Best 10mm Carbines [Tested]

The market isn’t bristling with 10mm carbine options, but there are long-guns that pitch “Perfect 10” if you look.

What Are Our 10mm Carbine Picks:

Pistol caliber carbines (PCC) have been likened to putting a moped engine into a truck. In the case of the 10mm carbine, it’s a slightly larger moped engine with a bit more giddyap.

Hyperbole aside, the 10mm has redlined in recent years, with everybody and their brother rediscovering the powerful automatic handgun cartridge. Hand in hand with the trend, we’ve seen a rising interest in long-guns chambered for the “Perfect 10”, a demand manufacturers have met with lukewarm enthusiasm.

Essentially the 10mm carbine is still an oddity and when it comes to options pickings are slim. No, not impossible to find. Yet, don’t waltz into this firearms niche expecting to trip over every shape, size and configuration. With expectations lowered, the good news is there are some good names in the 10mm carbine biz and utterly unique designs, not cookie-cutter pistol-caliber ARs. We’re going to take a gander at a few of the top on the market—or more exactly, the guns that pretty much make up the market presently.

Should I Go 10mm Carbine?

Before we saunter into what’s available, perhaps we should discuss if a 10mm carbine is a wise investment in the first place. If you practically throw your back out because your wallet is so thick and buying a new gun to you is akin to picking up a pack of chewing gum, well any firearms purchase is likely to be wise. After all, it’s a gun. For those of us with meeker incomes and tighter belts, there are more considerations. And the answer as to the worthiness of a 10mm carbine is similar to any other gun—it depends.

Extra bore certainly adds up to more velocity, since there is a more complete powder burn. But the 10mm isn’t suddenly turned into a brand-new cartridge coming out of a carbine. In general terms, the velocity improvement is in the neighborhood of 20 percent or less out of a 16-inch barreled carbine as compared to a 4-inch barreled pistol. Good, but that’s still with a pistol bullet, which suffers from all the ballistic sandbags of its ilk. You aren’t getting a long-range, heck even really a medium-range upgrade with a 10mm carbine.

That said, the 10mm in its pistol form isn’t for everyone. While no revolver magnum in recoil, the cartridge is still stout enough to require practice to become effective—particularly shot-to-shot. The 10mm in a carbine eliminates much of this. Certainly, nearly every long-gun chambered such is a bucky simple blowback operating system or derivative thereof. Even so, they’re heftier, which eats recoil, and brings the shoulder into the shooting equation.

Then there’s the issue of affordability. More recently, economical 10mm ammunition has hit the market, giving you a bit more bang for your buck. But it still pales to the likes of 9mm. It’s safe to say, there are ample 9mm options in the 20₵ to 30₵ per round range, while the same class of 10mm ammo runs roughly 10₵ more. Might not sound like a huge margin, but start sending a lot of rounds downrange it adds up. At 25₵ a round, 1,000 rounds of 9mm runs you $250; at 35₵ per round, 10mm will run you $350 for the same volume of ammo. If you’re searching for a plinker pistol-caliber carbine, a 10mm fits the bill, but there are cheaper-to-shoot options available if you aren’t married to the Perfect 10.

How I Picked The Best 10mm Carbines

When it comes to PCCs, whether being used for home defense, survival or just on the range, there are a few things they need to be able to do well. In my mind, the two most important qualities are reliability and shootability. Any gun that won’t go bang consistently is worthless, and any gun with too much recoil is hard to shoot both fast and accurately.

When it comes to 10mm carbines specifically, I’ve found that the gun’s operating mechanism has far more impact on how they handle than the size of the bullet they’re chambered for does. Since most PCCs feature a simple blowback operating system, regardless of whether they’re 9mm or 10mm, the variances in their exact design, part weights and layout all make a huge difference to how each respectively handles. So, when testing different 10mm carbines, we evaluated their overall reliability, how well they shot and handled, their ergonomics, features and prices. In the end, these are the guns that made the cut.

