Top 5 10mm Handguns

Why 10mm and Test Criteria

The host introduces a comparison of the top five 10mm handguns for 2023. The 10mm cartridge has existed since the 1980s but has grown in popularity for its terminal performance, especially for outdoor use such as hunting, biking, backpacking, and camping where protection from large animals like bears and moose is a concern. Older 10mm pistols were often considered hard to control, but newer designs have improved shootability. The pistols on the table are a Tisas 1911X in 10mm, a SIG P320 XTen, a Springfield XD-M Elite 10mm, a Smith & Wesson M&P 10mm, and a Glock 20 Gen 4. After range testing, the host ranks them using five criteria: trigger quality, ergonomics, sights, magazine capacity, and overall appearance.

Glock 20 and Other Glock 10mm Options

The Glock 20 Gen 4 in 10mm is ranked fifth. The host respects Glock’s reliability and long track record and notes it is similar in size to a Glock 17, but finds it less favorable than the other pistols in this lineup. The main criticism is ergonomics: the grip and overall frame feel large and brick-like compared with other 10mm options, even acknowledging that 10mm generally requires a bigger frame and magazine. The Glock trigger is described as reliable but heavy and notchy, with basic Glock sights and plain styling. The host briefly mentions other Glock 10mm models: the more compact Glock 29, roughly Glock 19-sized, and the longer-slide Glock 40, comparable to or slightly larger than a Glock 34 and available with MOS optic cuts, as are some Glock 20 and 29 variants.

SIG P320 XTen Evaluation

Fourth place goes to the SIG P320 XTen. The host considers SIG a solid manufacturer and thinks the XTen has an appealing tactical look. Ergonomically, it feels better in the hand than the Glock 20 but not as good as the top three pistols. The trigger has the characteristic SIG feel with a muted, soft break that the host personally dislikes, describing it as a quiet thud rather than a crisp break. The sights are praised, especially the prominent front green dot that is easy to pick up, and the slide is cut for an optic. A Picatinny rail is included for accessories. However, the pistol feels front-heavy, with a barrel and slide that make the gun feel large and top-heavy. Magazine capacity is 15 rounds of 10mm, similar to the Glock, which is considered reasonable for the caliber, but overall the XTen does not outperform the remaining three pistols in the ranking.

1911-Style 10mm Pistols

Third place is a 10mm 1911, specifically the Tisas 1911X. The host appreciates the classic 1911 platform and its history, noting the renowned single-action trigger that is light and crisp. This particular Tisas model has an eight-round magazine capacity, which is a drawback compared with higher-capacity options. The host mentions the Rock Island Ultra HC 10mm as another 1911-style choice with a double-stack magazine offering 16 rounds, highlighting how important capacity is in this comparison. Traditional 1911 sights are not a favorite, and the all-metal construction adds weight. Recoil in 10mm feels similar to .45 ACP in this configuration and is manageable. The pistol includes external ambidextrous safeties. Despite shooting it well, the host prefers striker-fired, polymer-framed pistols, which keeps the 1911 platform in third place rather than higher.

Springfield XD-M Elite 10mm

Second place is the Springfield XD-M Elite in 10mm. The host discloses that Springfield provided the pistol but did not request any specific coverage. The XD-M Elite stands out for its ergonomics; when brought up on target, it feels natural in the hand and points well. The host dislikes the rear U-shaped sight design but otherwise finds the sight picture serviceable, and the slide is cut for mounting an optic. The trigger is a major positive, described as excellent and one of the first things that impressed the host when handling the pistol at Springfield’s booth. Although the magazine body is marked 15, Springfield confirmed and range use verified that it reliably holds 16 rounds of 10mm. The tested model is finished in FDE, which the host notes as a personal aesthetic preference. Recoil management is described as very good, contributing to its high ranking.

FN 510 Mention and Smith & Wesson M&P 10mm Ranking

Before revealing the top choice, the host briefly mentions the FN 510 in 10mm as an honorable mention. It offers a 15-round magazine capacity, but it is not included in the ranking because a sample was not yet available for testing. First place goes to the Smith & Wesson M&P 10mm. The host is particularly impressed with its ergonomics and grip texture, describing the stippling as very sticky and secure, preventing the hand from shifting under recoil. Compared with the Springfield XD-M Elite, the M&P’s grip texture and overall feel are preferred. The pistol feels slim and does not seem like a large 10mm handgun despite the caliber. It features suppressor-height sights and an optic cut, and the trigger performance is close to the excellent trigger on the XD-M Elite. On the range, the host found the M&P 10mm very accurate and controllable, leading to its selection as the top-ranked 10mm handgun in this lineup.