Best 10mm Handguns [2025 Buyer’s Guide]

WHEN TWO WORLD WARS ISN’T ENOUGH, 10MM HAS THE POWER YOU NEED

Best 10mm Pistols

• Best Polymer 10mm: SIG Sauer P320-XTen
• Best 1911 Style: Colt Delta Elite
• Best Durability: Glock 20
• Best Budget 1911: Palmetto State Armory Admiral
• Best Tactical: FN 510
• Best 10mm CCW: Glock 29

The 9mm vs .45 ACP debate is one that, if you’ve spent much time in firearm circles, you’re probably already familiar with. 

There is, however, a third round worth considering, 10mm.  

10mm Auto was first developed in 1983 and was even briefly adopted by the FBI, starting in 1989 in response to the 1986 Miami Shootout. Though the FBI didn’t use 10mm for very long, the fact that they used it at all helped 10mm get noticed by civilians, and the round has had a growing following in the decades since. 

If you’re among those itching to try out 10mm but aren’t sure what gun to start with, you’re in luck. In this guide, we’ll go over why you might want to try out 10mm in the first place, then discuss some of the top 10mm pistols currently on the market. 

Let’s get started. 

Why 10mm?

So why opt for 10mm in the first place?

For one, because it’s powerful. 

10mm delivers a lot more punch than, say, 9mm, with greater muzzle velocity and penetration. The other side of that coin is that it has significant recoil, though not much more than .45 ACP. 

At the same time, you tend to get pretty high capacities with 10mm, between about 8 and 15 rounds per magazine.

10mm is especially popular for self-defense, but it’s also a very versatile round that’s good for days at the range, competition, and hunting medium to large game, as well as for home defense. 

On the other hand, 10mm tends to be more expensive than other, more popular rounds, especially 9mm. 

However, it is popular enough that you can still get a decent range of loads to choose from, though you won’t find a huge selection in most stores. To really browse all your options, you’ll need to shop online.

While 10mm certainly hasn’t achieved the popularity of other handgun rounds, like 9mm and .45 ACP, it’s definitely got a growing cult following. 

Best 10mm Pistols

SIG P320-XTEN

The SIG P320 has been around for about 8 years now (and has earned an excellent reputation over that time), but the P320-XTEN is a brand-new addition to the line. 

If you’ve handled a P320 in the past, you know pretty much what to expect from this one. It will feel very familiar. 

It’s a full-size, polymer-frame striker-fired pistol with a 5-inch barrel and a 15-round capacity. It’s 8.5 inches long, 5.6 inches tall, and 1.3 inches wide, and weighs in at 33 ounces. 

It comes with SIG’s X-RAY3 Day/Night Sights but is also optic-ready, so you can throw on your favorite red dot or holo sight. An M1913 rail below the barrel allows you to throw on a light or laser sight as well. 

It has a nice, ergonomic beavertail grip with a really aggressive texture, helping hands of all sizes keep a firm, secure grip despite 10mm’s heavy recoil. All the controls are ambidextrous, so the gun is equally suitable for right-handed people and southpaws. 

Take a look at the complete SIG XTEN Review!

Palmetto State Armory	$800
Guns.com	$850
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$830

Colt Delta Elite 

The Colt Delta Elite is a 1911 variant chambered in 10mm from the company that made the first 1911s in the first place. It’s great for those who prefer a more classically styled pistol but with even more power than the traditional 1911. 

An especially cool feature is the double-recoil spring system. This helps absorb some of the shock of 10mm, making the gun easier to handle. The grip is comfortable and helps with control of the weapon.

The beavertail grip safety doesn’t dig into the hand like some others, and there’s also a secondary thumb safety that’s extended for easy access. This pistol has a 5-inch barrel and measures 8.25 long. It weighs 2.4 pounds, has an 8+1 round capacity, and comes with white dot sights.

Like the original 1911, the Delta Elite doesn’t come with a rail. However, if that’s a deal breaker for you, don’t worry. For a little bit more, you can get the Colt Delta Elite Rail Gun, which does feature an under-barrel Picatinny rail. 

Palmetto State Armory	$1,300
Guns.com	$1,300
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$1,080

Glock 20 

Here’s another gun that will feel very familiar to a lot of people. 

The thing about Glocks is they’re all more or less the same, just in a bunch of different calibers and a few different sizes. The G20 is Glock’s full-size 10mm iteration. 

The Gen4 grip and three-part safety system will feel familiar to people who’ve already handled Glocks. The modular back strap system allows you to customize the grip to suit the size of your hand. The mag release is reversible to work for right or left-handed shooters.

