Winchester's PDX1 Defender puts a 225-grain jacketed hollow point, built for personal defense, in a nickel-plated brass case. It leaves the muzzle at 850 fps with 361 ft-lbs of energy, for a power factor of 191, over the 165 USPSA major floor. From a 25-yard zero it sits 2.7 inches low at 50 yards and 18.1 inches low at 100. Pressure is standard.

It sits in a tight group. Sierra Sports Master 225-grain JHP matches it on every figure: 850 fps, 361 ft-lbs and the same recoil energy in the same revolver. Fort Scott Munitions 225-grain TUI is the fastest of the set, 19 fps quicker with 16 ft-lbs more energy and about 4 percent more recoil. Federal American Eagle 225-grain JSP is 10 fps faster and 8 ft-lbs ahead, a 2 percent recoil difference. Federal Champion 225-grain LSWCHP is 20 fps slower with 17 ft-lbs less and about 4 percent less recoil. Remington HTP 230-grain JHP matches the 850 fps with 5 more grains of bullet, adding 8 ft-lbs and about 5 percent more recoil. The whole group spans 39 fps at the muzzle, a spread few shooters will feel.

Buy it for home defense in a .45 Colt revolver when you want a dedicated defensive hollow point at standard pressure; within this group the choice comes down to preference more than numbers. If recoil is the limit, Underwood 135-grain Extreme Defender leaves the muzzle at 1,410 fps with about 15 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver.