Before I ordered my Smith & Wesson M&P in 10mm (TTAG review HERE), I did a lot of reading. I’ve had a number of guns over the years, but I’m not a collector and never have too many at any one time. I love guns, but to me, they’re mostly tools and not stamps or classic cars. One thing I’ve never messed with before was 10mm Auto, but after thinking about some of the recent mass shootings, I figured it was time to get some more power and a flatter trajectory at distance, as well as something that can take a red dot. The M&P 10mm checked all of those boxes.
Only a couple of months later, our hero Eli Dicken saved dozens of lives with a well-aimed shot from over 40 yards, starting the process of taking an active shooter with an AR out of the fight. So, my thoughts about going long obviously weren’t crazy.
But, there are some issues with 10mm that can make for problems.
When it comes to the arguments the 9mm supremacist crowd will make, I don’t have much time for those, and I’ve written about that before. I grew up shooting magnum revolvers, and I’ve been carrying and regularly shooting hot .40 S&W loads since 2009. 10mm really isn’t some tactical nuclear device that people with a proper grip and stance can’t handle just as well as anything else. If you can’t do it with 10mm, you need to work on your fundamentals instead of blaming the round (absent some disability or age-related issue, of course).
But, there is one valid concern with 10mm: the crazy range of loads that come commercially for it. The original 10mm loads were all near the maximum pressures, because the whole point was to have a level of power that Jeff Cooper recommended for a defensive handgun. But, when the FBI started using it, and agents without good fundamentals struggled, the “FBI loads” appeared on the market, which eventually morphed into today’s .40 S&W (another round that shooters who can’t put nose over toes complain about).
This lead to a problem for manufacturers. Optimize for the normal 10mm loads, and you risk malfunctions for the weaklings. Optimize for the weakling loads, and real 10mm will beat the snot out of the gun. With high-pressure 200 grain loads, some shooters have had problems with the M&P 10mm not closing back up after ejection, which made it pretty clear that the company hadn’t optimized for hotter stuff.
Because my whole point of going for 10mm was to get that extra power, and not just pay more for .40 S&W, that seemed like a deal-breaker. But, it’s a deal-breaker with a solution: put a stiffer spring in.
That’s where I figured out pretty quickly that shopping for accessories for a new gun to hit the market could be problematic. Hardly anyone has anything for the M&P chambered to shoot the full centimeter. But, smart shooters and tinkerers figured out pretty quick that most things that work for the M&P .45 ACP work for the 10mm, as they’re on the same frame. Figuring this out from forums and other sources helped me a lot with other gear I’m going to be reviewing soon.
So, I took that approach when shopping for my favorite brand of gun springs: Wolff. By looking up springs for the full-size .45 ACP M&P, I was able to find a nice, middle-of-the-road 22 pound spring. Because Wolff Gunsprings aren’t compatible with the factory guide rod, I had to get one of those from Wolff, too (no biggie).
Installation was easy, just like all Wolff springs. If you can clean a gun, you can put in Wolff recoil springs. I could feel a noticeable difference in resistance to racking the slide, but nothing that most people in their 30s can’t handle with a proper overhand grip of the slide. Plus, the M&P 2.0 cocking serrations have plenty of grip (and look cool, too).
Our fearless leader, Dan, helped me round up some hot range ammo for my M&P to put the springs through their paces, and I was off to the range.
As with all other spring upgrades I’ve done on my semi-auto pistols over the years, the beefier spring soaks up the recoil a bit and makes shooting hot loads very manageable (assuming you have your fundamentals right, of course). It also ensured that after every shot, slow or rapid, the gun always closed back up and put the next round in the chamber (an important thing, right?).
So, I’d give Wolff’s springs for the M&P more than two thumbs up, but I only have two. Mine worked just like it should, was easy to put in, and the price is great (just under $30, including guide rod), as usual. If you need springs for any pistol, check the Wolff website at www.GunSprings.com or hop on over to the recoil spring section of Brownells.
Works for .45 Super as well if you have a .45 acp pistol.
.45 super is aleo what popped into my head when I started reading this article.
