185gr. vs 230gr. HP

[Manco]

I generally prefer heavy-for-caliber bullets...
... but it depends on the bullet, and the cartridge maker.

That is true, as it is possible to design a relatively lightweight bullet that limits or delays expansion so that it achieves good penetration. It just runs counter to the general trend, and probably has less potential in some ways because a bullet's inertia must count for something (I would think).

Cor-Bon DPX bullets tend to be light (even though they have comparable OAL to regular 230), because they are made from bonded copper.

As an aside, they're not bonded bullets (as in the copper jacket being bonded to the lead underneath), they're simply all-copper bullets (hence the lower density and higher cost).

A 185gr bullet that expands reliably, doesn't disintegrate despite 1075fps velocity, and will reliably penetrate glass on cars is not exactly a bad thing.

So I guess I'm saying that bullet construction matters at least as much as weight.

Yes, and it can matter more than caliber, as well.

Heavy for caliber?
I suppose that depends on what your standard is. I'm an old timer, and I use old time standards. Heavy for caliber means heavier than standard, to me.

I see your point, but to clarify, in this context I mean the heaviest commonly available bullet weight these days, which for .45 ACP is the longtime and still standard (to me) 230 grains. I suppose that I would have said something like "extra-heavy-for-caliber" for higher weights.

 

[mete]

Originally the two standard weights were 200 civilian and 230 military .But that was before your time .
Lots of choices out there just make sure the ammo you choose is ammo that your gun is happy with !!

 

[Webleymkv]

Personally, I prefer bullets no lighter than 200grn in .45 ACP with 230grn being preferable. To me, the whole point of using a .45 ACP is to use heavy bullets, so if I want to use <200grn bullets I'll pick a smaller cartridge like 10mm, .40 S&W, or .357 Magnum. Also, I prefer the extra penetration that heavier bullets afford, 230grn bullets will shoot to the sights of most so-chambered guns, and lighter bullets never seem to feed as reliably in my experience. My loading of choice is Federal HST 230grn +P although that is certainly not the only good loading in .45 ACP.

 

[MLeake]

I prefer 230gr in general, but I really like the Barnes bullet in the Cor-Bon DPX. Since that only comes in 185gr, I'm using 185gr.

For some reason, the DPX 185 hit closer to POA with my DW CBOB than do most of the 230's, although none are far off the mark. This was also a factor, when I ran a side-by-side comparison between DPX 185 and Gold Dot 230.

The 185's cycle my CBOB without problem, too. (So do the 230's; the CBOB isn't fussy.)

 

[Wag]

I wish I could find the data but it seems to me that I read somewhere that the 230 gr JHP (I load up with Hydroshoks) is not prone to overpenetration which to me, makes it the ideal SD round. A big, slow round like that is going to carry plenty of energy without a huge amount of velocity and will deliver all of it's energy into the target and stop there.

Just a thought.

--Wag--

 

[357 Terms]

All the 230 grn hp's I have tested (expansion in wet newsprint) have expanded reliably (all handloads) I have 230grn Remington hp's in my 5in Kimber. Since the 230's expand quite well at moderate velocity (less than 900fps) and shoot to point of aim while grouping well, I have never considered a lighter bullet.

 

[mavracer]

I prefer 230 but I have no problem using 185s if the gun insists IE my Ruger P97 puts 185s right on POA so that's what it gets.

 

[WESHOOT2]

to rephrase

When manufacturing 45 ACP ammo intended for use on people, unless otherwise specified, I chose 230g jacketed hollowpoint bullets, most common being the non-bonded Golden Saber.

 

[buck460XVR]

I use what shoots most accurately for me outta the gun I'm using. After trying all kinds of bullet types and weights over different powders and charges, I've found a 200gr JFP load that my 5'' Colt Government prefers. Expansion/penetration don't mean squat if you can't hit to POA. I doubt a BG with a direct hit to the chest will know the difference between a 230 and a 200 grainer. He's still gonna have a hole on both sides and leakin' like a sieve.

 

[michael t]

I settled on the 185 CorbonDPX in all my 1911's Defender, Officer, Commander, and Government DPX works and makes life simple 1 load for all models.

 

[Clifford L. Hughes]

Clifford L. Hughes

Dear C K I

You have to decide on wether you want rapid expansion with a 185 grain bullet or slower expansion of the 230 grain bullet. I have never shot anyting with a 230 gr. bullet but I have shot a large wild boar with the Hornaday 200 gr. XTP loaded to 1020 fps. I was hunting with dogs so my shot was point blank. The bullet enter just in front of the pigs shoulder and it traveled diagonally for ten inches taking out three inches of neck bone. The bullet lodged just under the ear on the left side. A pig's neck is covered with tough skin and muscle.


Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

 

[DG45]

The most important three features of any gun/ammo/shooter combo is 1. RELIABILITY; 2. ACCURACY; and 3. PENETRATION. Bullet expansion is either a distant 4th or 5th behind those first three, along with with capacity.

The Government Model 45 automatic pistol has a long and illustrous reputation for doing two things well, and thats feeding 230 grain ball ammo from a magazine into its chamber and launching 230 grain bullets downrange with reasonable accuracy at about 830fps. This gun/ammo combo was the standard military issue handgun and ammo of the US armed forces for many years and had (and still has) an enviable reputation for reliability, accuracy, and penetration. It makes a big round hole and it was considered to be an effective manstopper. IMHO, there's very little reason to gild that lily.

I think the further you move away from 230 grain ball ammo, and toward different bullet designs and weights, the less reliably autos will feed the ammo from the magazine to the chamber, and the less reliably they will eject spent shell casings. If you go hollow point, the less penetration you will get.

IMHO, if you want to use hollow point or semi-wadcutter or whatever, the place to go is to a 45 REVOLVER

 

[MLeake]

DG45...

... not sure what you are basing your reliability requires 230gr idea on.

But.... my DW CBOB has eaten lots of 185gr ammo, without a hiccup, and with great accuracy. No tuning, only mods from stock are some spiffy grips. Out of the box, it eats any decent .45acp ammo.

 

[Old Grump]

Going by his sig line he shoots a Taurus OSS which has a 5.25" barrel. Load up with 230 gr hardball and be assured it will make a large hole and drop it's energy inside the target. It will function reliably and you can almost always find it in stock for not to unreasonable prices. Makes life simpler when you don't over think it.