At the 2013 SHOT Show, Winchester Ammunition will show a new member of the company’s PDX1 Defender line of premium ammo: the 7.62×39. The new round will feature a 120 grain bullet rated at 2365 fps. That works out to be about 1490 ft-lbs of energy.
The bullet used in the new load uses the Winchester split-core technology (SCT). The SCT has two separate lead cores: the front core is not bonded and provides for rapid expansion. The rear core is bonded to the jacket to ensure deep penetration. Winchester is attempting to provide for rapid incapacitation by using this dual prong approach to bullet construction.
I’ve been impressed with the Winchester PDX1 line when shooting it from handguns. The 147 grain 9mm is very accurate and both it and the .40 S&W seem to be very reliable performers. I’ve got some of the Hornady SST ammo for my AK needs right now, but I am very interested in seeing how the Winchester stuff performs.
MSRP and other specifics (such as steel or brass case?) are not yet known. However, the pages for the ammo has start to pop up on some sales sites, and prices seem to run about $28 – $40 per box. For 20 rounds, that is not cheap. Especially for the caliber normally associated with inexpensive imported ammunition. For the Hornady SST, I think I paid about $35 for a box of 50 rounds. Not cheap, but much more affordable.
From Winchester Ammunition:
Tactical reliability in critical situations … Winchester PDX1 Defender is the most complete line of ammunition for personal defense. From rimfire and shotshell to centerfire handgun and rifle, Winchester is the industry leader that has redefined bullet innovation in each category.
Winchester expands its popular line of centerfire rifle offerings in 2013 with the 7.62x39mm topped with a 120-grain bullet. This load features the proprietary Winchester split-core technology (SCT) bullet utilizing two lead cores within the engineered bullet jacket. The non-bonded front core provides rapid expansion, and the bonded rear core provides optimum penetration for personal defense situations.
Explore the full line of Winchester PDX1 Defender products for your personal defense needs.
Surviving the Street: Guide to Concealed Carry of a Firearm
Essential information on concealed carry. This book has just the basics - not a lot of fluff to get bogged down in. Easy to read, Surviving the Street introduces the reader to the important information you need as an armed citizen.
The author presents frank information about self defense in a way that is easy to understand and use.
About Richard
Richard Johnson is a gun writer, police trainer and really bad joke teller. Check out his other writing on sites like Human Events, The Firearm Blog and BlueSheepdog.
The picture makes it look a lot like a zinc-coated steel case (ala Silver Bear).
I wouldn’t necessarily read too much into current pricing, given the ammo shortage… but I really question the market for a defensive 7.62×39 round, especially at $.8-$1.1 per round pricing.
Yeah, it does have a Silver Bear look. I think Tula loads the Hornady stuff, but I’m not sure.
[...] roll out a .308 or .300 BLK cartridge in the PDX1 Defender line. They did, however, roll out a 7.62×39 load in the self defense line of ammunition. I found this to be a nice surprise, but would like to see Winchester Ammunition give us an [...]