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For decades, shooting forums have been locked in friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) banter over which round reigns supreme.
Is it the hard-hitting, fast-flying 10mm that commands respect with its superior ballistics?
Or does the tried-and-true .45 ACP, with its hefty slug and storied history, still hold the crown?
Understanding the Ballistics: 10mm vs .45 ACP
When comparing the 10mm and .45 ACP for self-defense, it’s essential to delve into the ballistics of each caliber. The 10mm Auto is often praised for its superior velocity and energy, translating into better penetration and stopping power. On the other hand, the .45 ACP is known for its larger diameter bullet, offering substantial impact but at a slower speed.
The 10mm typically fires a 180-grain bullet at velocities around 1,200 feet per second (fps), generating approximately 700 foot-pounds of energy. This high velocity allows the 10mm to penetrate deeper, which can be crucial in self-defense scenarios involving barriers or thick clothing.
In contrast, the .45 ACP usually fires a 230-grain bullet at velocities between 850 to 950 fps, producing around 400 foot-pounds of energy. While the .45 ACP bullet is heavier, its slower speed may result in less penetration than the 10mm.
Modern ammunition has somewhat leveled the playing field, with advancements in bullet design enhancing the performance of both calibers.
However, the 10mm’s inherent ballistic advantages make it the preferred choice for those seeking maximum stopping power. This is especially relevant when considering defense against larger threats or when deep penetration is necessary.
Practical demonstrations further highlight these differences. For instance, when testing on targets like watermelons or dense materials, the 10mm often outperforms the .45 ACP in terms of penetration and overall damage. Such tests showcase the 10mm’s ability to deliver more energy on target, which can be decisive in self-defense situations.
It’s also important to note that both calibers produce more noticeable recoil than smaller rounds like the 9mm. This increased recoil requires practice and training to manage effectively. Despite this, if you’re already committing to a larger caliber with more recoil, opting for the one with superior ballistics—like the 10mm—can provide an edge in critical moments.
Cost Considerations and Ammunition Choices
Let’s face it: shooting isn’t the cheapest hobby, especially when you’re feeding a firearm chambered in 10mm or .45 ACP. Ammunition costs can add up quickly, impacting how often you can hit the range to sharpen your skills—a crucial factor in self-defense preparedness.
Ammunition Costs: 10mm vs .45 ACP
Regarding price, the .45 ACP generally has the edge over the 10mm. Due to its long-standing popularity and widespread use, .45 ACP ammo is more abundant and often less expensive.
You might find .45 ACP Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) rounds for as low as $0.30 to $0.40 per round, whereas 10mm FMJ rounds can range from $0.40 to $0.60 per round. Premium self-defense rounds like Jacketed Hollow Points (JHP) will cost more for both calibers, often exceeding $1 per round.
But remember, prices can fluctuate based on brand, availability, and market conditions. Sometimes, a good sale or bulk purchase can narrow the cost gap between the two calibers.
Best 45 ACP Ammo For Self Defense
- Speer Gold Dot 230 Grain JHP – Speer Gold Dot 230 grain JHP is a top-tier choice for .45 ACP self-defense ammo, delivering impressive stopping power without excessive over-penetration, thanks to its innovative jacketed hollow point design. Its nickel-plated brass casing ensures smooth, reliable cycling in most pistols, and it performed flawlessly in mine. While it’s not the fastest round on the block, its heavy-hitting performance is more than enough to handle critical situations. Yes, the price might have you considering a few extra chores, but the peace of mind it provides is worth it. Trusted by shooters nationwide, this ammo is a must-have for your defense loadout.
- Federal HST 230 Grain JHP – Federal Law Enforcement HST 230 grain JHP strikes an excellent balance between quality and affordability, making it a favorite for training and home defense. Designed for law enforcement, it offers reliable performance without breaking the bank. While its ballistics fall in the middle of the pack—trading higher velocities and energy for affordability—it’s still dependable enough to trust your safety to. Federal Premium’s reputation among shooters and concealed carriers speaks volumes, cementing its status as some of the best .45 ACP ammo for personal protection.
- Hornady Critical Defense 185 Grain FTX JHP – Hornady Critical Defense stands out as a top-tier option for personal protection, offering concealed carriers an accurate and dependable round with outstanding ballistics. Its medium-weight JHP bullet delivers impressive muzzle velocity and energy, making up for the lighter weight with excellent performance. The innovative polymer-tipped hollow point enhances expansion and prevents clogging, ensuring reliable stopping power when it matters most. While it’s on the pricier side, the superior design and performance make it worth the investment, cementing Hornady’s reputation as a leader in defense ammunition.
