The debate over the best self-defense cartridge is almost as old as the guns themselves. Arguably, two of the most debated options are the 10mm Auto and the .45 ACP. Both have vocal adherents and foes, but how does each stack up in reality to the other regarding performance, capacity, and practicality?
Originally designed in the 1980s, the 10mm Auto has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity. A true powerhouse for its dimensions, the 10mm did bring Magnum revolver-class performance to the auto pistol world. Of the various pistols currently chambered for 10mm, arguably the best-selling platform for this powerhouse cartridge is the Springfield Armory XD-M series, in its 4.5″ flavor.
When tested with a mix of ammunition-Federal Hydra-Shok and Hornady Custom loads, for example, XD-M 10mm proved very reliable and accurate. “The 10mm delivers performance comparable to powerful revolver-based magnum rounds,” one tester observed. For such power, recoil was relatively soft and controllable, even for those who would shoot it routinely in practice and self-defense.
The XD-M features a polymer frame with a double-column magazine, holding 15+1, and quite capable it is. Other design features of the pistol include its low-profile combat rear sight, a red fiber optic front sight, and numerous safeties grip safety and trigger-face paddle safety, to be precise.
For over a hundred years now, the .45 ACP has been the center of firearms. Because the .45 ACPs hold less ammo and have heavier recoil compared to the leading current trend 9mm caliber critics say that the .45 ACP is obsolete. However, many experts swear that even up to this very day, the .45 ACP is still an effective caliber in self-defense applications.
Another of the advantages of the .45 ACP would be the stopping power. “Assuming identical shot placement and wound track angles, the larger wound should have the greater incapacitating effect,” as pointed out by a firearms expert. Because a .45 ACP has a larger diameter in its shot, it will be in a position to create more significant wound channels, which may be crucial in stopping a threat.
In turn, the ammunition science developments of today are also helping .45 ACP. High-performance defensive loads such as Federal Hydra-Shok Deep and HST 230-gr. +P keeps the .45 ACP competitive against their smaller brethren.
Capacity is perhaps the most common complaint levied against the .45 ACP. While it’s correct that 9mm and .40 caliber pistols tend to have higher round counts, modern double-stack .45 ACP pistols such as the Springfield XD45 Tactical offer a 13+1 capacity, balancing the see-saw between capacity and stopping power.
By contrast, the 10mm Auto has a 15+1 capacity in the XD-M and offers an excellent balance of power and capacity. This makes it the perfect gun to have if one wants firepower and still be able to carry more rounds.
Both the 10mm Auto and the .45 ACP have their pluses and minuses. The 10mm Auto gives magnum-level power that can easily be tamed with modern ammunition, offering a great, do-it-all self-defense option. The .45 ACP, America’s favorite for decades because of its reputation for adequate stopping power, now with modern advances in ammunition, remains a favorite of many who appreciate bigger wound channels and the cartridge’s reputation for being reliable.
Ultimately, personal preference and reasons will boil down to choosing between the 10mm Auto or the .45 ACP. Whether one prioritizes capacity, stopping power, or a balance between the two, both cartridges represent viable self-defense solutions.