Winchester 9mm 147gr Silvertip JHP in Clear Ballistics Gel

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Winchester 147gr Silvertip JHP
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 947, 914 fps
Gel Temperature 71 degrees.

I sure most people here are familiar with the Winchester Silvertip. I've had this box for a while now and found it the other day and decided to give it a try. Out of the Sig, I got an average velocity of 947fps with a high of 972 and a low of 937fps. Out of the Beretta Nano, I got an average velocity of 914fps with a high of 924fps and a low of 894fps.



Out of the Sig P229, the first round into the bare gel penetrated 17.5 inches and expanded to .56 inches. No velocity reading but the recovered weight was 149.4 grains. The second hit the block at 968fps and penetrated to 17 inches. It also expanded to .56 inches and had a recovered weight of 149.8 grains. Both bullets were recovered base forward even though there was no sign of tumbling.



When shot through clothing covered gel, the first round had a velocity of 930fps and penetrated to 19 inches. The recovered diameter was .44 inches and weighed 149.6 grains. Round two hit at a velocity of 936fps, penetrated to 19.5 inches with no expansion. It did show some deformation of the nose and the recovered weight was 149.5 grains. Both bullets stopped nose forward but the gel showed tumbling midway through the first block.





Out of the Beretta Nano, the first round penetrated to 18 inches with a recovered diameter of .55 inches and a weight of 149.6 grains. No velocity was recorded. Round two had a velocity of 888fps and penetrated to 18 inches also. It expanded to .53 inches and weighted 149.7 grains.

 

[Speedo66]

OK, so all the bullets weigh more after firing than they're supposed to. Did you happen to pull one and weigh it?

 

[5pins]

OK, so all the bullets weigh more after firing than they're supposed to. Did you happen to pull one and weigh it?

No, I have not. I may late when I get a chance.

 

[gotboostvr]

The weight was the first thing I noticed as well.

Very interesting.

 

[kBob]

This test has me looking harder at the Ruger EC9.

Thanks for posting your excellent work.

-kBob

 

[Riomouse911]

What were the silver tips used in the Miami shootout, 115 grs? Those 147’s weren’t the most consistent rounds you have tested but they sure did penetrate...

Thanks again for your posts!

 

[JTQ]

What were the silver tips used in the Miami shootout, 115 grs?

I believe they were.

Realize the Silvertips of that era are different than the current iteration of Silvertips. In the '80's, the prevailing belief was in "energy dump", with lightweight, high velocity, shallow penetrators, as the preferred round. Post the Miami shootout, more penetration was desired, and "energy dump" was debunked. Winchester reworked the design of the Silvertip, but retained the name.

 

[Riomouse911]

Ahh, that makes sense. 147 gr 9mm bullets usually do penetrate well, but 17”-18” is really deep for an expanding 9mm bullet... especially for the silvertip which had that rep as a rapid expander/shallow penetrator.

The Winchester SXT bullets seem to work pretty consistently in gel tests, and our local sheriffs office has issued them in 9mm and .45 for duty, and .380 and .38 Spl for back ups, for years. I can’t recall any complaints from their staff about that bullets performance.

Stay safe!

 

[Fiv3r]

This test has me looking harder at the Ruger EC9.

Thanks for posting your excellent work.

-kBob

I carry the EC9S when I need to carry something smaller than a full size pistol yet bigger than an LCP II. Great shooter. If mine feeds these well, I too may pick up something comparable.

As I have stated in another thread, I'm messing around with heavyweight 9mm bullets in a 5.5" Blackhawk convertible. These little thumpers would be nice to keep on hand when I want to carry my BH around the cabin but don't need to make my ears bleed if I fire the gun the way the .357 would.

If these Silvertips feed in the EC9S, all the better.

 

[wally]

I don't carry a 9mm, but if I did it'd be with 147 gr loads!

 

[Dr.Rob]

I still like silvertips

 

[JONWILL]

OK, so all the bullets weigh more after firing than they're supposed to. Did you happen to pull one and weigh it?

I bet they had a bad run of bullets. Probably ordered a million or more. No way they are going to throw them out with only a 3 grain difference. They figured no one would notice or wouldn’t care