Well i for got my first gun, I have been looking around for 3 years trying different guns. I found that the M&P .45 was my favorite.

now to the point, I am new to guns and i am not sure what ammo i should get and what to stay away from.
What should i look for in range ammo, and hollow points.

For Range just about anything will work that you can afford.
For Defense a reasonable quality JHP is prefered.

The M&P 45 will eat just about anything you choose to feed it.

Any of the top 230 grain loads.... HST, Gold Dot, SXT, etc.

Just stay away from the idiotic lightweight triple whizbang velocity loads, that attempt to take away the advantages that .45 has.

I agree, any 230 grain hardball you can find (although I'd avoid cheap surplus stuff) for practice, and a good 230 grain HP for carry purposes. I think that most 45s work best with 230 grain loads that are close to max, but not +P.

What TOF said... Whatever you can afford and whatever's available. In my 45c, for target, I mostly use the Winchester 230gr 100 round value packs found at Wal-Mart (you'll see that called WWB, Winchester White Box), or Federal 230gr "Champion", which also can be found at Wal-Mart. For carry I use the Speer 230gr Gold Dot Short Barrel.

thanks guys, i am going to go take a trip to wal-mart see what i can find.

I have WW PDX1s and SB Gold Dots, both in 230 grns for my G30 and 4566. Both feed fine, and I suspect either gun will feed any factory ammo. The G30 is a bit finicky with reloads; the 4566 eats anything.

Any good SD name brand that feeds well in your gun should do the job for SD. For the range, whatever you can afford in mass quantities that feeds well, preferably the same bullet weight as your SD ammo.

For range work, Winchester Whitebox 230 grain FMJ is available at Wal-Mart and most other stores. You should be able to find them in either 50 or 100 round boxes.
For self-defense ammo, there are as many varieties as there are opinions. Powrball has a FMJ profile and feeds reliably, as well as being an effective round. Federal (HST), Winchester (Ranger or PDX), Speer (Gold Dot), and Cor Bon (DPX) all have JHP designs that have been well tested and are effective. Find what works best in your gun (functioning and accuracy) and go with that. It may mean that you have to spend more to buy a box of each to test, but at least you're getting practice while determining what you want to carry; it's not a waste of time or money.

So, 230 gr. hardball is a failure as a defense round?
Gee, I'm sure a lot of soldiers and police officers would disagree.
I seek reliability above all when I carry my Kimber .45, and that's why I carry the 230 gr. roundnosed full metal jacket. If a slight edge in stopping power is needed, then carry the Federal ammo that has a 230 gr. full metal jacket flatpoint. This bullet was developed by the Air Force and Hornady to address concerns about the stopping power of the .45 roundball.
But really, it's a .45.
I don't see any point in buying hollowpoint ammo or bullets for reloading when you can't depend on them expanding. Oh sure, the 180 gr. minis will open, but I'd rather stick with what works.
And since 1911, the old 230 gr. full metal jacket at nearly 900 fps has worked well against humans.

I'm not sure how you got to 230 hardball being a failure for defense. Some may prefer HP's but that doesn't mean we wouldn't use hardball.

I prefer 230 HP's because If necessary to fire in a crowd I don't particularly want to take out 2 or 3 people behind my target. I have run enough penetration tests with various materials and water jugs to know hardball will sail right through where as HP's will do what is necessary and limit itself to the primary target and perhaps one more.

If a war like situation develops I will switch to hardball but untill then I'll carry HP's. I wouldn't hesitate to use cast lead either. It's all deadly.

Years ago there were very few quality bullets to load in ammo. Today all the major manufacturers and most of the smaller one all load high quality modern bullets in their SD ammo. The trick is to find one that will reliably feed in your pistol but in the case of the M&P that probably won't be a problem. Pick one they feeds all the time and stick with it for a while. I prefer a 230gr bullet in a .45 Auto.

Congrats on your first handgun...

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SWCA #3437

well i went to the range for the first time with this gun, i shot 250 rounds of Remington UMC Handgun Ammunition L45AP4, 45 ACP, Metal Case, 230 GR no problems what so ever. gun felt great and no jams. I then tried to shot some hollow points, and they would jam about 3 times per clip (8 rounds) i was using Magtech Guardian Gold Cartridges GG45A, 45 ACP + P, Jacketed Hollow Point.

That's the problem with the .45 auto and HP bullets, they sometimes jam. The .45 Auto was designed for Ball ammo so HP ammo could be a problem. that's what I said above, "pick one that feeds all the time" because that's the trick, finding one that will reliable feed. Looks like you found one that you won't be using.

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SWCA #3437

I use 230 grain Remington Golden Sabers in my finicky 45s. I've never had a jam with that bullet, even in my cheapo, stock 1911s. Give that one a whirl.

chevytech,

which ever ammo you decide on for carry, shoot a hundred rounds or so just to make sure there are no reliability issues. I have fired this weapon a fair amount (even though I do not own one) with different ammo and it has always worked flawlessly, but there is nothing like the reassuring feeling you get when you test the actual loads YOU carry.

regards,
chief38

Several Federal Agencies carried the 230gr Remington Golden Sabre HP.

I have shot several thousand rounds of it.

I have shot a bunch of it in several out of the box Colt 1911's, as well as several "custom" 1911's and I have never had a malfunction. I have found it to be very accurate as well.

Officers Models, Commanders, Government Models, as well as S&W Mod 25, 325 NG, and even an Enfield Mk IV modified to 45 ACP.

There is a lot of great 45 AC ammo out there, but the Rem 230gr Golden Sabre is worth a look.

As to 230gr "BALL". I always carry a Mag or two of it on me, and have a "few" of them "around".

If I carry a 1911 in the woods, I carry some Buffalo Bore 230gr +P FP [Flat Point].

PS, Remington 185gr Golden Sabre shoots pretty good too.