October 21, 2021
Updated April 8, 2026
It's my contention that the 10mm auto cartridge is the best personal protection round available. Yep. I'm staking out that ground, and I'm here to defend it. What makes the 10mm my choice? In a word, performance.
You may know that we have offered three special pistols as Gun Talk guns over the year. All have been 10mm autos. The latest is the GT25, which has been in the works for at least two years. It was delayed a year by production shutdowns due to the pandemic, but now it's here, and it most definitely is worth the wait.
You can see the full specs on the pistol at HERE. (The gun actually looks even better in person than it does in the photos.) Here's the short version. It's a Ruger SR1911, but it's a Commander size (4.25 inch barrel with a full-size grip), made in the Ruger Custom Shop, using upgraded after-market parts that I specified. The details are on the website.
Multiple range reports are coming in now, and everyone comments on how this design somehow tames the recoil to a very comfortable level. It's spooky accurate, and the trigger pull is divine.
That's the pistol. So why do I think the 10mm is the best cartridge for personal protection in a handgun?
The 10mm Auto cartridge simply has more power than the more popular choices in carry guns. Is that important? Col. Jeff Cooper thought so when he came up with the concept for the 10, as did Jim Cirillo, of the famed NYPD Stakeout Squad, who determined what he thought was the best handgun load for gunfighting. It turned out to be pretty much identical to our modern 10mm loads.
All handgun cartridges are compromises. If you had the choice you'd use a rifle, but a handgun is so much better to carry. Still, more power is always good, as long as the pistol is controllable for follow-up shots.
For the GT25 project I asked Jeff Hoffman at Black Hills Ammunition to make a special run of ammunition. BHA doesn't carry a 10mm load in its catalog, but they have loaded it in the past, and Jeff was kind enough to make a substantial run for us. Anyone who buys a GT25 pistol from Dury's Guns (www.durysguns.com) can also buy some of the special run of ammunition.
The Black Hills load pushes a 180-grain Hornady XTP bullet at 1290 feet per second (fps) from a five-inch test pressure barrel. Velocity from the 4.25-inch GT25 averaged 1233 fps at 12 feet (not corrected to the muzzle), which generates 608 Ft. Lbs. of energy.
For comparison, a 9mm 115-grain bullet at 1250 delivers 399 Ft. Lbs., a .45ACP 230-grain bullet at 850 fps spins up 369 Ft. Lbs., and a .40 S&W 180-gr. bullet at 1000 fps clocks in with 400 Ft. Lbs. That means that the 10mm, using a real-world pistol and not a pressure barrel, cranks out a full 50 percent more energy that our most popular defensive rounds. That's huge.
That energy makes for deeper penetration, better barrier penetration, and more trauma, which generally means stopping the attacker more quickly. That energy makes possible my next reason for liking the 10.
This is the big payoff. From the major ammo makers to boutique outfits, everyone is loading the 10mm these days. Smart shooters understand the value in picking different loads for different needs. For instance, Black Hills tested its 10mm load out of a GT25 into ballistic gel. The temporary wound cavity was massive, the bullet weighed 152.8 grains when recovered, for an 82 percent weight retention. It measured .610, for a 52 percent increase in diameter. That's a great load for defense against human attackers as well as for hunting deer-sized animals or hogs.
I'm hoping Black Hills brings out the 10mm in its Honey Badger line so we can see what those unique bullets will do.
When I'm walking the woods though, and my thoughts are about bear protection, I want a different load. Several companies, such as Federal and Buffalo Bore, load heavier bullets designed to not expand, but to penetrate deeply while doing maximum damage. That's what I carry when afield.
I keep different magazines loaded with different loads and just switch out what I'm carrying based on the most likely threat.
It's certainly possible to have a more powerful handgun, but you will likely have to go to a bigger gun. I went with slim grip panels of G10 material on the latest Gun Talk pistol, and it makes a big difference, along with the undercut behind the trigger guard. The gun just feels smaller than it is. In a medium-size pistol the 10mm cartridge is about as powerful as you can get if you are staying with mainstream options.
Several companies offer six-inch barrel versions, and if I were getting a 10mm for just hunting, I'd probably go that way. There are even compact and sub-compact versions for those who need deeper concealment.
Along with power and the size of the pistol, we have to consider ...
No doubt I'm a fan of "more is better" when it comes to capacity. I do think, though, that the 10mm hits a sweet spot of compromise. In a single stack (1911, for instance) you can have eight or nine rounds in the magazine, plus one in the chamber. I figure that 10 rounds of 10mm in the pistol plus eight or nine rounds in a mag pouch would be enough for 99.99999 percent of encounters.
Glock and Springfield make full-size double stack pistols holding 15 plus one rounds of 10mm.
