Field Test: Ruger’s hard-hitting 10mm: one of the best ever built

by R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor

The 10mm requires attention to detail but the Ruger wasn’t uncomfortable to fire. The 10mm is a hot number that outpaces the .45 ACP in most regards.

Ruger’s SR 1911 has been a successful handgun for the company welcomed by 1911 and Ruger fans. Since the debut of the original SR1911, Ruger has introduced a steel frame Commander to compliment the Government Model length SR1911 .45, a lightweight frame Commander version and also a 9mm version. These handguns have been well received by the shooting public. They are affordable but high quality and have proven reliable and accurate.

Ruger’s SR1911 line continues to expand with the introduction of the Ruger SR1911 10mm. This handgun differs considerably from previous pistols and may arguably be one of the best 10mm 1911 handguns ever built. Ruger made viable improvements on the 1911, including redesigning the plunger tube for permanent attachment rather than staking the tube to the frame. The result is a rugged handgun with much to recommend and a real improvement on the 1911 chassis.

The Ruger SR1911 10mm pistol is a rugged and reliable handgun. The author fitted a set of Ahrends checkered grips in order to improve the feel of the Ruger 10mm.

Ruger’s 10mm variant features fully adjustable rear sights, a new front post sight design, and a belled barrel with bushingless lockup. There seems to be considerable and renewed interest in the 10mm cartridge and for good reason. The 10mm auto cartridge is a powerful number that gives handgunners a viable cartridge for long range use and for hunting medium game. It is suitable for defense against animals and a viable service and personal defense cartridge. It offers real power for those willing to master the heavier recoil of this hard hitting combination. The 1911 platform is reasonably light and may be concealed more readily than a magnum revolver, part of the appeal of the combination. For those interested primarily in personal defense there are loads available that while powerful are controllable.

The Blocker X16 is a versatile holster well suited to the Ruger SR1911.

The Ruger SR1911 10mm is a stainless steel pistol built on the full length or Government Model frame. The barrel, slide lock, slide lock safety and grip safety are finished in black. The grip safety is a beavertail type. Those that sometimes allow the palm to rise off the grip safety when executing the palms forward grip will find the beavertail grip safety helps keep the grip safety properly depressed. The extended slide lock safety offers a positive indent. It is sufficiently larger than the GI types to insure positive manipulation. Both the trigger and hammer are skeletonized types.

Trigger compression is 6.5 pounds, tight, and breaks smoothly without creep or backlash. (My friend Robb reports his 10mm was delivered with a 4.75 pound pull, so I will fix mine myself at a later date.) The rear sight is fully adjustable with excellent machine work and good final finish. The barrel is a ramped design for feed reliability and full cartridge case head support. The bull barrel features bushingless lockup. Barrel to slide fit is excellent. The pistol features a full length guide rod.

Other features include a beveled magazine well and an extra power firing pin spring. This extra power firing pin spring is used for safety to prevent the firing pin taking a run forward if the pistol is dropped instead of the complication of a firing pin block or drop safety. The Ruger is supplied with two magazines. The grips are checkered plastic. I added a MecGar magazine and also changed out the grips for a set of Ahrends skip checkered grips.

The adjustable sight of the Ruger SR1911 is vault tough.

Let’s look at the ballistics of the 10mm cartridge. The original loading was really too hot and quickly wore the original 1911 10mm, the Colt Delta Elite. Today Delta Elites are stronger with a better recoil spring system. Just the same, 200 grains at 1,200 fps was a hand full to control. The FBI adopted the 10mm cartridge and reserved the heavier loads for special use. The standard 10mm loading was the Federal Hydra Shock with a 180-grain bullet. The present Hydra Shock clocks 1,037 fps. This is faster than the .40 Smith and Wesson and in the steel frame SR1911 more controllable than the full power 10mm or a similar .45 ACP.

