So I Think I Want A 10mm....

I like 1911's. I like 10mm. I do not like them together. The narrow backstrap concentrates the recoil on too narrow a patch of my hand, and the link-toggling and barrel fitting has to be just right to tolerate 10mm. If any factory/mass-manufacturer could get it right, I'd think it would be CZ-owned Dan Wesson, but I still think that's just not a great pairing of pattern and caliber.

I would choose an EAA-imported Tanfoglio Elite Match over either of your current options. Quite robust, great ergonomics (IMO), reasonably priced magazines (~$25), excellent accuracy, excellent chamber support. Don't get discouraged by people repeating stories about a circa-2008 crop of base-model Witnesses (not anything from the Elite line) that had bad heat treat on the slide.

You do want one. They’re fantabulous. Gonna be way more popular in 5 years and ammo prices will come down. Have already somewhat. Mine are Glocks though.

I have two 10mm 1911s, a Dan Wesson and a custom Fusion. I would highly recommend the 1911 platform.

Mot45acp said:

Thinking about delving off into the world of 10mm. Primary purposes are hiking, walking my rural property, and most importantly...grins.
I would prefer fixed sights, combat style.

My 2 main contenders as of now are the Dan Wesson Specialist and the Sig P220 with stainless frame.

A few questions:

I've read that in the past, the Dan Wesson has had some issues in the past. Mainly the RZ-10 around 2012-2013. Does Dan Wesson have their 10mm game squared away?

On the Sig with the shorter barrel, will I lose enough velocity for it to matter?

Can both handle a steady diet of full power loads? Not crazy hot loads, but not expensive .40 either.

Any other manufacturer/model I should consider? I'm open to suggestions. Would like to keep it under $2k with 7 mags.

I have 5 Glocks already, so not too interested in another. I do have a 21SF that I need to send to Glock (thief destroyed it, but hey I got it back 9 years later) so I will probably pick up a conversion kit for it because reasons.

So there it is THR. Send me down the 10mm rabbit hole.

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Do you reload? I don't have a chrono myself but I watched a video Paul Harrel made comparing 10mm to 40 S&W. Basically, the 10mm ammo he chronographed was hardly moving any faster than the 40 with the same bullet weight. Seems like manufacturers are selling neutered 10mm but still charging more that .40 for it.

If that video is accurate, to get the most out of the 10mm you're going to have to choose your ammo carefully or roll your own. I say that not having a 10mm or a chronograph so take this with a grain of salt. Just found that video interesting

I had one of my 10mm's out yesterday. They never fail to put a grin on my face, even when the Kimber struggles occasionally. Yesterday was a box of 200 grain home rolled at about 1150 fps. What a thump!

I was issued a Colt Delta Elite in the early 90's I believe and carried it for years on duty. I am now since retired but a few years ago I found a RIA FS that I really like and use it for my hiking gun when the bears are out. I roll 200 gr hard cast at about 1200 fps according to my chrono. I would like to eventually get a XD 10mm. Just so I would have 2.

I agree with ATLDave. I like 1911s but I think there’s better options for 10mm. The Tanfoglio gun he mentioned is one of them. CZ Custom is coming out with a CZ 97B 10mm conversion. It’ll cost some coin but it’s another option.

I own two of the Sig P220s and I think they are excellent shooters.

Fixed night sights and a DA/SA trigger. It shoots 180 gr ammo to POA.
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Olon said:

Do you reload? I don't have a chrono myself but I watched a video Paul Harrel made comparing 10mm to 40 S&W. Basically, the 10mm ammo he chronographed was hardly moving any faster than the 40 with the same bullet weight. Seems like manufacturers are selling neutered 10mm but still charging more that .40 for it.

If that video is accurate, to get the most out of the 10mm you're going to have to choose your ammo carefully or roll your own. I say that not having a 10mm or a chronograph so take this with a grain of salt. Just found that video interesting

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I also agree with Olon. Most factory 10mm ammo is crap. If you don’t load your own and you want real 10mm, I suggest you look at Underwood ammo. It’s still going to be pricey though.

Strong, no mags to worry about, works every time you squeeze the trigger... Smith 610.

