Topic: The Best 10mm Ammo of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 37 times)
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Buffalo Bore makes the best hard-cast 10mm ammo; it sets the standard to which all others are co*pared. The Heavy Outdoorsman squeezes the most velocity out of the heaviest bullet available for 10mm and is safe to shoot in any modern 10mm pistol. Of course with that exceptional performance co*es exceptional recoil.
The hard-cast lead bullets won’t expand, and you won’t see hollowpoint-like terminal performance. This load is designed for one thing—penetration. In a bear defensive situation, you probably won’t be able to select a broadside shot, you need bullets that can penetrate skulls and other bones. The Heavy Outdoorsman 10mm load is said to achieve over 3 feet of penetration through soft tissue.
Read Next: Best Bear Defense Handguns
Using monolithic copper bullets made by Lehigh Defense, Underwood is another co*pany that produces ammunition loaded to the top end of performance while remaining within SAAMI specifications for safe pressures.
The machined copper bullets are solid, but feature flutes cut from the point. The flutes reduce the surface area at the point and improve penetration but create cavitation and a wound channel more like an expanding bullet than those made by solid cast bullets.
The lighter copper bullets allow for higher velocities with less recoil and muzzle energy that equals or exceeds many lead-bullet loads. You might see slightly less penetration overall than with hard-cast loads, but it’s still exceptional.
The 220-grain Hard Cast 10mm ammo from Grizzly Cartridge co*pany follows the popular recipe for animal defense—heavy-for-caliber bullets at higher velocity. Although heavy-recoiling, these bullets penetrate through heavy hide and bone.
As advertised, the velocity and energy match up with other close co*petitors, but the velocity I measured averaged 1135 feet-per-second out of a 5-inch barrel—slightly slower than advertised. Velocity will vary slightly from gun to gun, and it’s a small enough difference that I wouldn’t pay it much mind.
The 200-grain “Bear-Load” from HSM is a simple hard-cast lead bullet that provides great penetration through bone and hide. It often retails cheaper than some other co*mon hard-cast options, but uses premium Star-Line brass.
HSM advertises muzzle velocity at 1041 fps, but I measured it at about 1160 fps from a 5-inch barrel and 1090 fps from a 3.8-inch barrel. Actual muzzle energy will also be slightly higher than advertised with those velocities. It’s a simple load but an excellent option for the backcountry.
One of the most co*mon co*plaints about hard-cast lead bullets is that they tend to foul barrels—especially in Glocks. In addition to leaving soft lead fouling in your barrel, cast lead bullets tend to be smokey when shooting. This ammunition solves both those problems by coating a hard lead core with Federal’s Syntech coating.
The 200-grain lead bullets don’t push pressure boundaries, but at 1200 fps, they still offer great penetration and manageable recoil. Nickel-plated cases aid with reliable feeding, and this premium ammo will work when you need it to. You’ll get too much penetration for it to be a great EDC load, but it’s a good option in the woods.
Read Next: Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 10mm 4-Inch Review
Blazer Brass 10mm ammo is the best 10mm ammo for the range. It features reloadable brass that accepts small-pistol primers—some manufacturers are doing this rather than using large pistol primers. The bullet is a simple 180-grain full metal jacket that won’t expand and isn’t much good for hunting.
This is primarily practice ammo sold in 50-round boxes and is more affordable than premium loads—typically sold in boxes of 20. In a pinch, it could be thrust into animal-defense applications, but it’s not the best option.
Remington UMC ammo has long been a staple for range and practice pistol ammo, and under new ownership, they’re back in business. This simple load features nickel-plated, reloadable, large-primer cases, as well as a bronze-colored full-metal-jacket bullet.
This load’s velocity (and recoil) is a little below some other target loads, but it’s still a 10mm, and will help shooters build their skills at a more affordable rate. Since co*ing under new ownership, Remington ammo has been cranking out ammo full speed and It’s been getting to the shelves in many areas.