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Does 230 grain JHP bullets reliable expand most of the time ?
.45 ACP
- Thread starter jimmyj
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Assuming you mean for defensive use, the better ones do, at least when fired from a barrel that is at least 4" Of course nothing is guaranteed.
Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Wichester Ranger are good choices in my experience. Hornady Critical Duty may be good as well. There are probably lots of others that are good that I am unaware. Older design bullets were less consistent.
Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Wichester Ranger are good choices in my experience. Hornady Critical Duty may be good as well. There are probably lots of others that are good that I am unaware. Older design bullets were less consistent.
nachogrande
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45 ACP, NO MAS.
YES, but they have to want to expand. Does it really matter?
About the only animal shot bullet I've recovered was a 45 ACP 230gr Federal Hydrashok from a 100 lb hogs head. Just under the skin on the off side it expanded fully & retained it's wt.
YES, but they have to want to expand. Does it really matter?
About the only animal shot bullet I've recovered was a 45 ACP 230gr Federal Hydrashok from a 100 lb hogs head. Just under the skin on the off side it expanded fully & retained it's wt.
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stansdds
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Years ago, expansion was an "iffy" thing with subsonic velocity and in 45ACP the best round was the old Speer 200 gr JHP. This was the bullet that was called "the flying ashcan". It was very blunt, short, and had a very wide cavity. These bullets could also give a 1911 fits when it came to feeding in a reliable manner. Then came the Federal 230 gr HydraShok load. Of all of Federal's HydraShok pistol bullets, I think the 45 ACP was the best of that breed.
Fast forward to today and we have some really good options. I'd say that the Federal HST and Winchester Ranger T 230 gr hollow point loads are excellent and have a good reputation. The Speer Gold Dot and Remington Golden Saber 230 gr hollow points are also good performers.
I do feel that a barrel of 4 inches or more is best for the 45 ACP if want the bullets to reliably expand.
Fast forward to today and we have some really good options. I'd say that the Federal HST and Winchester Ranger T 230 gr hollow point loads are excellent and have a good reputation. The Speer Gold Dot and Remington Golden Saber 230 gr hollow points are also good performers.
I do feel that a barrel of 4 inches or more is best for the 45 ACP if want the bullets to reliably expand.
chief38
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Speer Gold Dots seem to expand fine - but I doubt ANY bullet expands 100% of the time.
Of course one of the greatest attributes of the .45acp is that it's almost a 1/2" in diameter to start with therefore while expansion would be icing on the cake - the .45 acp slug is heavy, big and would more than likely do the job with zero expansion. If I had to rely on one FMJ (no hollow point) to get he job done it would be the 230 grain .45 acp!
I rarely carry a 1911 anymore, but on the seldom occasion when I do I use the 230 grain FMJ American Eagle (890 fps) and am not concerned about expansion. Reliability with the AE has been 100% over many many years!
Of course one of the greatest attributes of the .45acp is that it's almost a 1/2" in diameter to start with therefore while expansion would be icing on the cake - the .45 acp slug is heavy, big and would more than likely do the job with zero expansion. If I had to rely on one FMJ (no hollow point) to get he job done it would be the 230 grain .45 acp!
I rarely carry a 1911 anymore, but on the seldom occasion when I do I use the 230 grain FMJ American Eagle (890 fps) and am not concerned about expansion. Reliability with the AE has been 100% over many many years!
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