Firearm Facts Episode 28: The Truth about Winchester Black Talon

Published on September 17, 2013
Duration: 4:39

This expert analysis delves into the Winchester Black Talon ammunition, exploring its controversial history, unique wounding mechanism, and performance in ballistic tests. Speakers Barry and Eric, demonstrating high authority and deep technical knowledge, compare it to successors like the Winchester Ranger and alternative ammunition types such as MagSafe frangible rounds. The discussion highlights the Black Talon's exceptional weight retention despite its notoriety.

Quick Summary

The Winchester Black Talon was a 10mm ammunition known for its unique jacket designed to cut tissue, introduced in 1992 and voluntarily removed in 1993 due to controversy. While it demonstrated exceptional weight retention in tests, historical studies indicated less stopping power compared to other hollow points. It was compared to Winchester Ranger and MagSafe frangible rounds.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and History
  2. 00:42Technical Design
  3. 01:22Effectiveness and Controversy
  4. 02:00Water Testing and Weight Retention
  5. 03:00Comparison with Ranger and MagSafe

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Winchester Black Talon ammunition?

The Winchester Black Talon was a controversial 10mm ammunition introduced in 1992, known for its jacket designed to actively cut tissue. It was voluntarily removed from the market in 1993 due to public and medical community concerns.

How did the Winchester Black Talon perform in ballistic tests?

In water testing, the 200-grain Black Talon 10mm bullets showed exceptional weight retention, weighing approximately 199.2 grains post-impact and maintaining their sharp petal shape. However, historical studies suggest it had less stopping power than other hollow points.

What is the difference between Black Talon and MagSafe ammunition?

The Black Talon featured a unique cutting jacket design and excellent weight retention. MagSafe frangible ammunition, in contrast, was noted for superior stopping power in specific Strasbourg tests, firing lighter bullets at higher velocities.

Why was Winchester Black Talon removed from the market?

Winchester voluntarily removed the Black Talon ammunition from the market in November 1993. This decision was driven by significant public controversy and concerns raised by the medical community regarding the bullet's design and potential wounding characteristics.

More Reviews Videos You Might Like

More from Iraqveteran8888

View all →