Updated on 2/09/2022The best 10mm ammunition for hunting and protection:Hornady 175 grain Critical Duty Speer 200–grain Gold Dot SIGS Sauer 180–grain Federal 180–grain Hydra Shok Federal 180–grain Trophy Bonded JSP Buffalo Bore Heavy Outdoorsman 220 grains Hornady 180–grain XTP Underwood Ammo 150–grain Xtreme Hunter Remington 180–grain UMC FMJ FMJ CCI Blazer Brass Xtrazer Brass 180–grain FMJ Col. Jeff Cooper’s darling wandered the wilderness for many years because of many reasons. The famous Bren Ten, the first pistol to be chambered for this powerful cartridge, didn’t exactly pirouette onto stage. Similar to the.44 Magnum and the average shooter liked the idea of the snappy cartridge more than when they pulled the trigger. It’s the safe bet, but it’s the 10mm’s versatility that has captured ever more shooters’ imaginations. It can shoot longer, hit harder, and has potential for more uses than any semi-automatic pistol cartridge. If you are willing to take the time to learn the 10mm’s powerful, yet manageable recoil, you have an exceptional self-defense cartridge as well as a top-notch medium-to-large-game option. The big ten is a lot of fun once you get used to it. Although gunmakers have been quick on the bandwagon in recent times, they pale in comparison with ammo producers. There has been a sea of new 10mm ammunition that has appeared on the shelves in the last decade. This makes it difficult to choose the best. We’re here to help you find the best 10mm ammo for your.40-caliber gun.
Multitalented, the 10-mm is preferred for self-defense and hunting. There is crossover between these uses and 10mm ammo. There is crossover between 10mm ammo and these applications, but not in the realm of revolvers. This is why the 10mm ammo best list has been divided into these categories (plus a range fodder recommendation) and each selection follows slightly different criteria. The FBI penetration protocol, significant bullet expansion, reliable feeding, and manageable recoil were the criteria for self-defense ammunition. Hunting bullets were evaluated on maximum penetration, bullet strength, and potential maximum range. It’s not that you want to fire a handgun in the field, but it gives you peace of mind if the first shot doesn’t work and you need to repeat the process. We’d love to hear from you in the comments if you think we missed the mark. DefenseHornady 175 grain Critical Duty 10mm Ammo
This Hornady’s Critical Duty family member is a show-stopper defensive round. The 175-grain round can be used with full-sized handguns. It is designed to provide excellent penetration and ballistics. It meets all the FBI’s penetration standards and passes the agency’s barrier tests. This gives you an advantage in self-defense situations. Hornady’s trademark over-engineering is responsible for the 10mm ammo’s top-performing performance. The FlexLock bullet, which is thickly jacketed and has a Flex Tip Core, is designed to expand only when it is supposed to. This is not in plywood or heavy clothing. A jacket-to-core band (Interlock Band in Hornady terminology), ensures that the bullet stays together and that the lead core does not lose mass as it expands. According to company statistics, the FlexLock bullet retains 99 percent of its weight after expansion. Critical Duty, while a hard-hitting ammo option, is manageable and can be used for defensive 10mm ammunition. It allows for controlled follow-up shots, if necessary. Hornady is a top-notch bulletsmith and ammo company in the country. This shows in a round that you can trust with your life.
Bullet: 175 gr. FlexLock
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,160)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 523
Ballistic coefficient:.160
Sectional Density: .156
MSRP: $34.99 for a 20Speer 200 -grain Gold Dot
200-grain ammo options for defensive 10mm ammo are rare, at least in today’s shooting world. This is why the buzz Speer created at the 2018 SHOT Show by introducing this massive addition to the Gold Dot family is understandable. Although it is a lot of jacketed pitch to pitch, it’s not only its size that matters. Its performance at the end is what makes it worth consideration. The hollow-point expanded almost 3/4 inch on bare ballistics gellatin. This should be enough to stop most attackers dead in their tracks, regardless of the circumstance. This Gold Dot packs a lot of punch but isn’t loaded to its limits. Speer lists the muzzle velocity of the Gold Dot at 1,100 fps from a 5-inch barrel. This is enough to get the job done and makes the caliber manageable for most shooters. It also makes one wonder whether the company is working on a 200-grain hot rod model.
Bullet: 200-grain Dot Gold Dot HP
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,100)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 537
Ballistic coefficient:.151
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $28.99 Box of 20SIG Sauer 180 grain V-Crown
SIG Sauer has created one of the most innovative defensive 10mm ammunition options available. It is extremely hot and expands to a blistering degree. The round kicks out of the muzzle at 1,250 fps, which is what most 10mm enthusiasts like to see. But it’s the V-Crown bullet’s behavior when it hits the target that really makes heads turn. The projectile expands to 3/4 inch, more than enough to cause a severe wound channel. SIG has done a great job making sure that all V-Crown options achieve these results. SIG is not content to just use the jackets of a defense rounds. Instead, they run the hollow point’s core through them. This ensures consistent and dynamite expansion. The round comes with nickel-plated cases, which are not only beautiful but also make chamber checks much easier.
