Gel test Results
As you hunt for the best self-defense 45 ACP (Auto) ammo, we thought you might enjoy seeing the results of some testing we recently conducted with calibrated Clear Ballistics gelatin.
We shot five of these Winchester Ammunition rounds through a four-layer cloth barrier using a Ruger SR45. The results are detailed in the video you see above as well as the photographs. Through the charts, you should get a great idea how this Winchester Ammunition ammo stacked up relative to other 45 ACP (Auto) ammo products available to American shooters.
To get a better sense of our tests, be sure to check out all the protocols we followed when conducting our tests to determine the best self-defense ammo.
Unfired versus Fired Round Comparison
20rds – 45 ACP Winchester Defender 230gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo Gel Test Results
| Median | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet Depth (in.) | 14.3 | 14.8 | 15.4 | 16.2 | 25.4 |
| Expanded Diameter (in.) | 0.45 | 0.73 | 0.73 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Bullet Weight after shot (gr.) | 228.1 | 228.5 | 228.9 | 229.5 | 230.9 |
| Bullet Velocity (fps) | 885 | 888 | 893 | 895 | 921 |
Winchester Ammunition 45 ACP (Auto) Ballistic Data
Winchester Ammunition 45 ACP (Auto) Ammo Details
- Barrel Length inches
- 5
- Ballistics Coefficient (G1)
- 0.188
- Ballistics Coefficient (G7)
- 0.000
- Sectional Density
- 0.162
| Muzzle | 25 yds. | 50 yds. | 75 yds. | 100 yds. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity fps | 920 | 900 | 882 | 864 | 848 |
| Energy ft lbs | 432 | 414 | 397 | 382 | 367 |
| Bullet drop inch | n/a | 0 | -2.7 | -8.2 | -16.5 |
Trajectory Line Graph Winchester Ammunition 45 ACP (Auto)
Velocity / Energy Comparisons
The Reviews
Why Shooters and Hunters love or hate 20rds – 45 ACP Winchester Defender 230gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo
Leave a Review
-
posted on by
This is a decent round but there are better rounds out there. federal LE45T1
-
posted on by
Just finished shooting my first boxes of these Defender series rounds, and they performed noticeably better than any other brand I've shot through my Taurus PT-145 Millennium: produced noticeably higher velocities than any other non-+P 230-grain loads I've previously test-fired (which translates into highest energies), and impressively low "extreme spread" and "standard deviation" chronograph numbers; plus very tight target groupings, and absolutely no FTL or FTE issues! It's become my new personal/home defense load.
-
posted on by
The best .45 round on the market in my opinion. Not only used by the FBI, but also used by many of our U.S. special forces response teams. I've also been told that it's a favorite choice by many members of our Navy's SEAL team units. Awesome combat round, tremendous expansion.
Again, by far one of the best .45 caliber combat rounds on the market today. -
posted on by
This is a great self defense round. I like to carry these and the 230+p HST in my 45. These rounds have consistent expansion are the best bonded 45 hollow points on the market.
