Lightest recoil .45 ACP factory load with decent stopping power?

R

Recoil spring

New member
I have only owned 2 pistols in .45 ACP, a RIA GI Mil spec 1911, and my current Glock 21. Have always ran the FMJ 230 gr. .45 ACP loads, cheap, available, accurate, and combat proven. One of guys at my gun club let me shoot his Kimber 1911 with his hand loads of the hollow point 185 Grs. years ago. I liked it.

However, there are so many loads out now as well as new pistols. What is a good grainage weight for this cartridge that will give fast follow up shots, affordable and with good stopping power?

I don't shoot this Glock enough to warrant hand loading, although I hand load for other cartridges.

Thanks.
 
I can (and do) handload 185-grain FMJ bullets to achieve a power factor of 125, which is the minimum acceptable load for IDPA competition and is comparable to standard-power 9mm ammo. So the recoil is light, but the velocity is low and I seriously doubt it would have a lot of stopping power (or penetration, or expansion) if I were to load JHPs.

Most 185-grain JHP self-defense ammo for the .45 ACP is NOT lightly loaded, it's generally +P, and generates more muzzle energy than "standard" 230-grain FMJ ammunition.

In general, lower power factor ==> lower recoil. So to compare before actually trying, you need to know the velocity as well as the bullet weight, or you have nothing to compare. The formula for power factor is bullet weight x velocity / 1000. The 185-grain load that makes minimum power factor of 125 leaves the barrel at only 687 FPS. Commercial 185-grain JHP ammunition runs between 900 and 1100 FPS, which translates to a power factor of 166.5 to 203.5. "Standard" 230-grain ball ammo is around 830 FPS, which generates a power factor of 190.9, which is right in there with the hotter 185-grain self-defense loads. So if you're thinking of buying 185-grain ammo to replace your 230-grain ball ammo, you may not get the improvement you expect. In fact, the recoil might be "snappier" than what you have now -- which might or might not be an improvement for you.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/power-factor-recoil-bullet-weight-gives-edge/

The Sportsmans Guide Company has decent prices on ammo and a wide variety. Of more interest, perhaps, is that they publish both the bullet weight and the muzzle velocity, and the muzzle energy for all the ammo they sell. You could look over their offerings, pick two or three or four that look like candidates, and buy one or two boxes of each to try and see how you like it.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...dgun-pistol-ammo/45-acp-ammo?d=121&c=95&s=947

[Disclaimer: I am not associated with Sportsmans Guide Company, but I have purchased ammunition from them in the past.]
 
Last edited:
Have always ran the FMJ 230 gr. .45 ACP loads, cheap, available, accurate, and combat proven
Click to expand...

Yep, worked well for me several times in 1968.
I don't concern myself with light or +P loads in the 45ACP for self defense, standard velocity ammo suits me just fine.
I have used various hollow point loads at standard velocity, I don't plan on the hollow points to give me any advantage and I don't count on any handgun I'll be carrying for one shot stops.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
 
Last edited:
Recoil Spring said:
However, there are so many loads out now as well as new pistols. What is a good grainage weight for this cartridge that will give fast follow up shots, affordable and with good stopping power?
Click to expand...
I should have ended my post above with the statement, "None." Fast follow-up shots implies low recoil and low muzzle flip, which can only come (as my earlier post attempts to explain) from a low-power load. And a low-power load doesn't offer good stopping power.

It's like the anecdotal statement from the home improvement contractor: "We do good work, fast and cheap. Pick any two." When you establish mutually contradictory criteria, you can't satisfy all of them.
 
There used to be 185 grain loads that were rated as standard pressure at 1000 fps from a 5 inch barrel, like the old Silvertip load. 185 @ 1000 fps should produce less recoil than 230 @ 850 fps. The Silvertip used to be well respected. Just a thought.

Federal makes a personal defense JHP which is 185 grains @ 950fps (C45C). That should be very light recoiling, though I have no idea how good it is.
 
