I have a box of 9mm 147 gr. Black Talon. Does the black coating actually do anything to improve velocity? Anybody know what the velocity would be out of a 2" barrel? Is there any reason to believe this stuff would be any more effective than a 147 gr. Gold Dot at the same velocity? I suspect most of the Black Talon's reputation was based on hype, but if they really were something special I'd rather not waste them over the chronograph.

Dave Sinko

I'm going to guess there's not a nickels worth of difference between them. As old/aging as the Black Talons are, they'll still function flawlessly, just as they did when they first came out. I've still got a few boxes in my debris piles.

My suggestion to you would be to save them. Yes, they've got nostalgia value these days. If you can get more Gold Dots, do so. The Black Talons are still a mainstay at gun shows, selling for right about $2 a round/$40 a box.

The only reason production stopped was the anti-gunners declared them evil and then got with their cohorts in the press to name them "cop killers", regardless of no evidence of any cop even being shot with them, much less killed. And the coating was somehow morphed into a coating that would slip right through any body armor. Magic bullets.

I found and bought a partial box of .357s last month. I have a full box, but I figured more is better.

Its good ammo, don't waste it. Don't waste your Gold Dots, either.

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Dick Burg

The Black Talon is Winchester's 'old technology' and they were very effective. They have been replaced by Winchester Ranger T which are even better.

Yes the 9mm Ranger T 147gr (RA9T) is a very good round and the price is more like .50 or less per round. I bought a bunch for $21 a box. There is also a great deal of the SXT version out there. I believe that was the round that replaced the Black Talon. The Ranger T replaced the SXT. The Ranger T version supposedly has the most reliable expansion. OTOH, Gold Dots are always good too.

WINCHESTER DID NOT STOP PRODUCTION OF THE RA9T. THEY JUST TOOK OFF THE BLACK COLOR AND LEFT IT COPPER COLORED. NOTICE THE 6 PETALS ON THE BULLET. THAT IS THE LEO BULLET. THE COMMERCIAL SXT BULLET HAD 8 PETALS AND DID NOT FORM THE "CLAW". JIM P



P.S. THE RA9T BULLET WAS THE MOST ACCURATE BULLET FROM THE PPC9 AT 50YDS. JP