CLASSIC 1983 FIREPOWER: THE 10MM AUTO
Looking for magnum sized performance in a full sized semi-automatic pistol?
Well lets take a close look at the 1980’s retro 10mm Auto cartridge and what it’s all about.
Back in 1983 Jeff Cooper came up with the 10mm Auto cartridge. The Bren Ten Pistol was then the original digester of this potent ammunition. In 1986 an FBI shootout where the agents were seriously under gunned. After that major disaster a call came out for more firepower for their agents. Fast forward to 1989 when the FBI adopted that cartridge. All was not good in the kingdom though as some agents were not shooting well do to the heavier recoil. The “FBI load” was then developed that was indeed a less powerful version. When the original 10mm brass was chopped down into the shorter .40 S&W cartridge the larger cartridge lost a lot of followers and most law enforcement agencies dumped the more powerful round.
So was the 10mm Auto doomed to become obsolete? Outdoors wanderers and hunters are always on the lookout for a handy yet powerful cartridge. The 10mm just happened to be the Goldilocks cartridge for the backwoods. Bear protection? How about a Glock 20 loaded up with a magazine full of fifteen 220 grain hard cast projectiles moving out around 1200 feet per second? How about 704 foot pounds of energy? That’s a whole lot more shots than a regular revolver holds and is quite a bit quicker to reload also! Now this is a great cartridge for the great outdoors and beyond.
What is the future of the very useful and powerful 10mm cartridge? I believe it will be around for a very long time and will continue to have a cult following for those that love what the cartridge offers. With even smaller handguns and even rifles now chambered for it, this magnum performance autoloading cartridge has a lot going for it well into the future. Long live the 10mm Auto!
