185 grn Silvertips junk as a .45 defense round??

G

grapeshad

New member
I recently got a Glock 30 that I just love :) I've decided on this as my main CCW gun and have begun to experiment with some defense loads. The only PD round I have fired so far ar the Silvertips. I liked the feel and recoil of this round as I found myself able to reaquire the sight picture very quickly. More so than say the 230 grn Blazer rounds I've been practicing with.

I just got done reading the Advocacy article for .45 over at the Calibers website. According to the author(Higginbottom?), the Silvertips couldnt even put a dent in an 8 pound ground hog and makes it a point to say "avoid 185 grn Silvertips"

I've picked up some Hydrashoks in both 165 grn and 230 grn. I'm fairly new to the .45 world so I'm not quite sure what the best load would be for the Glock 30.

Oh he also makes a point to say the 165 grn PD load is probably to light to be effective if it hits a bone.......I'd like to try the "Flying Ashtray" Speer Gold Dot at some point also....

Any comments on the effectiveness of the werewolf round in .45?

Grape
 
I prefer the various 230 grain hollowpoint loads for self defense. I carry the issued Remington Golden Sabre on duty and the Federal Hydra-Shocks in my off duty weapons. If the hollowpoints don't expand (which they sometimes do) you still have a nice heavy bullet working for you. I would suspect that the Silvertip is pretty good medicine though. Just make sure that you aren't attacked by your local gang of warthogs. :)
 
Greetings Guy's; In the world of .45ACP
defensive ammunition, I prefer the 230
grain Federal Hydra Shoks. As 224 stated,
even if it fails to expand; that big ole'
projectile will ruin a prep's day :)!!!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

Message edited by Dan H. Ford on 02-09-00
 
So why doesn't Federal make a nice medium weight Hydra-Shok? They skip from 165 right to 230 gr... kinda screwed up in my opinion. I like the 185-200 grain variety 45 ammo... a little extra velocity has never killed anyone (actually it does).

The Silvertip may have been slammed because it's such an old design... but if it works then LEAVE IT ALONE!

185+P for ME,
Ben

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AOL IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
 
Hey Ala Dan, is that prep or perp ?

Don't tell me you're stalking preperatory schools and shooting the students ?

Sorry, just couldn't resist. :)
 
I carry Federal Hydra-shok 230gr. JHP in my Glock 30.

Reason being, that if the hollow point cavity becomes plugged and doesn't expand, its still a .45 caliber 230gr. slug! (i.e. instant hardball)

And being that I practice with UMC 230gr. FMJ, the point of impact and recoil impulse is the same.

The 185gr. Winchester Silvertip is best used as a home defense load. Personally, I wouldn't carry it as a defense load.

I prefer the 230gr. JHP loads... Federal Hydra-shok, Remington Golden Saber..etc, for
the reasons listed above.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 224:
Hey Ala Dan, is that prep or perp ?

Don't tell me you're stalking preperatory schools and shooting the students ?

Sorry, just couldn't resist. :)[/quote]


I hope he's not aiming for the little izod alligator...poor little preps.
 
You guys make it sound like it WOULDN'T be a hardball or .45 inches wide if it weren't 230 grains. Obviously the ONLY thing changing would be the WEIGHT. If a 165 grain clogged, it would still be a hardball... just the same as if a 230 grain clogged... chances are a lighter bullet would be MORE LIKELY to expand unlike the slower 230 grainer (?)

I'm having fun tonight,
:o)
Ben

------------------
AOL IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"

[This message has been edited by Ben (edited February 10, 2000).]
 
I normally carry the 230gr Hydra Shoks as well. I still keep a supply of the 185gr Silvertips on hand - have never felt under-gunned with them either. They may not be ideal as a LE tactical load, but they'll get the job done in self defense situations.

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BKs Pistol Pages
 
Check out Glock Talk http://glocktalk.com/ they have a ammo forum with all kinds of reviews about what you are looking for. From what I can remember the vast majority of people perfer 200gr Pro Load ammo in the Glock 30.

They also have a Glock 30 board where you can join and be a BigDawg also. Again this board has tons of info directly relating to the 30.
 