Bottom line is that with 10mm you can carry more rounds than you would with a .45 ACP, fewer rounds than you would with a 9mm, and the same number of rounds as with a .40 S&W. But each round carries 50 percent more energy, increasing the possibility that you will need fewer hits to stop an attacker.
Yes, this is a culmination of the other points. It just happened that after we announced the release of the GT25 I unearthed an old copy of Jim Cirillo's book "Guns, Bullets and Gunfights: Lessons and Tales From A Modern-Day Gunfighter." It's still available on Amazon, and it should be in the library of anyone who is serious about self-defense with a handgun. Cirillo was mostly a revolver guy, and in his experiments with different guns, barrels, cartridges and bullets, he came away thinking that the perfect combination was a 175-grain bullet at 1250 fps. He did that with a slightly downloaded .41 Magnum, but as you can see, it's pretty much the 10mm Auto. He also did some work with the 10mm and liked it.
For anyone willing to practice, the 10mm is quite controllable while packing a punch which is most likely to stop an attacker quickly. That's about as good as it gets.
For a long time the small cult of 10mm followers felt like they were wandering in the desert, crying the virtues of their favorite load, and begging gun makers to chamber this great round. They were mocked as followers of Col. Cooper, or even of being fan boys of Miami Vice (where the 10mm made a splash).
Finally gun and ammo makers have recognized the advantages of this round, or at least they acknowledge that there are more than just a few of us who will actually buy 10s in a variety of configurations -- even revolvers such as the S&W M610.
And ammo! This year is seems that everyone is loading 10mm. Of course, you still have to find it, but through judicious web searches you can find some.
The last point I make may not be measurable, but there's no doubt that the 10mm delivers a High Coefficient Of Cool. HCOC. Chances are your buddies don't have one. That might be reason enough to get one. Everyone you know will want to shoot yours, which may make you the center of attention, but it also can eat up your ammo supply, so be forewarned.
Let me finish with a thought. If you are going to get a 10mm pistol, you might as well get one that is excellent, that is beautiful, and that is still designed to be a working gun you can bet your life on. The GT25 will be limited to only 500. The "if you snooze, you lose" maxim applies here.
Yes, I'm a proud Papa, having worked on this one for a long time, but it really is that good.
Besides, it would be good to have you in the "I have the coolest 1911 you've ever seen" club. ;) ~ Tom
---
The debate comes down to numbers, so let's put them side by side. These are real-world velocities from standard-length pistol barrels — not pressure barrel fantasy numbers.
The 10mm Auto pushing a 180-grain bullet at 1,250 fps delivers approximately 624 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy. A 9mm 124-grain +P at 1,165 fps generates around 374 ft. lbs. The .45 ACP with a 230-grain bullet at 850 fps produces roughly 369 ft. lbs. And the .40 S&W with a 180-grain bullet at 1,000 fps comes in at about 400 ft. lbs.
That puts the 10mm at roughly 56% more energy than the 9mm and 69% more than the .45 ACP. The gap isn't marginal — it's decisive. Where this matters most is penetration through barriers, performance on large-bodied animals, and effective range. The 10mm maintains lethal energy well past 100 yards, a distance where the 9mm and .45 have dropped off significantly.
The tradeoff is recoil. In a lightweight polymer pistol, the 10mm is noticeably snappier than a 9mm. But in an all-steel 1911-pattern gun — like the GT25 — the recoil is remarkably manageable. That's the engineering trick: the platform tames the cartridge.
Capacity is the other consideration. Most full-size 10mm pistols hold 15 rounds. A comparable 9mm holds 17–19. You give up a few rounds, but each one hits substantially harder. For a lot of us, that's a trade worth making.
The 10mm market has exploded over the last few years. Here are the pistols worth your attention right now, whether you're looking for a carry gun, a woods gun, or a range performer.
