animalmother
Member
First time I ever heard or read the term was in connection to the Speer 200gr JHP bullet.
Flying Ashtrays
- Thread starter photocosmo
- Start date
Erich
Member
Yes, back in the '80s.
GatorFarmer
Member
It's not the worst idea. Hell, it's what I do with .45s. Caveat being that my current 1911 is a Series 70 Colt that left the factory when I was about four years old and JHPs were not exactly a well developed item.
But anyway, a guy could do a lot worse than stacking boxes of FMJ to the ceiling and running with it.
I'm going to add my 2 cents to this thread, as I have some experience with this bullet.
The "flying ashtray" was a moniker given to the Speer 200gr JHP by various gun mag writers back in the 80's. It was available as a bullet Speer part#4477 or in the Speer Lawman factory ammo part#3965(25 cartridges to the yellow plastic box.)
These rounds were touted as a good stopper, but perhaps more importantly, they were the best test for a properly throated 1911 in 45ACP. If your 1911 would reliably feed and shoot this round, they would shoot any load.
For you guys that have some of these discontinued bullets to play with......the factory Lawman cartridges had a COL of 1.153". My most accurate handload was with 7.0gr of VV-N340. This was the max loading from Speer Manual#12 and chrono 940fps in my Colt Combat Government 5". I don't know why Speer stopped making these, but I'm sure that these bullets would be a superlative stopper in a 45AR +P loading launched from the 625 platform. I still have a bunch of these........I'm thinking this round has 1100 fps potential with the right powder from a 5" 625. That should be a nice thumper!
The "flying ashtray" was a moniker given to the Speer 200gr JHP by various gun mag writers back in the 80's. It was available as a bullet Speer part#4477 or in the Speer Lawman factory ammo part#3965(25 cartridges to the yellow plastic box.)
These rounds were touted as a good stopper, but perhaps more importantly, they were the best test for a properly throated 1911 in 45ACP. If your 1911 would reliably feed and shoot this round, they would shoot any load.
For you guys that have some of these discontinued bullets to play with......the factory Lawman cartridges had a COL of 1.153". My most accurate handload was with 7.0gr of VV-N340. This was the max loading from Speer Manual#12 and chrono 940fps in my Colt Combat Government 5". I don't know why Speer stopped making these, but I'm sure that these bullets would be a superlative stopper in a 45AR +P loading launched from the 625 platform. I still have a bunch of these........I'm thinking this round has 1100 fps potential with the right powder from a 5" 625. That should be a nice thumper!
bmcgilvray
Member
Various ballistic "non-tests" seemed to indicate to me that the mighty flying ashtray gave uneven expansion performance when I tested them in hand loads back then. I'd determined that they were overrated.
Speer 200 grain "flying Ashtray" over 8.5 grains VV-N350, trimmed Rem 45 AR brass, Fed 150 primer and a "hard" Redding profile crimp gets about 1020 fps from well broke in 4 in 625 Mt Gun. Have about 800 left of these bullets to play with, as they used to come in 350 piece "value packs"
Also use them for 45 LC with 231.
Also use them for 45 LC with 231.
norad45
Member
FWIW, I recall a Jan Libourel article in G&A back in the early '90's where he discussed factory handgun ammo. If I remember right the data he quoted had the CCI Lawman load with this bullet giving 85% one shot stops in actual street shootings, which put it 2nd or maybe 3rd best among then-current .45 ACP, and well ahead of ball (63%). I was suitably impressed and bought some for reloading. Always cycled fine in my Colt. I'm sure it has since been outclassed by newer offerings.
uncle norman
Member
I've read mostly good about the Speer Gold Dots. Being bonded and able to hold together through barriers, auto glass and other obstacles might not sound important for a civilian like myself but I'm betting if I ever have to pull the trigger it will be a weird angle shot that may have to penetrate lengthwise through an arm or leg and still get into the chest. I don't want a spectacluar splatter on an arm that just really pisses somebody off. As a result I load my wife's 642 with the 135gr +P, my .357 with the 135gr Short Barrel, my .40 with 180gr and .45 with 230gr.
whelenshooter
Member
Since the old 200 grain .45 Caliber Speer JHP was called the "Flying Ashtray", the .44 caliber 200 grain Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point should be called the "Flying Dutch Oven" or "Flying Soup Bowl"! It has a hollow point big and deep enough to boil water or make a batch of chili!
swamp creature
Member
Back when I was a kid, I had a real foul mouth for an adolescent. I was constantly dodging flying ashtrays until Dad quit smoking.
