Self Defense ammo for .45 ACP?

G

Genepix

New member
Most of my SD guns are .38/.357/9mm, and I have experimented with a number of brands/weights of hollow point ammo. I recently read from a prominent 1911 builder that he regards the .45 ACP in 230 gr FMJ the ideal SD round in that caliber, something I had not considered. I would be interested in opinions of using FMJ for SD in .45. Thanks,
Gene
 
Hollowpoint has advantages

Well, FMJ .45 does have the advantage of feeding pretty well in most .45s, and is a lot cheaper than hollowpoint .45. But it won't expand much and remains about .45 inches in diameter while penetrating quite a bit, probably going completely through a human target and exiting on the back side.

A good .45 hollowpoint, on the other hand, will penetrate from 12 to 14 inches in ballistic gelatin and expand to 0.80 or 1.00 inches diameter, making a very large hole in the target. It should also feed well in your gun, but you should test it to make sure.

I prefer the hollowpoint .45 for the bullet expanded diameter and the lack of overpenetration.
 
a prominent 1911 builder that he regards the .45 ACP in 230 gr FMJ the ideal SD round in that caliber
Click to expand...
Apparently a prominent 1911 builder who can't make his 1911s function with JHPs! :p

Modern premium JHPs are superior to FMJ in every aspect of defensive ammunition. The only potential advantage of FMJs would be against armored targets -- something that even .45 FMJs aren't very good at penetrating.:rolleyes:
 
My .45 is loaded with golden saber 185gr. Thats my primary defense load. There are tons of quality bullets on the market these days. Pick one you like and that functions well in your gun.
 
I like Speer Gold Dots because they have a very forgiving profile which allows them to run very well in all the guns I've tried them in. I get the 230gr variety to fill my HK USP 45 when it's serving nightstand duty.

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Corbon DPX 185grn specifically has the same profile as FMJ and will feed as reliably. Has been shown to open reliably at 45 auto speeds.

Bill
 
The loads that do the best in tests >

> are usually 185 gr. +P hollow points. Federal Hydra Shok used to be The Round. I shot some; I recall a green flash from them. Was lucky enough never to have to try them.

The stuff about 230 gr. FMJ being the best defense round, how did he qualify it? Was he concerned that hollow points wouldn't expand? Or that they wouldn't penetrate enough? I'd be curious to hear that little detail.
 
"Chuck Taylor", good semi auto, .45acp loads for protection...

For many, many years, well known gun writer, combat veteran & tactics instructor "Chuck Taylor" said the .45acp 230gr FMJ round & 1911a1 pistol were tops for general carry/defense use.
I never met or talked to him in person so I couldn't say if Taylor still claims it today.
I see the value of the .45acp but I'd use a 230gr JHP +P round with Corbon PowRball, Federal EFMJ .45acp or maybe milspec 230gr FMJ ball rounds in 2/3 spare pistol magazines. ;)
Good brands like Corbon, Speer/Gold Dot, Ranger T, TAP, Doubletap Ammo, Golden Saber(bonded) are out there. Some like the 200gr or 185 JHPs but I'd stick with the simple 230gr wt in .45acp.

Clyde
 
At the risk of swimming upstream and the .45 ACP....

This will probably not be popular but here goes.

I spent a year of my life once reading reports about terminal velocities, energy at impact, expansion, stopping power... etc

I loaded everything from Gold Dot to Golden Sabre to XTP to Magtech's.......

Used almost every fast burning pistol powder on earth and even some medium burning stuff.....

155 gr to 185 gr to 230 gr.....in .45 ACP cause that gun is a stopper and a great PD frame.

Hollow point to SWC to good ole round nose.

Till my head was SPINNING with ballistic coefficients and other big words....

I even managed to get shot by a 158 gr .38 spl one time by a sort of clumsy friend? Not named Dick Chaney. It hurt but I could walk. Boot "squished" when I put it down and left red marks but I could still have pulled a trigger if I needed to.

IMHO if the bad guy gets hit by a .45 ACP......he is gonna be hurt'in big time and ain't gonna be thinkin of pullin a trigger IF:

you can hit a 6" circle when you're stressed and the adrenaline has your heart beating like a trip hammer and the light is as close to none as counts.

I would be dead if that same .38 spl had hit me in a place that I consider important. Its a lot more about where the projectile hits (that's you and practice) than how much it expands and at what terminal velocity with 300 ft-lbs when you're talking about a two legged critter. I am amazed at how many folks die from well placed .22 LR's. I think they even used to use sticks with sharp points on them?

Please don't email me or report me for blasphemy or anything......it's the opinion of a guy who spent a year learning a lot of cool stuff that is mostly negated by that great .45 ACP RN.
 
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Lots of choices

.45 ACP:
Barnes XPB 160 & 185 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal HST 230 gr JHP (P45HST2)
Federal HST 230 gr +P JHP (P45HST1)
Federal Tactical 230 gr JHP (LE45T1)
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr +P JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr JHP (RA45T)
Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr +P JHP (RA45TP)

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887
 
logic

I point out that every unit that issues 45 ACP-chambered guns intended for use on people issues 230g HP ammo with them.
 
+1

for the winchester ranger 230s they shoot great i couldnt get the gold dots to feed properly all the time i think it was locking up oh the tip where the lead is on my 1911s others i have tried eldorado starfires remington golden sabers, taurus hex bullets hornady taps, and so far all seem to do well except the taurus hex and the gold dot out of my 1911s
 
I spent a lot of time recently looking at recovered projectiles of most of the popular self defense ammo and to me the Federal HST seemed to perform the best.
 
My .45acp picks...

I do not own or carry a .45acp now but I may buy a milspec 1911a1 to honor the 100th year of service of the Browning design. ;)

I agree a well made 230gr JHP +P from Corbon/DPX, Golden Saber, Speer Gold Dot or Ranger T are worth buying.
For .45acp barrels in the 3-4" size, a 230gr milspec ball or special load like the Gold Dot short barrel JHP may be a better selection.

Clyde
 
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