Bullet: V-Crown JHP 180-grain
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,250)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 624
Ballistic coefficient N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $35.95 for a box of 20Federal 180 grain Hydra Shok
This round isn’t much better than its.40 S&W counterpart, which is fine. Some defensive ammo options do not require blockbuster velocity, especially if over-pentation concerns. The Hydra Shok is a little over 1,000 fps at its muzzle. This eliminates the concern while still offering the life-saving performance that has made the brand famous. The ammunition consistently produces 15 inches of penetration in bare ballistics gellatin, which is in line with FBI penetration specifications. The hollow point expands well, thanks to a notched jacket, and a center pin that allows it to open even through heavy clothing. The best part is that the 180-grain Hydrashok is easy to master, especially if you have full-sized options. It is easy to use and allows for quick follow-up shots. What more could you want?
Bullet: 180-grain Hydra Shok
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,030)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 424
Ballistic coefficient: 0.17
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $40.99 Box of 2010mm HuntingFederal 180gin Trophy Bonded Ammo
Federal’s 10mm hunting ammo has been proven to be a game-winner. It is designed to break through bone and hide. The jacketed soft tip bullet from Trophy Bonded won’t break down in large and medium-sized game. This is an essential feature in a handgun hunting bullet. The jacket is bonded to its core, which ensures that it retains its mass while it cuts through flesh and bones, resulting in a devastating wound channel. It is also tough enough to give you the assurance that the projectile can be used to crush something like a deer’s capula. The bullet’s extraordinary expansion is guaranteed by an excessive meplat (nose). The round is also very hot for hunting. Federal Premium rates it at 1,275 fps. There have been many outside tests that back up this assertion. The velocity provides the penetration necessary to reach the vitals quickly and ethically. The 180-grain Trophy Bonded round, which is a bonded round of 180 grains, is simply the best for the 10mm.
Bullet: 180-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,275)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 650
Ballistic coefficient: 0.134
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $42.99Buffalo Bore Heavy Outdoorsman 220 grain
Buffalo Bore has created the answer to the question of penetration. The 220-grain round, which is a hard-cast flat nosed bullet launched from a gun with a flat nose, is made to tackle the toughest and largest critters. This round is a good choice for hunting larger cervidaes and as an insurance policy while traveling through bear country. The bullet is designed for minimal expansion but still leaves a severing void in the game. It also makes hide and bones easy to use. A well-placed shot will cause all vitals to be destroyed by the bullet’s 3-foot range of penetration. Buffalo Bore hot loads this 10mm ammunition to the brim with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 feet per second. It can deliver a staggering 651 ft-lbs at that speed. It can deliver a tremendous amount of energy to a target at 25 meters. If this is not enough to get you within the range of what you are hunting, you shouldn’t aim to shoot it with a semiauto pistol.
Bullet: 220-grain Hard Cast plain-based LFN
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,200)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 703
Ballistic coefficient:.219
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $38.18 for a 20Hornady 180 grain XTP box
This is twofer 10mm Ammo. The 180-grain Hornady round, which is 180 grains in weight, is perfect for self-defense and hunting small to medium game. It has power, penetration, and excellent expansion. A second factor that should appeal both sides is accuracy. The XTP bullet, which is hollow point, is a popular choice among competitive and target shooters. The round is extremely effective in penetration. To ensure that it defeats clothing, hide, and bones, the jacket is rolled over the core. The jacket has skives that help it expand rapidly, up to 60 percent of its original diameter. This tiny feature ensures that the bullet mushrooms even at lower speeds and in a consistent manner. This 180-grain round leaves the muzzle at an average speed of 1,200 fps. The XTP round is a jack-of all trades and punches well over its weight.
Bullet: 180-grain, XTP
Ballistic coefficient:.164
Sectional Density: .161
Muzzle Velocity: 1,275
Muzzle Energy: 650
MSRP: $35.99 for 20Underwood Ammo 150 -grain Xtreme Hunter
Underwood’s 10mm hunting rifle is dynamite, despite its light weight. The 150-grain round is solid copper and has incredible penetration potential. It won’t fracture against bone, in fact it will break right through it. It does have one advantage over other hard cast options: the wound channel. The Xtreme Hunter’s unique property of creating a permanent cavity from milled fluting is that it can expand more than many bullets. This combination is potent. It’s lighter than the standard round and therefore easier to shoot. The barrel leaves at a rapid pace of 1,425 feet per second according to Underwood’s numbers. Its energy is comparable to projectiles weighing more than 30-grains at the muzzle. Although it may not appear so at first, the Xtreme Hunter can handle medium to large game 10mm ammo.
Bullet: 150-grain Lehigh Defense Xtreme Hunter
Muzzle Velocity: 1,425
Muzzle Energy: 676
Ballistic coefficient N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $41.99 Box of 2010mm Ammo For TrainingRemington 180gin UMC FMJ
Plain decent plinking, practice, and range ammo. Good velocity, reliable, affordable, and good general weight. What else do you need from your target ammo, 10mm and other?
Bullet: 180-grain FMJ
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,150)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 529
Ballistic coefficient N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $39.99 Box of 50CCI Blazer Brass 180grain FMJ
CCI brass is not the most consistent-loaded ammo, but it is still relatively affordable in today’s ammo market. CCI Blazer might be the best choice if you only want to shoot 10mm ammo at a low price.
Bullet: 180-grain FMJ
Muzzle Velocity (fps: 1,200)
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 575
Ballistic coefficient N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
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