Lindcott Armory Pistol · SAAMI
10mm Auto
Powerful auto pistol cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.4004″ · 10.17 mm
- Introduced
- 1983
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .30 Remington
- Primary use
- Hunting, Self Defense, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1983
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Jeff Cooper / Whit Collins
- Manufacturer
- Norma
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 24.1 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Large Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 37,500 psi
- Eff. range
- 75 yd
- Recoil
- 14–22 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady Custom XTP 200 gr, 1,050 fps, BC 0.193 G1 · 25 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 1050 | 489 | -0.9″ | — |
| 25 yd | 1018 | 461 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 50 yd | 991 | 436 | -1.2″ | -2.3 |
| 75 yd | 966 | 414 | -4.6″ | -5.8 |
| 100 yd | 943 | 395 | -10.3″ | -9.8 |
| 125 yd | 922 | 378 | -18.5″ | -14.1 |
| 150 yd | 902 | 362 | -29.2″ | -18.6 |
| 175 yd | 884 | 347 | -42.7″ | -23.3 |
| 200 yd | 867 | 334 | -58.8″ | -28.1 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open 10mm Auto ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Terminal ballistics
98 FBI-protocol gel tests on record (Bare Gelatin, Heavy Clothing, Denim, Wallboard, Plywood, Auto Glass) — 68 passed the 12–18″ penetration window.
- Median penetration
- 14.7″ (bare gel)
- Median expansion
- 0.680″
- Protocol pass rate
- 68/98
Published FBI-protocol results (bare gel + barriers), not Lindcott testing. Pass = 12–18″ penetration with reliable expansion.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 10.17 | 0.400 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 10.74 | 0.423 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 10.80 | 0.425 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 10.80 | 0.425 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.40 | 0.055 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 25.20 | 0.992 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 32.00 | 1.260 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 10mm Auto is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 510 active loads across 56 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 518 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTap | Tactical JHP | 135 | Bonded JHP | 1,600 | 767 | 0.147 G1 |
| DoubleTap | Tactical | 135 | JHP | 1,600 | 767 | 0.147 G1 |
| Buffalo Bore | JHP +P | 180 | JHP | 1,350 | 728 | 0.186 G1 |
| Federal | American Eagle | 155 | FMJ | 1,350 | 627 | 0.163 G1 |
| Buffalo Bore | JHP | 180 | JHP | 1,350 | 728 | 0.186 G1 |
| Doubletap | Bonded Defense | 180 | HP | 1,350 | 728 | 0.186 G1 |
| Hornady | Critical Duty 175gr FlexLock +P | 175 | FlexLock | 1,320 | 677 | 0.183 G1 |
| DoubleTap | Bonded Defense JHP | 180 | Bonded JHP | 1,305 | 681 | 0.186 G1 |
| Buffalo Bore | Dangerous Game FMJ FN | 200 | FMJ FN | 1,300 | 750 | 0.193 G1 |
| Hornady | Critical Defense | 175 | FTX | 1,290 | 647 | 0.183 G1 |
| Hornady | Custom XTP | 155 | XTP JHP | 1,265 | 551 | 0.169 G1 |
| Hornady | XTP | 155 | XTP | 1,265 | 551 | 0.169 G1 |
| Hornady | American Gunner XTP HP | 155 | XTP HP | 1,265 | 551 | 0.169 G1 |
| Magtech | Guardian Gold | 180 | JHP | 1,265 | 639 | 0.186 G1 |
| Hornady | XTP Custom | 155 | XTP JHP | 1,265 | 551 | 0.169 G1 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
15 reloading powders listed for 10mm Auto, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 10mm Auto
12 models in the database chamber 10mm Auto. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed in early 1980s by Jeff Cooper as ideal combat pistol cartridge. FBI adopted in 1989 but withdrew after agents complained of recoil. That failure led to .40 S&W. Cult following remains.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 10mm Auto use?
- 10mm Auto typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 10mm Auto?
- 10mm Auto uses a 0.4004″ (10.17 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 10mm Auto still in production?
- 10mm Auto is active; typical availability is common.
- What is 10mm Auto used for?
- 10mm Auto is primarily used for hunting, self defense, target.
- What is 10mm Auto based on?
- 10mm Auto is derived from the .30 Remington case.
- What are the best powders for 10mm Auto?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for 10mm Auto include IMR Hi-Skor 800X, CFE Pistol, Universal, HP-38, among 15 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — 10mm Autoarchived
- StandardC.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 510 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured; terminal-ballistics figures are published FBI-protocol results. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →