Ammo So Lethal It Was BANNED (How Lethal Were Black Talons ???)

Published on February 9, 2026
Duration: 20:19

This video from Kentucky Ballistics delves into the history and performance of Winchester's controversial Black Talon ammunition. Host Scott debunks myths about the ammunition being banned, explaining it was voluntarily withdrawn from the civilian market due to public pressure. Through extensive ballistic gel and body armor testing across various calibers, the video demonstrates the actual penetration and expansion capabilities of Black Talons, concluding they were not armor-piercing for handguns and were later rebranded as Ranger SXT.

Quick Summary

Winchester Black Talon ammunition was not legally banned; it was voluntarily withdrawn from the civilian market in 1993 due to public pressure. Testing demonstrated that handgun calibers did not penetrate Level IIA soft armor but expanded effectively in ballistic gel, debunking myths of it being 'armor-piercing'.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Black Talon Ammo Myths
  2. 00:53Design & History of Black Talons
  3. 03:409mm Black Talon Ballistic Testing
  4. 05:27.40 S&W & .45 ACP Testing
  5. 09:2510mm & .357 Magnum Testing
  6. 12:41.44 Magnum Testing
  7. 15:31.30-06 Rifle Testing
  8. 18:11Conclusion: Black Talon Myth Debunked

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Winchester Black Talon ammunition legally banned?

No, Winchester Black Talon ammunition was never legally banned. Winchester voluntarily withdrew the ammunition from the civilian market in 1993 due to intense public pressure and media criticism surrounding its perceived lethality and design.

How lethal was Winchester Black Talon ammunition?

While controversial, testing showed Black Talon ammunition performed as expected for its caliber. Handgun rounds did not penetrate Level IIA soft armor but expanded effectively in ballistic gel. Rifle rounds showed significant terminal ballistics, creating large wound cavities.

What happened to Winchester Black Talon ammunition?

Due to public outcry and media scrutiny in the early 1990s, Winchester voluntarily discontinued the Black Talon line for civilian sales in 1993. The design was later updated and rebranded as the Winchester Ranger SXT (Success, eXtreme, Terminal) ammunition line.

Did Black Talon ammunition penetrate body armor?

Testing in the video showed that handgun calibers of Winchester Black Talon ammunition (9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 10mm, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum) failed to penetrate Level IIA soft body armor. Only the .30-06 rifle caliber round was shown to easily defeat this type of armor.

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