to shoot a bear.🐻🐻🐻

Dad unfortunately passed away October 12th. I am the oldest of 4 boys. I say all the guns are all of ours but legally they have to go to a name. We have all decided that we don't care who's name just we can all use them. He bought a Ruger 5.7x28mm in February and never got to put 1 round through it. He also has (had) a 45 Smith and Wesson 1911, a Taurus g2c Millennium 9mm, 32acp 6 shot revolver, 357mag Colt Trooper. Because I am the oldest my 3 brothers are looking to me to do my best and make choices although we have agreed they are all for everyone. This is not including rifles or shotguns! (I believe 17 total rifles and 5 or 7 total pistols) many of these are handed down and unfortunately for most of them I am the only one that remembers the stories of how the guns were acquired. It is hard for anybody to lose their grandfather and especially their father. Sorry for my rant! Ty for the video

Not to be in favor of one caliber vs the other but if you have ever taken game with a 357 magnum and seen the destructive contact force it offers over total penetration, it removes parts vs. slow slug penetration and to say that one best the other if you hand load you can get almost the same results minus the 44 mag it reigns king in energy and destructive force depending on, once again handload capabilities.

That 357 180 grain must me going 1860 FPS out of a carbine man. 357 mag all day for me cause get more velocity in longer barrels in comparison to 10 mm in carbine slower

I own the Glock20 Gen4 10mm if that means anything but I love the 10mm round.

I’ll take the 10. I think the fact you have 16 rounds vs 6 gives the advantage to the 10mm. It’s nice to see this resurgence of 10’s and anmo offerings. I’m liking that new M&P 10 a lot. Awesome content here as always.

Thanks a lot. 😣 I just bought a Glock 29, and I place part of the blame on your videos. (Keep up the great content!)

I figured the 10mm would penetrate a little deeper due to being a heavier round, I was right for once lol. Both are powerful rounds to say the least. Excellent video as usual Chuck, God bless you and the family 🇺🇸

Great job on the comparison. I like how you've added the energy comparison slide and also the weight retention and not just shot jugs with both. I'd say whatever the shooter is more comfortable with then go with that firearm. I'd take a Marlin 1894 in 357 mag with a sling and the ruger on the hip. Thanks man. Keep up the awesome content.

Either one, your well represented!

Neither are guaranteed or likely to drop a bear with one shot, but I think the capacity of the 10mm will be the best advantage, especially when firing under stress.

Much better test this time. It was a lot more even and comparable. Thank you!

I took my GP 100 4” to Alaska last year(fishing). Used the same Buffalo Bore ammo and luckily, never had to verify penetration on a bear. While I was there I was wishing that I had brought a 44 instead! But since I don’t own one, I took what I had.

Honestly, I thought both bullets would penetrate more being hard cast. That cerakote job looks sharp!

I'd wear one on each hip! Thanks for the info. I have the GP 100 with new Altamont grip, love it!

There's a reason the Taylor Knockdown formula focuses on momentum, rather than energy. For a big bruin, penetration is your friend. They're genetically predisposed to shrug off flesh wounds. They're kind of Monty Python 'Black Knight' badasses that way...

Always an advantage in additional capacity, but I would feel pretty comfortable with either .357 or 10mm for the smaller bears, for the black bear I run into around where I live, I generally carry a 10mm. My old man ran into big bears in the 50's hunting in Alaska, he ran with hopped up .357s initially but dropped those quickly when .44 mag came out.

I have 1 box each in 9mm, 40s&w, & 45acp for camping. Depending on which gun I decide to bring I will always have this ammo, Its amazing how the 9mm was able to take down a bear in Alaska from a s&w short barrel, when the fishing guide had come across a rough bear that charged him.

Good video. Both of those bullets really hammered the target but I can see why the 10 mm is popular. Thanks for sharing and take care.

But, 9mm rivals .357 Magnum?! LOL. That long revolver barrel is a beast with that ammo.

