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.45 ACP vs 10mm Auto: Maker-Page Loads and SAAMI Specs Side by Side

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 5, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

This page puts .45 ACP and 10mm Auto side by side using only our own ammo guides, .45 ACP ammo (60 loads) and 10mm Auto ammo (29 loads), plus the cartridge specs SAAMI publishes in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022, its centerfire pistol and revolver standard. The guides copy bullet weights, velocities, energies and test barrels from maker product pages (checked Nov. 4, 2026). We don't rate or rank cartridges, and we don't subtract one maker's velocity from another's, because their test barrels differ.

How to read this page: every number is copied from a maker page or from SAAMI, and a test barrel length sits next to every velocity (or says the maker lists none). A dash (—) means the maker has no load in our tables for that cartridge. Fire only the cartridge your firearm's maker says it is chambered for.

SAAMI specs side by side

These are the figures in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022, the centerfire pistol and revolver standard (approved Dec. 13, 2022). Pressures are maximum average pressure by transducer unless marked. The same figures appear in our .45 ACP and 10mm Auto guides.

Measure	.45 ACP	10mm Auto
SAAMI name	45 AUTOMATIC [45 AUTO] / 45 AUTOMATIC +P [45 AUTO +P]	10mm AUTOMATIC [10mm AUTO]
Drawing issued / revised	05/29/1979 / 10/13/1992	07/18/1989 / 07/16/2021
Maximum average pressure (transducer)	21,000 psi	37,500 psi
Maximum average pressure, +P (transducer)	23,000 psi	SAAMI lists no +P cartridge for it in this standard
Cartridge overall length	1.190 in min to 1.275 in max	1.240 in min to 1.260 in max
Case length	.898 in (−.010)	.992 in (−.010)
Bullet diameter	.4520 in (−.0030), jacketed	.4005 in (−.0030)
Bore / groove diameter	.442 in / .450 in	.3900 in / .4005 in
SAAMI velocity test barrel	5.000 in	5.000 in

Load ranges by maker and test barrel

Each line groups one maker's loads that share a test barrel, so a velocity is only ever shown with the barrel it was measured in. Ranges are bullet weight and muzzle velocity as the maker page prints them. Do not read across makers: their barrels and bullets differ.

Maker	.45 ACP loads in our table	10mm Auto loads in our table
Federal	5 in test barrel: 21 loads, 137 to 240 gr, 770 to 1,200 fps test barrel not listed: 2 loads, 230 gr, 890 fps	5 in test barrel: 8 loads, 180 to 205 gr, 1,030 to 1,275 fps 6 in test barrel: 1 load, 200 gr, 1,200 fps test barrel not listed: 5 loads, 180 to 200 gr, 1,100 to 1,200 fps
Hornady	3 in test barrel: 1 load, 185 gr, 900 fps 5 in test barrel: 6 loads, 185 to 230 gr, 900 to 975 fps	5 in test barrel: 5 loads, 135 to 200 gr, 1,160 to 1,410 fps test barrel not listed: 1 load, 150 gr, 1,220 fps
Remington	test barrel not listed: 22 loads, 185 to 230 gr, 725 to 1,140 fps	test barrel not listed: 5 loads, 180 to 200 gr, 1,110 to 1,150 fps
Speer	4 in test barrel: 1 load, 230 gr, 820 fps 5 in test barrel: 7 loads, 185 to 230 gr, 830 to 1,080 fps	5 in test barrel: 1 load, 200 gr, 1,100 fps
CCI	—	5 in test barrel: 1 load, 180 gr, 1,175 fps test barrel not listed: 2 loads, 180 to 200 gr, 1,050 to 1,200 fps

Same maker, same line, both cartridges

Where one maker sells the same product line in both cartridges, the loads are listed here side by side exactly as the maker pages print them. We match lines by the maker's own product-line name on each page. Compare only within a row, and check the test barrel in each cell.

