Winchester.45 Ammo – a Good Cartridge For Self-Defense?


Known for consistent accuracy and a trusted choice for both range and target shooting, Winchester.45 ammo comes with many benefits. With reduced barrel fouling, you’ll spend less time cleaning your weapon and with a full metal jacket design, it offers 835 feet per second (fps) in velocity and 356 ft./lbs in muzzle energy. With a 230 grain, they represent a sturdy option for any type of use.

The question is – is it good ammo for use in self-defense? Well, there is a long-running debate surrounding whether you should use a 9mm or a .45 for such a thing and it’s a pretty hot one that divides opinion.

But rather than give our own two cents on the subject, here we look at whether the 45 from the Winchester Repeating Rifle Company is a good choice for those wanting to protect themselves in their own home. 

Winchester.45 Ammo vs 9mm – It’s Not a Black & White Thing

First of all, it’s important to say that some people are staunchly one side or the other, however when comparing the use of Winchester.45 ammo against 9mm varieties for home defense, it’s not as clear cut as you might think.

Some shooters think that a 45 is better than a 9mm simply because it’s got a larger caliber and while this is partly true, when protecting yourself at home, having more bullets is perhaps more important than the size of your bullets. It’s still very close however, so let’s have a look at some other variables to see if we can separate them.

Advantages of Using a 9mm in the Home

The case for using 9mm ammo is a pretty strong one, as 9mm weapons tend to be more compact and easy to handle – which is why 9mm pistols are one of the most popular firearms in the world. Their benefits are born out in the fact that the US forces and the FBI have used them for day to day use for years.

What’s more, it has a higher muzzle velocity and a larger capacity than a similarly sized .45 firearm and 9mm firearms have less recoil, making them ideal for beginners. 

Advantages of Using Winchester.45 Ammo in the Home

Now we look at the 45, which was a caliber used in sidearms throughout both of the World Wars by the US military and all the way up to the early 1980s. What makes it a good choice for home use is it’s stopping power and this caliber doesn’t suffer from over-penetration. 

45 caliber handguns have their benefits, but do they outperform 9mm variants in the home? Not really. It’s probably marginally behind the 9mm, but only because of its lower capacity.

Go For the Choice That Suits You Best

Ultimately, when used in the home, the difference between Winchester.45 ammo and 9mm shells is negligible at best. The best way to choose between the two might be to try out some 45mm and 9mm handguns out and see how they feel in your hand. Try to forget what caliber each one is and perhaps go by what feels most comfortable, click here.

We’re sorry that we’ve kind of sat on the fence here, but the truth is, we can’t think of a compelling reason to choose one over the other. If we were forced to make a choice, it would likely be the 9mm, but only because we think it’s better to have more rounds at your disposal.

Our advice is to pick what works best for you and let everybody else carry on arguing.


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Nick Guli is a writer at Explosion.com. He loves movies, TV shows and video games. Nick brings you the latest news, reviews and features. From blockbusters to indie darlings, he’s got his take on the trends, fan theories and industry news. His writing and coverage is the perfect place for entertainment fans and gamers to stay up to date on what’s new and what’s next.
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