Like these, thanks, G20 is now a hiking companion, chosen partly with you Alaskans doing these videos

Difficult choice, however I would probably have to say 10mm for me. Simply due to the capacity and penetration. However that GP100 is sweet! Really like the finish and it puts up great numbers since Ruger reworked it!

It's 357 mag for me. If I need more power, I'd pick up a 44mag.

10 mm is a pretty good self-defense round for Bears because you got the capability of having a standard magazine of 15 rounds and they also make extended magazines for them as well given the 357 definitely has more power it's revolver frame and lack of ammo capacity I would prefer to have the 10 mm because it would give me more chances.

Good video. My outdoors carry is a Ruger SP101 4.2" with that same 180gr Buffalo Bore. Here in Minnesota we don't have brown bears. I figure that load is enough for anything around here, with the exception of a moose.

Just got my G40. You and Chuke convinced me to make the buy. I couldn’t be happier

I might be wrong but the higher the velocity the more resistance water will provide? You could see with the higher energy/velocity .357 the first two jugs were destroyed dispersing most of the energy even though the .357 had a smaller profile. Both guns were beautiful, though.

The 357 kind of seemed to initially dump more energy though, blew that jug straight in half, and it least if you jam in into a bears gut it wouldn't be out of battery. Whatever your more comfortable with I'd say is the better choice

At 3:48 wow that's some dirty ammo . I wonder how these would stand up to 44 magnum ?

That GP 100 looks beautiful! I wouldn't feel under gunned with either!

Trying to recall the comparison with these two and when you tested your .44 magnum in the 2.75" Ruger Kodiak redhawk?

Even though I own a .357 magnum and a Glock 20, I would most definitely choose the 10mm every time. Considering the combination of ballistics and power, 10mm is a total beast of a round.

We don't have any grizzly where I live in Kentucky but we have something more scary and dangerous. It's my mother in law. Sometimes she gets loose and runs out from under the porch and bites people on the ankles. Police said we would have to put her down if she got loose again. Best chance of surviving an incounter is to lay out some zanex and some whiskey and lucky strike cigarettes. 😊

Either would be a fine backup to my primary backup but both of these would be a shorter barrel version as my last ditch effort to keep breathing. Rifle, followed by a.5" 44 mag with hardcast, followed by the "get this furry slobbering creature off of me" gun. Already own a 3" GP100 Wiley Clapp so I guess that would be my choice for "pinned under the bear" work. Great video Chuck!

I'm still digging that cerakote.

Excellent. Thanks. I don't have a 10mm, but man that is something you have there. That specific model would definitely do just fine. I tend to break plastic clips and connectors more when it's cold out - so, I have always wondered if polymer framed firearms fatigue any faster when discharged in cold weather. Anyway, that wouldn't stop me from wanting one now. Thanks.

Thank-you for making this vid. You just helped me make up my mind. I've been leaning towards the 10mm. This confirms it. I was trying to decide between these two. So glad to have come across this vid. I no longer have to be paralyzed.

The faster a bullet goes, the more resistance it meets and depending on its construction the less penetration it may get. Dangerous game bullets used in Africa excel at around 2400 fps for maximum damage and penetration which is a far cry from the 3000 fps plus that one gets with smaller caliber magnums. A fast bullet penetrating game is surrounded by a narrow cavity created by its passage. It has a conical shock wave. A dangerous game bullet's ideal shape has a wide meplat and works best at speeds just above 2100 to 2200 Fps. The magical number being 2400 fps. A heavy slow moving bullet with a flat meplat creates a different cavity. It is a phenomenon called "super cavitation" where the bullet is not only surrounded but preceded by a shock wave that creates a much wider cavity and more damage while penetrating deeper. This does not occur with fast pointed bullets and it doesn't necessarily mean that the ideal bullet for a bear is the same one that is ideal for a Cape Buffalo. This could explain why the slower 10mm bullet penetrated more than the faster 357. Energy does matter but it isn't all about energy and it's quite possible that the same 180 grains bullet at 1350 fps for example; may penetrate a bit more than it did at the higher speed achieved which is quite surprising considering it is a seriously heavy for caliber bullet.

