Black Talon .357 Mag Cartridges

Anyone remember when Winchester had the "Black Talon" 357 mag cartridges???
Then they were BANED stating that they were "Cop Killers" It is amazing that idiots came up with this. The Black Talon was a "HollowPoint" and expanded upon impacts. If you were wearing a protective vest the best bullet you want to hit by is an expanding bullet so the material in the vest absorbs the energy.
Right after the "Banning" of Winchester Black Talons-the developer of that bullet changed companies to "Remington". He then made the "Remington Gold Saber" bullet for 9mm & .45 calibers. The FBI, Secret Service, State Department and other Federal Agencies readily adopted the "Golden Saber" as their DUTY BULLET. Basically the same as the "Black Talon"., engineered by the same person. At first introduction there was two different "Golden Saber" Bullets made by Remington. One type for the Government and on for the public. Eventually the Golden Sabers (Bullets) all came to be one in the same. I know I have thousands of them in .45.
Just wanted to post a picture of the Black Talon and the price I paid. Now this box is several hundreds of $s. Been offered $200+ for them. I think I will keep the Talons!
I have lots of the "original" Black Talon" loaded in in 10mm and 357. Why the big $ for them? I know just basic Ammo is hard to find... but the big "want" for these is just because of what the original designer said? Curious in Texas...
 
I have lots of the "original" Black Talon" loaded in in 10mm and 357. Why the big $ for them? I know just basic Ammo is hard to find... but the big "want" for these is just because of what the original designer said? Curious in Texas...
Just because these were "Baned" for a reason that made no sense at all. The name "Black Talon" became instant very collectable.. If you have an original full box some collectors want then. Not to shoot just for the collection.

EDIT: Just putting in a correction on the "Baned" part. They may have been taken off the market by Winchester and then there was a misconception on the Talons being Baned.


EDIT: FYI infor on the Black Talon
 
Last edited:
I gave mine to my LGS which is owned by a buddy. Once they were condemned for their copper talons that cut flesh like a blender blade you would not want to use them for self defense. Lawyers and DAs would treat you like a homicidal maniac. The media would be all over it.

The department issued Ranger SXT ammo for awhile which may, or may not, be the exact same ammo in a new box sold for LE purposes. Either way, the Ranger ammo didn't carry the stigma of the infamous Black Talons.
It was the same bullet with a different designated name. Winchester made. Different description of course. I have several mags full of the older Talons in my 40 and 10mm. There just another defense load for me. Not worth more than that IMO
 
Just because these were "Baned" for a reason that made no sense at all. The name "Black Talon" became instant very collectable.. If you have an original full box some collectors want then. Not to shoot just for the collection.
Yep... all in the original boxes 📦 but like you, not really wanting to sell just curious about all the hype ... 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Yep... all in the original boxes 📦 but like you, not really wanting to sell just curious about all the hype ... 🤷🏻‍♂️
I just posted because of the price I bought the for 20 years ago $10.99
I had an earlier post on shotgun shells where paid $1.99, $2.97, $3.99, $4.79 per box of 25 for Pheasant/Duck loads.
I have a box of Federal 22LR hollow points that my dad paid $5.00 for a brick of 500. (fifty years ago)
Just showing earlier times with ammo prices.
 
Except they were never banned. Winchester voluntarily took them off the market then came out with the Ranger SXT (Same Exact Thing)
 
When we first heard that they were going to be pulled off the shelve, a friend and I got off work from our night shift jobs and hit all the big box stores, then the gun shops, then the pawn shops. Bought every box we could find in any caliber. He kept all the. 44 magnums and I kept the. 357 magnums. Getting ready to leave one shop after a big purchase when the factory rep walked in, saw them, and said we couldn't buy them. Told him he was too late. Later sold every caliber we didn't need. Probably made 10 times the money we had invested. I still have a LOT of .357's
 
When we first heard that they were going to be pulled off the shelve, a friend and I got off work from our night shift jobs and hit all the big box stores, then the gun shops, then the pawn shops. Bought every box we could find in any caliber. He kept all the. 44 magnums and I kept the. 357 magnums. Getting ready to leave one shop after a big purchase when the factory rep walked in, saw them, and said we couldn't buy them. Told him he was too late. Later sold every caliber we didn't need. Probably made 10 times the money we had invested. I still have a LOT of .357's
How many years ago was that???
If you are not using them. keep them in the "New" condition. They keep going up in price, just for the sake of owning them.
 
There was a lot of whining and complaining by medical staff trying to repair (mostly criminal customers) internal trauma and getting nicked by fragments in the body cavity
 
The "Black Talon" bullet slightly changed and rebranded as the SXT is NOT the same as the Golden Saber. I have thousands of these and have loaded them for decades. The Golden Saber has a brass jacket and reduced caliber bore riding frontal section and does not have the internal fold in the jacket hollow point like the copper jacketed SXT/Black Talon does nor the sharp jacket points that raised such an issue with puncturing doctors gloves. The expansion dynamics are different also.
 
Last edited:
Top