Best 10mm Ammo For Self Defense
- Hornady Critical Duty 175 Grain InterLock – Hornady Critical Duty 175 grain InterLock is a top choice for concealed carriers and law enforcement, offering reliable performance across various firearms. Its FlexLock projectile features a Flex Tip to prevent clogging from barriers like fabric or drywall, ensuring consistent expansion. The InterLock band secures the core and jacket for deep penetration and high weight retention. Trusted for its innovative design and dependability, it’s an excellent self-defense option for those who demand top-tier performance.
- Speer Gold Dot 200 Grain JHP – Speer Gold Dot 200 grain JHP earns its spot as the best 10mm ammo overall, offering unmatched reliability and versatility in self-defense situations. Trusted by law enforcement professionals, it features a precision-engineered jacketed hollow point that minimizes over-penetration risks while delivering consistent, wide terminal expansion. Speer’s proprietary Uni-Cor process creates a durable, electrochemically bonded jacket for superior accuracy and deep penetration.
- Federal 180 Grain Hydra-Shok – The 180-grain Hydra-Shok round is a reliable, heavy-duty self-defense option known for its controllable performance and proven track record with law enforcement. With a velocity of around 1,000 FPS, it offers solid penetration at 15.9 inches and impressive expansion to .61 inches, making it effective when shot placement is precise. Its nickel-plated case resists corrosion, even with daily IWB carry, ensuring long-lasting reliability. Though it’s a bit pricey, Hydra-Shok’s durability and performance make it a standout choice for concealed carry and self-defense.
Maximizing Training Without Breaking the Bank
To get the most bang for your buck (pun intended), consider finding a reputable ammunition brand to train with that offers both FMJ training loads and matching grain-weight JHP loads for self-defense. This approach ensures consistency in your shooting experience while keeping costs manageable.
Real-World Performance: Practical Demonstrations
Understanding ballistic data is crucial, but seeing how calibers perform in real-world scenarios can offer valuable insights. Practical demonstrations, such as shooting tests on various targets, highlight the differences between the 10mm and .45 ACP.
Watermelon Ballistics Tests
A series of tests involving watermelons—a stand-in for soft tissue—revealed noteworthy distinctions between the two calibers:
- .45 ACP Test: Firing a 230-grain jacketed hollow point from a Glock 21 SF, the .45 ACP caused significant impact on the watermelon. The slower velocity resulted in a substantial “push,” creating a large but less explosive effect on the target.
- 10mm Jacketed Hollow Point Test: Using a 180-grain jacketed hollow point, the 10mm produced a dramatically different result. The higher velocity and energy caused the watermelon to explode, indicating a massive energy transfer upon impact.
- 10mm Underwood 220-Grain Solid Lead Test: This round is designed for deep penetration rather than expansion. While it didn’t cause the watermelon to burst spectacularly, it penetrated deeply, demonstrating its effectiveness against thicker barriers or larger threats.
Analysis of the Results
The tests underscore the 10mm’s superior ballistic performance in terms of energy transfer and penetration:
- Energy Transfer: The explosive impact of the 10mm jacketed hollow point on the watermelon illustrates its ability to deliver more energy to the target rapidly. This can be crucial in self-defense situations where stopping a threat quickly is imperative.
- Penetration: The solid lead 10mm rounds, despite not causing explosive damage, penetrated deeply into the target. This characteristic is beneficial when facing threats that require deeper penetration to neutralize effectively, such as large animals or assailants behind barriers.
- .45 ACP Performance: While the .45 ACP also caused significant damage, its slower velocity resulted in less dramatic energy transfer. This might be adequate for certain self-defense scenarios but may fall short compared to the 10mm’s capabilities in critical situations.
Making the Choice: Which Caliber Is Right for You?
Choosing between the 10mm and .45 ACP depends on your specific self-defense needs, preferences, and comfort level with each caliber. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:
Purpose and Environment
If your primary concern is self-defense in an urban setting, the .45 ACP might be suitable due to its adequate stopping power and reduced risk of over-penetration. Its slower velocity minimizes the chance of bullets passing through targets and potentially causing unintended harm.
For those who spend time outdoors and may encounter larger predators, the 10mm offers superior penetration and energy. Its higher velocity rounds are more capable of stopping threats that require deeper bullet penetration.
Recoil Management and Consistent Training
Assess your ability to handle recoil. The 10mm has a sharper recoil, which may affect accuracy and speed of follow-up shots if not appropriately managed. The .45 ACP has a milder recoil in comparison, which some shooters may find more manageable.