Last edited:
Barnes 160 Tac-XP for low recoil:

http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=669

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/45-ACP-P-Compact-160-gr-Barnes-TAC-XP-1050-FPS-4-Barrel-20_Box/productinfo/A45-160-TACXP-C/

PF (power factor) was mentioned, I handloaded the Barnes 160 , even at higher velocity (KE) recoil (PF) is moderate.
Ruger 1911 Commander, 5 shot averages:
Handload Barnes 160 gr. Tac-XP @ 1,154 fps / 473# KE / PF 185
Golden Saber 185 +P @ 1,070 fps / 470# KE / PF 198
Federal HST 230 @ 853 fps / 372# KE / PF 196
Winchester Ranger T 230 @ 909 fps / 422# KE / PF 209

160 handload has comparable KE but less recoil than the 185 +P
160 handload has more KE but less recoil than either 230 gr. load
 
Laz said:
There used to be 185 grain loads that were rated as standard pressure at 1000 fps from a 5 inch barrel, like the old Silvertip load. 185 @ 1000 fps should produce less recoil than 230 @ 850 fps. The Silvertip used to be well respected. Just a thought.

Federal makes a personal defense JHP which is 185 grains @ 950fps (C45C). That should be very light recoiling, though I have no idea how good it is.
Click to expand...
A 185-grain bullet at 1000 fps makes the math easy -- power factor 185. That's above IPSC "major" power level of 165, and far beyond the 125 power level of standard 9mm loads. It's less than a 230-grain at 850 fps (PL 195), but not by much. Even the 185-grain at 950 fps generates a power factor of 176, which is still above IPSC "major" power factor.

Even at the same power factor, though, a heavier bullet traveling slower produces a longer, slower recoil pulse while a lighter bullet traveling faster produces a "snappier" recoil pulse. Which type of recoil any particular shooter finds more comfortable is highly subjective. In the end, the only way to find out is to buy several different loads and try them.

I remain of the opinion I expressed above: The OP is asking for a load that has less recoil than standard 230-grain ammo but still offers equivalent or better stopping power. I contend that's impossible because the criteria are inherently in conflict.
 
There is a online calculator that will give you the recoil energy of a load if you have corresponding data.
http://www.shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php
The PF calculation reports my 160 handload having less recoil than a typical 230 gr.:
Handload Barnes 160 gr. Tac-XP @ 1,154 fps / 473# KE / PF 185
Federal HST 230 @ 853 fps / 372# KE / PF 196

I assigned firearm weight of 2 lb., actual velocity for both, actual power charge for the 160, estimated powder charge for the 230 from AA load manual.
160 gr. @ 1,154 fps + 10.3 gr. powder = 8.84 recoil energy
230 gr. @ 853 fps + 8.5 gr. powder = 9.03 recoil energy

By either calculation the 160 gr. has less recoil (maybe not a lot) but KE is increased by 21%

Penetration:
I put 4 layers denim in front of gallon filled jugs of water.
The 230 HST and Barnes 160 both penetrated to the rear of the 3rd jug, did not enter 4th, equal penetration.
230 HST had greater expansion .8x vs .7x

The main benefit I get from the lighter 160 bullet is POI being closer to POA from that Ruger 1911; I installed Truglo TFO sights and 230 gr. bullets hit high, using a lighter bullet results in a lower POI, closer to my POA.
 
To add to the confusion:
Fast follow up shots can depend more on the recoil control skills of the shooter than the choice of ammo.
Stopping power could be fictional, especially for most handguns.
Prices of ammo often depends on the source.
Glad to have been of assistance. :)
 
Lucky Gunner tests
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self...llistic-tests/
185 Golden Saber +P and 185 Speer Gold Dot performed well.
Click to expand...
With power factors of 188 and 176, respectively, so probably not exactly light recoil.

I remain of the opinion that what the OP wants is not possible. It's a .45 caliber handgun. You can't have low recoil with good stopping power. And affordable -- the Golden Saber and Gold Dot loads are both premium self-defense cartridges. Golden Saber has been discontinued (actually, just renamed), and the replacement is priced higher (it now comes in 20-round boxes rather than 25).
 
pick anything that's not +P

I honestly don't know why +P is so popular when everyone should know by now "stopping power" is a myth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top