America’s cyclical love/hate/love affair with the 10mm Auto has perhaps never been more vibrant. Originally cooked up by Col. Jeff “Because they Don’t Make a .46” Cooper of Gunsite fame for his failed Bren Ten concept gun, the 10mm was quietly kept going through the late 1980s and into the 2000s by the Colt Delta Elite and Glock Model 20 but was in life support to be sure, cruising just a hair above failed super rounds like the .45 GAP and .357 SIG.
Then came a resurgence in 10mm favor during the past several years with other makers jumping into the market and the 10mm’s little brother, the .40 “Slow & Weak” losing favor almost overnight.
These days we have several budget companies making affordable 10mm guns such as Hi-Point’s JXP, the SDS/Tisas HGA, the EAA/Girsan Hunter, and RIA’s Tac Ultra/Ultra FS, while more upscale 1911-style guns are available from the likes of Kimber (Rapide, Super Jagare, Eclipse Custom, Camp Guard), Ruger (SR1911 Target), and Dan Wesson (Bruin, Kodiak), among others that have been competing against Colt’s aging Delta Elite.
Then there are solid “combat” style double stacks that are giving the Glock 20 a run for its money including the S&W M&P M10, the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite, and the FN 510.
