A buddy of mine just gave me box of Black Talons in .357 mag.. Have any of you guys had any time with this round? They are 180 grainers. I know the fearmongers had these "band", but were they any good for hunting? I almost don't want to shoot them.

I'd save them for self defense, I'd say they would open too fast for hunting purposes. The reason they were banned was the amount of internal damage they do. They had alot of Dr's complaining although I figure if you deserve to get shot you deserve to die. Unfortunately gang members thought they were cool too although if they are killing eachother I'll donate ammo. I haven't seen the Federal Hydra Shocks around lately either so they may have gone the same way. The Pedals on the Talons open real pretty and cut the heck out of internals but they do open very fast.

It is my understanding that the new Winchester PDX bonded ammo is the black Talon minus the teflon coating. I put a few PDX bonded 45acps thru a dead deer at 5 yards last year. 110 lb doe. One round went thru the chest cavity the other pedaled out just like the black talons use to. One pedal broke off the others were intact. Never recovered the other round that went all the way thru.
If I owned a box of black talons I would keep them as a trophy or sell them on gun broker for 5 times what they originally sold for and buy some good hunting ammo.

I would hang on to them. last year a guy offered me $50.00 for each box of 10 mm I had , told him they were not for sale ------ just yet.

I Think I just may do that. Save them for a good trade.

or a bad person

The Black Talons were not banned. Winchester ceased production to avoid the possibility of legal action. We were carrying them as our duty round in 9mm, .40 and .45. I contacted Winchester and was told that the line was being discontinued. As the departments firearms instructor I then ordered Federal Hydra-Shoks. The PDX and Ranger LE is actually the Talon with a politically correct name. Talon is so 'evil', after all.

Well you may be right in one sense, but if I can't legally buy them over the counter, then they were Banned. Thanks maybe I'll just see what they do to a pumpkin or something.

I water barrel tested both the .45 acp and 9mm Black Talon years ago, it did indeed open up into a razor sharp "Talon"... very cool

A little historical/hysterical background about Black Talon bullets...Unfortunately, Hollywood (that bastion of liberal misinformation)got into the act and displayed doctors cutting their fingers to ribbons removing ersatz Black Talon bullets. One TV show went so far to portray exploding projectiles and again maiming surgeon's hands. The bad press was too much for Winchester and black talons faded into history.

Federal Hydroshocks are what I have loaded in my wifes .45ACP.I'll have to run down to my gun shop and talk to my buddies and see if there still around.I really like those rounds.

I thought they may have discontinued the hydra shocks but I have been getting them from the local sporting goods store in 45 for my 1911 and 380 for my wifes derringer. I'm trying the hornady critical defense rounds in my 38spcl derringer. I saw a demonstration on tv using the LCR and the 380 critical defense rounds. The theory behind them is that in guns that may be marginal on penetration they helped the problem by putting in a polymer plug made out of the same stuff as the point on the leverevolution ammo. The plug fills the hollow point cavity keeping the bullet from starting expansion early especially if the target is wearing heavy clothing. Back to the hydra shocks I did see that midway shows them as being temporarily unavailable.