Best Ammo for Short Barreled 45 ACP?

1

147 Grain

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Not sure as to what self defense ammo is best for a 3 1/4" barreled 45 ACP revolver.

I've been considering 230-gr. +P rounds like those from Ranger T @ 990 fps (4" barrel) or Double Taps 230-gr. +P @ 1,010 fps (4" barrel).

Question:

Do you feel that +P 45 ammo needs longer barrels to burn or will I still be a little ahead (with a 3 1/4" barrel) when compared to standard 230-gr. HP ammo?

Thank-you in advance of your advice!
 
Federal Hydrashok Jacketed Hollow Points - I have them in 180 grains for my 40 calibre and they are great little rounds, I'm sure they come in 45.

I think with any short barrel and any round there will be some less powder burn off than a longer barrel. My 5" semi-auto still has quite a muzzle flash with most rounds.

It all depends on your application, the 230 grain's +P Double taps might give you better down range performance as far as dropping than the 990 fps but proably not anything but a little bit of practice couldnt' fix.

Consider what's comfortable... try a bunch of different rounds at the range for distance and accuracy see what you feel is best and what works better for you.
 
Speer is producing a Gold Dot SB (short barrel) 45 Auto 230 gr GDHP round (23975) that is specifically designed (they say) to expand when shot form guns with short barrels. I haven't tried it yet. Dennis
 
I talked to Speer about their short-barreled lineup on Wednesday. Nothing's out yet but the .38 Special, they're hoping to have the others in the lineup (including a 230-grain .45 ACP load) by the end of the year.
When they do, that .45 ACP load would be worth looking at. I just finished working with the .38 load, looks good.
Denis
 
Speer JHPSB

The loaded short barrel 230gr is going 820fps through a 4" barrel, so you are going to be pushing around 800fps, whereas the rounds that you have cited have much higher velocities. So, the new large mouth round will have to be good at low velocities, but you know that there will be a downside. Maybe it won't be reliable through clothing, or it tends to fragment. I hope that someone has got these critters and will be putting them through their paces.

About a year ago there were rumors that Federal was replacing the HydraShok. Any news on that front?

I received this from Speer on August 15th:

"'IF' the new Speer 45 230gr. SB (short barrel) follows suit with what was done on the 38+p SB, it will have its own set of load data because the bullet HP is a new design. That having been said, the 45 Auto SB ammunition (part #23975)is not scheduled to be released until mid Sept. The component bullet (I don't even have a part # for it yet) usually follows. I don't have any data for it yet and I'm not sure when it will be available."
 
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Thanks!

Will the 230-gr. +P rounds like those from Ranger T @ 990 fps (4" barrel) or Double Taps 230-gr. +P @ 1,010 fps (4" barrel) provide more velocity than standard ammo out of a short barrel 45 auto with 3 1/4" pipe?

In short: In a 3 1/4" barreled 45 auto, which provides the most velocity? +P with more unburned powder or standard loads?
 
Generally, +P even in a short barrel that may not allow a fully efficient powder burn, will still move out markedly faster than a standard velocity load.
The Speer SBLs are being developed with specially designed bullets and different powders to be more efficient and effective all the way round.
The project I just finished this week compared the 135 Speer SBL Gold Dot +P load with two +P .38 Special loads from Buffalo Bore, and two standard vel loads from Hornady. The difference in velocity/energy was major between +P and standard loads through a 1 7/8-inch Smith 640 and a Ruger 3-inch GP100. The SBL Speer Dots use a much bigger and deeper hollow point, too.
If the other Speer SBL loads follow suit, this will be a good thing for short barrel users.
Denis
 
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