I am currently carrying Remington Golden Saber HPJ .45 ACP+P 185 grain brass jacketed hollow point. It cycles like a dream and the firearm seems to love it. But I was wondering is the 185 grain too lite of a round for a 4inch barrel to expand or should it be fine? What is everybody elses carry ammo for .45?

Speer gold dot 230 gr NOT +P. Nickname "flying ashtray".

Winchester silver-tip or my reloads.

If u get hit with any kind of 45 u are screwed. If you carry ---no reloads. Make it simple.

I use 200 gr SWC (h&g 68) cast at 1,000 fps for everything. Unless I'm using 230 gr ball (occasionally).

No need for anything fancy.

230gr Federal Tactical HST here..

Hornady Critical Duty 220gr +P. It packs a wallop!

Here is a link to an article by Bill Wilson wherein he discusses, among other things, ammo preference for a 4" 1911.

A Reliable Compact 1911 by Bill Wilson

If you like it, it works, and you are comfortable with it go with it.

Hornady Zombie Max 185 grain

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457; 3 x 9 Shield; 9c; 2 x 45c

230g Gold Dots here.

PRN for me. Stopping bad guys for over 100 years.

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Freedom isn't free.

185gr. Corbon +P,lotsa muzzle blast, but im sure theyre potent

I appreciate all the info gents. I use ball ammo most of the time, I'm just trying to get into hollow points but I don't really trust there expansion lol. YES I know if it expands its bigger Than the half inch hole lol and if it does expand its even bigger haha. Thanks for all the info pelham44

No. That was the Speer 200 grain hollow point. Your round is a better one, however.

Never knew that "flying ashtray" was 200 gr. Learned something new today. But in reality, I'd use any modern 230 gr non +P round. GARY

Groo here
I wish that you could get the blazer 200gr swc combat match.
It was about 900fps, long flat nose and fed in any 45 I tried.
Got a case laid back somewhere!!!!!!

For paper punching, 230gr FMJs and occasionally some SWCs. The SWCs make a dandy hole in the paper.

For carry 230gr in either Winchester Ranger-T or Federal HSTs. Both cycle well in my carry pieces, so it comes down to availability and price when I need some more.

Golden Saber 230gr HP. Works always.

Not the same to say for Remington UMC JHP, but I use that for range ammo, as it is the same price for me as ball at WalMart lately.

Sounds to me like you found the "right" ammo.

Not quite. The old CCI "Flying Ashtray" was, in fact, the 200gr .44 Special round. Not made anymore.

I carry Federal 45D in my 45c...easy to remember...

Almost right - it was a 200 grain .45ACP.

If the ammo works well in this pistol and you shoot it well, that's a major factor to consider - not broke, don't fix. Not sure if it passes the testing, but that is also something to consider. See Service Caliber Handgun Duty and Self-Defense Ammo.

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NHI, 10-8.

Speer Gold Dots 230 grain

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Bishop

Speer 230 gr Gold Dot Short Barrel. Made especially for Short Barrel firearms.

Watch tnoutdoors9 ballistics test videos on youtube.

I don't always carry a .45 ACP, but when I do, it is loaded with Federal 230 gr Hydra Shoks. Stay concealed, my friends.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

It was both 44 and 45. I carried it in my Charter Arms Bulldog.

K. They only one I recall is the 45, cuz Ayoob talked it up a lot back then. There is better technology now, of course; that's 20+ years ago.

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NHI, 10-8.

230 gr Gold Dots.

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SFC, US Army, Retired

Federal HST mostly, pretty much my go to round in 9/40/45. Still have a stash of Black Talons, though, and also some older Triton HiVel 165gr JHP's as well.

Shoots reliably in your gun, your gun likes it, and you like it? What's not to like. Read Bill Wilson's opinion on ammo in a 4" 1911, and I think you will find your ammo is just fine, in fact he recommends it. Don't try to find the magic bullet. It doesn't exist.

A Reliable Compact 1911 by Bill Wilson