Penetration is eighteen inches of water and the Hydra Shock expands to almost .80 caliber. There are also full power loadings. As an example, Federal Cartridge Company offers a 180-grain Vital Shock JSP for hunting purposes. This load breaks an honest 1,280 fps from the Ruger SR1911. This would be a formidable loading for deer and boar sized game. So, the 10mm is plenty versatile. Federal Cartridge Company offers a 180-grain FMJ bullet for practice in the American Eagle line and CCI offers an aluminum-cased Blazer with a 200-grain bullet.

Ruger’s stainless steel magazines are reliable. The magazine well is slightly beveled for smooth reloads.

The 10mm is among a very few cartridges designed to give the handgunner a cartridge that is more effective at longer range. The 10mm shoots flatter than the .45 ACP. The effective range of the 10mm is greater than either the .45 ACP or the .38 Super. The cartridge offers power that outstrips even the .357 Magnum with top end loads. As an example, Double Tap Ammunition offers a hard hitting 200-grain WFNGC hard cast bullet at almost 1,200 fps. This should prove to be a great game load. Double Tap also offers other loads. I was able to test the 135-grain JHP defense load. This one breaks a true 1,555 fps over the Competition Electronics Chronograph. I was impressed by this performance. Another impressive load is the Double Tap 230-grain Equalizer. This combination features a 135-grain JHP over a 95-grain lead ball at 980 fps. The two projectiles impact side by side to about ten yards. This load should indeed prove a credible equalizer.

The Ruger features a bushingless lockup.

I have fired some 600 cartridges to date with perfect reliability and good accuracy. The Ruger came out of the box running without any type of malfunction. I began my initial tests with CCI Blazer loads firing at man-sized targets at 5, 7 and 10 yards. The big Ruger stayed on target and delivered X ring hits with attention to the sights and trigger compression. With standard loads recoil isn’t any more difficult to control than the .45 ACP; it is simply a different feeling. I expended 100 cartridges as quickly as I could load the magazines, aim and fire. The Ruger is a pleasant gun to fire with good practical combat accuracy. Function was one hundred per cent.

This is an expanded Federal Hydra Shock.

The SIG V Crown, a new loading, exhibited good expansion.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to test several loads. SIG Sauer recently introduced the 10mm to their Elite ammunition line. The 180-grain FMJ loading clocked a hot 1,198 fps. This is full power performance suitable for long range use against steel reaction plates. The V Crown 180-grain JHP is even faster at 1,203 fps. This loading expanded well in water. Although the V Crown lost its jacket penetration to 18 inches was normal. The longest serving load in my modest 10mm battery is the Hornady XTP. The 180-grain XTP offers good penetration and may be called an outdoors load. At 1180 fps it is controllable for those that practice. The 155-grain XTP loading breaks 1355 fps. This is an excellent all around defense load. Recoil is there but controllable with a solid grip and firing stance. To determine absolute accuracy I fired several loads off the bench with the aid of my Bullshooters shooting rest (Brownells.com). Accuracy was excellent, on a level with any .45 ACP target pistol. The 180 grain XTP turned in one 1.5 inch 25 yard group and several 2-inch groups. The 155-grain XTP’s best showing was a 1.75 inch group with the average around 2 inches. This dog will run and the 10mm Ruger has plenty of accuracy. The Ruger SR1911 is accurate enough to take advantage of these loads.

The author fired the 10mm with a good number of modern loads. 10mm performance was excellent and there were no malfunctions.

It is up to the individual shooter to master this handgun. It requires more skill and effort than firing .45 ACP or .40 Smith & Wesson handguns and the 10mm isn’t for everyone. For those that master this cartridge it is a hard hitting and accurate caliber with much to recommend.

Carrying the SR1911-I have used the Block X 16 for many years with quite a few handguns. This holster is designed for use as a crossdraw. It is comfortable when carrying a heavy handgun and offers a sharp draw. The draw angle is neutral and the holster may also be carried on the strong side. (Tedblockerholsters.com)