The second thing was .356 Sig is probably preferable for defense against bad humans. I think of hot 10mm being more pf an outdoor type pistol. Still, this looks great!
I load and shoot a lot of 45 super in a comped Tanfoglio, and highly recommend the cartridge.
However, the problem is the same as with any other semi-auto pistol – out in the field youll probably never recover your empties, and Starline is so far behind on brass production, 45 Super at present cant even be backordered. I’m now working on having a Ruger revolver cylinder bored to 10Mag to avoid that problem in the future and it will still shoot any “normal” 10mm load.
I’ve got one of those Ruger revolvers also and was thinking of having the same thing done, but then I got thinking about seeing if Ruger would sell me a new cylinder that didn’t have the fluting on the sides similar to the cylinder my 454 has.
Hey CC, I believe that Tyler Gunworks will rechamber a 357 cylinder to 10 Magnum, and I believe that is the only unfluted cylinder available. I’m having mine done by a local smith, but had talked to Tyler about the work also.
I’m assuming you also have a match champion gp100? I sorta hoped Ruger would do the 10 in a longer full lug barrel version in addition, but havent seen any new wheelgun production making it onto shelves anywhere.
My first .45 was a 4″ Kimber with what was supposedly a 16lb Wolff spring. I had no end to problems with that gun failing to return to battery after about 70 rounds or so. After trying this that or the other thing, I bought a Wolff spring directly from Wolff–and have had no problems since. (However, because Kimber uses a captured spring, I did have to take the gun in to my LGS to get the spring swapped out.)
If you need a spring, buy a Wolff.
Oh, yeah. I’ve loved Wolff springs for my 1911s.
Had a Makarov spring go south on me. Wolff was the solution. Less than 9 bucks at the time.
Welcome to the big leagues:). At 73 AND disabled I still shoot 220 grain hard cast at least once a month AND carry one 16 round magazine full at all times along with two loaded with Nosler Match Grade 10mm 180 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point (one in the gun one in the mag pouch. Mine is not a S&W (Glock G29 w/G20 mags) but I’m happy with it and it has been my EDC for several years. Enjoy.
“more power and a flatter trajectory at distance”
Did you consider .357 Sig?
I mean if youre going to go big you might as well go all the way. 10mm at its limit outruns 357 mag.
No it doesn’t. .357 AT IT’S LIMITS outruns the 10mm at it’s. .357 has 8.7% more case capacity, albeit the 10 can run 7.1% higher pressure. Like the 10, the majority of .357 loads aren’t anywhere near it’s limits.
I agree. It’s good to hear somebody refute this old wives’ tale. There is a lot of overlap in the power of various loadings of the two cartridges. But ultimately if you are comparing max loads, the .357 Magnum comes out on top.
I did! And, I’m considering converting one of my M&P .40 guns over at some point. I’m pretty sure I’ll end up doing both.
Sig.357
Shoot weight, 200gr vs 125gr, 200 wins in my experience on hard and soft targets and with velocities in the 1250 to 1350fps, 200gr, 180gr, correctly hand loaded 10mm ammo and a tuned pistol, main, recoil springs and a flat bottom firing pin stop, (1911), you have some authority. Same with a .40 S&W, 180gr. My loads for that cartridge are much faster than the average commercial 10mm loads, fired from a 2011 pistol and there is 15+1 capacity. I use 20lb recoil springs in both platforms. Jennifer, try a 20lb spring, charging will be a little easier and I suspect that you will not encounter any problems.
I have never had an issue with Wolff springs in any gun I’ve used them in.
They. Just. Work, and work well…
ok, sure.
really?
It might be a good idea to do this if you plan on shooting lots of hot ammo. But I’ve shot a friends 10mm M&P with everything from lite 10mm that mimics .40 S&W to the Sig 180 grain loads that are supposed to be doing 1250 fps and the gun handled fine with the stock spring. I didn’t notice any excessive recoil. They are a great gun.
Im going to be doing some hot handloading for my 10mm so I might pick this up and see how it goes.