Maker line	.45 ACP	10mm Auto
Federal Personal Defense HST	230 gr HST Jacketed Hollow Point, 890 fps, 404 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item P45HST2S 230 gr HST Jacketed Hollow Point (45 Auto +P), 950 fps, 461 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item P45HST1S	200 gr HST Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,130 fps, 567 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item P10HST1S
Federal Personal Defense Punch	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 890 fps, 404 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item PD45P1 230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 890 fps, 404 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item PD45P1G	200 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,100 fps, 537 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item PD10P1 200 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,100 fps, 537 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item PD10P1G
Federal Train + Protect	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 850 fps, 369 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item TP45VHP1	180 gr Versatile Hollow Point, 1,175 fps, 552 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item TP10VHP1
Remington Golden Saber Bonded	185 gr Bonded Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,015 fps, 423 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 29325 230 gr Bonded Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 875 fps, 391 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 29327	180 gr Bonded Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,150 fps, 529 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item R21368
Remington Golden Saber Defense	185 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,015 fps, 423 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 27609 230 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 875 fps, 391 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 27612 185 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point (45 Auto +P), 1,140 fps, 534 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 27611	180 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,150 fps, 529 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item R21369
Remington Golden Saber Defense Compact	230 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 725 fps, 268 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 27619	180 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point, 1,150 fps, 529 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item R21370
Speer Gold Dot Handgun Personal Protection	185 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point, 1,050 fps, 453 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 23964GD 230 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point, 890 fps, 404 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 23966GD	200 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point, 1,100 fps, 537 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 54000GD
Federal Solid Core	240 gr Solid (45 Auto +P), 1,000 fps, 533 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item P45SHC1	200 gr Solid, 1,200 fps, 639 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item P10SHC1
Hornady Critical Duty	220 gr FlexLock® Critical Duty® (45 Auto +P), 975 fps, 464 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 90926	175 gr FlexLock® Critical Duty®, 1,160 fps, 523 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 91256
Hornady Custom	230 gr XTP® (45 Auto +P), 950 fps, 461 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 9096 200 gr XTP®, 900 fps, 360 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 9112 230 gr XTP ® Subsonic, 925 fps, 437 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 90971	180 gr XTP®, 1,275 fps, 650 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 9126 155 gr HP XTP®, 1,410 fps, 684 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item 9122
Federal American Eagle Handgun	230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 890 fps, 404 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item AE45A 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 890 fps, 404 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item AE45A100	180 gr Full Metal Jacket, 1,030 fps, 424 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item AE10A
Federal Champion Training	230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 830 fps, 352 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item WM5233 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 830 fps, 352 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item WM52332	180 gr Full Metal Jacket, 1,200 fps, 575 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item WM5221 180 gr Full Metal Jacket, 1,200 fps, 575 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item WM52212
Federal Syntech Range	230 gr Syntech Jacket Flat Nose, 830 fps, 352 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item AE45SJ1	205 gr Total Synthetic Jacket, 1,150 fps, 602 ft-lb, 5 in test barrel, item AE10SJ1
Remington UMC Handgun	185 gr Full Metal Jacket, 1,015 fps, 423 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23818 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23649 230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23689 230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23696 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23726 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23781 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23797 230 gr Full Metal Jacket, 835 fps, 356 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23817	180 gr Full Metal Jacket, 1,150 fps, 529 ft-lb, test barrel not listed, item 23706

What the sources say when you choose

These are points taken from the figures above, each with the page it rests on. They are not recommendations or scores.

If pressure rating is your question: SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 21,000 psi for .45 ACP (23,000 psi for .45 ACP +P) and 37,500 psi for 10mm Auto, all by transducer. Source: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022.
If bullet weight is your question: the .45 ACP loads in our table run from 137 gr (Federal American Eagle Indoor Range Training Lead Free AE45LF1) to 240 gr +P load (Federal Solid Core P45SHC1). The 10mm Auto loads run from 135 gr (Hornady Handgun Hunter 91267) to 205 gr (Federal Syntech Range AE10SJ1). Sources: those maker pages.
If you want to see the printed velocities: the slowest and fastest .45 ACP muzzle velocities in our table are 725 fps, test barrel not listed (Remington Golden Saber Defense Compact 27619) and 1,200 fps, 5 in test barrel (Federal American Eagle Indoor Range Training Lead Free AE45LF1). For 10mm Auto they are 1,030 fps, 5 in test barrel (Federal American Eagle Handgun AE10A) and 1,410 fps, 5 in test barrel (Hornady Custom 9122). These come from different barrels and bullets, so we show them side by side without a difference. Sources: those maker pages.
If you are comparing against a box or a chronograph: SAAMI's velocity test barrel is 5.000 in for both cartridges, and many maker pages list a different barrel or none, as the tables above show. A shorter barrel than the one a maker lists will likely give lower velocities than the box; see our barrel length vs velocity data. Source: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022 and the maker pages linked above.
If chamber fit is your question: SAAMI publishes a separate cartridge drawing for each, with case length .898 in (−.010) for .45 ACP and .992 in (−.010) for 10mm Auto, and bullet diameter .4520 in (−.0030), jacketed, and .4005 in (−.0030). The two bullet diameters differ. Check the cartridge named in your firearm's manual or marked on its barrel. Source: ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022.

Not yet verified

Winchester and SIG Sauer loads are not in either guide's table (see the “Not yet verified” section of each guide).
Our .45 ACP guide includes 7 loads labelled +P (SAAMI lists .45 ACP +P as a separate cartridge). The range table counts them with the other .45 ACP loads, and +P loads are marked where they appear below.
Prices, recoil, accuracy and hands-on results are not in our data, so this page says nothing about them.

See the full tables in our .45 ACP ammo and 10mm Auto ammo, the .45 ACP barrel length data, the 10mm Auto barrel length data, the new ammo of 2026, all ammo releases and all comparisons.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .45 ACP and 10mm Auto?

SAAMI lists 21,000 psi for .45 ACP (23,000 psi for .45 ACP +P) and 37,500 psi for 10mm Auto, all measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022.

Do .45 ACP and 10mm Auto use the same bullet diameter?

No. SAAMI lists .4520 in (−.0030), jacketed, for .45 ACP and .4005 in (−.0030) for 10mm Auto in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022.

Which test barrel do the makers list?

It varies by maker and load. SAAMI's velocity test barrel is 5.000 in for both cartridges. Our tables show the barrel each maker page lists next to every velocity, and some pages list none.

Which is better, .45 ACP or 10mm Auto?

We don't rate or rank cartridges. This page copies maker-page figures and SAAMI specs side by side, and it does not cover price, recoil or hands-on results.

Where do these numbers come from?

From our own ammo guides (.45 ACP ammo and 10mm Auto ammo), which copy maker product pages, and from ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022.

SAAMI specs side by side

Load ranges by maker and test barrel

Same maker, same line, both cartridges

What the sources say when you choose

Not yet verified

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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