I love the 10mm round. It’s the contrarian in me that just wants to be different. I bought into the world of the 10mm as a young gun owner because I believed in ‘stopping’ power. In my mind, 9mm was too puny, and .45 ACP didn’t give you enough ammo. The 10mm seemed perfect, unlike the little .40 “Short and Weak”. Currently, I carry a 9mm and, occasionally, even a .32 ACP. I’ve grown past the fantasy of stopping power, but I still enjoy it. However, if you asked me, “Travis, should I get a 10mm for self-defense?” I’d probably say no. Why? Well, it’s complicated, but, luckily, I have this entire article to discuss whether this classic cartridge is juice worth the squeeze in 2023.
Origins of the 10mm Auto
The 10mm Auto was the brainchild of Colonel Jeff Cooper and Norma Precision AB. Cooper was a huge fan of .45 ACP and liked big, heavy-hitting cartridges. Norma developed the cartridge based on a concept from Cooper for Dornaus and Dixon and their famed Bren Ten pistol. The Bren Ten needs an entire article on the firearm, but the pistol was ultimately unsuccessful.
Around the same time, the FBI started looking for a more powerful cartridge for their field agents. The FBI suffered massive casualties at the 1986 Miami Shootout and was convinced 9mm and .38 Special were no longer up to snuff. They wanted the 10mm and adopted it alongside the S&W 1076 and 1026 third-gen, all-metal pistols. This cartridge went on to be adopted by numerous police forces.
The FBI quickly discovered the guns recoiled too much for a lot of their agents. In fairness, if you’re in the FBI, you’re more likely to be an accountant or lawyer than a gunslinger. This led to an FBI Lite load with reduced recoil. Smith and Wesson discovered the FBI loads fit into a shorter case. The .40 S&W was born.
The .40 Smith and Wesson AKA “Short and Weak”
The .40 S&W was the dominant law enforcement cartridge until recently. 9mm has since taken that crown. While we all love 9mm today, it bears mentioning that 9mm wasn’t always as awesome as it is now. If you look at old reloading manuals, 9mm wasn’t much better than a modern .380 self-defense load.
At the time of 10mm’s inception, it had a number of advantages. Mainly, its speed allowed jacketed hollow points of the era to expand rather well. Hollow-points and projectile technology have improved expansively, leading 9mm to be the king of self-defense cartridges.
The Modern 10mm
The 10mm might not be the most popular of rounds, but it has kept a decent following. In fact, in the 2010s and 2020s, it’s had a slight resurgence. It’s surprising how many companies are willing to produce a pistol in that caliber. Glock has consistently produced the Glock Model 20 and Model 29 and recently expanded into the Glock 40, a long slide variant.
Springfield’s XD lineup has also kept a 10mm in production for most of their variants. Smith and Wesson 1076 was successful and they recently returned to the fold with their M&P10. SIG released the XTEN, a 10mm P320 variant, and, as far as I know, it still produces the P220 in 10mm.
The latest and greatest comes from FN in the form of the FN 510. This mighty big 10mm takes the 509 series to a new level. Of course, the 1911 world has consistently pumped out 10mm pistols. If you want one, there are plenty of options. Heck, Smith and Wesson even makes the 610 revolver, if you are so inclined.
As a Self-Defense Cartridge
There is no doubt the 10mm is an effective self-defense cartridge. It penetrates deep enough to strike vitals and expand quite well. The big cartridges are produced by a number of companies in a wide range of load types. While it’s effective, I have to question if it’s efficient. What advantage does throwing a heavier bullet faster do when a lighter bullet can have the same terminal effect on the target?
Handguns suck at fighting; it’s just the nature of the best. They are a compromise and convenience. The 10mm will hit a threat with more energy but not enough energy to make a major difference. The way a handgun stops a threat isn’t energy transfer. It’s through poking holes through the vital parts of the body. That’s why penetration depth through a body is the most important measurement of a handgun’s ability to stop a threat.
10mm penetrated deep enough, but so does 9mm, and it does so without the disadvantages of more recoil and lower capacity. You also have to deal with a bigger overall handgun that is harder and less comfortable to conceal. The Glock 29 is one of the few subcompact 10mms, and it’s still quite large. That’s not to mention the price and availability of ammo.
The 10mm Advantage
Sure, 10mm has plenty of advantages. It’s a flat shooting cartridge with great range capabilities for a handgun. For self-defense, it doesn’t seem too likely you’ll make a shot at a range where that is a factor. Inside of 50 yards, 9mm works rather well. The 10mmm tends to do better through light barriers, but that’s another unlikely situation to find yourself in.
The extra speed and projectile weight might not mean much to human threats, but it’s a different story for four-legged threats. If you have to defend yourself from bears and humans, then 10mm starts to make more sense.
Even outside of animals as big as bears, the extra oomph is an excellent advantage. If you have to face off with hogs, mountain lions, and even stray dogs, a 10mm makes it easier to penetrate deeper and strike vitals.
With 10mm, you are getting a lot of power with decent capacity. The Glock 20 offers 15 rounds. That’s more than double your average .357 Magnum revolver.
The Problem with 10mm Defensive Ammo
If shopping for 10mm ammo, then you need to be picky. There are a ton of defensive loads that are basically just .40 S&W in performance. For example, Remington Ultimate Defense .40 S&W throws a 180-grain projectile at 1,150 feet per second. Remington Golden Saber Defense 10mm throws a 180-grain round at 1,080 feet per second.
Shop around, and you can find real 10mm ammo. Cartridges like Federal HST throw a 200-grain projectile at 1,130 feet per second. The Fiocchi Defense Dynamics load gives you a 180-grain projectile at 1,250 feet per second. Not all 10mm loads are equal, so make sure you shop around, or you’re just using .40 Long and Weak.
The 10mm Option
For most people, the 10mm isn’t the best option for self-defense. The price, availability, and recoil generated for not much more effect on a human threat just isn’t worth it. If you find yourself in a situation where bad guys and mean animals are likely, then the 10mm makes a lot of sense.
Obviously, if you want a 10mm, get one. Hopefully, you do so feeling a little more educated on the topic.
