FN510 MRD Comp in 10mm Auto, a new version chambered for the "Big Ten"

Faithful all4shooters.com readers will already have noticed: the 10mm Auto is making a comeback. After years of oblivion, this powerful cartridge for semi-automatic handguns has started to appear again in the catalog of prestigious manufacturers such as Glock, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield and Colt.

The 10mm Auto was conceived in the USA by Jeff Cooper in the early 1980s as a professional defence cartridge. The original 10mm Auto load propelled a 200-grain bullet at 1,200 fps (365 m/s) and was first produced by Swedish company Norma to be fired in the mighty Bren Ten semi-automatic pistol. Later, the cartridge was adopted on an experimental basis by the FBI but never actually became part of the standard issue equipment due to its excessive power and poor manageability, at least when fired in semi-automatic pistols. Over the years the 10mm Auto was downsized and downgraded, giving rise to the more successful .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge and managed to survive thanks to a niche of enthusiasts. Only in recent years, thanks to mainly American manufacturers, has this cartridge re-entered the catalogs of the major brands, chambered in both pistols and pistol caliber carbines.

FN510 MRD Comp, a "full optional" 10mm Auto gun

© FN
The FN 510 MRD Comp, as the name suggests, is equipped with a small but efficient compensator that reduces muzzle flip by more than a third.

The new FN510 MRD Comp is a compensated version of a model already in the FN catalog, made in FN's US factories in Columbia, South Carolina. The pistol is derived from the 509 model, which incorporates all the features demanded by today's market, starting with the polymer frame and striker fired action, not forgetting the possibility of directly mounting a red dot sight on the slide.

In addition, the FN 510 MRD Comp offers a capacity of up to 22 rounds with the extended magazine. The standard magazine flush with the grip, on the other hand, has a capacity of 15 rounds, which can be reduced to ten in countries where capacity is restricted by law. In any case, the magazines are made of nickel-plated sheet steel with a polymer base plate. The barrel of this version is 4.4" (112 mm) long and is cold-hammer forged. The feed ramp and chamber are polished to ensure maximum feeding reliability, even with difficult bullet profiles. To help reduce muzzle flip, there is a dual chamber compensator on the muzzle that can be easily removed for maintenance. According to the manufacturer's claims, this small compensator reduces muzzle flip by 35%. The steel slide follows the typical lines of the tried and tested 509 model and offers the interface for the direct mounting of red dot sights. There are front slide serrations too. Mechanical sights (driftable) are suppressor height so that they can co-witness with your optic in the event of malfunctions. On the right side of the slide is a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator.

© FN
FN 510 MRD in the Tactical version, with a barrel protruding from the slide and a 22-round magazine.

The polymer frame allows for interchangeable backstraps to adapt the grip to the user's hand and offers magazine and slide releases on both sides as standard. Texture is moulded, with a differentiated pattern on the grip and indexing areas, ensuring maximum grip even in extreme conditions. The frame is available in black or FDE, with a matching slide finish. The trigger of the FN 510 MRD Comp is double action with a pull weight of approximately 3,000 grams.

The US retail price of the FN 510 MRD Comp is around $920. In addition to the standard and compensated versions, there is also a Tactical version in the catalog, featuring a longer 4.5" barrel protruding from the slide, for easy mounting of silencers. With this FN version, the number of semi-atomatic pistols chambered in 10mm Auto grows further. It will probably never become the solution to all (or nearly all) problems as intended by Jeff Cooper, but after a difficult birth this pistol cartridge still proves to have a certain charm.