Winchester lately despatched me some take a look at samples of their new Defender Elite 10mm 180gr Bonded Jacketed Hole Level to check out in my Glock 29 Gen 4 10mm Semi-Auto Sub-Compact 10-Spherical Pistol.
The Glock 29 is what I carry for harmful sport protection after I’m out within the wilderness. In that position, I preserve the gun loaded with full energy bear safety masses such because the Underwood Xtreme Penetrator and/or Underwood 200gr Hardcast rounds.
However after I’m not within the wilderness, I additionally carry my Glock 29 as a CCW pistol.
In a CCW position, bear protection rounds grossly over-penetrate for self-defense use. So I often change to jacketed hole level ammunition to keep away from overpenetration as soon as I am off the path.
After spending time on the vary with the Winchester Defender 10mm JHP rounds, in addition to trying out ballistic gelatin assessments on Youtube, they’ve impressed me to the purpose the place I’ve began carrying them as my major CCW carry spherical.
The Winchester Defender rounds will not be fairly as highly effective as the everyday Underwood and Buffalo Bore JHP’s that many are familar with. Nonetheless, they nonetheless really feel like actual 10mm ammunition when capturing them.
The plus facet of this barely decrease energy is that recoil and muzzle blast are much less intense. In a small gun just like the Glock 29, it undoubtedly makes a distinction in shootability in comparison with capturing the bigger Glock 20.
However you might be nonetheless in all probability saying to your self that if these are much less highly effective than the Underwood and Buffalo Bore rounds, then they’re in all probability much less efficient in stopping a risk.
Nonetheless, the Youtube ballistic gel assessments under ought to rapidly dispel any notion that these will not be efficient self protection rounds. The Defender spherical is kind of actually devastating:
How’s the accuracy?
Glorious. I examined the Winchester Defenders at frequent self-defense distances. The targets with the teams trending in the direction of the left had been due to excessive wind circumstances that had been actually pushing my arms to the left as I fired.The final goal was completed beneath calm circumstances.
Speedy hearth whereas freestanding:
Slower aimed hearth at 15 yards:
As talked about, the winds had been intense and had been pushing my arms (and the photographs) to the left whereas doing the assessments above. However I used to be nonetheless capable of shoot good teams.
As soon as the winds died down after darkish, I did one other take a look at utilizing an LED flashlight for illumination:
With out the wind blowing me round, the Defenders shot straight and correct.
Reliability Testing
I fired a complete of 100 rounds of the Defenders by my Glock 29 and it functioned 100%. There have been no feeding or ejection problems with any type.
I additionally examined the Defender ammo to see if it might trigger a jam in my Glock 29 by “limp-wristing” the grip.
A limp-wristing take a look at simulates a situation the place your hand, wrist or arm is injured and you aren’t capable of maintain your semi-automatic pistol tightly such as you would beneath regular circumstances. That is all the time a risk in any self protection situation, so I all the time take a look at my pistols first to ensure they will not do that with my most well-liked carry ammo.
I’ve discovered that with my Glock 29, any 10mm ammo that is placing out lower than 500 foot kilos of vitality will induce a jam when limp-wristed.
The Winchester Defenders handed this take a look at with flying colours. I ran a complete field of Defenders by my Glock 29 and was unable to induce a jam irrespective of how frivolously I held it. This provides me confidence that the Defenders will operate even within the worst case situation.
Conclusion?
As a CCW spherical for carrying in a compact Glock 29 10mm Pistol, the Winchester 10mm Defender Jacketed Hole Level strikes a superb steadiness of controllability and lowered muzzle blast whereas additionally having very efficient stopping energy. The spherical is correct and the nickel plated circumstances assist with long-term feeding reliability. I just like the Defenders a lot that they’ve grow to be my major CCW ammo for after I’m not out trekking on tree coated trails within the Rockies.
5 out of 5 Stars (Extremely Really useful)
In regards to the writer
Jason Schwartz is the Founder and Senior Editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft and a US Military Veteran. After serving within the Military, Jason joined the one hundred and seventy fifth Safety Police Squadron of the Maryland Air Power Nationwide Guard and served through the Gulf Warfare. He was chosen as an Honor Graduate on the US Air Power Safety Police Academy and accomplished two energetic responsibility operational help excursions, which included guarding A-10s and C-130s which had been flying federal abroad missions. E mail him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (with out areas)
