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10mm Auto
10MM AUTO - FMJ - 1
10mm Auto Full Metal Jacket Cartridge
Type Pistol
Place of origin
Service history
Used by
  • F.B.I. Hostage Rescue Team[1]
  • F.B.I. Special Weapons and Tactics Teams[2][3]
  • Slædepatruljen Sirius[4]
  • Production history
    Designer
  • Jeff Cooper
  • FFV Norma AB
  • Designed 1983
    Produced 1983–Present
    Variants .40 S&W
    Specifications
    Parent cartridge .30 Remington[5][6]
    Case type
    Bullet diameter 10.17 mm (0.400 in)
    Neck diameter 10.74 mm (0.423 in)
    Base diameter 10.80 mm (0.425 in)
    Rim diameter 10.80 mm (0.425 in)
    Rim thickness 1.40 mm (0.055 in)
    Case length 25.20 mm (0.992 in)
    Overall length 32.00 mm (1.260 in)
    Case capacity 1.56 cm3 (24.1 gr H2O)
    Rifling twist 381 mm (1 in 15 inches)
    Primer type Large Pistol
    Maximum pressure (C.I.P.) 230.0 MPa (33,360 psi)[7]
    Maximum pressure (S.A.A.M.I.) 258.55 MPa (37,500 psi)[8]
    Ballistic performance
    Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
    135 gr (9 g) Underwood Nosler JHP 1,600 ft/s (490 m/s) 767 ft·lbf (1,040 J)
    155 gr (10 g) Underwood TMJ 1,500 ft/s (460 m/s) 775 ft·lbf (1,051 J)
    165 gr (11 g) DoubleTap Bonded Defense JHP 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s) 718 ft·lbf (973 J)
    180 gr (12 g) Underwood Hornady XTP JHP 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s) 676 ft·lbf (917 J)
    200 gr (13 g) DoubleTap W.F.N.G.C. Hard Cast 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s) 750 ft·lbf (1,020 J)
    Test barrel length: 117 millimetres (4.61 in)[9]
    Source(s): DoubleTap Ammunition Underwood Ammo

    The 10mm Auto (10×25mm, Official C.I.P. Nomenclature: 10 mm Auto,[7] Official S.A.A.M.I. Nomenclature: 10mm Automatic[8]) is a semi-automatic pistol cartridge first developed by Jeff Cooper and introduced in 1983 with the Bren Ten pistol. Its design was subsequently improved then produced initially by ammunitions manufacturer FFV Norma AB of Åmotfors, Sweden.[10]

    Although it was selected for service by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1989 from the aftermath of the 1986 F.B.I. Miami Shootout, the cartridge was later decommissioned (except by the Hostage Rescue Team and Special Weapons and Tactics Teams) after their Firearms Training Unit eventually concluded that its recoil was excessive in terms of training for average agent/police officer competency of use and qualification,[10] and that the pistols chambered for the caliber were too large for some small-handed individuals. These issues led to the creation and following replacement to a shorter version of the 10mm that exists today as the .40 Smith & Wesson. The 10mm never attained the mainstream success of this compact variant, but there is still an enthusiastic group of supporters who often refer to the .40 S&W as the ".40 Short & Weak".[11]

    History[]

    DCB Shooting Bren Ten & SW 610

    The Bren Ten (left) and Smith & Wesson Model 610 Classic (right), 1983.

    The 10mm Auto cartridge was originally drafted and championed by eminent firearms expert Lieutenant Colonel John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (May 10, 1920 – September 25, 2006; U.S.M.C., Ret.). It was designed to be a medium-velocity pistol cartridge with better external ballistics (i.e., flatter trajectory, greater range) than the .45 ACP and capable of greater stopping power than the 9×19mm Parabellum. When FFV Norma AB designed the cartridge at the behest of Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises, Inc. for their Bren Ten pistol (a newly developed handgun with design inspired by the CZ 75), the company decided to increase the power over Cooper's original concept. The resulting cartridge—which was introduced in 1983 and produced since—is very powerful, containing the flat trajectory and high energy of a magnum revolver cartridge into a relatively short, versatile rimless cartridge for a semi-automatic pistol.[10]

    One of the first issues with its early acceptance and prosperity was the result of quality problems in consequence from rushed production to meet copious (some even defaulted) pre-orders of the pistol it was originally—as well as then being only—chambered for: the Bren Ten.[12] An example being the peculiar circumstances surrounding the pistol's distribution at its primary release, leading to a number of initial Bren Tens sent to dealers and customers without magazines (the magazines themselves also had complications).[13] The relatively high price of the Bren Ten compared to other pistols of the time (manufacturer's suggested retail price in 1986 was U.S. $500) also contributed, and the company was eventually forced to declare bankruptcy, ceasing operations in 1986 after only three years of inconsistent, substandard production. Had it not been for Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company making the unexpected decision in 1987 to bring out their Delta Elite pistol (a 10mm Auto version of the M1911) and later, the F.B.I.'s adoption of the caliber in 1989, the cartridge might have sunk into obsolescence, becoming an obscure footnote in firearms history.