Like the P320-XTEN, the Glock 20 has a 15-round capacity. It’s a bit smaller, with a 4.61-inch barrel, 8.07-inch overall length, 1.34-inch width, and 5.51-inch height, so I think the Glock 20 has a slight edge as a carry weapon. The G20 is also a touch lighter, at 30.69 ounces. 

Palmetto State Armory	$550
Guns.com	$480
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$630

Palmetto State Armory Admiral

Between friends, this is really a Rock Island Ultra FS in 10mm but wearing a PSA brand. Made for PSA by Rock Island, this is a proven gun that (under a different name) has been around for years and is known for being one of the cheapest 10mm 1911s that is actually worth spending money on.

Does the PSA branding make a difference? Not really. It’s the same gun. 5″ barrel, fiber optic front sight, 8-round mags, with a crisp but kind of heavy trigger pull at 4-6 lbs.

The gun shoots exactly like you might expect; reliably and like a Mac truck.

Why choose this over a normal Rock Island? First, it’s PSA so you have their CS to back you up in case anything goes wrong. Second, the PSA Admiral is a little cheaper than the Rock Island version normally.

And maybe most importantly, I just like the PSA Admiral logo better.

Palmetto State Armory

$450

FN 510

The FN 510 comes in two flavors — Tactical and MRD. Both are optics-ready, but the Tactical comes with a threaded barrel and a 22-round magazine plus has night sights instead of the normal day sights.

The MRD is a bit less expensive.

If you want to go big, really big, the FN 510 Tactical and the 22-round mag is a clear winner. While kind of impractical in most cases, it is hard to argue with 22-rounds of 10mm.

Trigger pull is what you should expect from a striker fired pistol, but it is improved over what you get in a bone-stock Glock. The backstrap is replaceable giving you some freedom to make the grip fit your hand no matter what size hand you have.

Both the MRD and the Tactical come with a rail for WMLs.

Overall, the FN 510 MRD is a solid choice but doesn’t really stand out in a crowd. The Tactical brings not only the huge magazine to the party, but also the night sights and threaded barrel give you some interesting options. If you have a can that fits 10mm, this is a great host. Otherwise, a comp would help tame that 10mm recoil.

Palmetto State Armory	$820
Guns.com	$630
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$820

Glock 29

Since we’ve already talked about the Glock 20, there’s not much to say about the Glock 29. Like we said, Glocks are basically all the same, just in different calibers and sizes. Obviously, since it’s on this list, the Glock 29 is also 10mm, which leaves size as the distinguishing factor. 

The Glock 29 is the subcompact version of the G20. This little gun measures just under 7 inches long, a little over 4.5 inches tall, and 1.38 inches wide. It weighs just 26.81 ounces with an empty magazine. 

Other than that, it has the same features that you know and love from other Glocks, like the three-part safety system, polymer frame, and modular backstrap system. 

Guns.com	$530
Sportsman’s Warehouse	$580

Loose Rounds

10mm is growing increasingly popular, but it’s not for everyone. I definitely recommend that everyone at least give it a try, though. This powerful round may surprise you.

And if you decide 10mm is right for you, after all, you can’t go wrong with any of the guns I’ve recommended above. Each one is an excellent choice, though they’re not all equally well suited for all shooters. 

All you have to do is go with the one that sounds best for you. 

READY FOR MORE?

F.A.Q.

What Hits Harder 10mm or .45 ACP?

Depending on the load, 10mm is generally more powerful than .45 ACP. 

Is 10mm More Powerful Than .44 Magnum?

.44 Magnum is generally significantly more powerful than 10mm Auto. However, 10mm Auto is designed for semi-auto pistols that have double or more the magazine capacity. .44 Magum is primarily a revolver cartridge and rarely found in semi-auto pistols.

Is 10mm More Powerful Than .357 Magnum?

It will depend on the exact load which is more powerful as 10mm Auto and .357 Magnum have extremely similar ballistics. However, the .357 Magnum is a rimmed cartridge designed for revolvers. 10mm Auto is designed for semi-auto pistols that have much more magazine capacity. 

Is 10mm More Powerful Than 9mm?

10mm Auto is significantly more powerful than 9mm. For example, 10mm 200gr Federal HST has a muzzle energy of 567 ft.lbf. 9mm 124gr Federal HST is only 364 ft.lbf

What 10mm Did The FBI Use?

The 10mm the FBI used was the Smith & Wesson Model 1076

What is a 10mm Pistol Good For?

For large-capacity pistols with high muzzle energy, 10mm Auto is a solid choice. Great for wild animal defense, hiking, hunting side arm, and more.