The 10mm Auto brings power, versatility, and a large magazine capacity, making it a popular option for personal protection, target shooting, and even hunting. The threat-stopping potential of this cartridge is not limited to homes and streets. The 10mm has enough force to stop large, dangerous animals; in bear country, the 10mm Auto is a […]
The 10mm Auto brings power, versatility, and a large magazine capacity, making it a popular option for personal protection, target shooting, and even hunting.
The threat-stopping potential of this cartridge is not limited to homes and streets. The 10mm has enough force to stop large, dangerous animals; in bear country, the 10mm Auto is a common tool.
The 10mm may not have a massive market adoption like the 9mm Luger or the .45 ACP, but users can find plenty of rounds from virtually every major manufacturer. Brands like Blazer, Federal, Winchester, Underwood, Buffalo Bore, Remington, MagTec, and Speer (just to name a few), offer a 10mm option.
This large product variety is inherently good for shooters, but it can overwhelm shoppers, especially when selecting a self-defense load. What’s the best grain weight? Which delivers the right penetration? Which has the largest expansion?
That information is not always available, especially on a box of ammo. But thanks to advanced research from Ammo To Go, we can help you choose the best rounds for your needs…
What’s the Best 10mm Ammo for Self Defense?
1.) Buffalo Bore 115 Grain Barnes TAC-XP Ammo
2.) Speer Gold Dot 200 Grain JHP Ammo
3.) Underwood 180 Grain JHP Ammo
So, how did we arrive at those options for a “top 3?” Read on and we’ll share why we’re letting the Federal Bureau of Investigation take the lead on setting a standard for ammo.
Performance Standards from the FBI
We could come up with countless standards for measuring self-defense ammo, but we like to keep things neat and simple. For this analysis, we are using performance standards from the FBI, which prioritizes maximum expansion with ballistic-gel penetration between 12 and 18 inches. (Remember, ballistic gel is not the same as flesh, bones, and organs; just because a round penetrates gel 14 inches, for example, does not mean it will do the same against an assailant.)
Using the FBI’s standards, we can create a clear, easy-to-understand system for choosing the best 10mm Auto rounds for personal defense.
Methodology
To answer these questions, and to help you select the best 10mm Auto for personal defense, Ammo To Go researchers analyzed 11 different leading 10mm loads for speed, penetration, and expansion. Using a Glock 29 with a 3.78-inch barrel, we fired five rounds through four layers of clothing from 10 feet away into ballistic gelatin. From there, our researchers calculated penetration depth and terminal bullet diameter.
This information forms the basis for our analysis, helping you make the best choice.
Top Five 10mm Ammo Options for Average Velocity
| Cartridge | Five-shot Average Velocity (fps) |
|---|---|
| 155-grain TAC-XP HP (Buffalo Bore) | 1,275 |
| 180-grain JHP (Buffalo Bore) | 1,269 |
| 155-grain XTP (Hornady) | 1,269 |
| 200-grain Nosler JHP (Underwood) | 1,243 |
| 180-grain JHP (Underwood) | 1,178 |
| 180-grain V-Crown JHP (Sig Sauer) | 1,159 |
| 180-grain Custom XTP (Hornady) | 1,152 |
| 175-grain Critical Duty Flexlock (Hornady) | 1,070 |
| 170-grain Bronze JHP (PMC) | 1,055 |
| 200-grain Gold Dot (Speer) | 1,008 |
| 180-grain Hydra-Shok (Federal) | 966 |
Speed is rarely a reference point for self-defense ammo. Yes, it’s often a factor for hunting and target-shooting rifle ammo, but for personal protection, there are other factors at play. But velocity drives all other factors, including expansion, energy, and penetration.
Therefore, we can start our analysis by looking at the five fastest rounds in our data.
Gun owners familiar with the Buffalo Bore brand will be unsurprised when they see this company at the top. Buffalo Bore has a well-earned reputation for high-powered ammo, and that means plenty of velocity to drive accuracy and energy.
But there is a concern with high speeds: it can often lead to over-penetration. We noted above that the FBI looks for rounds that penetrate between 12 and 18 inches. To take our analysis further, we need to look at penetration data. This will better determine the top rounds in this cartridge.
