Thoughts needed on 45 ammo as what do you prefer lighter or heaver round and if you don't mind saying......why....

Thanks

I'm not sure you're going to see much of a difference in such a short barrel. However, try some out, which ever is most accurate for you

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Many choices out there. I use Federal HST 230 grain Jacketed Hollow Point ammo for self defense. I have seen it in action first hand and it's the best IMHO.

For practice, I shoot whatever brass cased FMJ ammo is available and on sale.

The bottom line is....use what you shoot the best.

__________________
Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

For what pupose, Plinking, Self-defense, Bears?

I like Federal HST's for self-defense in all calibers.

Good to know...I always used HST in my shield 9 and really thought the same thing..45 is new for me but HST is know and trusted for sure...thanks for the shout.

Self defense...

This close to a bear thread.

__________________
Back to back World War Champs.

Which 45 Ammo works best for bears?

Another vote for Federal Tactical Bonded 230 grain JHP. Their catalog number is LE45T1. Federal loads it in standard velocity and +P, same stock number, sometimes the end label designates it as +P, sometimes they just put a white +P sticker on the bottom of the box. My department issued it and it worked in everybody's guns. I found out that it expands and penetrates very well even out of a shorter barrel (4-1/4 inch Commander).

I couldn't feel any difference in recoil between the +P and their standard velocity 230 grain FMJ American Eagle red box we shot for training and qualification, even when I mixed both in the same magazine, but I would want whatever extra velocity the +P offers, especially in a shorter barrel.

I know it is expensive, but I would recommend you buy a box of each if you can find them and shoot half a box of each at the same time to see if there is enough extra recoil to bother you. You really need to test out your new gun and magazines with whatever round you plan to carry anyways.

I like heavier bullets in pistols because the range that they are normally used is short and I prefer greater penetration. I shoot mostly 230 grain HP in my 45 ACP pistols.

Since I have 230 grain ball, that's what I shoot. It's easy to get and relatively inexpensive.

I shoot 230gr ball because it hits close to point of aim. If I choose to carry for self defense, I carry WW 230gr JHP in their self defense line. It's cheap, hits to point of aim, and still leaves .45 caliber hole if it doesn't expand.

It's like a sneeze that just couldn't get out. There, I'm fine now!

I'm using Hornady Critical Defense, 230 grainers, in my .45s and 124 grain bullets in my 9mm. In my opinion, the current crop of defensive offerings is so good that it probably doesn't matter what you use.

For .45acp, I use Speer Gold Dot .45 ACP 230 Grain HP - Period! My carry gun is a Springfield 1911 Champion Operator Commander 4" Barrel.

I'm a big fan of Federal HST round in most calibers and the +p load for short barrel 45 ACP guns. I did some research, not an in depth end all be all type of thing and found some interesting testing done with ballistic gel on youtube and also liked the lucky gunner balistic tests. Lucky gunner primarily because they used real world barrel lengths and have a wad of data in one place with photos of expansion and penetration depths. I'll post a link.

@buff, learned some new info. The round you mentioned was added to the chart below and a couple of others.

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self...c-tests/#45ACP

I carry Barnes TAC-XTP 185gr +P in all three of my 45s. Good penetration and performance. YMMV

__________________
Get off my lawn!

Strictly 230g because that's what it was design around. Back in the day the Army lowered it, but that was for their use. At it's conceptions it's 230 grain round.

With my .45 LC I shoot 250g, what it was design around.
And I make no compromises with either.

Lot of bad information floating around out there and Wikipedia is a mess of horse tales.

__________________
Mulebuk Sam and the Governor

I like Federal 165 gr. Hydra Shok for self defense, that is what I carry.

( The OP didn't mention extremely short bbls, or a need for minimal recoil, so I will discount those considerations.)

Back in the day, I used 185 +P , and Flying Ashtrays. Because back then they were best.

In recent decades, there are more excellent 230 jhps than you can shake a stick towrds. Commonality of poi with 230fmj tips the scales for one of them, unless you have a specific reason for somthing else.

If I'm not concerned with shooting thru car windshields, I'd probably use accuracy in my gun as deciding factor thru the top 10 or so premium 230jhp, instead of the slight differences in their terminal performance.

For that matter, I tested WWB 230 from 4.25 bbl using one of Jim Higginbotham's test protocols. It met his penetration goals ( deeper than I consider mandatory) , and expanded to .75 .

ps - Never say never, but I have yet to see a 230 jhp .45acp that was UNacceptable from a 4.25in or longer bbl.


( I think the bear load for .45acp comment was tongue in cheek, so I'll refrain.)

Any full power 460 S&W Magnum will do, as long as shot placement is good.

I LOVE THE 185GR JHP. THE OLD FEDERAL 45C. IT HAS THE HI-SHOK BULLET. THE HI-SHOK IS STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FEDERAL CLASSIC LINE. IT'S A GREAT PERFORMER. TODAY IT IS LISTED AT 950FPS. I HAVE A CASE FROM THE 80'S(PROPERLY STORED). BACK THAN IT WAS LISTED AT 1000 FPS, WHICH I HAVE VERIFIED VIA CHRONOGRAPH. BEST BALANCE OF RECOIL AND POWER FOR MY TASTE. JP

9mm speer gold dot
40S&W Federal hp's
45 acp 230 grain rn for practice and Winchester white box 230 grain JHP's. Frank

Post was prompted by the purchase of a new Shield 45 and 45 being a new caliber for me. Yes it is a short bbl handgun. Currently using Sig Sauer Elite v-crown hollow points at 185gr. The shield handles this load extremely well if you are speaking of recoil...(very little). I always used Federal HST in my 9mm or speer or hornady if HST not avail.

As stated the 45 is new for me so just trying to get a good understanding of results from lighter or heavier 45 ammo.

Thanks for the shout out......

The old reliable is Federal's 230-Gr. Hydra-Shok. Back when Marshall and
Sanow rated stopping power it was rated at 96% one shot stops. Up there
along with Remington's .357 125-Gr. Golden Saber and Federal's .40 S&W 155-Gr. Hydra Shok.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

These days it's hard to go wong with any factory hollowpoint. I like 230 grain for defense, on the theory that whether it expands or not, it's still a 230 grain .45 caliber bullet.

For general practice, plinking, etc. I load a 200 grain plated semi wadcutter over 4.0 Red Dot.