    Var1bluede

    Colt Delta Elite

    Due to media exposure in the television series Miami Vice, where one of the lead protagonist had used the pistol as his primary signature weapon, demand for the Bren Ten increased after manufacturing ceased. In the succeeding five years, prices on the Standard Model rose to in excess of U.S. $1,400, and original magazines were selling for over U.S. $150.[14]

    The briefly field-tested the 10mm Auto using a M1911 pistol platform and a Thompson Model 1928[15] submachine gun before adopting the Smith & Wesson Model 1076 in 1990; a short barreled version of the Model 1026 with its slide-mounted decock/firing pin block safety supplanted by only a frame-mounted decocker. A contract was also signed with Heckler & Koch to produce a specialized quantity of the MP5 utilizing the cartridge, designated MP5/10 for use by the H.R.T. and S.W.A.T. Since 1994, both units still field the weapon and caliber to this day.[1][2] During testing of the caliber in 1988, it was decided that the full-power commercial load of the 10mm Auto was the best for law enforcement usage amongst all other semi-automatic pistol cartridges of the era, but it also resulted in undesirable recoil for most agents. Thereafter, experimentations were carried out, and a specification for reduced-recoil ammunition was created; later, the requirement was submitted to the Federal Cartridge Corporation for production and followed further review. This became known as the "10mm Lite", or "10mm F.B.I." load, also currently common from various manufacturers today. Along with some pistol reliability problems increasing with this lighter load, Smith & Wesson observed that a version of the 10mm case reduced to 22 millimeters from the original 25 mm could be made with the retained performance parameters of the "10mm Lite". This altered cartridge was named the .40 Smith & Wesson. The shorter case length allowed function in a 9mm Luger chambered pistol; the advantage being that smaller-handed shooters could now have smaller-frame semi-automatic handguns with near—or in some cases, exact—10mm performance. Colloquially called the "Forty Cal" and other synonyms, this innovation has since become a common handgun cartridge among law enforcement agencies and civilians in the U.S., while the popularity of the parent 10mm Auto still exists but has contrastingly diminished.[10] Colt, Dan Wesson Firearms, Glock, Kimber Manufacturing, Nighthawk Custom, Smith & Wesson, STI International and Tanfoglio are some of the few manufacturers that still offer handguns in 10mm Auto.

    The 10mm outperforms the .40 S&W by 61–76 m/s (200–250 ft/s) for similar bullet weights when using available full power loads,[16] as opposed to the "10mm F.B.I." level loads still found in some ammunition catalogs.[17][18] This is due to the 10mm Auto's higher S.A.A.M.I. pressure rating of 37,500 psi (259 MPa),[8] as opposed to 35,000 psi (240 MPa) for the .40 S&W,[8] and the larger case capacity, which allows the use of heavier bullets and more smokeless powder.

    Cartridge dimensions[]

    10mm Auto Maximum C.I.P. Cartridge Dimensions.[7] All sizes in millimeters (mm).

    10 mm Auto

    The 10mm Auto has 1.56 milliliter (24 grain H
    2
    O
    ) cartridge case capacity.

    Common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 381 mm (1 in 15 inches), 5 grooves, Ø lands = 9.91 mm, Ø grooves = 10.16 mm, and land width = 4.47 mm. A large pistol primer is used.[7]

    The Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (C.I.P.; Permanent International Commission for Firearms Testing) rulings indicate a maximum pressure of 230.0 MPa (33,360 psi). In C.I.P. regulated countries, every pistol/cartridge combination is required to be proofed at 130% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers.[7]

    The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (S.A.A.M.I.) pressure limit for the 10mm Auto is set at 37,500 psi (258.55 MPa).[8]

    Performance[]