Top Five 10mm Ammo Rounds for Penetration
| Cartridge | Five-shot Average Penetration |
|---|---|
| 170-grain Bronze JHP (PMC) | 40.94" |
| 180-grain V-Crown JHP (Sig Sauer) | 25" |
| 175-grain Critical Duty Flexlock (Hornady) | 23.56" |
| 180-grain Custom XTP (Hornady) | 20.66" |
| 200-grain Nosler JHP (Underwood) | 20.32" |
| 200-grain Gold Dot (Speer) | 19.7" |
| 155-grain XTP (Hornady) | 19.16" |
| 180-grain JHP (Buffalo Bore) | 18.36" |
| 180-grain Hydra-Shok (Federal) | 18.22" |
| 155-grain TAC-XP HP (Buffalo Bore) | 14.3" |
| 180-grain JHP (Underwood) | 13.38" |
Some ammo and self-defense enthusiasts argue that the 10mm Auto is overpowered. It’s too hot, more likely to over-penetrate and cause injury and harm to innocent bystanders. The data from our field testing could be used to further this argument.
All 11 loads penetrated beyond the preferred 12 inches. However, nine penetrated beyond 18, which would, by the FBI’s standards, mean they went too deep. (This deep penetration suggests that a 10mm Auto pistol is an excellent sidearm for large, dangerous animals.)
The only two that remained in the 12- to 18-inch range were the 155-grain TAC-XP from Buffalo Bore and the 180-grain JHP from Underwood.
Top Five 10mm Rounds for Shot Diameter
| Cartridge | Five-shot Average Expansion |
|---|---|
| 200-grain Nosler JHP (Underwood) | 0.79" |
| 155-grain TAC-XP HP (Buffalo Bore) | 0.79" |
| 180-grain JHP (Underwood) | 0.74" |
| 180-grain JHP (Buffalo Bore) | 0.7" |
| 180-grain Custom XTP (Hornady) | 0.67" |
| 200-grain Gold Dot (Speer) | 0.66" |
| 155-grain XTP (Hornady) | 0.6" |
| 180-grain Hydra-Shok (Federal) | 0.58" |
| 175-grain Critical Duty Flexlock (Hornady) | 0.5" |
| 180-grain V-Crown JHP (Sig Sauer) | 0.48" |
| 170-grain Bronze JHP (PMC) | 0.4" |
If you are trying to stop a threat, you need expanding ammunition. This means using an expanding round like a jacketed hollow point or lead nose, which are designed to mushroom once they hit a target. Numerous factors will impact expansion, including bullet design, speed, and barriers such as clothing.
Self-defense rounds should expand to at least 1.5-times their original diameter. For a 10mm Auto round, which is 0.4 inches wide, the required minimum is 0.6. Seven of the 11 rounds achieved this mark.
The largest expansion was achieved by two rounds: the 200-grain Nosler JHP and the 155-grain Buffalo Bore TAC-XP, which both expanded to 0.79 inches. They were followed by the Underwood product and another Buffalo Bore round, this time it was a 180-grain product.
155-grain TAC-XP from Buffalo Bore: The Best 10mm Ammo for Self-Defense
Buffalo Bore’s Barnes TAC-XPD expanded bulletsAfter analyzing the data, we found many 10mm rounds that would make great options for personal defense. However, there is one that stood out as the best.
Among the 11 rounds we tested, the best 10mm Auto cartridge for personal protection was the 155-grain TAC-XP from Buffalo Bore. This round had a muzzle velocity of 1,1275 fps, which made it the fastest in our analysis. But more importantly, it had the largest expansion and stayed within the required penetration depth of 12 to 18 inches.
Underwood’s 180-grain jacketed hollow point is a notable second place. It also stayed within the penetration requirements while expanding to 0.74 inches, the third largest on our list.
Frankly, these were the only two that qualified, as all other 10mm rounds were beyond the penetration requirements. They would certainly be effective for protection, but they would lose points in the FBI’s testing system.
So if you want an effective 10mm Auto round for personal defense, we would recommend the 155-grain TAC-XP from Buffalo Bore!
Whether you need 10mm Auto for home defense or a day at the range, you’ll find the ammo you need right here.