Favorite Ammo for the 45 Shield

Remington U.M.C. 230 gr FMJ (bulk) for the range, and for home defense Ruger ARX or Hornady Critical Defense 185 gr Flex Tip (NJ laws don't like hollow points for us law abiding civilians).
 
I have carried 230 grain ball ammo in a 1911-A1 for self-defense, and never felt the least bit vulnerable.
 
For practice I use the cheaper ball, brass ammo whatever weight. For self defense I use whatever I can get that's FBI approved. That cuts the chase for me.
 
I usually use 230 GR Federal Value Pack for practice. We stopped into Walmart yesterday before our last range practice of 2017, to pick up ammo for pistols and sporting clays, and the only Federal they had was aluminum.

I had never seen this before. The box looks almost identical to the brass, and I almost didn't even notice the difference when the guy put it on the counter. It was about $3 or $4 cheaper than my usual brass, so I figured I would try it.

I already had about 80 rounds of Federal brass left over from last time, and when we arrived at the range, I ran that through my Shield as usual, with no issues.

Then I loaded up both mags with the new Aluminum, and immediately started having FTF's, starting with the first round. Happened about 3 or 4 times as I shot through the hundred round box.

In every case, the round never left the mag. Easy to overcome, just slingshot into the chamber and all rounds fired and ejected normally. I liked the price, but I won't be buying the aluminum again.

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I use 230 grain FMJ for carry. I don't understand the near universal desire for hollow point ammo in a .45 ACP. Penetration is its only weak point, so I do not understand why anyone would want to further lessen 45 ACP penetration by using hollow points. What am i missing here?

About 35 years ago I bought my first 45; a Colt Series 70. I loaded it with FMJ ammo and took it out to my uncle's woods behind the barn, where he had a bunch of old cars. I saw an early 50's Pontiac there and decided to let 'er rip on one of the doors. After emptying a magazine, I walked up the the car and was stunned to see that some of the bullets did not penetrate the door! From then on I have been very aware that the 45 needs all the penetration it can get.
 

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