They have some tougher springs, too, so plenty of room if the chamber’ll hold.
I have my 10mm S&W and am so ready for that Zombie Moose Apocalypse that the discovery channel has been warning me about. 180 grain shoots perfectly fine but 205 grain Federal Syntec (don’t like those lipstick cartridges, but that is all I could get early on) stove pipes every once in a while. So you are right. Shoot 180 grain with the factory spring or get the heavier spring and shoot the hotter stuff.
It is quite a fun gun to shoot though, regardless of the load.
If you’re using after market springs, Wolff are the only ones to buy. Calibers? 9mm, the entire cartridge, rattles as it falls down the bore of a .45 ACP. How could it be superior? Physics still apply on my planet. It works right down the line. Bigger, deeper holes are the answer to the question.
Because .45 operates at literally half the pressure.
That said nothing that can’t be fixed, right?
I should really get a spring and some .45 super brass.
Thinking about this to make the night stand and/or carry piece. Maybe the XDm, not sure yet. My two 10mm’s are too big and low capacity for the carry job. A 1006 and Delta Elite just aren’t a consideration now.
Same reason I don’t see the 1911 as a viable carry piece.
But you see, I practice. I practice a lot. I only need 1 round.
jwm, I found the 1911 to be a very capable carry pistol since 1981. (When I bought my first personal Colt Series 70). Paid to carry it for 25 years. That was a personal choice also. We had to buy our own handguns from a very liberal list of approved weapons. That was nice. Never a big fan of most government issued anything. Anyway, jwm, a 1911, and especially the .45 ACP caliber, has been putting men on their back for less time than the 9mm. Well, in as much as a 9mm can. But, it puts them on their backs. Still. The real answer is always a rifle.
I’m not against the .45 acp. If I was to get back into that caliber it would likely be a Glock 21 sf.
Right now all my handguns are revolvers except for my one g19. I enjoy range time more with my revolvers. For me, they’re more fun.
I’ve always been intrigued by the G21, but unfortunately it has all the same issues as every other GLOCK- so it’s never been an option for me.
But recently I put my hands on a CZ P-10F in .45 ACP… HALLELUJAH! The angels are singing- someone has FINALLY perfected the G21!
CZ knocked this one out of the park- the pistol is OUTSTANDING.
It’s pretty rare to need more than 8 shots unless you’re in law enforcement and out looking for trouble, but having 15 is definitely nice.
Your reload skills play a large part in making up for lack of mag capacity.
Do you take your eyes off the target when doing a mag exchange or a reload?
Is your weapon tuned well enough for the slide release to properly function 100% when reloading, or do you have to reach up and pull the slide back when reloading and chambering a round (some agencies mandate this and restrict training to this method)?
Can you shoot ambidextrous and receive a qualifying score?
And for the skills test we need the most; when was the last time you shot a qualification course at night, and/or low-light conditions?
All the above can help close the gap between 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, and 17 rounds. I sure do miss such drills especially the night shooting. I also miss my revolvers and speed loaders.
I shot a .41 mag for years but switched to a Springfield Arms 10mm xdm and love it.
I had a glock 20sf I replaced the factory recoil spring with a 22lb ISMI spring.Shot like a dream after that.
OMG. Advice that’s actually good. Manufacturers should probably provide two springs to start with.
Sig does with the 320 Legion. I’ve found that the lighter spring doesn’t work as well for 124/147 bullets. With some other tinkering, you can get a nice setup with the light spring for competitions.
The .40 S&W rules over them all. Best all-around cartridge ever. They have to put the 9MM on protein and steroids to get any lethality close to what the .40, and .45, seems to do effortlessly.
We’ll know the real reason the FBI folded on the mighty 10MM; it was far too much for a lot of their female agents with petite wrists. Pretty much the same can be said for the .40, with the .40 being easier to tolerate by the majority of them. The 9MM was their answer and worked for the plain-clothed masses. The 9MM were made available with sub-compact frames that worked better in purses and close-to-retirement wider waistlines of the badged pencil-pushers.
