Winchester Ammunition announced they are now making a new line of .45 ACP ammo for the 1911 platform pistol.  The WIN1911 ammunition will come in two variations: one uses a FMJ bullet, while the other uses a JHP.  Both loads are designed to shoot to the same point of aim.
The FMJ load uses a flat nose bullet.  Winchester claims the load is built for “high accuracy” and produces “precision groups.”  Winchester does not identify the exact bullet used in the JHP load, so I would expect it is a traditional bullet rather than a highly-engineered bullet like the SXT.
Both of the ammunition loads are rated for 880 fps at the muzzle.
WIN1911 Ammo Specifications
| Caliber | Mfg ID | Bullet Style | Bullet Weight | Muzzle Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .45 ACP | X45T | FMJ | 230 gr | 880 fps |
| .45 ACP | X45P | JHP | 230 gr | 880 fps |
One of the interesting things about the WIN1911 line is that the bullets are nickel-plated.  Winchester states this is for “easy identification.”
No MSRP has been announced.
I can appreciate having a practice round and self-defense round that share identical ballistics.  But, beyond that, I don’t fully understand these new loads.  A nickel-plated bullet doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, so maybe someone can help me out here.  What, if any, advantages does a nickel-plated bullet (not case) offer?  The “easy identification” doesn’t make much sense to me, as I don’t dump all of my ammo into a bag and store it loose.  It stays in the box until I load it, so identification isn’t a problem.
One reply on “Winchester Making New 1911 Ammo”
“What, if any, advantages does a nickel-plated bullet (not case) offer?”
So often in life, when nothing else can explain a product decision, I would chalk it up to marketing.
“What are those nickel-plated bullets you’re shooting?”
“Oh, those are Winchester new 1911 ammo, available at retailers near you!”
I mean, what is the purpose of a 1911 “only” ammo? Marketing.