WWB 147gr JHP for Defense?

5272 Views 28 Replies 11 Participants Last post by jon_in_wv, Dec 30, 2007

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · Nov 10, 2007

I live in WV and most of the local dealers won't sell hollow points because they think If you shoot someone they are going to get into trouble. That being said the only ammo I have available locally at a reasonable price is WWB 147gr JHP and UMC 115gr from Walmart. I can get Corbon DPX and Powr'ball but I'm not paying a dollar a shot. I practice quite a bit and I can't afford to do it with that kind of ammo. I feel much more confident if I can practice with the ammo I carry. The UMC is out because the muzzle flash and smoke of that ammo is fine for the range, but not so good for defense. The WWB 147gr (124 is not carried here for some reason) seems like a warm enough load and has very little smoke or muzzle flash. I can't seem to find much about it as far expansion, gelatin tests, and so on. Are any of you familiar with this ammo?

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choochboost

· #2 · Nov 11, 2007

jon_in_wv said:
I live in WV and most of the local dealers won't sell hollow points because they think If you shoot someone they are going to get into trouble. That being said the only ammo I have available locally at a reasonable price is WWB 147gr JHP and UMC 115gr from Walmart. I can get Corbon DPX and Powr'ball but I'm not paying a dollar a shot. I practice quite a bit and I can't afford to do it with that kind of ammo. I feel much more confident if I can practice with the ammo I carry. The UMC is out because the muzzle flash and smoke of that ammo is fine for the range, but not so good for defense. The WWB 147gr (124 is not carried here for some reason) seems like a warm enough load and has very little smoke or muzzle flash. I can't seem to find much about it as far expansion, gelatin tests, and so on. Are any of you familiar with this ammo?

The "good stuff" is readily available online at reasonable prices.

You can do whatever you want but there's very little difference in feel between my carry ammo and my practice ammo. So little that I don't see it as necessary to practice with my carry ammo. I don't expect that in a real shooting I'll fire off one round and then go, "Wow, what was that?" YMMV.

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 11, 2007

That not what I said either. I didn't say anything about feel and I'm not worried about some strange reaction to firing a new round. Thats ridiculous. It is a matter of reliability. Just because your practice ammo "feels" the same as your defense ammo doesn't mean your defense ammo is reliable in your weapon. I can order a couple hundred rounds of your "gee whiz" ammo and pay a lot more but I'm asking about what is available here.

I was carrying Mountaineer Custom Cartridge which is a local company who loads XTPs in 115 and 124 grain loads. I first shot about 100 rounds of the stuff and practiced with Remington and WWB 100 packs. Later I decided to fire a couple hundred rounds of the MCC ammo and found my M&P didn't like feeding it as reliably as I thought. I am going to order some ammo online, I am aware this can be done. BUT in the mean time I would like some opinions about the WWB 147gr. I didn't think the whole back story would be necessary but there it is.

choochboost

· #4 · Nov 11, 2007

I got the impression that you were considering a compromise round due to the unavailability of other JHP options. That's why I mentioned the online ammo.

You said you felt better practicing with what you carry. A lot of people lean that way due to feel. That's why I pointed out there is very little difference most of the time.

I don't practice with my carry ammo but I sure run enough through my pistols to make sure that it feeds reliably etc.

Sorry, I have no opinions on WWB JHP.

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MI_Jester

· #5 · Nov 11, 2007

I was able to get 147 grain Federal HST for less than $0.40 a round. 500 rounds was just under $200 shipped. That gives me a few hundred to make sure the reliability is there and a few hundred for defense. So, not only would I consider ammo by mail, I did it.

I will look around for some reviews of the WWB JHP and see what I can find.

MI_Jester

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 11, 2007

Like I said I will be ordering some ammo. But the WWB is available locally and I like to stockpile some ammo just in case. Since its cheap, available, reliable in my weapon, accurate, and has low muzle flash, I am curious about its terminal performance. I've done some tests with UMC in water and wetpack I feel reasonably confident with its performance but I tend to rule it out defensively because of its muzzle flash and smoky powder. Usually I tend to lean more towards lighter loads. I tend to like the hotter 115gr and 124gr loads better than the 147gr loads. I was really just curious about this load. I like to shoot and carry my Star BMs also but I don't like to use hotter ammo in them. If I order ammo for my M&P I might get something I would prefer not to shoot in my BMs.

