How do they perform?
Huntington gives us a thorough examination of this load, leaving no question unanswered.
The handgun ammunition was provided by Fiocchi of America for this review.
Fiocchi’s Hyperformance Handgun Hunting & Wilderness Defense 10mm is a highly capable monolithic copper hollow-point round. Image: Carson McDaniel/Springfield Armory
Something nearly magical has occurred over the past few years.
This seems to be driven by a new-found and significant interest in the caliber for hunting and defense.
I think the 10mm was an underdog for much too long.
The author tested out the Fiocchi 10mm round with an XD-M Elite 3.8” Compact OSP pistol, as well as a Diamond D Guide’s Choice Chest Rig holster. Image: Carson McDaniel/Springfield Armory
An undeserved reputation for being too potent!
[Think it is too powerful?
Read our article onHow Powerful Is 10mm?]
That deep hollowpoint assures expansion, while the solid copper construction of the Barnes XPB delivers penetration at the same time. Image: Carson McDaniel/Springfield Armory
Among them is that classic ammunition manufacturer Fiocchis latest.
The other item Id like to put to rest is the fearsome recoil of the 10mm.
Sorry folks, its just not like that at all.
Despite being a powerful round out of a compact pistol, it was very manageable. The author is already recovering and getting back on target while the fired case is still in the air. Image: Author
Sure, a hot 180-gr.
Dont, as my young daughter used to say, Be afeard of it.
Quick, can you think of anyone who has ever been injured from that fearsome recoil?
The author used his Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph to measure the performance of the Fiocchi ammunition in his Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8″.
Fiocchi Munizioni was founded in 1876 in Lecco, Italy, and has been making ammunition ever since.
Thats a long time in-grade, Id say.
In the 1950s, Fiocchi began importing ammo into the U.S. and it was met very positively.
The author found that the Fiocchi ammo is not only powerful and reliable, it’s accurate — as attested by this 20-yard group fired from a rest. Image: Author
It quickly gained a reputation for quality, consistency and good value.
In 1983, they founded a manufacturing facility here in the U.S., in Ozark, Missouri.
They recently added yet another facility, this time near Little Rock Arkansas.
Both of these jobs require a cartridge/bullet combo promising to be fail-safe when called upon.
While the hunting side may not be totally as critical as the defensive role, both are still demanding.
Factory specs for the 10mm load show a 155-gr.
Barnes XPD HP bullet at 1,165 fps.
But Ive never been a fan of trying to turn it into a magnum.
As I said earlier, if you need magnum performance, buy a magnum.
I set up myGarmin Xero C1 Prochronograph and went to work.
It makes this sort of testing a genuine pleasure, unlike more cumbersome chronos.
I put three, five-round strings over the chrono out of the XDM-Elite with the 3.8 barrel.
I was frankly amazed at the consistency of the velocities.
To balance the shorter barrel, I used a 1911-style auto in 10mm with a 4.5 barrel.
The numbers were just as consistent but higher: 1,124; 1,117; 1,120; 1,119; and 1,116.
I have some steel plates in my backyard range here.
The XDM-Elite with a backstrap selected to fit my smallish hands was a breeze to shoot.
Multiple fast shots on a torso plate (Oh no, the bear is attacking me!)
The fact the load is a 155-gr.
bullet and not a 180 means recoil is certainly lighter.
Fiocchis moniker of Hunting & Wilderness Defense rings true here.
Suffice it to say, fast, accurate and controllable shots were easy to manage with either gun.
I found the excellent trigger and bold sights to really enhance my ability to be consistent.
I used a Ransom Multi-Caliber Steady Rest rather than a wrist-rest on a sandbag.
Ive found it to be an extremely reliable way to chase the best accuracy out of any gun/load combination.
The bottom line here is the fact the 10mm Fiocchi Hyperformance load delivered astonishing accuracy.
The worst group of the three measured about 1.4 total, while the other groups were a bit less.
Then return, pick the gun back up, regain the sight picture, etc.
I like to do the same when testing a rifle, but thats another story.
How Do I Feel About the Fiocchi Hyperformance 10mm?
I marvel at the easy grace and power of a good 10mm load.
It truly fills a void between the .38 Super, .45 ACP and the big-bore revolver loads.
Not everyone wants or even needs the Sturm und Drang of a heavily loaded .44 Magnum.
The 10mm, with the right load, has already proven itself in defense against big bears, 300-lb.
wild boars and has even taken African plains game.
This one certainly seems like a good choice to me.
