Ruger SR1911 10mm Review

Historically, and in a lot of gun guy’s brains, the 1911 is strongly associated with 45 ACP. That means lower capacity and a more sluggish round that’s less than ideal for self-defense. However, the 1911 has evolved a lot over the years and is now available in a wide variety of calibers. This includes the 10mm, and one of the best 1911s made in this chambering is the Ruger SR1911. The SR1911 in 10mm can be used for everything from home defense to carry to hunting. We’re going to fill you in on the details of this gun and explain why you should consider getting this one even if it’d be the first 1911 you ever purchased.

Ruger SR1911 10mm Background

Ruger launched their 1911 line back in 2011 in the classic 45 ACP chambering. In 2016 they went with changing times and announced 9mm models, and by 2017 they’d gone ahead and brought out the 10mm SR1911. This is technically a Series 70 1911 although of course it’s the modernized version. What this means to most 1911 fans is a better trigger than the Series 80 guns, but there are other nuances. The SR1911 in 10mm is a Government-sized pistol, meaning it’s full-sized and has a 5.0-inch barrel. It’s best suited to home defense, range use, and hunting, but that doesn’t negate its capabilities as a carry gun. Ruger designed their SR1911 with close attention to detail and serious dedication to quality control and that shows in this gun.

As guns go, the SR1911 10mm is pretty young—not even ten years old at this time. It’s done a lot to prove itself along the way, though, and thanks to the recent surge in popularity for the 10mm it should be seeing a boost in sales. 10mm is underappreciated for its diversity and performance and this Ruger SR1911 is a stellar example of just what a high quality gun can do. 

To boost performance, this SR1911 has a bull barrel to enhance accuracy and reliable function. And although it’s a single-stack which translates to less capacity than we might prefer, 8 +1 of 10mm is reasonable. Not to mention single-stack guns are slimmer meaning easier to grip for a wider variety of hand sizes and simpler to conceal because they have smaller profiles.

Features of the Ruger SR1911 in 10mm

In some ways, the Ruger SR1911 10mm is a no-frills pistol, but that sells it short. It’s a modern Series 70 1911 that’s rugged, durable, and capable of exceptional versatility. Features of the gun include:

Ruger SR1911 in 10mm Features

1 Extended beavertail to facilitate a high, tight grip.

2 Skeletonized trigger with a crisp break and short re-set.

3 Rounded off trigger guard so there are no sharp edges that dig into hands during live fire.

4 Bull barrel for superior reliability and a flatter-shooting platform.

5 Adjustable Rear Sight For Greater Accuracy

6 SKELETONIZED, ROUNDED HAMMER TO REDUCE RISK OF SNAGS AND REDUCE OVERALL WEIGHT.

Ruger SR1911 10mm—Our Take

The SR1911 10mm is a gun that can win over shooters who aren’t normally fans of the 1911 platform or the 10mm caliber. It’s the perfect amalgamation of features, performance, and usefulness. Unlike many big bore handguns it isn’t excessively bulky and thanks to its stainless steel frame and slide it’s heavy enough to shoot comfortably—but not so heavy it exhausts your arms.

The gun isn’t ammo picky and reliably cycles everything from ultra-lightweight frangibles to heavier hunting loads. Ruger did a fantastic job with this pistol and we wish they’d come out with a Commander variant.

Shootability

For shooters used to the 1911 platform, the SR1911 10mm will be familiar and easy to manipulate. If you’re not used to 1911s, the good news is that the learning curve is short and this gun is streamlined and of good enough quality to make training fun. It checks all the boxes for a carry or hunting gun including consistent cycling, accuracy, and resistance to wear.

In addition, it’s a great fit for a lot of shooters and doesn’t produce excessive recoil or muzzle rise. That’s thanks partly to the bull barrel but also to its overall design. You can run the SR1911 10mm at length without wearing out your arms or hands.

Accuracy

The SR1911 10mm is consistently accurate and edges into precision territory with the right ammunition. Shooting it offhand it produces tight groups around 2.0-inches at 25 yards; if you shoot from the bench, you can definitely keep them under 2.0-inches. Firing offhand from 10 yards I’ve been able to get five-shot groups under 1.0-inch but that does require slow, deliberate courses of fire. The best ammo performer has been Hornady Critical Duty, which delivered a five-shot group of 1.24-inches shooting from the bench at a distance of 25 yards. Thanks to the gun’s adjustable sights you can tweak as needed to sight in and get on target as precisely as possible.

Ergonomics

When it comes to the ergonomics of the SR1911 10mm, I’d say they’re as expected for this platform. The black rubberized grips feel good and I prefer them to aggressively textured VZ grips, but you can always swap them out if they’re too soft for you.

This single-stack is slim enough to comfortably fit somewhat smaller hands but wide enough to be just fine for shooters with above-average hands, too. It’s a nicely balanced pistol and I have no complaints about its feel or operation. All controls can be manipulated without overly adjusting my grip.

Value

The Ruger SR1911 10mm offers good value for its price point. 10mms are always a bit more spendy than others but you’re paying for the quality and work that goes into crafting a reliable, accurate big bore. This gun offers value that exceeds its price point and all in a well-made, carefully designed platform.

Ruger SR1911 10mm Pros and Cons

Gun Deals

Preferred Ammo

Upgrade and Accessory Options

Ruger SR1911 10mm Upgrades and Accessories

1. Crossbreed Custom Supertuck IWB Holster			Check Price
2. Trijicon HD Night Sights			Check Price
3. Crimson Trace CMR-208 Rail Master Universal Tactical Light			Check Price