Best .45 ACP Defense Ammo?

If you can find it "Black Talon" by Winchester, after that Cor-bon then SXT'S another Winchester product , then Gold-Sabres by Remington
 
Black Hills - Gold Dot
XTP
They come in various weights but these are the two best JHPs made today. For Defense/Hunting, I lean towards the XTP. I load my own with a 200gr XTP over 9.5gr of AA#5. It is the most accurate, reliable and has a low-flash signature.

Good luck and welcome to the fray...
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I think you will find a large group voting for the Federal 230gr Hydra Shok as well as the Remington 230gr Golden Saber.

These loads perform well in a full size pistol.

Good SHooting
RED
 
I think any of the Premium Defense loadings from the major ammo companies would provide excellent protection.

The Federal Premium Personal Defense Hydra-Shok (165g) & Premium Hydra-Shok (230g); CorBon .45+P in 165g, 185g, 200g, or 230g HollowPoint; Hornady sells +P loadings with the XTP bullet in 200g & 230g & standard loadings in 185g & 200g; Speer Gold Dot in 185g & 230g or +P in 200g; Winchester 230g SXT & 185g Silver Tip; Remington Golden Saber 185g & 230g, & +P in 185g......& I'm sure I've left some out....

The key is to find a load that works well in your particular gun, & one that you shoot accurately. That takes time (it can be fun), and also money (not so fun). There are a lot of different opinions on how many of a particular load to shoot from a semi-auto without a malfunction before you trust it but most seem to center between 250 & 500 rounds. Most of the above will run about $0.40 - $0.60 per round depending on how well you shop, so you have to go slow! I usually start with 40 to 50 rounds & check for function and accuracy. The loads that look promising I buy more of & continue to shoot them until I find a load or 2 that seem to work the best.
 
First off, go with what's reliable in your gun, even if that happens to be lowly 230 grain ball!

Among the 100% feeders, if Federal 230gr. Hydra-Shok is on your list that's a good one to go with. It has a proven track record. The Remington Golden Saber appears to be as good, maybe better, but so far it hasn't seen the widespread use that the Hydra-Shok has enjoyed.

I recommend avoiding +P ammo. It really doesn't improve .45ACP performance by any real margin, but it sure reduces controllability. No matter what you pick, in this caliber it is hard to make an unwise choice. The only real way to get yourself into trouble is to use something that doesn't feed 100%.
 
I like Georgia Arms 230 grain Gold Dots. Clean, consistent and accurate; with a proven bullet design. They list it as +P but at only 850FPS, sure sounds like standard pressure to me.


And they are cheap:D
 
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END OF DISCUSSION

230g.

100% reliability.

Any modern high-quality load; recommend starting with Federal Hydra-Shok, then trying others if this load does not deliver required function and/or accuracy.

I prefer (in my personal 1911) the R-P 230g Golden Saber bullet in my own load.
 
Federal also has their new Expanding Full Metal Jacket (EFMJ). Supposedly the feeding characteristics of good 'ole ball, but with actual expansion. Looks good to me!
 
I like Federal's 230 grain Hydra-Shok's, as fired from my
Sig-Sauer P220.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
I carry 230gr Federal Hydrashok in my G30 and 185gr (I think thats the right size) Remington Golden Sabers in my G23.

I also have Winchester SXT's in my Taurus 92, but I never carry that.
 
I use the 230 gr Hydrashoks, but have recently started buying the 230 gr Winchester Personal Protection HP's as well.
Walmart sells them for $17 per box of 50.

The Winchesters seem to perform as well as the high dollar stuff and are quite accurate. They're also very clean burning.
I'm switching over to them.
 
The best .45acp ammunition?

Which ever 230 grain premium JHP demonstrates the greatest reliablity and accuracy from your pistol.

For me, that's 230 grain Federal Hydra Shocks.

If I determine another brand outperforms it in my pistol, I'll switch.
 
Whatever you decide, 1. make sure it works in your pistol, at least 300 rounds, 2. shoot it at night, 3. practice with your load, 4. keep fresh ammo in your weapon.

I like the Black Hills 230 gr. JHP. I have friends that like the Hornady load that Bain Dramaged cited.
 
I like the 230-grain Hydra-Shoks. They seem to recoil a bit more than the 230-grain Golden Sabres, which many people also seem to like.
 
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