Ether might get the job, too many variables and circumstances. I have a 7 shot Ruger GP 100 in .357 and even shooting Buffalo Bore 180 gn'rs follow up shots are pretty quick. Precision cast makes a nice hard cast 180 gn bullet. Love the looks of your .357 with the new treatment. Keep up the good work.

Great Video Chuck. Your content is excellent as usual. I love the way you let the 357 "stretch its legs" and play with the big boys. FWIW I have loaded a bunch of 200 gr .358 hardcast with H-110. Without pushing it, it gives 1,200 fps out of a 4" bbl. I wonder how that would compare to the best of 10mm on a hot load?

I have both AND a LAR Grizzly in 50AE. The 50 is heavy at 53oz empty but the Glock 10mm is my consistent carry when out in the bush. Custom bronze 200gr bullets @1378fps(avg). Does the job.

Great ammo. Huge improvement. I think they are very comparable. For reliability I would choose the wheel gun. Still think copper might penetrate better.

I enjoy my GP100 7 shot. It's not harsh shooting hot 357 loads. I would take it to back up my shotgun. Good content.

Given both function reliably, I'll take accuracy and penetration. Also 15 rounds of 10mm or 6 rounds of 357 in my opinion is a pretty easy choice given both do about the same damage. One thing to consider is when the confrontation becomes physical the 357 edges out the 10mm do to the chances of going out of battery. It doesn't take that much at muzzle contact on most auto's to render them useless. Also if anything gets caught in the slide,(hair, clothing, mud or debris), or chamber you have problems. With the revolver if it isn't putting pinching force on the cylinder or downward force on the hammer, it's likely to go boom. Nice job! Keep'em coming my friend!

So from my perspective on bear defense. Near me it would honestly be angry moose but either way. I see anything that consistently is 1100 fps and up is going to net solid results for defense in most any situation. Love the video!

Just got a .357 for my secondary gun for woods carry, plenty enough for my area along with my xdm elite 10mm

Impressive ballistics from that Ruger, but I think I’d choose the G40 if I was out in BFE just because of the capacity and the ability to carry an additional 15 round magazine. 🤷‍♂️

If a Glock 20 was used do you still think it would best the 357 in the penetration test? I have the same gp100. It’s awesome!

Good video! 10 mm definitely has the advantage with the heavier bullet. I like 357 magnum but 10 mm does make a lot of sense. You could always be that one guy and carry both.

I like the 10mm but I'll take the 357. I think the 10mm penetrated a little further because it was moving slower, the faster it goes through the water the more energy is lost. That's why harpoons work so well in water.

This is what makes this channel awesome - ACTUAL TESTING! In my mind, a 45 Super or even 45 ACP with a heavy enough projectile COULD be optimal. Options are nice! Do you have a Patreon?

Thank you for this video comparison. For the Kentucky Grizzly, I carry my S&W 460 Magnum as my primary gun, and backup with my S&W 357 in my left shoulder holster and my Sig Sauer P220 Legion 10mm in my right shoulder holster.