The exorbitant pricing of the BrenTen(s) and their spare mags didn’t help the 10MM at all. The Colt Delta 10MM was a sweet USA-designed Colt but the capacity wasn’t much more than a 1911 .45 which still today is popular. Browning offered their Hi-Power in 9MM only (and stubbornly) for the longest to accompany their timeless FAL. I find it interesting that when they did go beyond the 9MM they offered the .40 S&W which turned out to be very accurate and reliable. Again, the success of the .40 long speaks for itself.
Inside a given room (bedroom, living room, 2-car garage, etc.,); .380 ball is good
Inside the house and most front yards; the 9MM is sufficient.
Everywhere else (backyards, back of backyard to curb in front, etc.,) the .40 S&W is the minimum best.
Those are my preferences anyway and is why I fire one of each at all distances when at the range.
“The .40 S&W rules over them all. ”
Amen.
Save my life several times. Sure maybe a 9mm would have done it too and not that it would not have because it will, but the .40 S&W is pretty much a sure thing.
I’ve trained for the main 3 models, 22, 23, 27. Luv them all.
The .40 S&W rules over them all.
ALL of WHAT? Doesn’t rule over the 10mm, .45 ACP, .357mag, .44mag, .38 spec, hell I’d rather carry my old 6 inch barrel .22 magnum AMT automag II than a .40…
By all means … go right ahead. Yes it does rule over all the others but you would have e to know the others well enough to realize that.
Hint, I have ALL of the others. Of ALL firearms comparable to the OTHERS the 40 S&W is the only one I don’t own, but I have fired 40 S&W in MY 10mm. Lower pressures=weaker rounds no matter WHAT gun you use and the 40 has considerably lower pressures than 10mm, 357mag, 38 spec+p, 44mag and others and therefore it is NOT a superior “ruler” of them ALL. Carry what you want but calling white, black does not make it so just because YOU said so. I’m sure for those (like those bad boys and girls at the FBI) who can’t handle the BIG booms that a .40 is “adequate” just like the ubiquitous 9mm, but I’ll continue to carry my 10mm loaded appropriately for the situation.
Comments awaiting moderations? I guess this site is trying out publishing again.
‘But, there is one valid concern with 10mm: the crazy range of loads that come commercially for it.’
Yet another advantage to revolvers – they don’t care. That said, a 10# Wolff hammer spring and an 8# Wolff trigger return spring (along with a Hi-Viz front sight perhaps) are the only things that stand between a stock Ruger GP100 and sheer greatness.
I concur, my Ruger SP101 is a whole new gun with the new Wolff springs, what a difference it made, much more enjoyable to shoot with my arthritic hands.
Interesting to see my comment vanished after “moderation”. LOL
Wolff Springs are good.
My 10mm is going to be a .357magnum.
For my G20 C gen 3 I go with a 20lb rsa. For the real hot stuff the kit you just reviewed.
I’ve been mulling over getting a 10 lately. What made the M&P stand out, compared with the competition?
So you’ll be out there, protecting the public with no regard about collateral damage -good for you. Yeah right! What you’ll actually be doing is getting in the way or getting yourelf killed The likelyhood of you being in the right place at the right time to stop a mass shooting is as about as likely as flying to the moon and if you were, in the most unlikely circumstance actually in the right place at the right time, the chances are that you would do EXACTLY what 99% of others do in similar circumstance ;ABSOLUTELY SWEET BUGGER ALL The times an ARMED bystander has had any effect of a mass shooting is a rare as hen’s teeth. I say that because of the sheer number of mass shootings and the undoubted fact that the law of averages indicates that in at least a fair majority p of them there must have been ARMED wannabe Rambo’s within spittin’ distance who did exactly that NOTHING. Take a look sometime at thnose numbers of mass shootings where more tha two persons have been injured or killes . It is a rarity if a SINGLE days passes where the is NOT at least one mass shootings in the USA and on more than one day-in-two there are at least TWO. Over THREE HUNDRED up to mid June 2022′
[By the way we are talking shootings not nessessary killings here and onlyn tose that result oin multiple deaths get Media time.- If I can check the stats from this side of the pond in the UK how bloody easy is it in the USA!
