The 10mm is a “Widow Maker”. If this caliber hits a target, it will drop that target. The 10mm has a longer case, but the .45 acp has a larger projectile. The 10mm also has a shorter bullet, but generates more than 1.5 times the chamber pressure. Generally speaking, if you want power in a handgun, a 10mm is a very destructive and powerful caliber, but the .45 acp is also powerful and more popular for self-defense. So, let’s take a look at the power between a .10mm vs .45 acp.

The 10mm Auto was also adopted by law enforcement to stop dangerous criminals, but in this case, after development, it basically sat on the sidelines. After a violent and tragic engagement between FBI agents and bank robbers, the cartridge was given new attention and adopted by federal organizations. Although the cartridge had been released six years earlier, the 1986 shootout between FBI agents and bank robbers in Miami created a new need for the 10mm Auto. After the shootout, which left two agents dead, authorities determined that if the agents had been using more powerful weaponry, the shootout would have likely ended before two agents were killed. This led to the adoption, as well as the adaptation, of the 10mm Auto cartridge. The 10mm Auto is a cartridge designed specifically for semiautomatic pistols, one of the main reasons it was adopted by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. It generally carries a bullet ranging from 150 to 200 grains, although larger bullets are available. It does not have the massive overall adoption among private users, making it one of the most underrated cartridges in the American collection.

10mm Auto Quick Facts:

Released: 1983

Bullet Diameter: .4 inches

Base Diameter: .425 inches

Neck Diameter: .423 inches

Case Length: .992 inches

Designed specifically for semiautomatic pistols