Winchester PDX1 130gr 38+P

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GMK

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Does anyone know how these rounds perform in the real world.
This is my carry round in my J frames. Winchester lists the energy at 260ftlbs from the muzzle. This is pretty impressive and is very close to the GD short barrel 357 mag load. Any real world information would be greatly appreciated .
 
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PDX works in the 9mm but they usually start with at least a 3" barrel to a six inch.

You did not mention what style/type 38 you were using, which would help out on our advise............

Good luck with that Winchester ammo.
 
Aside from exhibiting occasional failures to expand in IWBA four layer denim gel testing, it seems to work well from snubs. By that, I mean it fairly reliably expands and penetrates 12" of gelatin in addition to exhibiting good weight retention when fired through intermediate barriers.

As for actual, "street" performance, I only heard one purely anecdotal story of it achieving the elusive "one shot stop." Take it for what it's worth, but the terminal ballistics suggest it will "do the job" more often than not.

Edited to Add: The above pertains to the .38 Special iteration. I just noticed you said you were interested in the .357 Magnum loading. I can't offer much on the latter, but I imagine the same applies.
 
I bought a box of Winchester Ranger .38 special 130gr +p for my mod 60 a few years ago, shot them over my chronograph and was very disappointed with the results. Most shots were in the high 700 range with some slower, ended up pulling the bullets and replacing the charge with something more to my liking.
 
I'm trying to figure out why anyone would carry ammunition in a self defense pistol without having some idea about the terminal performance of the ammunition.
 
1. They believe the advertising on the ammo box is truth.....
not a false hood.

2. They can not go out and test it.........

are two ideas that I come up with.............since one would think that the company HAS tested their bullets to make sure they will work and save the owners from harm.

Right ?
 
Bad news

I purchased 2 boxes of the Ranger bonded 130+p...same round as the PDX version. It chrono tested at 931fps avg from a 3in sp101 and 829fps from a 1.9in Smith 649. I also tested it in a Clear Ballistics FBI block and here are the results.
From my1.9in Smith 649 at 10ft thru a single layer of denim, a sweatshirt and a t shirt it penetrated the entire 16in block and fell out the back. It expanded to .48 x .35. One side opened partially.
Now in testing in heavier clothing for someone this is what the gold dot 135+p and the CorBon dpx did thru the same Smith.
Thru 2 layers of denim, a sweatshirt and t shirt the gold dot went 13.75in and expanded to .565. The dpx went 13.5in and expanded to .613x.38
I carry the gold dot now simply because it shoots closer to the sights than the dpx round. Within 15 feet it wont make a difference though.
 
You never know what a bullet will do...........but I have seem
three videos of Winchester quality bullets .........
two over penetrating the gel blocks............
and one bullet actually turned and exited the top of the gel pack at the halfway point.

823 fps is pretty slow in a snub for a jacked bullet.......
In one of my test I did have just one GD fail to start to expand.

My load now is at 870 fps for the 125gr GD in my snubs...... it "May" have a heavier copper jacket than the 110 or 135 bullets, since it is also used and designed for the .357 magnum loads.
The 125gr is my 3rd choice for SD work in the snub if I had to use it.
 
So the consensus seems to be that the PDX1/RA38B works okay from snubs so long as heavy clothing isn't involved?

It also raises the question of whether Winchester engineered this round for the reduced velocities inherent to snubs or optimized it for service length barrels of 3" or more.

Regardless, we're once again reminded that no round expands with 100% reliability when fired from a snubnose.
 
CoMF said:
So the consensus seems to be that the PDX1/RA38B works okay from snubs so long as heavy clothing isn't involved?...
Click to expand...


Which makes it perfect for self defense in nudist colonies.
 
Boge said:
Which makes it perfect for self defense in nudist colonies.
Click to expand...

Hey, at least you don't have to worry about anyone carrying concealed. :D

But seriously... If we want to have your cake and eat it too (expansion and penetration), we're better off with a 3" barrel or longer.

...and keep your mind out of the gutter with that last one. ;)
 
picture of 130+p

Here is the 130+p round I tested and posted results earlier in this thread. The two widest petals are not directly across from each other. If you measure across them it measures .60 but across to the matching unopened petals it is .48
 

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gold dot

Here is the gold dot I mentioned earlier. Again this bullet penetrated an extra layer of denim compared to the Winchester
 

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GMK said:
Thanks!!! This is the information I was hoping to receive.
Click to expand...

Now, good luck obtaining the GDSB load from someone other than a GonzoBroker scalper. ;) I haven't been able to find it in any of the brick and mortars in my area. Even internet sources that I once knew to be reliable sources of it (AmmoMan, G&R Tactical, etc.) are dry.

Oh, and every once in a while the Gold Dot plugs up too. Something you might want to keep in mind...


38HornFTXGD4DL.jpg
 
testing

After testing my carry ammo candidates in 38,357,9mm and 40 I can tell you it is an eye opener. Definitely caused me to change carry ammo. If you carry ccw for a few hundred bucks you can get what you need to test your own ammo in your personal gun. Since ammo can vary 50fps lot to lot and guns vary you might not be pleased with the results. I will be testing if my carry ammo changes lots not just brands.
 
True;
Gold Dots have failed in test.......
Hornady bullets have failed in test....... ( per above photo )

Both company's shipped a new "Batch" of ammo to the testers and..........
Whala!! They worked !!

Todays ammo has been fine tuned with the hardness and thickness of the copper jacket, as well as new improved tip and bullet designs, for bullets to preform their best at the fps they are loaded at.

The main thing with todays ammo is finding one that shoots well in your weapon......... with the proper velocity.
 
Ed,

I'm sure you realize this, but the points I was trying to make are:

1) There are no "magic bullets" in a snub, period.

2) You would be surprised how even the smallest variations in velocity from lot to lot can affect the terminal ballistics our favorite ammo.

The "argumentum ad novitatem" generally surrounding these "modern" loadings puzzles me. All is not necessarily lost if someone isn't using the latest and greatest "wonder bullets" in their chosen snub.
 
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