Albert L J Hall = Stolen Valor.
Just another dacian. Hasn’t told the truth yet.
And once again the moron dumps its ignorance upon us… Thanx for sharing idiot.
Albert J. Hall the eunuch:
Don’t like the USA or it’s culture? Here’s an idea, stay on your side of the pond with your pals, the /\/\0slem ®@pe gangs.
btw:
Shouldn’t you be at D®@g Queen story hour right about now you nadless puff?
I love Wolff so much, I honestly don’t even know another company that makes springs 😂 It’s one of my great joys to change springs in my revolvers when I buy them, but any weapons platform I have that needs springs, they’re always Wolff.
Don’t have to change anything to run all 10mm loads of you buy the right gun to start with.
I love how all the other calibers are mentioned in the comments immediately as justification or comparison. Just be a man and carry what you want. It ain’t high school and you don’t have to sway using peer pressure and arguments.
My woods gun is a pawn shop Glock 21 Gen 2 with a Storm Lake 10mm conversion barrel.
(Yes, they’re another manufacturer using the same frame for .45 and 10mm.)
I installed a Wolff 20lb recoil spring and guide rod.
In the woods it eats the spiciest Buffalo Bore loads for around 635 ft-lb at the muzzle.
On the range it usually eats Sig loads for around 635 ft-lb which I figure is close enough for practice.
I’ve only run a few hundred rounds of practice ammo and one box of the Real Deal through it, but so far I’ve had no malfunctions or symptoms of damage.
Smith’s M&P 10, is a great gun. I recently got one myself. But even though it has a capacity of 15+1 cartridges in the .357 Magnum power class, it does not represent an across the board improvement over a good .357 revolver. The ability to fire different loads that vary widely in power is one of the advantages of the .357 Magnum revolver.
10mm cartridges run from 60 grain,100,125,135,140,155,175,180,200,205,220… Is that enough LOADS. I’d say it’s at least as diverse as that 357 and I have both.
Depends. I’ve run as little as 3 grain of Unique in my S&W 66es with 105gr SWCs. Not quite 22 economics the way primers are now but back in the day it was damn close. If you had to shoot a small critter to put in a pot you could probably get away with it and have some edible meat when you’re done too.
As maddmaxx stated plus you can run 40 in them just like the 38 in the 357 and no carbon ring
MADDMAXX August 7, 2022 At 12:58
“but I’ll continue to carry my 10mm loaded appropriately for the situation.”
ROFLMAO … GO RIGHT AHEAD … and every time you run out of 10MM ammo you’ll go back to the .40 or the funky 9MM.
You just continue to ROLFYAO, what makes YOU think I’m going to run out of anything? In fact, I’ve seen more shortages of 40 than I have of 10mm. Unlike people like you of limited vision and/or resources I have been purchasing and storing firearms and ammo for longer than a lot of you have been alive. I have enough 10mm to take care of anything that might arise in my lifetime and probably more 40 than YOU have ever seen (it’s a decent practice ammo). Don’t judge other people’s circumstances by your own. The decision not to own or even care to own a 40-caliber handgun is mine to make, my enthusiasm for higher powered rifles and handguns is the result of decades of experience. I’m not a big fan of the 40? (my business) I’m not a big fan of 9mm either but own several because they are cheaper to shoot and fairly reliable. Long story short, shoot what you want/like or can afford but running your mouth about other people’s situation which you have no way of knowing anything about is foolish and trying to convince ANYONE other than a small, dedicated group that the 40-caliber S&W is THE superior round of ALL ammo on the planet just shows your lack of knowledge and experience with handguns.
And … .40 S&W still remains the best of them all … LOL
Galloway Precision makes a great one as well. For the 4″ it takes the save spring/rod as the 4″ .40 model. 22lb made my 10mm much nicer, got a 20 for my .40 4″ and it’s great as well.
I did the same thing with a S&W 1006 many years ago. The 22 lb. spring worked nicely with full power loads and lighter loads.
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