    At full potential, the 10mm Auto produces energy slightly higher than an average .357 Magnum load and below standard .41 Magnum rounds. The cartridge is considered to be high-velocity, giving it a less-curved flight path (also termed "flat-shooting") relative to other handgun cartridges. In its lighter loadings, the 10mm Auto is an exact duplicate of the .40 S&W cartridge. More powerful loadings can equal or exceed the performance of the .357 Magnum, and retain more kinetic energy at 100 yards than the .45 ACP has at the muzzle.[10]

    Some commercial loadings are as follows:

    • .357 Magnum: 917 J (676 ft·lbf) for 11.7 g (180 gr) at 400 m/s (1,300 ft/s). Free recoil energy: 13.7 J (10.1 ft·lbf).[19]
    • 10mm Auto: 1,020 J (750 ft·lbf) for 13.0 g (200 gr) at 400 m/s (1,300 ft/s). Free recoil energy: 16.4 J (12.1 ft·lbf).[20]
    • .41 Magnum: 1,272 J (938 ft·lbf) for 16.2 g (250 gr) at 400 m/s (1,300 ft/s). Free recoil energy: 31.0 J (22.9 ft·lbf).[21]

    The loads listed above are from a boutique manufacturer of high performance ammunition and are about maximum for S.A.A.M.I. established pressure levels in each cartridge. Free recoil energy computed assuming a 1.1 kilograms (40 oz) handgun. Most major ammunition manufacturers offer 10mm loads closer in performance to the "F.B.I. Load" than the full-power 10mm; these still contain sufficient power for defense applications, but their recoil is more comparable to that of the .45 ACP in similar guns. However, some companies do continue to offer the original full-power ammunition.

    Usage[]

    Glock 20

    Glock 20

    GLOCK 29 10mm

    Glock 29

    The 10mm Auto is marketed for hunting,[22] defensive, or tactical use[23] and is one of the few semi-automatic, rimless cartridges that is legal for hunting white-tailed deer in many U.S. states.[24][25] In regards to its use in personal defense, firearms author Chuck Hawks wrote:

    "The most commonly available, reasonably portable, autoloader that might serve our purpose is the Glock Model G20, chambered for the 10mm Auto (.40 caliber) cartridge. The G-20 is as reliable as a powerful auto gets and relatively compact. This pistol comes with a 4.6" barrel, is 7.59" in overall length and weighs only 26.28 ounces. In recent years Glock has promoted the G20 as a hunting pistol."[26]

    Today, the cartridge is used as a high-power defense caliber against humans or animals, and for hunting by those who prefer the flatter carry profile and higher cartridge capacity of an automatic pistol versus a magnum revolver.[24] It also makes "Major" power factor ranking in I.P.S.C., even in lighter loadings.[27]

    Despite the F.B.I. switching to the .40 S&W, their Hostage Rescue Team, Special Weapons and Tactics Teams, and various other law enforcement agencies in the United States still continue to issue or authorize the use of 10mm including the Coconut Creek Police Department, Plano Police Department, and Weimar Police Department.[28]

    In military use, the government of Denmark has issued the Glock 20 to the Slædepatruljen Sirius (Sirius Sledge Patrol) headquartered in Daneborg, Northeast Greenland.[4] The pistols were issued as a defense against polar bears which the unit encounters during patrols.[29][30]

    Synonyms[]

    • 10
    • 10×25mm
    • 10mm
    • 10mm Automatic
    • 10mm Autopistol
    • 10mm Bren Ten
    • 10mm F.B.I.
    • 10mm Norma
    • The Centimeter (This name is also used to refer to a wildcat cartridge based on the 10mm Auto, which is trademarked by Pistol Dynamics.)[31][32]
    • The Ten

    Gallery[]

    See also[]

    References[]