Both calibers require a commitment to regular training due to their recoil characteristics. If you’re willing to invest time and resources into mastering the 10mm, you may benefit from its ballistic advantages. If not, the .45 ACP might be a more practical choice.
Firearm Availability and Compatibility
Evaluate the availability of firearms chambered in each caliber. Some shooters prefer the ergonomics, capacity, or features of specific handgun models that might only be available in one caliber.
Consider the variety of ammunition available. The 10mm offers a range of loads from mild to full-power, allowing shooters to select rounds that best fit their recoil tolerance and performance needs. The .45 ACP also has diverse options but generally operates within a narrower performance window.
Conclusion
When it comes to self-defense, the choice between the 10mm and .45 ACP hinges on your specific needs and preferences. The 10mm packs higher velocity and energy, making it a powerhouse for those who may face larger threats or require deeper penetration—perfect for wilderness protection.
Its superior stopping power can be a decisive advantage in critical situations, provided you’re prepared to handle its sharper recoil and invest in regular training.
On the other hand, the .45 ACP offers reliable performance with a milder recoil. Its slower velocity reduces the risk of over-penetration, which is beneficial in urban environments or home defense scenarios. With widespread availability and a trusted track record, it’s a solid choice for many shooters who value its handling characteristics.
Oh wow, I saw the picture and thought, that looks like one of my pictures, so I looked closer and it’s my article.
45 probably better inside the home – at ranges beyond 10 yds, the 10mm is better – at 50 yds, way better.
Obviously, if you only own one gun, the 10mm is the better choice.
LOL I will check back next week to see if this posted.
I’ll say this, if I’m doing .45 auto and it’s for SD purposes in comparison to 10mm I’m going to be looking at an over pressure round provided I have a modern firearm. Not even talking 460 Rowland, just +P or .45 Super. The capacity and sectional density of 10mm would be hard to overcome depending on the scenario admittedly.
Capacity is king. Caliber means nothing. The only thing that counts is accuracy.
A Chinese woman found this out in Atlanta Georgia. Only one of the three home invaders she shot at, would later assumed room temperature. She missed the others.
If you don’t hit the bad guy. Your gun caliber means nothing. Can you handle 10mm or 45acp recoil for accurate follow up shots?
I want to read about this one; thanks for letting us know.
The video is on YouTube, should be able to find it…
Yes, I can handle an adult man’s caliber. And you only have to shoot the threat 5-10 times if you’re using a weak ass cartridge. 1-2 hits with .45 or 10 will do the trick, most of the time.
I only use .45 ACP because of corrupt DA’s using my choice of 10 mm against me. So it’s an FNX .45 for EDC with 15 1 and Ruger SR 1911 in 10 mm for SHTF. I use Underwood Extreme Defender ammo in both!
In Washington State a few years ago. A civilian good guy came to the aid of two police officers. Who had been shot in the face. Blinded by bird shot both of them were out of action.
The good guy had a 1911. And he ran out of ammo fast.
The YT dount operator channel covered this story. A great video.
This one too; I’ll check out Donut’s playlist. Thanks.
You run out of ammo fast when you are limited to 10 rounds. The mag limit is why I’m not considering a 9mm for my next carry gun.
Do you not have Sig 365, Springfield Hellcats, or the other competitive subcompacts that make 10 round optimized 9mm options in your region? Bigger can be good but if you are going for carry it can hit diminished returns quick.
Ask our enemies in WW2 about the effectiveness of the 45 acp , from a 1911.. oh wait, you can’t..
So great it is still the dominant option for sidearms………..
…because most of them were shot dead by rifle rounds or blown to bits by heavy munitions 🙂
Seriously tho, 45 acp HST is better against people, 10mm hard cast is better against grizzly bears.
😃 ultimately yeah pistol is an afterthought outside of a few niche uses but never thought comparing 10 to 45acp was fair as 40sw out performs 45acp in just about everything but potential crush volume. Really need to step up to 45 super to compare to 10mm
10mm vs. 45 ACP. Here’s a concept few consider. It doesn’t matter. They are both handgun calibers and as such are woefully underpowered for what we ask of them. They are, however, handy. So it’s possible to have one when carrying a long gun would be awkward. Twice I was invited by Federal/CCI/Speer to the range to test their ammunition. They were out of watermelons so we were forced to use 10 percent ballistic geletin. We shot through barricades as part of the testing. Denim, plywood, sheetrock, laminated windshield glass, etc. I carry Gold Dot in all of my defensive handguns regardless of caliber.
