Have you heard----Browning ammo?

[snuffy]

It's not new news, I suppose everybody's heard about the Browning line of ammo now being made.

Specifically, I came across some 9mm at the Green Bay Cabellas a couple of months back. Designated BXP These are 147 grain BXP X point hollow points. The X point refers to the + formed on the bottom of the hollow cavity. The bullet is bright nickle plated brass. The shall casing is black nickle plated brass, but it looks like it's made of steel.

Now to my specialty of testing expansion. I thought enough about the new ammo to run a test with my green wax from the now defunct bullet test tube outfit. Two bullets performed quite well with the only barrier being the plastic end cap on the paper tube, which is what the liquid wax is poured against when I'm making new tubes.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr! I have pics(pictures) to show the expansion, but there's no way I can make the pic insertion tool work. My pics are in a file on my puter, there's no dadgum URL! Oh, I hate the new format, which is why I haven't been around for a while!

 

[Fire_Moose]

At the bottom of the thread there should be an upload file button.

 

[snuffy]

Well that wasn't too hard, once this old man was taught how to do it! There might be hope for this new format yet!!??¿

As you can see the HP's opened quite well. I would carry this ammo for my CCW if I didn't already have gold dots and Hornady protected point ammo in my mags for the LC-9. I may put the remaining 6 rounds in my car for back-up. If I go through 2 7 round mags to the fall back point of having to load another mag, I'm in deep do-do!

 

[snuffy]

Oh well 151 views, and a couple likes, so I guess it was worth testing/posting. At least I learned how to post pics! I hope this helped someone who might want an effective factory round.

 

[Archie]

I find it curious Browning had a line of ammunition in 1972 or so. It didn't last very long. I did scrounge up some Browning marked brass for reloading and I thought it worked well. Nor do I know why they stopped marketing ammo that time.

I'm sure the ammo will be like most Browning products, pretty decent, better than 'adequate'. Now to see if the line continues.

 

[Wishoot]

How much did you pay for a box?

Unless they're a smoking-hot deal, I'd probably just stick with my tried and true Gold Dot's or HST's.

 

[Gottcha]

Not sure if this relates to center fire ammo but the browning ammo for 22lr was I believe found out to be Winchester rebranded ammo. Most of the 22lr shooters I talk to hate Winchester and have found Browning to have similar results

 

[Acera]

Browning will sell their name to just about anybody willing to pay for it. They actually make very little if anything. Marketing company.

If you like having a box of Browning ammo, you might also like a box of Colt ammo.

(IIRC it is made by Black Hills.)

 

[DeadEye9]

I too was curious about Brownings defensive loads, so I ran some of their 147s and some Sig VCrown 147s in a ballistic block last summer to see how they did. Shooting from about 12ft, and through a barrier of a pair of Levi 550s folded so both legs are draped over the front. (4 total layers) Looking at my notes: the Browning went 16.5"and 17" the Sig load went 15.5" and 15.75". Both slugs from both brands expanded but the Sig profile was much wider and more pronounced. Browning load is comparable to like a Hornady JHP. Sig load is kind of a cross between a HST and a Gold dot, which I like.
The Sig ammo I still see readily at my local stores in both FMJ and JHP, the Browning I mostly only see FMJ on the shelves these days.

Either way, I don't consider the Browning load to be anything new or wonderful although it is seemingly effective. If you like the performance of an XTP or FTX type bullet; deep driving with controlled expansion then it could be a good affordable choice if you can find the Browning JHP load. If you like the typical Gold Dot/HST/PDX1 style of a 1.5-1.75x original caliber expansion plus FBI type 14-16" penetration, the Sig load could be a good load for you as it is cheaper and near me atleast easy to locate. (13.99/20rd boxes) Both companies FMJ performs well and is accurate but at roughly $15 a box for 9mm A person can do better with American Eagle or something at $11-12 a box. For me though I handload 95% of what I shoot at the range these days so I don't purchase much FMJ and for carry/defensive rounds I stick with street proven rounds and stock up on + shoot lots of them. For 9mm 124/147 HST standard or +P, Gold Dot 124/147 standard or +P, PDX1 124+P or 147, Critical Duty 135 standard or +P. All excellent loads. As a secondary but still well performing class I would rank the Ranger/T series 127 +p, CorBon 115 DPX, Golden Sabre Bonded 124/147 standard or +P, Sig V crown, Critical Defense standard
(not Lite) also any Underwood or Double Tap load of Speer Gold Dots in 124/147.

Rounds that will work and have absolute least chance of collateral damage due to pass through but still MAY get the job done would be DRT frangible 75gr, Federal 9BPLe, Federal Guard Dog, Critical Defense Lite.
Ammo I don't reccomend despite the fact that some performed "ok" in my testing, Extreme Shock, Grizzly all copper HP, RIP ammo, Liberty Halo Point, CCI shotshells.

Whew this turned into a whole 9mm speel by me, sorry guys, took my testing notes out to look up the browning load and it brought all this information to bear!