The 10mm Auto is a cartridge with a story of power, decline, and a recent resurgence. It was developed in 1983, designed to be a powerful semi-automatic pistol cartridge. The idea was to offer superior ballistics compared to 9mm and .45 ACP.
The FBI adopted it in the wake of the infamous 1986 Miami shootout. However, its potent recoil proved too much for many agents to handle effectively. This led to the development of yet another round, the shorter and somewhat milder .40 S&W. This, of course, caused the 10mm Auto to fade into near obscurity. After all, who wanted to use a round the FBI rejected?
In recent years, the 10mm Auto has experienced a significant comeback. I’m not sure what causes some trends to fade or grow, but there are far more 10mm firearms options now than there were 10 years ago.
But that’s just how life works sometimes, right? We love something, then we hate it, then we rage about it… We do this with clothing, hairstyles, furniture, music, etc.
Whatever the reason, firearms chambered in 10mm have become the “new” thing again. Only time will tell how long this trend will last. But for those who own and love their 10mm handguns or PCC’s, here are four of my favorite types of defensive ammunition. And by defensive, I mean all the way up to bears.
1. Underwood 10mm Auto
When we talk about defensive ammunition, most people assume hollow-point ammo is the best. And for most practical purposes, it is. But that doesn’t mean it is perfect for all purposes. For some types of defenses, you want a bullet that does not “mushroom” open upon impact.
And for those who venture into the wild where the threats are larger than people, you want something that penetrates.
My favorite type of ammo for those big, scary animals is Underwood Hard Cast 10mm Auto. It is a 200-grain, hard-cast, flat-nose, awesome cartridge.
This ammunition is specifically designed for deep penetration on medium to large game. Made of a hard cast lead construction, the bullet maintains its shape upon impact. This is important for reaching vital organs on tough-hide animals. The flat nose design creates a wider wound channel than a round nose projectile.
At a blistering 1250 feet per second, this load delivers significant energy and momentum. This is the type of power you need for stopping charging animals before you become a snack. Unlike hollow point rounds that expand and may not penetrate deeply enough on large game, this hard cast bullet prioritizes deep, straight-line penetration.
This is a perfect cartridge for hunters and hikers who need a dependable sidearm for four-legged predators.
2. HSM Bear Load
Another excellent option for backcountry defense is the HSM Bear Load in 10mm Auto. This 200-grain lead round-nose, flat point (RNFP) “Bear Load” is for the same purpose as the Underwood ammo. It is designed to provide deep penetration against large and potentially dangerous game. The lead round nose flat point is a time-tested design and offers a good balance of penetration and tissue damage.
When comparing it to the Underwood load, the HSM Bear Load is just a little cheaper than Underwood ammo. While velocity may be slightly lower than the Underwood 10mm auto, it’s very capable of stopping large game. The key to both loads is the non-expanding bullet design. This makes sure the bullet has the sectional density and integrity to drive deep through thick muscle and bone.
3. Sig Sauer Elite Defense V-Crown
When the threat is of the two-legged variety, the Sig Sauer Elite Defense V-Crown 10mm is one of the best. This is what I carry in my X-Ten for a defensive handgun.
It is a 180-grain Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) round that has a muzzle velocity of 1250 feet per second and a muzzle energy of 624 foot-pounds. This is what I would call exceptional stopping power. The V-Crown’s stacked hollow point design helps give the bullet reliable, uniform expansion.
Even though these are all types of “defensive” ammunition, you can see a big difference between the first two and these last two. Even though they are night and day from each other, they serve different purposes for self-defense.
The goal of a defensive JHP is to expand upon impact, which is the opposite of the first two. This expansion creates a larger wound cavity. This causes the bullet to expend its energy within the target and reduces the risk of over-penetration.
Over-penetration can be a serious concern in a self-defense situation, as the bullet could harm innocent bystanders. This is why it’s extremely important that you understand what type of threat you need to protect yourself from. If you shoot at a bear with JHP ammo, it will wound it but may not stop it.
On the other hand, when you are using a powerful cartridge like the 10mm auto, a solid projectile like the first two is extremely dangerous for self-defense in populated areas. These are different tools for different tasks.
4. Ammo Incorporated
If you want a great self-defense round that is just a little cheaper than the Sig Elite Defense round, this one is a good choice. It is a 180-grain JHP round that has a muzzle velocity of 1195 feet per second and a muzzle energy of 571 foot-pounds. It maintains an impressive velocity downrange, still traveling at 1104 feet per second at the 50-yard mark. For a handgun, that’s a great speed at 50 yards.
Ammo Incorporated claims this ammunition is manufactured with “match grade technology.” This means they place a lot of focus on quality control and consistency for each round. Technically speaking, this translates to improved accuracy and reliability.
This ammunition, like the Sig Sauer V-Crown, is designed to expand and transfer its energy efficiently within a target. This makes for a somewhat cheaper, but effective round for regular self-defense.
10mm Auto, a powerful round for self-defense
Everyone has their own preferences for caliber and type of ammunition they use. I won’t jump into a caliber debate here because it’s pointless. In the end, you choose the caliber you want. But, if the 10mm auto is one of your choices, these four defensive loads are a great consideration. I have to give a shout out to AmmoToGo.com for providing ammunition for reviews like this. They have a large selection of 10mm ammo and shipping is extremely fast.
For those who go hiking and hunting where they are more worried about large game than people, the first two are perfect for your defensive needs. Even when I’m hunting and carrying a large caliber rifle, I like to have a sidearm that can take out a predator if needed.
And if you just like having a powerful caliber for self-defense against bad guys, the last two on this list are perfect choices.
