The cartridge range of the famous American brand Winchester has different warheads for optimal ballistic properties in the uses for which they were designed. In this article, we will detail the different projectiles and their characteristics.
Rifle ammunition:
Match: Winchester Match cartridges are designed for the most experienced sports shooters. The tapered profile of the bullet, its large size and its small hollow point combine to provide long-range accuracy even in adverse weather conditions. This type of bullet is available in the calibers and bullet sizes popular with shooters and hunters.
Extreme Point: The Extreme Point ball uses a higher percentage of its frontal area (around 50% compared to around 20% on a traditional soft point). This allows it to obtain an excellent ballistic coefficient, associated with a very high initial speed, in order to maintain a high residual speed even at long distances.
The projectile will expand with a larger diameter than a traditional bullet and guarantee a faster and more massive transfer of energy to guarantee strong stopping power.
Extreme Point Copper Impact: This projectile retains all the technical and ballistic characteristics of the previous warhead. Its major difference lies in the design of the warhead which here is of the monolithic type. This construction allows a mass retention of 100% for an absence of fragmentation. This gives very deep penetration and a high probability of exit. In addition, this lead-free warhead gives you access to all hunts where the use of lead cartridges is now prohibited.
• LARGE DIAMETER POLYMER TIP:
- rapid expansion on impact
- better concentricity for excellent precision
• VERY WIDE AND DEEP CAVITY
- optimal expansion and lethal stopping power at all distances and on all game (up to 400 m)
• MONOLITHIC DESIGN:
- close to 100% weight retention for deeper penetration even through bone and dense tissue
- unleaded
• LOWER REAR (BOAT TAIL) AND CENTER OF GRAVITY AT THE REAR:
- flat trajectory and optimal precision (up to 400 m)
Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): The bullet is made by stamping the lead core into a copper or nickel cup. The difference between an FMJ bullet and a TMJ bullet is that a TMJ bullet is completely covered, including the base, whereas on an FMJ the base is not covered. The TMJ reduces the risk of propagation of lead in the air and in the ground unlike an FMJ projectile. FMJ bullets can be fired in all types of rifles and provide good results on targets. FMJ projectiles are strictly prohibited for hunting because they injure but do not kill the animal and increase the risk of collateral damage since the warhead does not mushroom.
Hollow Point (HP): A type of expanding bullet whose shape reduces penetration on impact, damages more tissue and reduces the risk of collateral damage by preventing the bullet from coming out.
Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP): A mix between hollow head bullet and FMJ. The jacket will cover the lead, which will reduce fouling of the barrel and scratches, facilitating feeding into the chamber of the weapon. This type of bullet is designed to mushroom quickly and reduces excessive penetration.
Power Max: 3 technologies working together. The core and the liners are fused together to expand without breaking. Very high weight retention for lightning stopping power and very deep penetration. The ball does not fragment, the venison is not damaged. The protected hollow point keeps the end of the bullet in perfect condition during unloading / reloading.
Power Point: The Power Point has been the most popular bullet among hunters for over 40 years. It is a bullet with a soft lead tip and a notched jacket in order to obtain a very good stopping power of the animal.
Subsonic: A bullet whose design allows it to reach a speed at the exit of the barrel of less than 340 m/s, i.e. below the speed of sound. To obtain this result, the powder charge is slightly reduced for a less important but still effective propulsion.
Varmint-X: Projectile designed for varmint hunting, the warhead is composed of a stamped lead core, a brass jacket and a hard polymer point. This results in a flat trajectory and rapid lethal expansion. Also available in lead-free version, with zinc core ( Varmint-X lead free ).
Ammunition for smoothbore weapons:
ZZ Pigeon: A 36g load and a 20mm base make this a popular cartridge for medium to long range hunting shots.
Ranger Disperse: Some biotopes require shooting at very short distances (7 to 15 m). The Ranger Dispercer offers a very wide pattern ideal for shooting at a short distance.
Super Speed G2: This cartridge strikes the perfect balance between load, speed, pressure and grouping. The new G2 powder generates increased liveliness (20 m/s more than the G1) while remaining below the 740 Bar limit. The "Z" type wad retains the excellent regularity of the Super Speed pattern even at very long distances.
Special Fibre: A fatty wad ensures a perfectly balanced dispersion between the center and the periphery of the pattern to guarantee effective shots on a bird in flight. This family is available in several calibers and loads.
Super Thrushes: Designed for hunting small to medium sized passing birds. With its 32 g load, its bucket wad and its speed of less than 405 m/s concentrate the sheaf and regulate its grouping for perfect coverage.
Special corvids: A cartridge specially designed for hunting corvids. With a load of 38 g and pellets of 4 or 6, it ensures an ideal number of hits whatever the shooting distance.
Long Beard XR: A hardened resin wraps the lead balls. When fired, the resin is pulverized, forming a fine protective powder. Since there are no air pockets between the pellets, they are all protected when accelerating through the barrel without any distortion due to inertial force. This design guarantees a tight pattern over very long distances, more balls grouped on a target from 25 cm to 55 m and deeper penetration than a traditional lead cartridge.
Extra: Two sizes of balls for a perfect pattern. By combining two different pellet diameters in the same cartridge, the pattern is even more effective and lethal. Larger balls hit the target first and transmit maximum energy. Just behind, the smaller pellets will perfect the pattern by increasing the number of impacts.
Buckshot: A range of buckshot cartridges in all sizes and ball counts.
Deer season: Heavy bullet developed especially for big game hunters to achieve the best performance in smoothbore and rifled barrels. At impact, the deformation of the ball transmits optimal stopping power.
Brenneke Emerald: A heavy bullet for hunting boar or deer. The projectile is attached to a plastic base having two roles:
- shutter: for gases in order to obtain the best speed.
- empennage: to guarantee the best precision.
Rackmaster: A slug with a slightly concave shape for maximum expansion and blistering stopping power. The transparent case makes it not to be confused with lead cartridges. It is particularly suitable for tracking big game at medium distance.
Super-X Rifled: Fast and taut bullet for smooth weapons. With its weight of 28 g and its hollow base, it combines speed and precision. This projectile has a slightly hollow nose for maximum impact area. ideal for wild boar and deer hunting. The same projectile exists in a lead-free version.
ZZ canard: 33 g of steel at a speed of 440 m/s, the fastest cartridge in the Winchester steel range. The steel balls are coated with a thin layer of tin to protect against corrosion.
Special duck steel: high performance steel balls (HP) with specific wad, a load of 34 g, reaching a speed of 395 m/s.
Steel Xpert: high performance cartridges specially designed for small calibers. A thicker wad provides better protection for the barrels.
Steel 28: Benefiting from a steel load of 28 g, this cartridge is classified in standard pressure and can be fired in shotguns tested at 930 Bar.
Drylock: A fully sealed cartridge. The steel shot has been treated against corrosion, the star crimp is heat welded and the primer has been varnished to prevent moisture infiltration.
For 150 years, Winchester has demonstrated as much excellence in the design of cartridges for hunting and sport shooting as in that of firearms.
AC