I like to fire about 200 rounds of my defensive ammo to make sure it is reliable with my weapon. Locally that means it would cost me 200-250 bucks to try out premium defensive ammo. Until I order ammo online or if there is a time I run out of what I bought online, UMC and WWB are a cheap alternative that can do double duty for practice and defense. I'm not saying I feel I HAVE to practice with my defensive ammo. Turn that around to I wouldn't mind if my practice ammo could be used confidently for defense, either in my M&P or in my guns that I prefer not to shoot +P ammo in.

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justbill

· #7 · Nov 11, 2007

jon_in_wv said:
Since its cheap, available, reliable in my weapon, accurate, and has low muzzle flash...

Looks to me as if you've adequately answered your own question. I personally don't like 147-grain loads. IMO many penetrate too much for my liking. Nevertheless the 147 does have it's advocates. The fraction of an inch in ballistic gelatin expansion between this and a premium 147 doesn't come close to outweighing 100% reliability and accuracy. Until you can stock up on a load of choice, you'll probably be just fine with this WWB offering.

If you want a defensive load that wouldn't beat up your Stars but still give adequate terminal performance, try Federal's 9BP 115-grain standard pressure JHP.

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 11, 2007

Your probably right. I normally like the lighter loads too. I'm curious about the 147gr WWB because I believe I've read the Silvertip 147gr are big expanders that have been criticized for too shallow expansion. I was curious if anyone had seen gel tests with the WWB.

I used to have some 9BP and I liked it. Do you know of a good source to find some?

justbill

· #9 · Nov 12, 2007

jon_in_wv said:
I used to have some 9BP and I liked it. Do you know of a good source to find some?

MidwayUSA has the 20-rd. boxes

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...&t=11082005

as does Cheaper Than Dirt

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/67347-6976-287.html

CTD even has the +P+ version, but that may be too much pressure if you want to use the same loads in your Stars

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM406-3576-287.html

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MI_Jester

· #10 · Nov 12, 2007

Eeep! That's around $0.75 a round after shipping. The HST (High Shok Two) is about 20 per 50 rounds ($0.40). It is available in 124 grain, 124 grain +P, and 147 grain. Even the Tactical Bonded is less expensive.

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23_61_119

MI_Jester

justbill

· #11 · Nov 12, 2007

LOL! Welcome to the wonderful world of marketing, where an "old school" JHP costs more than the premium stuff. And in a smaller box no less.

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 13, 2007

Yeah I was pretty amazed too. They are charging premium price for ammo they tooled up for 20 years ago! Seriously, no one have any info about the WWB 147gr? Sound advice aside, my curiosity has still not been satisfied.

choochboost

· #13 · Nov 14, 2007

Well I'll say that for an "economy" round, I've heard decent things but I can't account for the validity of the tests conducted.

koumiss45

· #14 · Nov 14, 2007

Isn't it the same bullet as the 147 silvertip (subtract the nickle coating). I had some loaded up and wetpacked them....all I can say is that now I carry Remington Golden Sabers.

TOF

· #15 · Nov 14, 2007

I have used a lot of Winchester ammunition over the years, white box included. It always goes bang. We can analyze over/under penetration until the cows come home but it only takes one missed shot to equal both simultaniously. Shots through arms or fleshy parts less than 12" thick are equal to misses when overpenetration is in question. If White box proves to be reliable in your pistol I would use it. I certainly prefer to use something readily available where I normaly reside and shop.

That's my opinion. Now go buy some and enjoy testing reliability.

:twisted:

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 14, 2007

I had heard before it was essentially the same round as the 147gr silvertip which I believe is a pretty aggressive expander. They may have been a rumor though. Lord knows everything you read on the internet is true!!!

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TOF

· #17 · Nov 15, 2007

jon_in_wv said:
I had heard before it was essentially the same round as the 147gr silvertip which I believe is a pretty aggressive expander. They may have been a rumor though. Lord knows everything you read on the internet is true!!!

Every word we say is the Gospel. Trust me!!!

:twisted:

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 16, 2007

ha ha

Steelshooter

· #19 · Nov 19, 2007

My understanding, from a recent Ayoob book, is that 147 grain fell out of favor due to poor expansion and over penetration but has come back into favor because newer technologies have given it the velocity needed to make it a reliable expander and therefore less likely to over-penetrate. This was news to me as i thought the 147 grain had been dropped from a lot of police forces.

jon_in_wv

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 19, 2007

I believe a lot of police forces have switched to the 124gr loads. They go with however the wind blows.

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