Almost all gun owners have taken part in or at least heard of, the 9mm vs .45 ACP caliber debate.
You’ve probably also seen this debate with the .40 S&W caliber thrown in for good measure.
There’s one caliber, however, that doesn’t get as much attention, the 10mm Auto.
10mm Auto is one of the most powerful pistol cartridges, offering greater muzzle energy and deeper penetration than its similarly sized competitors.
The cartridge is able to maintain accuracy past 50 yards and can reach speeds of up to 1,200 feet per second. Of course, this comes at the cost of a whole lot of recoil.
While it was one of the most popular rounds of the early 1980s, these days it doesn’t have the same widespread popularity as the 9mm or .45 ACP. It does, however, have a significant cult following and gained a lot more notoriety over the past few years.
Because of that recent rise in popularity, we’ve assembled a list of some of our favorite handguns chambered in 10mm Auto for those of you who want to hop on the 10mm train.
So keep reading to get your 10mm fix.
Best 10mm Handguns
1. Kimber Eclipse Custom II
Kimber Manufacturing is well known as a leader in the manufacturing of high-quality 1911 pistols. Their Eclipse and Custom models are particularly renowned.
The Kimber Eclipse Custom II blends the best of these two models to create an impressive 10mm.
The Kimber Eclipse Custom II is fairly compact for a 1911, with a frame that’s 5.25 inches tall and 8.7 inches long. It weighs just 38 ounces with an unloaded magazine.
It has a 5-inch stainless steel barrel and an 8-round magazine capacity. And also features fixed low-profile 3-dot tritium night sights.
The quality is incredible and the pistol is a blast to shoot, but what stands out most about the Eclipse Custom II is its appearance.
The gun has a gorgeous brush-polished finish with a stainless steel slide and charcoal gray frame.
Kimber’s Eclipse Custom II also features black and gray Cyclone G-10 grips with 30 lines per inch front strap and mainspring housing checkering. And if that’s not totally your thing, Kimber also has plenty of other gorgeous aftermarket grips available.
Kimber Eclipse Custom II
Pros
- Very high quality
- 3-dot tritium night sights come standard
2. Colt Delta Elite
This next gun is more evocative of the traditional 1911, which only makes sense when you consider that the Colt Delta Elite has been around since the late 1980s.
The Colt Delta Elite has all of the same quality as the Kimber Eclipse Custom II, but with a simpler design...but don’t underestimate it.
While the Delta Elite doesn’t feature a rail system, it has a double-recoil spring system to reduce some of that 10mm recoil.
And if a rail is a make or breaks feature, you can buy the Delta Elite Rail (essentially the same gun but with a rail) for only about $100 more.
In short, the Colt Delta Elite is a great option for those who want a simple, traditional 1911 like the classic Colt 1911, but with more power and an improved and more modern design.
Colt Delta Elite
Pros
- 10mm for more power than .45ACP
Cons
- 10mm cna be hard to find
3. Glock 20, 29, and 40
Of course, we can’t write about the best handguns of any kind without mentioning Glock.
The go-to brand for high quality, but affordable handguns, Glock offers three options chambered in 10mm Auto the Glock 20, Glock 29, and Glock 40.
Because all three have mostly similar features and feels, we’re listing them all together, but which one is best for you may vary. Don’t worry, though, we’ll talk about the differences, too.
If you’re already familiar with Glock handguns, you should be comfortable with any of these pistols right off the bat. They have the durability, reliability, and price you’ve come to expect.
Glock 20
The Glock 20 is the standard version of the weapon and is a little larger and heavier than a Glock 17.
It’s 8.03 inches long with an unloaded weight of almost 31 ounces. Otherwise, it feels almost exactly the same as the G17.
The Glock 20 also comes in a short frame (SF) version for those interested in a slightly slimmer grip.
While most of these other 10mm handguns only have an 8+1 round capacity, the G20 has a capacity of nearly twice that, holding 15+1.
Glock 20
Pros
- 15+1 capacity, massive for 10mm
- Huge Glock aftermarket options
Glock 29
The Glock 29 is the subcompact version of the G20, with a length of 6.88 inches and an unloaded weight of 26.83 ounces.
Because of the smaller size, it has a standard 10-round magazine capacity, significantly less than the G20.
Extended magazines, however, are available for those who want a few extra rounds.
Glock 29
Pros
- Compact, still has a capacity of 10+1
Glock 40
Lastly, the Glock 40 is the long slide version of the pistol, with a length of just under 9.5 inches. Like the G20, it has a 15+1 capacity.
The extended barrel length of 6.02 inches makes it great for longer-range shooting.
It’s also configured for Glock’s Modular Optics System (MOS). The optics system must be purchased separately, but the Glock 40 does come with the necessary baseplates to adapt the pistol for use with all popular red dot sight systems.
The Glock 20 and Glock 29, in particular, make great concealed carry weapons, while the extended barrel of the Glock 40 makes it an excellent weapon for competition shooting or hunting medium-sized game.
Glock 40
Pros
- Configured for Glock Modular Optics System (optics sold separately)
4. Sig Sauer P220
The P220 by Sig Sauer opts for a 5-inch match-grade barrel as well as a tritium fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight.
On top of that, the P220 also brings an aggressive grip texture to better deal with 10mm recoil.
The gun has an easy-to-use ambidextrous safety so you can start shooting as quickly as possible, whether you’re hunting or defending yourself.
Sig Sauer P220 Legion
Pros
- Compact
- Less Expensive
5. Ruger SR1911
Rounding out our list is the Ruger SR1911.
This 1911 style brings a fully adjustable Bomar rear sight and a blacked-out front target sight for easy aiming.
It offers a stainless-steel bull barrel measuring 5-inches. In total, this gun comes in at 8.67-inches in length.
The Ruger weighs a solid 40.4-ounces and brings a capacity of 8+1, which is pretty decent for a 10mm 1911.
This model looks pretty sleek with a low-glare stainless steel frame. The SR1911 works well and this will certainly turn heads at the range.
It comes into our list at a modest $1,019 MSRP.
Ruger SR1911
Pros
- Sleek Look
- Low Glare Finish
Conclusion
Every caliber has its loyalists, but the 10mm Auto has been a bit of an unsung hero when it comes to handgun calibers.
If you’ve never shot 10mm Auto before, or it’s just been a while, we strongly recommend giving it a chance. The greater recoil may be overwhelming at first, but the more you shoot, the more manageable it will become.
What do you think of 10mm? What’s your favorite model? If 10mm is just too much, why not step down to .45 ACP with the Best 1911s or the Best Non-1911 .45 Pistols?