    1. 1.0 1.1 "AMERICAN SPECIAL OPS – F.B.I. H.R.T.". http://www.americanspecialops.com/hostage-rescue-team/. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    2. 2.0 2.1 "AMERICAN SPECIAL OPS – F.B.I. S.W.A.T.". http://www.americanspecialops.com/fbi-swat/. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    3. "F.B.I. – Tools of the Trade – S.W.A.T. (Text Only)". http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/november/swat111708. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    4. 4.0 4.1 DeMille, Dianne; Priestley, Stephen (2005-12). "Permanent Presence: Recruiting, Training, & Equipping Rangers in the Arctic". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2010-07-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20100708215900/http://www.casr.ca/ft-harper1-6.htm. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    5. Donnelly, John J. (1987). The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. Stoeger Publishing. p. 941. ISBN 978-0-88317-269-8. 
    6. Howell, Ken (1995). Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges. Precision Shooting. p. 546. ISBN 0-9643623-0-9. 
    7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "C.I.P. – Table of Dimensions for Cartridge and Chamber of 10 mm Auto". http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/uploads/tdcc/tab-iv/10-mm-auto-en.pdf. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "S.A.A.M.I. – CENTERFIRE PISTOL & REVOLVER VELOCITY AND PRESSURE DATA". http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/VelocityPressureData.pdf. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    9. "DoubleTap Ammunition – 10mm 135gr Nosler JHP 20rds.". http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=589. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "The 10mm Auto Cartridge". BREN-TEN.com Website. http://www.bren-ten.com/website/id7.html. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    11. Ayoob, Massad (2007). The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery. Gun Digest Books. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-89689-525-6. 
    12. "Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises And The Bren Ten PART 3: The Demise of Dornaus & Dixon And The Bren Ten". BREN-TEN.com Website. http://www.bren-ten.com/website/id2.html. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    13. "The Bren Ten In Detail PART 1: Bren Ten Production Modifications". BREN-TEN.com Website. http://www.bren-ten.com/website/id3.html. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    14. Fjestad, S. P. (1992). Blue Book of Gun Values (13th ed.). 
    15. "The American Thompson Association Newsletter – Online – Quarter 2, 2008". p. 6. http://www.nfatoys.com/tsmg/tata/2008_q2/page00006.htm. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    16. Ballistics information on DoubleTap Ammunition's full-power 12 g (180 gr) 10mm load.
    17. Ballistics information on Federal Premium Ammunition's "10mm Lite" style American Eagle 180 gr (12 g) 10mm load.
    18. Ballistics information on Federal Premium Ammunition's American Eagle 12 g (180 gr) .40 S&W load.
    19. DoubleTap Ammunition – .357 Magnum 180gr W.F.N.G.C. Hard Cast 20rds.
    20. DoubleTap Ammunition – 10mm 200gr W.F.N.G.C. Hard Cast 50rds.
    21. DoubleTap Ammunition – .41 Magnum 250gr W.F.N.G.C. Hard Cast 20rds.
    22. "Natchez Shooters Supplies – COR-BON 10mm Auto 200 gr Hunting Penetrator 20/box". http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=CBCB10200PN. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    23. "Hornady Manufacturing Company – 10mm Auto 165 gr FTX® Critical Defense®". http://www.hornady.com/store/10mm-165-gr-CD/. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    24. 24.0 24.1 Hawks, Chuck (2002). "Handgun Hunting". Archived from the original on 2011-05-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20110501015713/http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_hunting.htm. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    25. Quinn, Jeff (2005-10-26). "Glock Model 20 10mm Auto Pistol". http://www.gunblast.com/Glock20.htm. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    26. Hawks, Chuck (2002). "Handguns for Protection in the Field". Archived from the original on 2011-05-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20110501015540/http://www.chuckhawks.com/protection_field.htm. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    27. I.P.S.C. :: The Handgun Divisions List
    28. "World Small Arms Inventory". https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    29. "Automatics and Bolt-actions: Danish Small Arms in Greenland". Canadian American Strategic Review. 2005-05. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20080920120203/http://www.casr.ca/id-arcticviking4sb-1.htm. Retrieved 2013-09-30. "Most Danish units use 9mm automatics like the CF but the Sirius Patrol learned through hard experience that 9mms had insufficient 'stopping power' to deal with angry adult polar bears. As a result, Sirius Patrol members carry a more powerful 10mm pistols for self-defence, employing the 10mm Glock 20 automatic." 
    30. "Denmark Special Operations and Counterterrorist Forces". Special Operations.com. 2000. Archived from the original on 2001-01-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20110113214609/http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Denmark/. Retrieved 2013-09-30. "The weapons carried also reflect the harsh conditions. Only bolt-action rifles (M17/M53) performs reliably. The standard SIG210 Neuhausen sidearm was recently replaced by the 10mm Glock 20, as the stopping power of multiple 9mm rounds proved to be insufficient against a polar bear." 
    31. Collins, Whit (1987). "CENTIMETER: The Gun". http://www.pistoldynamics.com/AH_87_CM_Pistol-2011.html. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 
    32. Collins, Whit (1987). "CENTIMETER: The Cartridge". http://www.pistoldynamics.com/AH_87_CM_Cart-2011.html. Retrieved 2013-09-30. 

    External links[]

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    The original article can be found at 10mm Auto and the edit history here.
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