10MM revolver hunting

**ar15jules** · March 9th, 2025, 03:51 PM

Lots of talk about 10mm for bear defense etc... out of standard 5 inch autos. Does anyone have any practical experience killing whitetail with 10mm with a revolver in PA? I am trying to decide on a final hunting load and am overwhelmed with info. I'm a fan of Underwood and Buffalo Bore, but they just aren't sitting on shelves. I don't even mind the price because they are loaded close to or at max with good consistency. I shot a few Underwood today over the chrono and there was only a 13 fps deviation. Average velocity was over 1200 fps for 220 grain hard cast. No doubt a dead whitetail. At any rate, the 200 grain Federal Fusions shot pretty nice and I can find them locally without having to order them. They also averaged over 1200 fps with a deviation of only 14 fps. They are bonded as well. I am leaning this way. Anyone have any real world in the field experience. I will be running them through a Smith Model 610 with a 6.5 inch barrel.

**Karys** · March 10th, 2025, 03:32 PM

So I have no experience hunting deer here in PA with a 10mm, but I have taken hogs in SC. My pet load is a 180 grain Speer Gold Dot loaded by Georgia Arms.

Me personally, I’d want something that was going to expand and not just punch straight through. Since you didn’t say what specific Underwood load you shot, I’d go with the Fusions. More than likely you’ll do just fine with either load on deer.

If you’re successful, please post up some pics here and tell your story. I’d love to see and hear about how well the load you chose performed. Good luck!

**ar15jules** · March 10th, 2025, 09:44 PM

Great information. I appreciate the feedback. Hogs are notorious for being tough. I'll take a serious look at the Speers. I have to wait till next November, but if I'm able to take a deer I will post up some pics.

**Karys** · March 11th, 2025, 07:27 AM

Lo and behold, Georgia Arms has their 10mm Speer Bonded Unicore Hollow Point +P back up on their site. They haven't had that load in stock for quite some time. DoubleTap makes a 180 grain Gold Dot load running at 1250 fps. I've used those before also and got good performance out of them.

**41 Redhawk** · March 11th, 2025, 03:03 PM

I am loading Hornady 200 XTP to about 1200 to 1250 FPS for both my Kimber and S&W 610. Carried it for deer but none cooperated this year.

**ar15jules** · March 11th, 2025, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Karys

Lo and behold, Georgia Arms has their 10mm Speer Bonded Unicore Hollow Point +P back up on their site. They haven't had that load in stock for quite some time. DoubleTap makes a 180 grain Gold Dot load running at 1250 fps. I've used those before also and got good performance out of them.

I have to spread the rep around....thanks!