Winchester 9mm Ranger 147gr. What's the use?

[DustyVermonter]

I found a pretty good deal on the Winchester Ranger 147gr FMJ and was wondering if it would be a good self defense round or if it was just practice ammo for the talons.

I still plan on stocking up on it either way at $12.00 a box, I just didn't know what other's opinions on using heavy FMJ's for defensive purposes were. I love hardball ammo, especially in the .45 caliber.

 

[Lateck]

That's a good deal.
I personally use only JHP for SD ammo.
So to me thats practice ammo or SHTF ammo.
It will still kill something...

Lateck,

 

[rcmodel]

No FMJ is good for SD use.

Over-penetration and small wound channels compared to any decent JHP round.

I would only use it for SD if I couldn't get anything else.

rc

 

[9mmepiphany]

I wouldn't use it for SD either. What the 147gr slug does offer is additional bearing surface for the rifling. The most accurate factory 9mm round I have shot was a 147gr sub-sonic loading

 

[DustyVermonter]

Additional bearing surface for the rifling???

Sounds bad

 

[ET]

Sounds like range ammo to me also.

 

[Steve C]

All FMJ has about equal effectiveness as self defense ammo which generally isn't as good a a JHP. That being said though doesn't mean that FMJ is ineffective or non lethal, just that there are better choices. Personally I use solid bullets be they FMJ or lead for targets and JHP's for defense.

147gr bullets in the 9mm are sub sonic usually just under 1,000 fps from the typical 4 to 5" pistol barrel. If you have a suppressed weapon you avoid the sonic boom or "crack sound" you get from a round traveling over 1,100 fps.

If you shoot steel plate matches, the heavier bullet can help knocking down heavier plates.