Is 10mm slowly making a comeback?

Is 10mm slowly making a comeback?

  • Yes

    Votes: 69 50.0%

  • No

    Votes: 31 22.5%

  • It's popularity is about the same as it's always been

    Votes: 38 27.5%
  • Total voters
    138
I

IdahoG36

New member
I have noticed that in the last 2-3 years, more gun companies are starting to produce pistols in 10mm; and more ammo companies are starting to produce full power 10mm ammo.

I have been a 10mm fan since I started buying guns. In 2005 or so, I owned a Glock 20 and a Tanfoglio Witness Elite 10mm. I ended up selling both after about a year due to the difficulty and expense of finding 10mm ammo. Also, most of the 10mm ammo available back then was loaded to .40 S&W levels. I did not reload back then, so this ultimately lead to my decision to sell them. I remember paying $37/box of 50 for American Eagle 180gr fmj at ~1000 fps :( That's all that was available to me locally back then.

Fast forward to 2015. I now own a Glock 20SF and a Sig P220 10mm. Companies making a 10mm pistol now include(In no particular order)- Glock, Tanfoglio, Dan Wesson, Colt, Armscor, Nighthawk, Wilson Combat, Rock Island, STI, Kimber, and Republic Forge. I'm sure there are some that I'm missing. Also, there are still S&W, Star, and Springfield 10mm floating around. These guns range from $450-$3500, so there seems to be a price level for just about anybody's needs.

In the ammo department, we now have Underwood making excellent full power 10mm loadings. There is also Buffalo Bore, Sig Elite Performance ammo, Hornady, and Double Tap making full power 10mm ammunition.

I have been reloading for almost a year now, and for 10mm the choices are excellent. There are tons of load data from 135gr-220gr. I load 135gr Nosler jhp at 1600 fps for SD use, and 180gr Gold Dots at 1300 fps for use in the woods. I will soon be loading some 200gr hardcast rounds for use when in the woods as well. There are lots of different powders to use for 10mm as well. Starline brass was usually the go to brass for 10mm loads; now Jagemann has released 10mm brass under the TNQ brand. I just loaded 200 rounds using the new Jagemann brass. It is good quality stuff.

It seems to me that there are now more 10mm guns, ammo, and reloading data/options than I ever remember seeing. This makes me happy as a big fan of the 10mm round. It seems that more people are realizing the merits of this great round, which in turn is creating a market for new pistols and ammo.

For some, 10mm has always been popular. For most of us though, the market has been slim pickings until 2 years ago or so. This has me excited. 10mm is my favorite autoloader cartridge, and more options is never a bad thing when it comes to guns and ammunition selection.
 
I alway theorized that 10mm should be most popular in places where magazine capacity is limited - if you're only allowed X rounds, you may as well make them the most powerful rounds possible.
 
I think that the popularity of the 10 will continue to increase thanks to the internet, which makes ammo "readily" available. It also helps to expose those unfamiliar with the round to its' capabilities.

When the 10 first hit the scene there weren't many (1?) companies that made pistols chambered for it. As stated in the OP, we now have manufacturers to choose from.

It will be slow but I think the 10mm will continue to gain in popularity.
 
I needed some factory 10mm for my upcoming class.
I called 6 stores at least and only one had ANY 10mm in stock!

Yet I like the diversity of power loads it offers.
 
It's experiencing a small comeback, but it's not going to last IMO. Speciality calibers experience cyclical trends. Gun companies have to keep things fresh. What is old is new again, and all that.

I'm in a ban state. I have no interest in carrying 10mm. I'd just develop a flinch and run out of rounds faster.
 
There have been a few Ruger Blackhawks chambered for .38-40 Winchester and sold with an auxilliary cylinder for 10mm. Unlike the .38-40, the 10mm can be reloaded with straight wall carbide dies, and performance with good handloads equal that of the .41 Magnum cartridge. Both the 10mm and .41 Magnum are flat shooting high velocity rounds suitable for game up to and including whitetail deer.

Bob Wright
 
I think it is. I think it helps that reloading seems to be much more popular over the past decade, which helps offset the cost of the caliber.
 
People that like 10 mm, like 10 mm there is no question about that. Having said that, I don't think it will be that popular a caliber when most people will opt for the 9 mm or 40 S&W or 45 auto or 44 mag. It just does not serve a purpose other than giving the shooter another option to spend their money on.

It is just a souped up 40 S&W, but then again so is the 38 super and how many of those do you see at the range.

You don't like the larger bullet 45 auto or the smaller (less powerful) but same size bullet of the 40 S&W, then I guess the 10 mm is for you. But I can not see it. I don't have my pet rock I bought back in the 80's, but I am sure someone will still be purchasing them 10 years from now. (LOL)

That is basically how I feel about the 10 mm, just another fad. I wouldn't purchase another 40 S&W either, but that's just me.

Good luck on your survey and stay safe.
Jim
 
Yeah, it does seem to be making a small comeback.

It's an intriguing cartridge. I've thought about it, but for almost exactly the same power, I'd rather have a .357 magnum revolver.

The higher capacity of a semiauto is nice, but I'm concerned about retrieving brass :o
 
* * * Starline brass was usually the go to brass for 10mm loads; now Jagemann has released 10mm brass under the TNQ brand. I just loaded 200 rounds using the new Jagemann brass. It is good quality stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that tip about another source for new brass. Need to get some more. :cool:
 
I bought my first 10 earlier this year. A EEA witness elite match. I have always wanted one so I bought this when I saw it at a lgs. I really enjoy it. This is the most accurate centerfire pistol I have ever fired. I do not find the recoil to be a problem. I will hopefully take a deer with it this year if I can get close enough(50 yards). I reload for it so ammo is not a issue. The only issue is finding the brass after it is ejected. It is quite the interesting round. Maybe this new interest will be good for the 10mm. I think once people try it out they will like it. I did.
 
agtman

Thanks for that tip about another source for new brass. Need to get some more.
Click to expand...

Cabela's has it on sale right now for $17 and change/per 100. I just ordered 2 more bags of it. That brings me up to 500 of the Jagemann/TNQ and 400 Starline. Time to start loading some more!

I just finished loading up 170 rounds of 135gr Nosler jhp; using the new TNQ brass and Ramshot Silhouette. I previously worked this load up with good results through my Glock 20. I will shoot 20 of them and stash the other 150 for now.
 
Ballistics of a stout 10 mm load are undeniable--nothing else quite like it out of a semi-auto pistol IMO. I think of it as a "mini magnum" for packing so much wallop into a relatively small case.

I personally believe the "resurgence" in popularity of the 10mm is driven mostly by both pistol and ammo manufacturers responding to the public's (finally) recognizing the utility of this great cartridge for both SD and hunting applications.
 
It's an intriguing cartridge. I've thought about it, but for almost exactly the same power, I'd rather have a .357 magnum revolver.
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This - except I don't really find 10mm intriguing. I've read the posts and seen the videos, but I just don't like that flavor of Kool-Aid, I guess. KISS logic tells me to stick to things that don't really ebb and flow as much in their availability, so 9mm for my semis, and .357/.38 when I finally get around to purchasing a wheel gun, which will be paired with a lever action in the same caliber.
 
Cabela's has it on sale right now for $17 and change/per 100. I just ordered 2 more bags of it. That brings me up to 500 of the Jagemann/TNQ and 400 Starline. Time to start loading some more!
Click to expand...

IdahoG36: thanks for the tip on Cabela's!
 
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