M&p 45 ammo

[Alpharoth]

I am getting my M&P in a week, and I was wondering what is the best ammo for home defense that will not cost me an arm and a leg? its going to be my first 45.

 

[Hammerdown77]

Winchester Ranger, Speer Gold Dot, Remington Golden Saber. 230 grain JHP, standard pressure (not +P).

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php?cPath=23_76_122&sort=2a&filter_id=30

This place usually has great prices on Winchester Ranger Ammo. Disregard the "LE sale only", he will sell to you with a proof of age/ID. $27 per box of Ranger T is a great deal.
http://www.mahsupplies.net/

These aren't cheap, but this is your defense ammo, and should be primo stuff. You're not going to shoot it much other than to verify it feeds reliably in the gun, and to shoot every now and then to stay familiar with the recoil and point of impact relationship to the sights.

Whatever you choose, it MUST be 100% feed reliable in your gun. If that means only FMJ bullets, then that's what you use. The three JHPs I mention above function very well in my 1911s and a Sig 220, with the Golden Saber being the smoothest feeding and most accurate of the three.

In a pinch, the white box Winchester "defense" JHP are pretty good (the 230 grain version). These are the ones you can buy in a box of 50 at Wal-Mart for $27 or so. The shape of their hollow point bullet (the ogive) looks very similar to the Golden Saber, and they feed flawlessly in my guns. They are also darn near identical in recoil and POI/POA to the Golden Saber, too. I haven't chronographed them, but I'd guess the velocity is similar as well.

 

[40cal]

Winchester JHP white box or bonded PDX1 230 gr.

 

[LAYGO]

Winchester JHP white box or bonded PDX1 230 gr.

I have some of this & some Hornady in my 45c.

 

[Martya]

MidwayUSA for example has several versions and styles of Hornady SD ammo all under $20 for box of 20. for my 45 FS I have the 200gr XTP. I carry 2 mags with SD ammo, the other 3 are for range use, with cheaper ammo.

 

[knightimac]

Winchester white box 230 gr from walmart!

Good stuff cheap!

 

[bloodlord77]

Federal 230gr. Hydroshok jhp. Thats whats in my midsize 45 anyway.

 

[chuck s]

Here's a recommended list based on reliable penetration and expansion testing. Note the ammunition is with one exception 230gr. Hydra-Shok is obsolescent. I shoot Ranger-T (RA45T) in this caliber.

.45 ACP:
Barnes XPB 160 & 185 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal HST 230 gr JHP (P45HST2)
Federal HST 230 gr +P JHP (P45HST1)
Federal Tactical 230 gr JHP (LE45T1)
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr +P JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr JHP (RA45T)
Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr +P JHP (RA45TP)

Notes:
-- Obviously, clone loads using the same bullet at the same velocity work equally well (ie. Black Hills ammo using Gold Dot bullets, Corbon loads using Barnes XPB bullets, etc…)

-- Bullet designs like the Silver Tip, Hydra-Shok, and Black Talon were state of the art 15 or 20 years ago. These older bullets tend to plug up and act like FMJ projectiles when shot through heavy clothing; they also often have significant degradation in terminal performance after first passing through intermediate barriers. Modern ammunition which has been designed for robust expansion against clothing and intermediate barriers is significantly superior to the older designs. The bullets in the Federal Classic and Hydrashok line are outperformed by other ATK products such as the Federal Tactical and HST, as well as the Speer Gold Dot; likewise Winchester Ranger Talons are far superior to the old Black Talons or civilian SXT's.

Hydra-Shok works out of my M1911. Federal EFMJ ("squash head") does NOT. These were shot thru several denim layers:

Expansion in water mirrors expansion is tissue; penetration does not. Line up your milk jugs and see for yourself what expands (and what doesn't!).

-- Chuck

 

[Water-Man]

Whatever your choice, buy in boxes of fifty rounds. It's cheaper than buying in boxes of twenty.