The Best 10mm Carbine Options

Specs Comparison Of The Top 10mm Carbines

Best Overall: CMMG Banshee Mk10

CMMG Banshee Mk10 Specs
Barrel Length: 8 Inches
Barrel Twist Rate: 1:16
Overall Length: 23.8 Inches
Weight: 5.5 Pounds
Capacity (Included Mag): 30 Rounds
Magazine Type: Glock
MSRP: $1,699.95

Released in 2019, the CMMG Banshee Mk10 is the most AR-like of the 10mm PCCs on this list. Its 8-inch barrel makes it legally classified as a pistol, so it’s sold with a brace instead of a stock.

While the Banshee Mk10 is the most AR-like on this list, it is still quite different from standard AR-15s and even standard pistol-caliber ARs. The former typically use a type of direct-impingement system, and the latter are usually direct-blowback, but CMMG opted for a different type of action that makes their PCCs stand out above the competition. Called Radial Delayed Blowback, CMMG originally developed the system for their .45 ACP PCCs. It’s now been adapted for 10mm, and we think the result is a match made in heaven. Even direct-blowback PCCs chambered for 9mm can have a harsh recoil impulse, and their bolts are usually fat and heavy. CMMG’s RDB system not only allows the bolt (and subsequently the whole gun) to be lighter, but also reduces the felt recoil. I think that this is easily the nicest shooting 10mm carbine on the list.

The Mk10 also thankfully utilizes Glock-pattern magazines rather than a proprietary design, so it should be relatively cheap and painless to stack them deep for this gun compared to some other PCCs. Another extremely desirable feature not found on most PCCs is the Banshee’s last-round hold-open system, allowing for magazine changes to be just as fast as on a standard AR-15. As a bonus, the Banshee is available in several different Cerakote color finishes as well.

CMMG Banshee Mk10 Deals

Guns.com	$1,544.99
Bud’s Gun Shop	$1,599.16

Best For Backpacking: TNW Aero Survival Rifle

TNW Aero Survival Rifle Specs
Barrel Length: 16.25 Inches
Barrel Twist Rate: 1:16
Overall Length: 33 Inches
Weight: 5.5 Pounds
Capacity (Included Mag): 30 Rounds
Magazine Type: Glock
MSRP: $919

Prepping is an area where the pistol-caliber carbine concept thrives. Feeding a pistol and long-gun from the same trough is a robust strategy, one which TNW allows you to embrace wholeheartedly.

Flexibility is the name of the game with the Aero Survival Rifle, but you aren’t purely confined to a 10mm carbine investing in one. Quick-change barrels give you the option to jump between .22LR, .45 ACP, .45 ACP and .357 SIG in addition to Perfect 10. Peace of mind, when versatility most certainly can save your life.

Originally conceived as survival option for pilots, TNW has engineered some other interesting facets into the carbine. Most notable, in our opinion, is that it’s a takedown rifle with the carbine breaking down to a package no larger than its 16-inch barrel. It’s also light—5.5 pounds—making it ideal for your rucksack and backcountry adventures.

Like most guns in its class, the Aero isn’t quite as quick to manipulate as say an AR—a function of the side-charging carbine’s heavy bolt and spring. However, it will load, go BANG! and reload every time you need it to—which is exactly what you want out of a survival gun. Oh yes, it’s Glock magazine compatible to boot.

TNW Aero Survival Rifle Deals

Bud’s Gun Shop	$573.58
Cabela’s	$679.97

Get More Carbine Info:

Best Budget: Hi-Point 1095

Hi-Point 1095 Specs
Barrel Length: 17.5 Inches
Barrel Twist Rate: 1:16
Overall Length: 32 Inches
Weight: 7 Pounds
Capacity (Included Mag): 10 Rounds
Magazine Type: Proprietary
MSRP: $449

Admit it, you look at this at the gun show and checked your pockets for the spare change to take it home. Don’t feel ashamed, we all have, because what the Hi-Point 1095 lacks in style and grace, it more than makes up for in reliability. Not to mention, you aren’t going to cry if you dent its fender.

Nobody is going to claim the blue-light special 10mm carbine is a tack driver, but it more than has the stuff to fill any utility, home defense or hunting role. Basic as a long-gun comes, the 1095’s simple blowback action gives it the chops to chew through any ammo you feed it. And weighing in at a hefty 7 pounds, the gun makes the 10mm a veritable kitten—even the hot stuff. Slap a suppressor on it—yes, it has a threaded muzzle—and the carbine might be one of the most manageable on the market. Another feature I appreciate is that, unlike many other PCC options, the 1095 has last-round hold open.

