The 10mm is a beloved cartridge among its small, but fiercely loyal cult. The 10mm has many names, including my favorite, the Centimeter. If you aren’t up to speed let’s do a short history of the 10mm. Designed by Norma with input from Jeff Cooper the 10mm auto was supposed to be the cartridge of the future. The FBI decided they needed a newer, more powerful round and adopted the 10mm and a Smith and Wesson third Generation Handgun. They even got Mp5s in 10mm. The 10mm was the bell of the ball. Then the ball dropped. FBI agents complained the 10mm was too powerful for their dainty wrists. They downloaded it into a weaker overall cartridge. Smith and Wesson figured hey we can take this downloaded recipe, shorten the case, and create 40 S&W. The rest is history. Or is it? Is the 10mm auto making a comeback?

(if you want a more comprehensive history here you go.

I ask this question as a loyal fan of the 10mm. Maybe not a cultist who can tailor make a 10mm load for any animal in North America. I’m a 10mm fan because I am pragmatic and appreciate efficiency and versatility. I also like power, and the 10mm is quite powerful. What I’ve seen and what makes me happy is it seems like the 10mm auto round is making a comeback.

The science fiction future is bright.

There is two future-based science fiction video games that seem to follow my line of logic. That line being the 10mm is making a comeback. Both the Deus Ex series of video games and the Fallout series both feature 10mm pistols. Don’t forget the M41A from Aliens is in 10mm. Although, it’s 10×24 not 10×25, and caseless. I still count it as the future knowing what’s up.

Where is my evidence of 10mm making a comeback? Well in a few short years we have seen more and more companies producing 10mm handguns. Glock has produced the Glock 29 and 20 continuously. You could also always buy high-end 1911s in 10mm. You also had companies making some CZ clones in 10mm. The 1911s were often too expensive to draw many users. The CZ clones often suffered from a case of cracked frame it is. Glocks were one of the only real choices for a modern 10mm that was a quality piece and was affordable. Well, that’s changing.

The new guys

Major companies are now producing 10mm firearms in a variety of platforms.

Delta Elite

  1. Sig Sauer released their P220 in 10mm to great fanfare. This has lead many to hope that the P227 would get the 10mm treatment soon. Nothing is out there yet, but one can hope.
  2. Glock is producing the Glock 40 MOS, a 10mm long slide Glock. Hopefully Glock will eventually make a 10mm somewhat close in size to the Glock 19.
  3. Kriss revealed a 10mm Vector Gen 2 at Shot Show 2016
  4. Eagle imports is importing the K100 Grand Power pistols with a 10mm option
  5. Remington announced the R1 Hunter in 10mm with a long slide.
  6. CZ with their Dan Wesson Bruin, a long slide 1911 with a 10mm option. Now CZ needs to get on with making the CZ 97 in 10mm please and thank you.
  7. The Aero Survival rifle is now getting a 10mm variant
  8. Rock Island Armory has released two budget based 1911s in 10mm
  9. Colt is reintroducing an upgraded and improved Colt Delta Elite

Sig P220