Of all things you’ve been horribly wrong on you are corect about the Gold Dot…Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you. I’m glad we’re fighting less with each other, at least for the holidays. 🙂
Debbie, I don’t need you to patronize me. I know I’m right.
10mm, if I need anything in 45’s niche I can use the same bullets to load 40sw.
It appears my posts are being blocked by the thought poilice.
OK…one post displayed. I have a 10mm Glock and if I thought a .45 offered more I would have purchased the .45 Glock sitting beside my 10.
Which model glock, and I take it you use the gold-dots for it?
I saw the picture and thought, hey, that looks like on of my pictures, I go to the article and I’m like, nice, this is my article.
Dan
Thanks! Now hopefully nobody will write that it’s a horrible article, lol!
10 mm vs. 45 ACP. Here’s a novel concept. It doesn’t matter. They are both handgun calibers and as such are woefully underpowered for what we ask them to do. They are, however, handy. You can have them when it would be awkward to have a rifle. Case in point. I just arrived home from the farm. I stopped at a convenience store to buy a can of sardines. (I have to bait a live trap. Someone dumped a cat. Cats eat quail.) Anyway, I had to leave my rifle in the truck. The two handguns on my person? No one was the wiser.
BBQ gun, Sunday Best gun, Farm gun.
Works for me.
I typically load a 230gr 45cal XTP bullet to about 1150fps and the 180gr 10mm XTP bullet to about 1300fps. I like to hunt with hand guns and do not see a difference in killing ability between the 2.
Officer Bill,
The two loads that you described probably should have the same killing ability.
Likely explanation:
The handgun loads which Officer Bill listed do not have enough velocity or energy to cause any “exotic” wounding effects (such as “hydrostatic shock”). Those loads simply penetrate and damage arteries/veins in the process–leading to rapid blood loss as the killing mechanism. Therefore, the killing potential of those loads is simply a function of expanded bullet diameter and penetration.
I imagine expanded bullet diameter of those two loads are virtually identical. The .45 caliber bullet is slightly larger diameter although impacting at a slower speed which typically causes less bullet expansion. The 10mm Auto bullet is the other way around. The net result is that both bullets should expand to about the same diameter, assuming that they are of similar design and construction.
The only remaining variable is penetration. Will one of those loads penetrate “better” than the other? Penetration is simply a function of the bullet’s momentum and the resistance of the medium through which the bullet is travelling. Since the resistance of the medium (mammal body) is the same for both loads/bullets, relative penetration will simply be a function of each bullet’s momentum.
High school Physics class taught us that momentum equals mass times velocity. Thus the momentum of the two loads that Officer Bill listed are:
230 grains x 1150 fps == 264,500 (awkward units)
180 grains x 1300 fps == 234,000 (awkward units)
That is only a 12% difference which is unimportant in terms of wounding ability. That is why I expect that both of Officer Bill’s loads will exhibit virtually the same killing ability on mammals.
I would think the more relevant equation would be for kinetic energy, E = (0.5)(M)V^2. Exponential function of velocity, which is why cranking up velocity gives you a disproportionate boost in energy. However, damage would also depend on how much of that energy is delivered to the target. I’m sure this has been argued and re-argued somewhere on this site in the past.
What an oddly written advertisement for some ammo…
Next time you might research the performance of the ammo you listed in this post, when fired from a pistol caliber carbine. There are several makes and models in both calibers, and it would be interesting to many readers given the popularity of PCC’s, imho. 🙂
Just ask any perps shot in the chest by either or (better) both calibers which is the most effective….///SARC>>>
“Which one hurts more?”
“It’s hard to say. This one here is making it hard to breathe, probably because it collapsed my right lung.” This one over here is making it hard to see, probably due to the loss of blood from my severed ascending aorta.”
“Yeah, but are you incapacitated?”
“It would be hard to attack you what with all the coughing up of blood and the fading tunnel vision. Is that incapacitated?”
“Maybe. How’s your sense of taste and smell…and can you still see in color?”
No velocity comparison, no energy tables, no gelatin testing?
Another waste of time .
The average person should ignore advice about ballistics and stopping power. Don’t use magnums or snappy cartridges like the 10mm, even the .40. Go for low recoil.
In Lucky Gunner’s lab test for .45 ACP, the Remington non-plus P, plain ‘ol Golden Saber, has muzzle energy of only 268 ft. lbs. yet expanded to .74 inches and penetrated to 16.3 inches.