To the downside, it’s ugly and it has several undesirable design points. Did I mention that it’s ugly? The sights are no picnic but can be removed via set screws if you want to run a red-dot. And the body is made of polymer, which doesn’t give it quite a premium feel or look. But the real kick in the pants is the magazine, it’s proprietary and only 10-rounds. Still, if you’ve got a beggars-can’t-be-choosers budget, Hi-Point has you covered and dependably so.

Hi-Point 1095 Deals

Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore	$330
Bud’s Gun Shop	$339.22

Best High-End: Kriss Vector CRB Gen 2

Kriss Vector CRB Gen 2 Specs
Barrel Length: 16 Inches
Barrel Twist Rate: 1:10
Overall Length: 35.25 Inches (Stock Collapsed)
Weight: 8 Pounds
Capacity (Included Mag): 33 Rounds
Magazine Type: Glock
MSRP: $1,599.99

One thing to be said, if you settle on a Vector as your 10mm carbine, you’ll likely have the most unique gun at the range. Not to mention, perhaps one of the most advanced PCC systems available.

Behind the Buck Rodger’s design, the gun has some top-end engineering, which starts with its blowback system. What Kriss calls its Super V System, the non-linear bolt travel directs energy down, not only reducing felt recoil, but also mitigating muzzle lift. This is further aided by the Vector’s low bore axis, easily seen in the gun’s profile. Certainly, it’s a step away from the ordinary, but once you have one in your hands you find so is its performance—particularly when you press on the accelerator a bit. I found that you can easily pick up the pace with the Vector, accurately so.

As unorthodox as the Vector appears, the PCC is very intuitive to run. Your support hand operates the bolt and mag release, while your strong hand manages the safety and, obviously, the trigger. I was surprised at how ergonomic it felt the first time I picked one up. Other notables include Glock magazine compatibility, top Picatinny rail and tool-less takedown (just pop four pins). It’s on the spendy side, but if you’re aiming for a high-performance PCC we think the Vector is hard to beat. The biggest downside is that despite the large faux suppressor covering the 16-inch barrel, the gun is difficult to suppress without putting in extra money for custom work and likely an SBR tax stamp as well.

Kriss Vector Deals

Sportsman’s Warehouse	$1,519.99
Bud’s Gun Shop	$1,599

Best Folder: Ruger LC Carbine

Ruger LC Carbine Specs
Barrel Length: 16.25 Inches
Barrel Twist Rate: 1:16
Overall Length: 22.5 Inches (Stock Folded)
Weight: 7.4 Pounds
Capacity (Included Mag): 30
Magazine Type: Glock
MSRP: $1,049

Released in 2024, Ruger’s LC Carbine in 10mm brings a lot to the table. I like to think of it as the premium, more feature-rich version of the Hi-Point 1095. In common with the budget blaster is its general form, as it accepts its magazines in the pistol grip rather than an independent magwell, but besides the chambering, that’s where most similarities end.

As the newest model on this list, it should be no surprise that the Ruger LC Carbine has some of the most modern features as well. It comes standard with an aluminum free-floated M-LOK handguard, QD sling points and a reversible, adjustable folding stock. The stock can be replaced with other AR-pattern stocks as well, so you won’t feel limited when trying to accessorize. The full-length Picatinny rail on top, shorter rail segment on the bottom and threaded barrel ensure that you’ll have no problem attaching optics, lights or suppressors either. Many of the controls are either ambidextrous or reversible as well, so lefties have nothing to worry about. Oh yeah, it accepts Glock mags too, which we think is the best option for 10mm PCCs given their abundance and capacity potential.

While the gun is well-balanced and shoots quite nicely, given its simple blowback design, it’s not quite as nice as the CMMG or Kriss Vector. That said, if you need a highly customizable, rapidly deployable 10mm carbine that can fold down small enough to stick in a backpack or under a truck seat, we think this Ruger is hard to beat.

Ruger LC Carbine Deals

Editor’s Note: Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.