One day at the range, I was teaching a NRA Basic Pistol Class to accomplished shooters as a part of a 3 day NRA Basic/NRA BIT/NRA Pistol Instructor crash course. The temperatures at the outdoor range was between 3 and 6 degrees Farenheit. We had a variety of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols at our disposal for the students to shoot their qualifications with. Every single semi-auto had problems - Rugers, Berettas, Glocks, Smith & Wessons, etc... We only had a few revolvers on the range that day. The Taurus M66 .357 ran like a champ, the Ruger Single Six 22LR ran flawlessly, and even the Heritage Rough Rider 22LR (a $129.99 gun) functioned without any issues. So the original question that was posed was "Which bear-protection and/or Alaskan capable defensive side-arm would be more effective?" My personal experience lends me to believe that a Taurus, S&W, or Ruger revolver in .357 magnum that is loaded with Buffalo Bore ammunition would be more reliable in the winter conditions that winter hunting/hiking or any outdoor activities in Alaska might offer. I would never trust my life to a Colt Python or Anaconda - the overly tight tolerances make for great competition guns, but those tiny cylinder gaps might play havoc on an otherwise great revolver in temperatures well below freezing. I carry a 1981 vintage Taurus M66 .357 loaded with 180gr Buffalo Bore whenever I am hunting or hiking. When in-town, my everyday carry is a Glock 43x or 48 or a CZ 2075 RAMI (all 10-round 9mm, all loaded with Federal LE HST hollowpoints). My point? Bear defense, with Alaskan bear defense specifically mentioned in the parameters. .357 Magnum revolver is more reliable than a semi-automatic Glock in temperatures that are well below freezing. A frozen boomstick is a short metal club, not a gun.

One would think we this figured by now. Great video! I run an old 66 and got the hard cast rounds for self protection. They fire hard and hit hard. But aggressive bears don't stop attacking quickly according to hunting guides. Trying for 10mm but industry is super backlogged. So I run my old shotgun.

Cheers! 10mm is the best MM

I own 3 .357's. Taurus 687 Tracker in 6",seven (7) shot , A Pietta SAA in .357 4 1/4" and a Rossi Triple Black .357 / .38 lever in 16". I also own a Glock 40 MOS in 10mm. With that being said , How Will a 7.62x39 in AR platform or 5.56 do against a Bear ? Asking for a friend

Great video! I originally thought the .357 mag would penetrate more, due to the velocity readings, but the outcome was interesting.

Great Vid. I feel .357 takes the trophy here. Enough penetration with more energy. 6rds with a speed loader or 2 is capacity enough for me. Easier to shoot=better accuracy. Rds cheaper,more available. Also that is one sexy Ruger!

If I had to worry about bears where I live I would have kept my 460 I have a 357 magnum ruger convertible still so I'm good. Good video.

Have these 2, but in 357 Colt Python, and a 41 Rem. Mag in S&W air soft...revolver... It shoots like a soft glove in the hand... Elmer Keith is my pick of the 3...

It is my understanding the 357 Buffalo Bore round is the original 357 load that was used before Smith and Wesson neutered it so 357 rounds could be shot with their F frame without just completely destroying it.

The physics drag equation is similar to the kinetic energy equation in that the velocity is squared. Meaning that the faster the it is going the amount of drag goes up significantly. All things being equal a heavier bullet with the same energy as a lighter faster bullet will penetrate deeper. I bet if you wanted an even more impressive number for kinetic energy you could go to a lighter bullet in the .357 but you would likely lose penetration once again everything else being equal a 140 grain brass or copper machined homogeneous solid may deform less and penetrate better.

Ruger is a well built revolver with old fashioned appeal but if u get surrounded by a wolf pack 15+1 will suddenly seem much more useful than 6

Either would be fine with me if I couldn't have a .44 mag or hot loaded 45 Colt.

Holy cow! That bronze gp100 is absolutely stunning!

In this comparison, calculated from the values listed on the box, the 10mm bullet should have greater momentum, but according to the actual values recorded for velocity the .357 has greater momentum. The .357 also has 1.7% greater sectional density and 16% greater momentum density, so it should deliver greater penetration. It also has greater weight retention and thus greater retention of momentum density. There's a reason they don't use water jugs as a substitute for animal tissue in ballistics tests. I would speculate, in a real world test on big game, the .357 mag would out-penetrate 10mm.

I shoot my .357 gp 100 really well so thats what id carry! I like how you presented facts. Not simple opinions.

I think that I'd take the 16 rounds of the 10mm as a primary backup. Secondary backup ... a .357 Magnum, probably a Ruger Redhawk Alaskan or a Smith N-frame, either with 8 shots.

