MagSafe Ammo Any good?

nefprotector

Moderator
Just about all that I can find that is available now is MagSafe Ammo. Any good? Im looking at the 70 grain .357 mag; will be used as carry until I can find Better factory ammo.
 
I've been wondering the same thing. I bought some Glaser Safety Slugs for my 44 since I live in an apt. Since then I've heard lots of bad things concerning their performance. The MagSafe uses larger shot, but IIRC, less overall weight. I plan to find some scraps to build interior and exterior walls to test their actual performance. But I have to wait 'til huntin' season's over. Expensive testing, but if my family's lives depend on it I figure it is well worth it.
 
Carried it for years back when the old man was building it himself.


Then one sage post on the net caused me to never use it again:

"What are the chances of getting a clear, unobstructed, vital shot in a SD situation? If frangible ammo hits anything prior to a vital, it fragments and effectively loses most of it's 'stopping power'. An elbow, forearm, wrist, door frame, anything can render it immediately ineffective.

I've had it stored ever since.

ymmv
 
My roommate and I are both heavily armed, and live on opposite sides of the huose, we have worked over scenarios and strategies, and for "safety" reasons, we load our primary beside pistols with frangible ammo. Never thought I'd see the day I gave much thought to over-penetration. just my 2cents
 
Here are some numbers from a 38spl

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.38 special 4"
Manu. Brand Type Grains fps fpe Shoot. Success
Cor-Bon N/A +P+ JHP 115 1250 399 29 83%
Win N/A +P LHP 158 890 278 302 78%
Federal N/A +P LHP 158 890 278 209 77%
Federal N/A +P JHP 125 945 248 214 73%
Rem N/A +P SJHP 125 945 248 106 73%
Win N/A +P+ JHP 110 1155 326 35 71%
CCI N/A +P JHP 125 945 248 74 70%
Rem N/A +P LHP 158 890 278 143 70%
Win Silvertip +P JHP 110 995 242 111 69%
Rem N/A +P SJHP 95 1175 291 119 66%
Win N/A +P JHP 125 945 248 65 65%
Federal N/A SWC 158 755 200 278 52%
Federal N/A LRN 158 755 200 456 51%
Magsafe Maximum JPF 65 1800 468 87% *
Glaser Blue +P JPF 80 1500 400 85% *
Magsafe Fast Hrdball+P JPF 49 1820 361 80% *
Glaser Blue JPF 80 1350 324 80% *
Triton N/A +P+ JHP 110 1230 370 79% *
Rem Golden Sabre JHP 125 975 264 73% *
Triton N/A +P+ JHP 158 925 300 73% *
Eld Starfire JHP 125 950 251 73% *
 
I can see situations where using it may be the best course of action, such as Zombieslayer's situation, but I won't use the stuff.

I want guaranteed penetration in the target, not the potential of a really nasty flesh wound.
 
I'm a believer in the Glaser blue,a fist sized hole 5" deep will cause almost instantaneous bleed out.It's been more than ten years and FBI stats showed 100% with a limited number of actual shootings.In the case of a midnite intruder if you miss you wont accidently kill your next door neighbor.I had some for my Sks, but they were too much fun, a single shot fired into a 15 gallon pickle bucket filled with water and sealed with it's top,penetrated 3/16" plastic then literally exploded the bucket into 2 dozen pieces.The figures above indicate the glaser one of highest % stoppers.At $2-$3 per shot , it's not a plinking round.
 
Nope, not a chance.
Just another gimmick, albeit a well-marketed one.

Had a bunch of each (MagSafe/Glaser) ~10 years ago when I used to read M&S (as poster #5 is obviously still doing) but after enough research, I was cured of that foolishness.
 
I stagger my rounds. I use Magsafe rounds and Federal Hydrashoks +P+. Its the best of both worlds in my opinion.
If you're using Hydrashocks, overpenetration isn't an issue, so why bother with the magsafe rounds?
 
If you're using Hydrashocks, overpenetration isn't an issue, so why bother with the magsafe rounds?

The idea behind the Magsafes is rapid energy transfer. While hollow points transfer more energy than full metal jackets, I believe frangible rounds are better at depositing their energy without over penetration.
 
15 gallon pickle bucket filled with water and sealed with it's top,penetrated 3/16" plastic then literally exploded the bucket into 2 dozen pieces.

So will a standard .45ACP. Water doesn't compress, when you introduce any kind of (relatively high) pressure to the equation, it has to go somewhere. When it's in a cheap plastic container, the container explodes violently. Ever shot a soda can with a .22LR? Same concept. The type (ball, fmj, SS, HP) of ammunition has nothing to do with it.
It's been more than ten years and FBI stats showed 100% with a limited number of actual shootings.

Does the FBI issue them? Why? Why not?

Some studies have shown that when fired through a wall, the "safety slug" will then over penetrate as the slug fails to expand and allow the shot out.

I would not bet any amount of money on a Glaser Safety Slug, much less my life.

Nope, not a chance.
Just another gimmick, albeit a well-marketed one.

Amen.
 
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Were winchester Black Talons taken off the market because of poor sales or were they "too effective". I've never tried any but I've heard stories. Seems most guys would love to get their hands on a box or 2.
 
Black Talons ride again...

Were winchester Black Talons taken off the market because of poor sales or were they "too effective". I've never tried any but I've heard stories. Seems most guys would love to get their hands on a box or 2.

Winchester Black Talons were effective, but Winchester took them off the market because of adverse publicity that was damaging the Winchester reputation. Then Winchester quietly brought them back under the name "Winchester Ranger", with the stipulation that they would be sold only to law enforcement. I guess the theory was that law enforcement are permitted to shoot ammo that makes nasty holes in people, but ordinary civilians could not be allowed to do this.

But plenty of Winchester Ranger leaks into the commercial civilian market, and you can buy it from lots of online dealers. The "LEO only" stipulation is just cover for Winchester.

image002.jpg
 
Were winchester Black Talons taken off the market because of poor sales or were they "too effective". I've never tried any but I've heard stories. Seems most guys would love to get their hands on a box or 2.

The scared of their own shadow leftists were scared of it's name and labeled it's lubalox coating as teflon that was intended to defeat kevlar vests, they were dubbed "cop-killer" bullets.
 
Mag-Safe ammo

As I live in a town home, and don’t want to worry about capping my next-door neighbor, by mistake, the first two (2) rounds in my bedroom gun are Mag-safe .357 rounds then the next four (4) are the Federal 158 Gr. FBI loads. I guess everything in life is some sort of trade off. All of the other pistols in the house are loaded with Speer 158 Gr. .357 loads.

Safe shooting all.
 
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As I live in a town home, and don’t want to worry about capping my next-door neighbor, by mistake, the first two (2) rounds in my bedroom gun are Mag-safe .357 rounds

When I have out of town guest's in a room by the front door, I have either 4 magsafes or Glaser's, and then 4 of what ever else I have in the candy/ammo jar.

Yes I have a candy jar full of miscellaneous premo SD ammo I take out before a range trip.
 
i used to carry the .40S&W 46gr "swat load" magsafe rounds till i shot a cat from 15'. i had to use a hydrashock to kill it. the magsafe did alot of damage to the front shoulder, but thats all it did.

i decided if they cant kill a cat, i wouldn't risk my life on it.
 
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