by John Markwell | Contributing Editor
Not everyone handloads these days and Winchester’s new Train and Defend line of ammunition is the perfect answer for the non-reloader who is interested in stocking up on both practice and defensive ammo.
Available in .38 Special, 9mm, .40S&W and .380ACP, the Train and Defend Ammunition System offers the shooter ballistically-matched range/training ammunition and threat-stopping Defend hollowpoint rounds. Each provides reduced recoil and shoots to the same point of impact (POI). In 9mm, for example, the Train ammo features a 147-gr. FMJ truncated cone bullet; the 9mm Defend rounds feature a 147-gr. bonded hollowpoint bullet. What this gives the shooter is similar recoil and same POI with both practice and carry ammo. The Train ammo is put up in brass cases (50 to a box) and is sparked by lead-free primers while the Defend rounds (20 in a box) are loaded in nickel-plated cases.
Fired from the author’s 3” S&W Model 36-6 the ten rounds of 38 special FMJ training ammo (center) and the five rounds of defensive hollow points shot to exactly the same point of aim at ten yards.
We obtained some sample ammunition from the Winchester folks in both 9mm and .38 Special. The 9mm was loaded with147-gr bullets while the . 38 Special was loaded with 130-gr. bullets; a full metal jacketed projectile is used in the Train ammo and a bonded hollowpoint in the Defend. Advertised velocity for the T&D 9mm is 950 feet per second (fps) and 900 fps for the .38 Special.
We tested the 9mm Train & Defend in our deadly accurate and 100% reliable Guncrafter Industries 9mm CCO pistol with its 4¼” barrel and in our custom 3” barreled Springfield EMP. The .38 Sp. T&D was tested in a 3” barreled S&W model 36-6 and an old 2” S&W Airweight Bodyguard. As shown in the chart, the .38 Sp T&D ammo came in under the advertised 900fps mark when fired from short barreled revolver typical of those carried by many Americans for protection. It should be noted that the recoil of the .38 Defend ammo was a bit on the “stout” side when fired in the alloy framed Bodyguard. Noteworthy was the uniform crimp applied to the .38 Sp. Train & Defend ammunition; both rounds. We marked one cartridge and kept it chambered during the firing of several cylinders full (4 out of five rounds) and the crimp held the bullet solidly in place in the light Model 36 Smith. The 9mm Train & Defend loads both chronographed near the advertised velocities; the 9mm Train was just under the 950 fps mark while the Defend hollowpoint was just over the 950 fps mark out of the GI CCO pistol and just under when fired out of the EMP’s 3” barrel.
Accuracy of both the .38 Sp. and 9mm Train & Defend ammunition was more than adequate for its purpose. At 10 yards, the target tells the tale. The FBI Q target (shown) has 10 rounds of Train .38 Sp. and 5 rounds of the Defend hollowpoint fired into it. For either practice or defense, performance like that is hard to beat. We also shot some drills from 7 to 15 yards and found the recoil of both the .38 and the 9mm more than tolerable with quick accurate doubles easily accomplished.
Throughout our testing the 9mm T&D ammo fed, fired, extracted and ejected without a single bobble from both our Guncrafter Industries CCO and Springfield EMP autoloaders. The .38 Sp. T&D ammo chambered easily in both of the S&W revolvers, showed no pressure signs, and the cases were easily ejected after being fired.
The new Winchester Train & Defend line of ammunition offers shooters a good option in ballistically-matched practice and self defense ammo.
This new Train & Defend ammunition should be on dealer’s shelves as this goes to press. Prices run from $15.99 for a 50-round box of the 9mm Train ammo to $23.50 for a 20-round box of .38 Sp. Defend rounds. Now that the nationwide ammunition supply situation seems to be stabilizing, it is a good time to start thinking about re-stocking those depleted ammo supplies. We feel the new Winchester Train & Defend line of handgun ammo offers reliable performance and versatility at a pretty good price point. Laying in several boxes of the Train ammo and a few boxes of the Defend line would make a pretty good addition to anyone’s stores. Good shooting.