GLOCK G20 Gen 5 — The default 10mm. The G20 has been the go-to for decades and the Gen 5 brings the updated trigger, improved barrel, and ambidextrous controls. 15+1 capacity, lightweight polymer frame, and near-indestructible reliability. If you want one 10mm pistol and you want it to work every single time, this is it. SHOP>
GLOCK G40 MOS — The long-slide hunting version of the G20. The 6.02-inch barrel squeezes every bit of velocity out of the cartridge, and the MOS slide makes mounting an optic simple. Purpose-built for the field. SHOP>
SIG Sauer P320-XTEN — SIG's modular 10mm brings the XSeries grip, optics-ready slide, and the ability to swap configurations within the P320 ecosystem. A strong choice if you're already invested in the SIG platform. SHOP>
FN 510 Tactical — The capacity king. 15+1 standard, 22+1 with the extended magazine. Threaded barrel, optic-ready, suppressor-height sights. If you want the most rounds of 10mm in a single magazine, the FN 510 is in a class by itself. SHOP>
Springfield XD-M Elite 10mm — Available in 3.8" and 4.5" barrel lengths. The Meta trigger, match-grade barrel, and optics-ready slide make this one of the more refined striker-fired 10mm options on the market. We've had hands-on time with this one — read our full Springfield XDM 10mm review here. SHOP>
Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm — S&W returned to the 10mm after a long absence and delivered. Four interchangeable palm swell inserts, aggressive texturing, 15+1 capacity, and the M&P's proven ergonomics. A serious contender. SHOP>
Dan Wesson Bruin — For the 1911 crowd who wants the best. Long-slide 6-inch barrel, adjustable sights, and the kind of fit and finish that justifies the premium price. This is the pistol you take hunting when you want to make a statement. SHOP>
Ruger Custom Shop SR1911 (GT25) — We're biased, but for good reason. This Commander-sized all-steel 10mm was designed by Tom Gresham in collaboration with Ruger and Lipsey's. Match trigger, tritium night sights, hand-fitted, and limited to 500 units. Learn more about the GT25 here.
One of the 10mm's greatest strengths is versatility — you can load it for self-defense, hunting, bear country, or range training and get excellent performance across the board. Here are the loads we'd reach for.
For self-defense: Federal Premium 200-grain HST delivers reliable expansion and deep penetration through the FBI protocol barriers. Hornady 175-grain Critical Duty is another proven performer built for real-world defensive scenarios.
For bear defense: Buffalo Bore 220-grain Hard Cast at 1,200 fps is the gold standard for bear country. This is a penetration-first load designed to break through heavy bone and muscle. Federal 200-grain Swift A-Frame is another excellent option with controlled expansion and deep penetration.
For hunting: Hornady 180-grain XTP provides excellent expansion on deer-sized game out to 100+ yards. For larger game, Underwood 200-grain Bonded JHP gives you the weight retention and penetration needed for hogs and elk-sized animals.
For range training: Sellier & Bellot 180-grain FMJ and Fiocchi 180-grain FMJ are the go-to affordable options for putting rounds downrange without burning through your premium ammo. Expect to pay roughly $0.50–0.70 per round for quality range ammo in 10mm.
A note from Tom: "I keep different magazines loaded with different loads and just switch out what I'm carrying based on the most likely threat. In town, it's a defensive hollow point. In the woods, it's a hard-cast penetrator. The 10mm lets you do that without changing guns."
Is 10mm too powerful for self-defense?
No — but it requires a proper platform. In a full-size or Commander-size pistol with adequate weight, the 10mm is very controllable. The key is matching the gun to the cartridge. A lightweight subcompact in 10mm will punish you. An all-steel 1911 or a full-size polymer like the GLOCK G20 makes it a non-issue for most experienced shooters.
What is the effective range of 10mm?
For self-defense, the 10mm is effective well beyond any realistic engagement distance — out to 100 yards and beyond with the right load and optic. For hunting, ethical shots on medium game out to 100–125 yards are very realistic. The flat trajectory of the 10mm gives it a significant advantage over the 9mm and .45 ACP at extended range.
Is 10mm good for bear defense?
Yes — the 10mm is one of the most popular choices for bear defense in a semi-automatic pistol. With a hard-cast 220-grain load at 1,200 fps, it provides the deep, straight-line penetration needed to reach vital organs through heavy bone and muscle. It's become the preferred choice for Alaskan guides, backcountry hikers, and wildlife professionals who want a semi-auto option over a large-frame revolver.
What's the difference between 10mm and .40 S&W?
The .40 S&W was literally created by shortening the 10mm case. After the FBI adopted the 10mm following the 1986 Miami shootout but found the recoil challenging for some agents, Smith & Wesson and Winchester developed the .40 S&W as a reduced-power alternative. The 10mm generates roughly 50% more muzzle energy than the .40 S&W with the same bullet weight. If the .40 is the compromise, the 10mm is what you get when you stop compromising.
What is the best 10mm pistol?
It depends on the application. For an all-around woods and carry gun, the GLOCK G20 is the most proven option. For a premium 1911 experience, the Dan Wesson Bruin or the Ruger Custom Shop GT25 are hard to beat. For maximum capacity, the FN 510 Tactical gives you up to 22+1 rounds. For modularity, the SIG P320-XTEN offers the most configurability. You can read through our full list of best 10mm pistols above.
Tom Gresham
Author, outdoorsman, gun rights activist, and firearms enthusiast for more than five decades, Tom Gresham hosts Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, the first nationally-syndicated radio show about guns and the shooting sports, and is also the producer and co-host of the Guns & Gear, GunVenture and First Person Defender television series.