Sorry guy's; guess it's these darn glass'es?
That's what I get for wearing my shooting
glass'es while posting at nearly 0200 hrs,
in the morning!!!

See Ya',
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Kinda curious what a varmint at about 8lbs has to do with self-defense performance of ammunition? Not many 8lb thugs out there. A typical example of nonsense in gun rags. Also you won't find any serious information since the Silvertip isn't even a hunting round and you won't find a large enough list of actual cases with enough info to make a decision.
The best you will get is OPINIONS based on emotions and hearsay.
Winchester is not stupid and like other big firms don't put out junk that isn't designed with the best talent available. I have never found an ammo/gun combo that won't perform at self-defense ranges (25 feet or less). Anything beyond is probably going to be TARGET shooting.
If it functions in your gun you are most of the way home. When someone tells you why a particular slug is "best" ask for the autopsy reports to read for YOURSELF and insist on 100+ such reports with almost identicle wounds. Anything less is a guess.
 
I carry Silvertips in my Star .45 and they feed fine. It`s good to read other opinions and choices. It seems to me all of you are prepared as long as you have confidence in your choice. The thing is, most shooters will never use any gun against a crack crazed psychopath so who can say what`s best? We used .38 158 gr. SWC for years and they usually worked.
 
Hopping on the above two posts bandwagons: I don't have any knowledge of man vs. 8 lb. ground hogs, but a co-worker put a magazine full of 185 STHPs into a knife wielding rapist. I saw the scene and autopsy photos, none bounced off, including a head shot,and he was quite rehabilitated before he hit the floor. I don't worry too much about bullet weight and style. What you LIKE...230, 185, or 165 is probably the best. I LIKE Gold Dots, though.

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When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; IT IS that they shall be destroyed forever...Psalms 92.7
 
Just my 2 cents, I prefer the 165 grainers coming out of the short barreled 45s. That little bit of extra speed just helps them to expand more often.
 
First of all, let's get some basics right here.

Although the 185 grain Silvertips may not dent a groundhog, the 45 acp was not designed for use on anything other than the two-legged animals. Animals tend to have dent fur that is great for defecting/clogging bullets, that's what a rifle is for or at least a magnum pistol round.

But what you will find is that the majority of people carrying 45 for CCW/PD are carrying the 230 grain Federal HydraShoks. Their performance on the street is unparallelled.

The 165 HS have tons of flash and are too light. You might as well carry a .40 SW gun then.

I've got a Glock 30 as well and several people swear by the 185 grainers and 200 grainer too. Carry a premium factory PD round that you shoot well.

But the 230 grain has the best penetration so you should try to make that one work for your best level of protection.

------------------
The Seattle SharpShooter
 
I'll vote for the Speer Gold Dot in 230 Grain. I shot a deer with it two years ago... Really. The thing was supposed to be dead, but it wasn't! I was cutting the throat, it revived from a center-punched .30-06 hit (How it did that, I'll never know. When I gutted the thing, it had shredded lungs... ?) I plugged it with my old 1911, at contact distance, right behind the head. MAN, was that loud! There was blood and burned hair everywhere, but now the critter was really dead that time. I suppose I owe a thanks to the SPEER folks. I'm sold on the stuff.

Truth be told, any .45 of major manufacture would have done that. Go big, stay heavy. Avoid the lighter weights, they don't penetrate enough.

Best Regards,

Slim
 
Volunters needed = Put on fur coat and let me empty my Para P-14 loaded with 185 grain Silvertips while you wear it. Now all of you know there just gonna bounce off right? The guy that wrote that article that this poster read and quotes off of ought to be first in line. [Higginbottom?] I have shot Winchester "silvertips" out of my 45 and my 10mm Glock is currently stoked with thier "silvertip" load. In fact there 10mm load is just about as good as it gets for 10mm.[155 grain - 1290fps - 650fpe] Both loads are excellent fodder and great as a defensive round. Winchester has been in the ammo bizz for many years and does not sell junk; imho.
 
Grapeshead:
I am interested in reading the article you mentioned. Could you post the web adress of the "Calibers"website? Thanks.
Hard Ball
 
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