The 10mm cartridge was the brainchild of Jeff Cooper, who wanted better external ballistics than the venerable .45 ACP provided. Cooper wanted a round with more downrange energy while still using a heavy, big-bore bullet. When the 10mm cartridge debuted in 1983, Norma was the only factory to offer the round and Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises was the only manufacturer of 10mm pistols, specifically, the Bren Ten.
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The Bren Ten was based on the CZ 75 pistol. What the Bren Ten and the 10mm cartridge did was offer a pistol with the power of the .41 Magnum revolver in a pistol the size of a beefed-up CZ 75 with good round capacity. It seemed like a perfect match. Even Colt released the Delta Elite, a 1911 chambered in the 10mm in 1987, but the popularity of the 10mm waned until the disastrous 1989 FBI Miami shootout.
Analysis of the shootout revealed that the agents involved were vastly under-gunned. The FBI adopted the 10mm in the S&W Model 1076 shortly afterward. But there was a problem. The 10mm was difficult for agents to control. The 10mm Auto is serious firepower with noticeable felt recoil. The solution was to load the 10mm light to reduce felt recoil, which defeated the purpose of the 10mm Auto in the first place. As the story goes, the light 10mm load was more efficient when redesigned as the .40 S&W, which skyrocketed in popularity within LE circles. The 10mm might have become obsolete if it continued its impotent existence, but ammo companies loaded the round as it was intended—to carry full-bore, wrist-cracking power.
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Gun companies continue to offer rugged, well-made pistols to handle the round, and a few devoted shooters experience the 10mm as Cooper intended: a big-bore, hard-hitting round packaged in pistols with sizable capacities. The round is as serious for defense as it is suitable for hunting medium-sized game. Below is a list of our Top 10 10mm pistols that are currently available on the market.
Colt Delta Elite
Introduced in 1987, the Colt Delta Elite is the original 1911 to be chambered in the 10mm cartridge. This time-tested Colt uses a Series 80 firing system as well as a standard grip safety and thumb safety. This gun is old-school for sure, but it’s built to be reliable. The Delta Elite uses a dual recoil spring system, which is similar to the system found in the CQBP that Colt supplies to the U.S. Marine Corps, to help dampen felt recoil. Additional old-school styling includes an arched mainspring housing and a rounded, Commander-style hammer.
Dan Wesson Elite Series Titan
Dan Wesson Elite Series Titan: The Titan is an all-steel, high-capacity 1911 that offers 13+1 rounds of raw firepower. Nothing about the Titan is subtle: rugged night sights are recessed into the slide, snake scale serrations are positioned forward and aft on the slide, G10 competition grips, tactical rail, and a magazine well that swallows magazines whole. The triggerguard is squared off, giving the Titan rakish aesthetics and the trigger is flat faced. Dan Wesson packs the full-size Titan full of features.
Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0
The S&W M&P 2.0 was engineered to be applicable for personal, sporting, and professional use. Innovative features such as an extended stainless-steel chassis and a low barrel bore axis for dampened muzzle rise and quicker target acquisition. The M&P M2.0 pistol offers a more responsive trigger with a lighter pull. The ultra-textured grip and four interchangeable palmswell inserts allow shooters of all hand sizes to make the firearm truly their own. Lastly, the rugged Armornite® corrosion-resistant finish is prepared to withstand years of hard use.
Glock 40 MOS
Designed for hunting and competition, the G40 Gen4 In MOS Configuration has a 6.02-inch barrel to help wring out the most velocity from the 10mm round. This long-slide pistol is also one of Glock’s new MOS Configuration models, which allows for the quick attachment of a red-dot optic. It’s also a Gen4 variant, so the different grip insert sizes come with and without beavertails to fit most hands. Even when fully loaded with 15+1 rounds, this Glock is relatively lightweight at only 32.28 ounces. This is a gun that’s easy to carry and has less felt recoil due to its polymer frame.
Kimber Custom TLE/RL II
The Kimber Custom TLE (Tactical Law Enforcement) series of pistols are built to perform thanks to their match-grade barrels and bushings and trigger pulls set at 4 to 5 pounds. Built with a steel frame, the 30-lines-per-inch (lpi) checkering on the front grip strap ensures an operator retains positive control during rapid fire. The pistol uses a firing-pin block that is deactivated by depressing the grip safety. The three-dot tritium night sights offer enhanced target acquisition in low-light environments.
Springfield Ronin 1911 FS
Springfield’s Ronin 1911 blends the classic style of a 1911 with features more suitable to the needs of present-day shooters. The forged carbon steel slide and frame as well as a hammer-forged barrel deliver optimal durability and strength while its 40-ounce weight works hard to absorb felt recoil. To balance style with its substance is the presence of the hybrid smooth/checkered Crossed Cannon™ wooden grips for a more reliable hold.
Rock Island TAC ULTRA FS
The Rock Island Armory TAC Ultra FS offers a full tactical rail for accessories and is constructed with 4140 Ordnance steel for optimal durability. The 5″ button rifled barrel is bolstered by a full-length guide rod and full dust cover. The TAC Ultra FS includes a low profile adjustable rear sight and high visibility fiber optic front sight for rapid target acquisition. There’s also a skeletonized hammer and trigger with an adjustable over-travel stop. The hardware is finished with a strong parkerized matte coating to withstand round after round of shooting while the G10 tactical grips offer a secure hold – a must for any 10mm.
SIG Sauer P220 Legion
The SIG Sauer P220 Legion has been finished with SIG’s own Legion gray coating and comes with ultra-rugged and water-resistant G-10 grips. The stainless-steel slide features SIG’s Electro-Optics X-RAY high visibility day/night sights for optimal target acquisition and front cocking serrations for improved action cycling, clearing the gun, and performing press checks. The P220 Legion’s grip is enhanced by the front strap checkering and additional checkering under the trigger guard. Shooters can expect the P220 Legion to withstand round after round of use thanks to the stainless steel frame and carbon steel barrel.
Springfield XD-M Elite OSP
Springfield’s XD-M Elite 3.8″ Compact OSP 10mm is an optimal choice for concealed carry. Don’t be fooled by its compact size, this pistol packs a serious punch with 11+1 rounds. The fully ambidextrous controls, a responsive META trigger, and an optics-ready design create a formidable EDC pistol that is more than ready to defend.
Wilson Combat CQB
The CQB pistol is the backbone of Wilson Combat, and when chambered in 10mm, it offers all the reliability and performance one expects from this custom builder. The pistol carries an accuracy guarantee of 1″ at 25 yards thanks to the fact that the 5″, stainless, match-grade barrel and bushing are hand-fitted, as are the carbon-steel frame and slide. Features include a high-ride Bullet Proof beavertail grip safety, a contoured magazine well, front strap checkering, a rear Battlesight, and a fiber-optic front sight. Like other Wilson pistols, this one is both reliable and accurate.
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