Best .45 ACP Ball

[CCantu357]

Something that I have been wondering for while now is what is the best quality factory .45 ACP FMJ? While obviously bullet design is the same, I cannot help but notice but .45 ball is of lower grade and has less quality control than the JHP SD rounds. I would say the Hornady .45 ball would be best, but its now out of production. Black Hills seems quite good as well. Are they any others out there? Most seem to be mostly range quality ammo, such as Blazer, and the good match ammo around seems to be SWC.

 

[murphydog]

I have read good things about the Federal 185 and 230 gr Match loads, but for range purposes I use the cheap stuff too .

 

[MichiganScott]

I shoot Winchester White Box. I like the brass for reloading and my 1911 eats it without complaints.

It is the original Winchester "Train and Defend". It hits the same place on target as their cheap JHP, which doesn't cost much more. Even if it didn't expand, it would still leave a .45 caliber hole.

 

[MJFlores]

Well, I'm a reloader so when I do buy loaded rounds, I primarily buy for the brass. Of all, I like Speer's 230 gr ball ammo. It shoots clean, and you get great large primer brass when done. I like Blazer too but that stuff seems to be small primer so I go for the Speer. I recently got a great deal on Nosler's new hp ammo, a bit cheaper than Speer and probably better brass (lg primer also), but it did shoot very dirty. Look around for that Nosler stuff, it was priced very low which I assume is intro pricing...I paid 24 bucks a box , 50 in the box with Nosler 230 grain HP's and Nosler cases which are rumored to be manufactured by Norma.

 

[Arik]

I agree with Watchdog

I haven't noticed a difference. One may be great in one gun but not another. I shoot them all and they are all about the same. Maybe a little more accurate in one gun vs another but generally not enough for me to justify any sort of brand loyalty.

 

[chaparrito]

I've had several FTEs with white box in my very un-picky SW 1911. I usually shoot reloads but had let my stock dwindle down. My son came home for father's day and wanted to go shooting so I picked up some Remington green box at Walmart. I liked it but good lord the brass was flying all over the place. One case flies 20 feet off into the bushes and the next one dings me in the forehead.

 

[Hapworth]

Agreed with Watchdog, too; I avoid steel case and Eastern European/Russian brands, but otherwise I've found all factory fresh FMJ from a dozen different makers to be comparably good.

 

[BE Mike]

Any of the match ball .45 ACP ammo is accurate and high quality. Some brands that come to mind are Federal and ASYM. The trouble is you have to pay big bucks for it. Unless you are a bullseye pistol shooter and shoot in CMP matches, American Eagle should be as good as you need. The best way to get quality .45 ACP ball ammo at a reasonable price is to reload. The Sierra bullet and Starline brass would be a good place to start.

 

[poorjohnny]

i noticed my remington cases often start cracking after one or two reloads
i think thats why i don't have any left. cheap is fine your just shootin dirt.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

The one difference I have noticed is the shape of the bullets ogive, some are more blunt than others. In a 1911 (depending on the gun) sometimes the blunt ogive will bump the slide stop on the way up and lock the slide. A easy fix but something to pay attention to!

 

[K-22]

Corrosive??

Well, this is just my opinion, okay?

I don't think there's a hair's difference among any/all of them.

I shoot Blazer, Mag Tech, Remington UMC, Federal, Lillier & Bellot, Remington, and whatever other inexpensive 230-grain FMJ I can find. Range quality? Well yeah, sure, but what's wrong with that?

I shoot this ammo in three different 1911s and a Glock 30SF. Never had a failure to fire, a squib, or any other problem with the stuff. It all works and it all hits the target where I want it to hit. What more could I ask? And at anywhere from $10 to $12 for a box of 50, I'm not worried about price.

Lots of shooters look down their noses at the 230-grain FMJ. It's too slow, it's corrosive, it doesn't expand, quality is inconsistent, blah blah blah quack quack quack. Keep in mind, though, that this ammo is and has been a certified man-stopper for over a century, long before any of the boutique ammo was here.

Really, as far as I'm concerned, you should get the same basic results from any of it. It's just whatever you like.

If it is corrosive, you must have some really old ammo. Also, where are you finding it for the prices you quoted?
I would buy a bunch at those prices.

Best,
Gary

 

[CCantu357]

Thanks for all the replies. I do notice most .45 FMJ is pretty much the the same. I stay away from much of the super cheap import ammo. I just was wondering what might be the best brand of .45 Ball to use if necessary as defensive round. I find that .45 ball has its place and in some cases, older 1911s feed better with ball. I suppose some of the value brands scare me off with soft primers issues I have had in the past, and I still do not like the idea of small pistol primers on the .45 - but that is probably just me.

 

[federali]

Reload?

If you'e a reloader, six grains of AA2 yields 876 FPS in a 5" barrel. This is slightly warmer than factory 230 grain ball but certainly not +P. 6.5 grains of Unique yielded 822 FPS. Factory ball is normally listed as 830 FPS.