I'm a fan of 10mm and a bigger fan of 10mm in a 1911. I have a humble RIA and it's an absolute tack driver with my handloads, might be my most mechanically accurate 1911, and certainly the one I can shoot tightest groups with at 25 yards (but I'm no bullseye shooter so 2" is just great off hand on the days my hands and eyes feel like working).

My RIA has nice, beefy, grippy grips that really handle 10mm recoil well, if I really try I can run a Bill Drill or similar with .28 second splits with full horse 10mm handloads (200 gr at right around 1200 fps), which is about all the better I do with a .45 1911.

I had thought a few times about getting a 220 10mm, as suggested, but realized in no world will I shoot a 220 trigger, even a nice SAO or Legion SAO trigger, as well as I do a 1911.

460Shooter said:

I own two of the Sig P220s and I think they are excellent shooters.

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Me too!!

I would pick the P220 out of your choices. I like the SA/DA but the SAO has a much better trigger. The P220s can handle nuclear level ammo.

tommy.duncan said:

Me too!!

I would pick the P220 out of your choices. I like the SA/DA but the SAO has a much better trigger. The P220s can handle nuclear level ammo.

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Mirrors my experience.

TonyAngel said:

Strong, no mags to worry about, works every time you squeeze the trigger... Smith 610.

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I have a Glock, a Banshee that takes Glock clips and a 1006, but I love my 610 too and with moon clips is fast to reload.

I've been toying with having BMCM do a 10mm conversion on either my S&W CS40 or Model 4053. The S&W single stack .40s are built on 45 frames with an under bored 45 barrel that makes them good candidates for conversion.

My list would start and stop with an eaa witess of some variety

I got the glock 20 but if you don't like the glock I think the Tanfoglio is the next best bet. I hear of issues from 10mm 1911s all the time on this forum.

Springfield XDM 10mm is a great option. Fully supported chamber, comfortable shooter and reliable.

I can already buy 10mm cheaper than 45 and at the same price as 40 S&W. If you are already familiar with Glocks, and have a G21 that you're thinking about converting then I'd suggest a G29 as a smaller companion to the G20. That's a lot of power in a small package that will accept the 15 round G20 magazines if you choose.

The Glock and Smith 1006 series pistols are the only proven 10mm platforms. Everything else is either unproven or shown to have issues.

No reason to shoot full power 10mm ammo all the time. 40 S&W is more than potent enough for most uses plus 40 S&W functions just fine in Glock 10mm pistols with no modifications. I can't say one way or another about the other brands. But if you NEED more punch 10mm loads are available that will beat the best 40 S&W loads by 200-300 fps. I chronographed 200 gr Double Tap hardcast at 1315 fps from my G20.

But that said. I only carry my 10's when hiking/camping/hunting in bear country. And that is where the compact G29 really shines compared to the much larger, heavier 10mm options. For 2 legged varmints 10mm is more potent than necessary.

I have a G-30 SF & a G-30S.

As well as about 6 more Glocks.

I bought the G-20 and was a bit disappointed as to the OOOMPH of the touted 10MM round.

Having tried as many different factory rounds as I could find [ I do not hand load ] ,its pretty obvious that the 10MM is no where near as powerful as the .44 mag or even the 41 mag.

I am pretty sure I will send in the G-20 to have the grip modified and made a good deal thinner,as I did the G-30 SF [ Robar did that one ].

At least it will fit my hand better,even if its no "magnum" as so many told me it was.

btw ,I am a bit sorry that I did not get the Sig,as its a much nicer looking [ AND thinner ] pistol.

ATLDave said:

I like 1911's. I like 10mm. I do not like them together. ... and the link-toggling and barrel fitting has to be just right to tolerate 10mm.

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There's some evidence to support this...

I would go for the Sig. I have had two bad 1911 experiences with 10mm, one including a gun that would double fire even after a few trips back to the factory to correct. I also found the 1911 grip, which I love in 45 and 9mm, to be painful in 10mm.

However, I’ve always wanted a Delta Elite and will probably do one to the collection at some point.

Mot45acp said:

What brand is this? Curious because I saw the thread with the Ruger that had the same failure.

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I'm pretty sure that's that same picture of the same Ruger.

SIG P-220 SAO.

Although, I had an EAA Witness that was worthy, just proved not my cup of tea, and go traded off ... for a SIG.