These weapons are short-recoil, polymer-framed combat pistols with all the bells and whistles.
Sizes range from tiny to massive with everything in between.
Both guns initiate the powerful 10mm cartridge.
In the Beginning
The 10mm was the brainchild of the legendary Jeff Cooper.
bullet to around 1,300 fps, the 10mm was built to be the perfect manly combat pistol cartridge.
It was also, however, huge, heavy and mean.
handguns for Smith and Wesson offerings in 10mm.
While these new guns offered plenty of horsepower, they were boat-anchor heavy and rough on the wrists.
Some agents, particularly those of smaller stature, found the gun/cartridge combination to be simply overwhelming.
As a result, the shorter and gentler .40 S&W round was developed and adopted.
Any bigger and it would get in the way.
Any smaller and it would be tough to run.
Magazines drop away freely with a stroke of the button.
The dustcover is railed for accessories, and the slide sports charging grooves both front and rear.
The XD-Ms magnificent grip safety is unobtrusive yet reliable while offering another painless level of security.
Theres also a standard blade safety built into the trigger face.
The XD-Ms 10mm magazines are crafted from stainless steel and are magnificently overbuilt.
The grip is large without being ridiculous, allowing a full 15+1 capacity.
Have It Your Way
The standard 4.5 barreled XD-M 10mm is a rugged general-purpose combat pistol.
Unlike a lot of target sights, however, these still remain adequately streamlined to facilitate practical carry.
Both guns share the same double-column, 15-round magazines and superb striker-fired trigger.
The 4.5 version comes with two magazines, while the Competition gun has three.
When compared side by side, the frames are otherwise identical.
Howd They Run?
This aint your daddys 9mm pistol.
The XD-M 10mm is a manly gun with a manly comportment.
While bullet design is indeed important, there yet remains something to be said for raw unfiltered power.
If the mission is to punch deep and make it hurt, the 10mm has all the right numbers.
Despite the quantum increase in horsepower the grip remains remarkably comfortable.
I have big, skinny hands and the gun fit me perfectly.
Slimming down to the trim backstrap makes this big gun run fine for smaller shooters as well.
With two spare magazines, this makes for a potential 46 rounds of serious downrange chaos.
The XD-M 10mm is indeed more vigorous than your typical 9mm, but its not objectionable.
As one might expect, the longer gun is incrementally more comfortable on the range.
However, both versions shoot straight and run well.
Oddly, I found velocities between the two guns running the same loads to be about the same.
Their V-Crown Elite Performance Jacketed Hollowpoint 10mms are the stuff of nightmares downrange.
The extensive 10mm lineup from Buffalo Bore Ammunition includes some bunker busting 220-gr.
Details
The Competition model is 3/4 longer and 11/2 oz.
It also costs about $120 more at retail.
However, both guns carry about the same, and they shoot comparably straight.
The Danish Sirius Sledge Patrol packs 10mm pistols for defense against polar bears in Greenland.
Nothing else you might pack underneath a loose shirt even comes close.
Whats It Really Good For?
Unlike those massive steel-framed magnum wheelguns, the Springfield Armory XD-M 10mm will ride comfortably in a hip holster.
Additionally, hunting whitetails with a 10mm handgun would demand superb fieldcraft.
We endlessly debate the details, but I literally cannot imagine a better tool for a full-bore gunfight.
Think of the Springfield Armory XD-M 10mm like 2.6 six-shot .357 Mag.
revolvers all packed into an indestructible polymer-framed package tucking comfortably into your glove box.
Thats some serious firepower.
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