Winchester PDX1 Self Defense Shotshell ammo
Next year Winchester Ammunition will introduce a line of self defense shotshell ammunition called Supreme Elite PDX1.
The PDX1 2.5" .410 gauge round is optimized for use with the Taurus Judge revolver. The reduced recoil round is loaded with three 000 Buckshot sized discs backed by 12 BB sized pellets.
A buckshot / slug combo is utilized in the 2.75" PDX1 12 gauge round. A 1 oz. Targeting Ranger Slug is pushed at 1200 fps and is backed by three 00 buckshot pellets. It too uses a reduced recoil load.
The .410 and 12 gauge rounds will be available in February and March respectively.
It is good to see more self defense specific shotgun ammunition being developed. I wonder if the ammunition being developed in response to more Americans choosing shotguns for defense, or is being developed in the hope that people will see the ammunition and buy a shotgun to use it ... a chicken and egg problem.
Steve wrote: “I wonder if the ammunition being developed in response to more Americans choosing shotguns for defense, or is being developed in the hope that people will see the ammunition and buy a shotgun to use it … a chicken and egg problem.”
It’s almost certainly in reaction to the surprising popularity of the Taurus Judge. There aren’t many .410 shotguns out there and beyond the Saigas, most of that small number are aimed at the small bore hunting/clays market. I’d bet there are several Judges sold for every Saiga.
It’s .410 Bore. It’s actually about 67.5 Gauge.
Sweet metal buckshot. It be nice to Law Enforement and Security.
Wow, “exotic” ammo made by a major manufacturer. I’ve done some research over the years about the “right” home defense shotgun ammo, and rounds such as these have usually been dismissed as gimmicky.
Reduced recoil 00 Buck is the current favorite with the “experts.”
Matt, its .410 caliber. Bore is what the Brits call Gauge. But because most people think its gauge and the industry markets it as “.410 gauge” I just go with that.
No doubt Taurus Judge owners will be tickled with the release of this ammunition!
I’d be curious to see a high speed camera shot of these “discs” in flight. They look like they would be quite unstable.
I am a revolver guy. I don’t like the judge. I don’t understand what the allure is. It would actually be a shotgun pistol if it was at least 20ga or something like that. The lady next door over uses a .410 over/under to keep rodents out of her garden. She’s got the right idea. The .410 also makes clays a bit more fun.
In the woods, or just about anywhere I’d rather have more barrel in the OAL and a 250gr good-old-fashioned hunk of lead than a freakishly long bit of cylinder and some UFOs backed by little beads.
-D
The new Extreme Supreme Elite PDXXX will be plated in gold, endorsed by Vin Diesel and the UFOs will be embossed with little skull-and-crossbones to enhance penetration from short barreled revolvers. The CA version of this exciting new self-defense ammo will be limited to two UFOs only one of which may have either a skull OR a crossbones, but not both.
I heard this in… in a magazine… or somewhere.
-D
Let’s look at this technically, Steve:
The “Bore” is the part of the barrel that’s drilled before being rifled. When the barrel is rifled, the top of the rifling is the lands and the valleys are the grooves, therefore, on a rifled barrel, the bore diameter is the distance between the lands across the diameter of the bore’s diameter. The caliber, on the other hand, is the size of the projectile which should fill the grooves of a rifled barrel. Most older cartridge designations (often egregiously referred to as “caliber”) are actually of the bore diameter, and not the caliber, which is the diameter of the projectile. For example, .270 Winchester is actually .277 caliber. .270 is the bore diameter according to SAAMI. .30-06 is nominally .308″ Groove, and approximately .300″ bore, etc.
Caliber is the projectile, not the cartridge, and bore is not caliber. Since a .410″ shell’s slug is approximately .452″, .410″ Shell is actually the cartridge’s name, since .410″ does not represent its bore, caliber, or gauge. So technically, we’re both wrong.