Additionally, it’s recoil is about 4.5 ft. lbs. A 10 mm is about 7.5 ft. lbs.
The 10mm is for operators and bear protection.
Well said Rigorous
Fix this site!
For a bear defense pistol I’d definitely take 15 +1 of 10mm over 8+1 or 10 +1 of .45. I still like the old, fat, slow .45 and the +P rounds pack a nice extra wallop.
Most factory 10mm is only slightly above .40 Smith in velocity and energy. The 180 at 1200 FPF is only 575 FPE. Underwood and Buffalo Bore make spicy 10mm.
Where have you been Accur81. I(we?) missed you! 10mm is on my radar🙄
As soon as you start talking about watermelon impact, you lost me. Really? A “Technical” article and shooting watermelon is a criteria?
YAWN
When we are discussing handguns, both calibers are very respectable for self-defense.
Personally, I would give the nod to 10mm Auto if woods defense is a common use case or you expect engagements out to 100 yards. Otherwise, .45 ACP is fine, especially for engagements within 25 yards or so.
Didn’t the FBLie promote/champion 10mm? They sure did, thaaaat’s enough for me to avoid it like the non-vax.
But then they ran away from it, so…we should use it?
*Hey TTAG, I had to post a temporary comment on here (which I deleted) before I could view any comments on this page.
Dude,
I experienced the same difficulty as well.
Something was/is wonky.
Lol difference being 10mm worked, the “vax” or FBI on the other hand……
^^^THIS!^^^. SAFE!
While I am a fan of both the .45 and the 10mm, .50 AE is best.
.50 hurts like hell to shoot more than 2 or 3 of ’em downrange.
Can we just get over all these dumb this vs that? I did not even read the article. TTAG, if you think it drives clicks, ad blocker.
Lol.
It used to be 9mm vs .45 wars.
Then it was .40 vs .45.
Then it was this vs .45.
Then it was that vs .45.
Now it’s 10mm vs .45.
News flash (meaning OLD news): the caliber that is best is the one YOU are most proficient with.
Oh, but everyone that read this article, along with the author(s) (whomever you are), ALREADY KNEW THAT.
Outside of here and a few of the older people who still shoot at the range I really don’t run into 45acp. 45 super and 45gap tend to come up more (a few local departments still have 45gap). Give it a few years of inheritance/estate sales and I figure I will start to see new shooters with 45acp again but compared to a decade ago it’s practically non-existent in what I have seen people shoot/carry in real life.
.44 mag.
Harry Callahan says you can remove the fingerprints if used correctly.
Sitting here with my XDS 3.3 .45… yea a six shooter .45. I use 185 Sig JHPs cause stuffing +P 230s in it makes it tough to shoot one handed. I say it’s plenty for SD… but a 10mm version with one more round would be kind of cool.
But I am not gonna trade my XDS for a 10mm… big 1911s are just to heavy and Glock 20s are just to fat. I can clip the XDS to my bluejeans without a belt and is totally concealed.. day in, day out. And not heavy at all. Just weighs 23 oz unloaded and with a 5 shot mag loaded and one up the pipe barely weights 25.5 oz on my scale… like a 5 shot steel .38!
For bear defense, there is no real comparison – for semiautomatics, 10 mm is king, because what you need is penetration. Also make sure you use “bear loads”, if you can find them. They typically are made of harder metal. If you can’t find them FMJ is better than JHP, etc. (You can find them online).
I own two government slide 1911s. One in a lightweight alloy frame 9mm for edc, and one all stainless 10mm for woods carry. I want a 45 too just because but the mms do all the things.
Well, when I first got back to the states after spending 4.5 years in Okinawa I did a a lot of research. Specifically, with the Patriots coming back from Iraq. Time and time again they gave the same answer: .45 ACP. Not because it was better, but because the ammo was readily available and cheaper to shoot (they often to took their own sidearms and ammo. To date I have never talked to one who carried a 10mm in combat. I’d prefer a .44 Magnum, but I like to have fun when I practice and not worry about cost. The range of options is another plus for the .45 from CCW to large target shooting size pistols. I reload .45 and 9mm and I have to say the 9mm ballistics have come a really long way to closing the caliber gap! Love my Glock 21 and my Echelon. 1911 is next.
I stumbled into this because I specifically would like a useful protection gun that I can also use during my times in the bush in Alaska. I don’t necessarily want to carry a 44 mag all day and while my 12ga is always the best hole puncher for AK, it is the least convenient to carry anywhere. I think I am sold on a 10mm for my next defence gun as it can be dual purpose “for me” wish me luck that I never use it for either.
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