I have been looking into getting a new handgun for packing around in the woods. Getting mixed responses from buddies on whether to go 10mm or 45.

What would you suggest and why?

Thanks

IMO - .45 unless you plan to actually hunt with it.

10's have a bit more power, but .45's are a bit cheaper to shoot factory loads and have a much larger ammo selection. Plus should SHTF, .45 ammo will be around.

For a light packing gun, check out the 3" Springfield XD-S single stack. Safe, small, light and enough rounds to put down most anything out there.

Good luck with your decision.

Glock 20 or 29 chambered in 10mm especially since it's a woods gun...
I carried/carry my Glock 20 with Hardcast bullets in AK and my guide buddies still do. Most have gone away from the .44 mag and now carry a 10mm. More rounds/semi auto platform/less recoil and lighter.
With a +2 mag extender or even +5 extender you can have 17-20 rounds of 10mm in the mag and one in the pipe. If you get a Glock 20 get a extra power 22-24 pound recoil spring and the +10% extra power magazine springs. You won't get the extreme velocity spreads and it helps with the recoil a bit. The magazine springs help with feeding especially if your using a extended base plate.
With a 10mm you get huge power in a semi auto platform and it's a fun caliber to shoot.
With Underwood Ammo or hand loads you can push a 200 grain XTP hollow point at 1250 FPS with almost 700 pounds of energy or even go hotter.

As for the. 45 ACP. It's perfectly capable of dealing with any Washington Bears... I've carried a P220 a number of times in the woods. If you go with the XD-XDM or Glock 21 platform you can get a .460 Rowland conversion which is just straight up retarded. You can shoot a 255 grain hardcast bullet over 1300 FPS with almost 1000 pounds of energy. It's nuts.

Two questions. Do you plan to shoot a lot, or a little? Do you plan on hand loading or buying factory ammo?

The 10mm has more power. I carry a .45 but I don't feel under gunned. I would just buy both.

I will be shooting enough to feel comfortable with what I'm shooting. Don't plan on hand loading.

I currently have a .40 and definitely feel a little under gunned.

why a semi auto for woods? are you going to carry it in public too? all around gun?

i like the 10mm, and love the .45, both will do what you need them to do in this state...

personally (and i know this doesnt matter), i would go with a 629 or 627 over a semi... more power (way more), and alot less to worry about when something bad goes down... ammo isnt a problem to find in .357 and .44 mag either usually...

The .40 S&W is pretty snappy in stout loadings in my HK USP. The 10mm is even more snappy in my friend's S&W 1006 and that is an all steel gun.

If you aren't recoil shy, get the 10mm. It will easily take down a deer at close range and it allows for more rounds than a wheel gun. You'll have limited choices in pistols with that caliber. Glock, S&W 1006, EAA, Colt and Kimber are the primary players.

The primary reasons I don't have don't have one is that I hate the Glock's grip angle and I'm not a big 1911 fan. If FN, Springfield, or S&W offered a polymer framed 10mm, I'd already have one.

Buy some ammo, and stock up on it if you get a 10mm. If we go through another run on ammo, it is a pain trying to find ammo for a niche caliber like the 10mm. It also 25-50% more expensive than .45 auto. If you reload for it, that becomes a nonissue.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Think I'm leaning more towards a 45 .

Any suggestions on a sub compact?

I have the compact .45 Springfield XD. Not the sub compact. Comes with a 4" barrel and two sizes of mags, 10 rounders and 13 rounders. Toss in the 10 round at and you have an easily concealed carry gun. Use the 13 rounder with the grip extension and you have a full sized pistol.

Convertible with just a mag change.

Accurate enough for head shots on grouse at 10-15 yards. You won't do that with a sub compact.

There are other fine pistols out there. That was just my solution.

If your looking for a woods only semiautomatic carry pistol there's no question the 10mm is the better choice between those two calibers... Glock 20sf vs Glock 21 for example. 10mm has better penentration, faster, higher energy, hydrostatic shock and better capacity. Only cons are price... Get a .40 conversion barrel and the issue is moot. You can practice with .40 and then use 10mm for woods carry with a box or three of full power loads to familiarize yourself.
As for bullets, you can find some guys on this forum I'm sure to load you up some bear rounds or just buy from Underwood. My buddy has a load that shoots a 200 grain Hornady XTP hollow point at 1335 FPS with over 700 pounds of energy. The best .45 stuff is a few hundred fps slower with almost 200 less pounds of energy. The 10mm has far better penentration which is important when dealing with a charging pissed off bear...
Now if your trying to find a do everything gun AND a woods carry gun then a .45 ACP would be the way to go. If it's a outdoor gun which you said it is AND your stuck between those two calibers then get the 10mm...It's far superior.

Here's a thread which deals with your original question. The 10mm is by far the chosen winner in this debate. 10mm vrs .45 ACP

Also, DocGKR one of the most well known and best ballistic experts and someone who knows more about wounds and bullets/ballistics than everyone on here combined agrees that the 10mm is a far more capable round for 2 and 4 legged defense than the .45 ACP.

Your choice though. As for a good compact .45 ACP a XD compact would be a good choice. 10 or 13rd mags.

I'm getting the 10mm. The reason why....I don't have one!. Plus..I gave my 40 to my son for his birthday, and I have a bunch of bullits to burn. I'll go with the glock.

IMO XTP mags are a good bullit. Accurate in the guns I have shot them in, but for self defense on bigger 4 legged critter that mean to scratch you up I'd choose a different bullit. That's just me tho. My 454 casull shoots the 300gr xptmags so well it's hard to load anything else, but I'd do if I carry it for bears. I've never

Opps....fat fingers....I've never shot a really big black bear, but they are out there.

I have a box (50) of Double Taps 200 grain hardcast WFNGC in 10mm if anyone is interested. Nice loads, nicked cases rated @ 1300 FPS 4.6" bbl.

c/22

My G20 gets ran with a stock length KKM barrel/24 pound recoil spring, +2 mag extender and +10% extra power magazine springs. I also have big dot night sights for it.
The rounds I carry in the woods/fishing are 18 rounds of 200gr XTP and 200gr hardcast lead bullets in the gun. 9 of each dutch loaded with another spare mag of 200gr XTP'S.
I feel comfortable anywhere in the PNW with that setup for 2 or 4 legged critters. In AK it's straight 200gr Hardcast rounds or a pistol grip 12G with Brenneke slugs...

I don't know of a sub compact Id recommend, I really Like my sig p220 carry that I carry. I load up with a hard cast buffalo boar +P. Solid combo

Big O are you living in Bothell Now? if yes, zip over to DJ's loan and sport and check out his selection. Personally I'd go with a .45 primarily due to ammo costs alone. I've shot both the XD's and XDM's etc and can point guns on the 1911 platform way better for my shooting style, so 1911 is my preference. before you pull the trigger I'd suggest going to Wades or somewhere similar and renting both types to see what you prefer to shoot.

if you get a new gun you'll want to put 5-800 rounds through it to break it in, and that alone is pretty spendy with 10mm!

After testing out a lot of different types of weapons, I carry a Kimber Crimson Carry in 4in, .45 caliber, in the woods... urban or rural.

Or to shoot fish. . .. . big flat fish. . . ..

Exactly, they do work well on big 'ol hen halibut too.

I understand Sig Sauer is going to release the P220 in 10mm. My current carry is a 220.
When Sig starts making them I will own one.
Until then I flip between my 220 and 229

Saw that the other day, all in their pretty high dollar configurations. One DAO and the other two standard single/double.