I was at an event in Montana earlier this fall where several gun and ammunition manufacturers were showing off their new products and allowing writers to test them. I found myself hanging out at the Vista Outdoor booth, pining over the 10mm, long enough that I was surprised the guys there didn’t tell me to leave. Vista Outdoor may not be a name you are familiar with, but if you are a shooter/outdoorsman, you probably have used some of their products.
At this event, Vista was highlighting its 9mm Federal Syntech (total synthetic jacket) and its 9mm & 10mm Speer Gold Dot. I have shot more than my fair share of 9mm, but that didn’t stop me from plowing through 1,000+ rounds of Syntech. After all, I didn’t want to see the Vista guys haul all that ammo back with them and hurt themselves. I really enjoyed shooting the 9mm Syntech; however, I kept gravitating back to the Speer Gold Dot 10mm in 200-grain. The only 10mm handgun they had at the booth was a Ruger 1911 (single-stack). Although it was a nice gun (shot 200+ rounds flawlessly), I really wanted to try it out in a double-stack format. As I was leaving the event in Montana the Vista guys asked me if I’d like to take some 10mm home to continue testing it. I’m not one to turn down free ammo—even if I don’t have a gun to shoot it in.
Upon returning to Ohio, I started looking into double-stack 10mm handguns I could purchase. I wanted to continue shooting the Speer Gold Dot I was given, but honestly and after shooting all that Vista 10mm, I kind of fell in love with the round. I was gravitating toward the Glock 20 (10mm) when I received a pre-release email from Springfield Armory announcing its new XD(M) line in 10mm. Perfect timing. Knowing some of the Springfield Armory team, I reached out to them to get one sent over to review.
A Quick History of the 10mm
The 10mm really is a misunderstood, underappreciated, round. Designed by the revered firearms instructor, Jeff Cooper, in the early 1980s, the 10mm could achieve ballistics similar to a .357 Magnum (or a .41 Magnum) in a semi-auto format. The FBI’s adoption of the 10mm in the late ’80s/early ’90s caused a peak in its popularity (until now). Due to most agents being unable to qualify with the 10mm due to the “excessive” recoil, it was mothballed not long after its adoption.
Today, the FBI uses the 10mm in limited capacity in some of its specialty units. The 1990s–2000s saw limited adoption by gun manufacturers to expand their offerings in 10mm. Most that did were in the single-stack, 1911-style. Glock was the only notable manufacturer to offer the 10mm in a double-stack for many years, really keeping the round alive.
Shooting the XD(M) With Speer Gold Dot
There is a reason why I fell in love with this round after shooting it in Montana. Vista Outdoor is known for quality, and the Gold Dot rounds didn’t disappoint. Having a pile of pumpkins left over from Halloween/Thanksgiving, the Gold Dots had their perfect targets. These rounds were a lot of fun to shoot in the XD(M) and they hit with some serious force. The entry hole was small (since the round is moving very fast), but the exit hole… The pumpkins were absolutely obliterated! Despite the raw power from the Gold Dot, shooting it in the XD(M) didn’t feel like I was shooting a semi-auto .357. It felt very similar to a juiced up .45 ACP or a .40 S&W. It did take me some time to get used to the 10mm after shooting so much 9mm, but was very comfortable to shoot. The XD(M) platform also allows one to get back on target quickly. The 15-round magazine capacity provides you just the right amount of ammo.
What would I change?
Honestly if I had one thing I wish they’d change, it would be the grip-safety (back strap-safety, beaver-tail safety, whatever you desire to call it). I understand the need for added safety on weapons today, but you can’t even rack the slide w/o depressing this safety. In a critical shooting, reloading, or clearing situation, one might not be able to manipulate the controls on the XD(M).
I’d prefer nothing in its place, but would compromise with a flip-up thumb safety—that I’d never use. This is honestly the only complaint I have. Other than that, it’s an absolutely amazing handgun.
Conclusion
I really do like the XD(M) 9mm, but I love the XD(M) in 10mm. The fit, feel, reliability, and accessories you get with a XD(M) are the best in the industry. I wouldn’t see this as your everyday CCW, but maybe they’ll make this in their XD-S series one day soon. I could see this as a great option for a home defense gun (with a light added to the rail below), or for backup protection while hunting and carting away the animal you just bagged. Springfield Armory continues to impress me, as does Vista Outdoor with its stellar line of ammunition.
Don’t forget to check out the new Springfield Armory’s new RO Elite 10mm!
Are you a 10mm fan? What is your favorite 10mm gun and ammunition? Share your answers in the comment section.
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Favorite 10mm.; G40, https://us.glock.com/products/G40%20Gen4%20MOS
But California’s 2A infringing criminal polatitians don’t see it fit for me to own one, so I carry a G20sf. https://us.glock.com/Products/G20%20SF
Favorite ammo; Without a doubt Lehigh Defense, https://www.lehighdefense.com/(or Underwood) is the best defensive ammunition available to civilians.
On the other hand, I would NEVER give Springfield Armory ANY business, considering they don’t stand for Americans 2A rights, and in fact the contribute to the Anti-Gun Movement!
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2017/05/john-boch/springfield-armory-rock-river-arms-made-campaign-contributions-to-anti-gun-rights-politicians
“The 1990s–2000s saw limited adoption by gun manufacturers to expand their offerings in 10mm. Most that did were in the single-stack, 1911-style. Glock was the only notable manufacturer to offer the 10mm in a double-stack for many years, really keeping the round alive.”
I guess the Tanfoglio Witness line doesn’t count as ‘notable’, but they have had standard, compact and hunter double-stack all-steel 10mm guns as long as Glock’s single offering. And, they don’t have the Glock’s wretched balance problem.
Just sayin’…
Tanfoglio makes poly 10mm’s too. I sometimes carry a 10mm Witness Poly with a full-size slide on a compact frame.
I have been shooting 10mm for years. I had always been a 357 guy but those have seldom been touched since I bought my Glock model 20. Fully 50% of the people I have let shoot the 10mm have ended up buying one. This is a round that gets a lot of talk by people that have never actually shot one.
I wouldn’t mind having an XDm in 10mm. I have an old unfired Delta Elite and a Smith 1006. The Smith shoots well so I guess that would be my choice. Ammo is expensive so whatever I can get.