I have a .410/.45 survivor that I’d like to run these through. The 410 gets a bad rap, light enough for my non-gun nut spouse to handle effectively and when I’m woodsloafing or camping I can carry a lot more ammon for tree rats, killer tin cans and with all the .410 buck out there now the occasional feral dog.
CMathews,
They’ll probably be quite stable at ranges typical for defensive shootings. Essentially they’re lightweight wadcutters. Multiple wadcutter loads are nothing new, they’ve been used by revolver experimenters for many decades. IIRC there was even a factory loaded .455 Webley circa WWI that featured two wadcutters per cartridge. The downside is that these kinds of loads lose energy and velocity quickly due to limited mass and poor ballistic coefficient.
Don,
I agree, after shooting a Judge shortly after they appeared on the market I don’t see the appeal. But sell it has and I suppose it’s good ammo manufacturers are trying to make it somewhat more effective.
I actually think it is a good idea. The old civil war buck-and-ball load replicated.
I want to see gelatin tests, but I suppose, that within 3 yards (CQB), the tissue destruction of this new round will outclass conventional handgun hollowpoints.
I find this new ammo interesting…esp. for something like a Bond Arms derringer. But I wonder why Winchester didn’t just load it with 4-5 discs and leave the shot out…..
“But I wonder why Winchester didn’t just load it with 4-5 discs and leave the shot out…..
“
Too much recoil.
I think I’ve bought about 20 boxes of the “FEDERAL PERSONAL DEFENSE”
with the 4 000 buck – It”s AWESOME!!!! from my 6.5 Judge. The Winchester PDX1 load is an interesting concept, you know…with the
3 000 disks and 12 bbs. LET THE HEAT BE ON FOR WHICH IS BETTER!!
Can’t help but wonder if other firearm manufacturers are developing
their version of THE JUDGE.
I have read a lot of negative reviews on the Judge and the ammo. I have yet to read a review from someone who has been shot with one. I keep a Judge loaded with PD rounds in my bedside drawer for night home defense. Coming out of a dead sleep to face one or more intruders is seconds in the dark. I know I’m going to get them with the Judge. My daughters rooms are across from ours, there is a lot to consider when selecting a firearm for night home defense. Also my non gun fan wife can point and shot easily due to the mild trigger pull. This ammo will give me a edge. We all need to remember why we have firearms, it is for that 2-3 second period that we decide we must shot to defend our selves.
” From my cold dead hands”
Phil
Hey Phil… I am also a Judge owner. I too am looking forward to this new ammo as we have a common use for our guns. In response to your comment on finding someone who was shot with one… Recently an Orlando man shot and killed an intruder at his front door with THE JUDGE. The shooter was actually in a wheelchair. When his doorbell rang a man who claimed he had car trouble forced himself in to “use his phone”. The wheelchair bound man reached for his judge and killed him. Haven’t been able to find out what load he used though. Bottom line… When your at point blank range this new load is sure to work. I’m sure you can google the story to get more details.
“keep it loaded”
Colin
Anyone find the new winchester PDX1 in .410 or 45 LC yet? Where?!?!
Hey Colin: I read that story somewhere about that guy, did not catch he was armed with a Judge. I just had a trigger job done on mine and had some Crimson laser grips applied, really is smooth and sweet to fire. I’m very happy with it, my wife does not like the heaviness and the kick, she prefers the S&W .38 snubby. I’m on the lookout for the new PDXI rounds too, please let me know if you find it online.
Strength & Honor
Phil
I have been looking for the 410 ammo for my Judge, according to the web page it was said to be out last month but I cant find any where that sells it on the web or in local stores…
I was told by my ammo man, that the PDX1 rounds had been ordered, he was not sure when they would arrive. I’ll stock up when it come in.
Phil
Still no luck for the PDX1 rounds for me. Been checking Wal Mart (since they are a big Winchester carrier) and Bass Pro mostly. Anyone out there finding them yet?
I don’t think they are really out, I think they got delayed and Winchester has not updated there web page yet.
wow still no sign of the new ammo. I recently finished searching the web for any sign of the PXD1 410 ammo, I found lots of news and comments but still no one selling it.