With similar penetration I would go with the round that has more kinetic energy dumped into the target.

You ever shot Lehigh solids like the extreme defenders or penetrators? Do they deform like this hardcast? Im surprised they deform like that, I thought they held up well. Do you know what the most solid / hardest types of bullets are? Edit: After reading the expansion of the .357 Im even more shocked. Outperformed some hollowpoints like a 9mm critical duty. How big does a JSP expand :0!?

Remington 870 (6+1)(alternating slugs and 00 or 000 Buck) and a Glock 20 in a chest rig. If I’m feeling frisky add a Springfield Armory XDM Elite OSP 10mm 3.8” on my strong side hip.

With an automatic there is the possibility of a malfunction that would not occur with a revolver. In a contact situation you may only get one shot off before the slide fails to go forward. Pressed against the bear you might even push the slide out of battery preventing it from firing at all.

Buffalo Bore needs to give lessons on how to manufacture 357magnum ammo. Great job by Tim on this one 👏

They're both very powerful 👏 I personally believe either will get it done.......

Jerry Miculek said a .357 can be loaded with a 230 gr bullet which isn't a factory loading of course. His favorite caliber in an 8 shot revolver. He also said a 185 bullet will go through 5' of gelatin.

To answer the question in part .357, and my Mossberg 12 gauge. ( round with one in the pipe and an 8 round revolver. If I wanted to I would also carry a .357/.38 Lever action over the shoulder as a third option. Almost have the currency for the last.

Buffalo Bore makes decent ammo. I like both calibers and I own both. But, I'd carry the ten for most situations. I love shooting 357, but the recoil and delay in follow up shots would keep me from carrying it.

Heck, these days the water jugs are just as important. That way I can enjoy a glass of water after fighting off the zombie invasion.

The Ruger looks way cooler and would be my pick for deer hunting. For bear defense, I'd take the Glock all day because of the capacity and slightly increased penetration.

Thanks for the video. If I was in Alaska I would carry something a bit bigger. In my home state of MN I have both .357 and 10mm available to depending on my circumstances. There is a good population of Black Bears in my area and though they can get to be large typically they aren't aggressive. And the Timber Wolves usually avoid people as much as possible. So a heavy jacketed bullet in either is sufficient.

.357 (REVOLVER) is my choice NOW, TOMORROW, ALWAYS. No feeder ramp issues (rack, slap, and tap). In fact, one reliable shot from a revolver is far better than a maybe, and perhaps, or I "hope so" in a semi-auto platform. Oh, and by the way... FYI a semi-auto pistol will NEVER fire when pressed against a fury or cloth target because of the slide platform design.

I don’t trust a semi-automatic unless I put at least 200 rounds of my carry ammo without jams. And the Buffalo Bore is about three dollars a round. I can trust a revolver with many fewer rounds thru it. When the brown bare is attacking, I want reliability over magazine capacity.

Either are impressive. Bigger is better. But like you noted, Alaskans are carrying the 10 more & more. Thanks.

I am impressed by the outcome as I have seen other comparison videos and the 357 does more explosive damage as it moves faster. But with 5 to 6 rounds you better be on point ! Depends how you feel and where you are going. ! 10 extra rounds are 10 available rounds as long as your weapon performs as expected. 357 and the 10mm as the backup or reversed. ! Depending on where you are !

A a magazine fed gun could give you problems in an intense situation in the brush. Potential for jam ups or slide hang ups on clothing or brush.. The .357 revolver will never fail you

Alaskan Ballistics, im a new subscriber here today. glade to find you like many others. im a 10mm owner. i have the EAA witness combatsport match elite. it will handle rounds up to 1600fps with the right recoil spring. and im talking about 180gr projectiles i load myself. they run 1250fps store bought rounds. i think that 357 is just a bit better than 10mm as much as i dont want to say it. but i love 357mag as much as 10mm. i want you to try the 10mm mag, against the 357mag next time.

I’m old school sooooo..🤔 357 🤠