What's in your defensive 1911... FMJ or JHP?

[MrJT]

I've been doing a lot of research into a 1911 purchase.

I have personally experienced feeding issues with JHP in two 1911s I've tried recently. With some research I've seen this is somewhat common.

I also have seen that a lot of people run FMJ in their 1911s.

So out of curiosity, what do you choose to load in your 1911?

FMJ or JHP?

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

I run JHPs. I use 230 grain speer gold dots in my Metro Arms American Classic Commander. I use 124 grain +p underwood bonded JHPs in my RIA GI 1911 in 9mm.

 

[Watchdog]

I've been doing a lot of research into a 1911 purchase. I have personally experienced feeding issues with JHP in two 1911s I've tried recently.

I'd be curious to know which brands of 1911.

I've never experienced that problem, but some 1911s do need a bit of polishing on the feed ramp.

And you're talking about feeding problems, specifically, right? Not ejection problems, not a stovepipe problem?

And frankly, it may not be the pistol's fault. Some JHP ammo seems to be more aggressively (for lack of a better word) hollow pointed than others. One brand might fail to feed, while another has no problems at all.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't let any prior feeding problems stop me from buying a 1911 if I wanted another one. They're great pistols with a long history.

 

[lebomm]

When I carried my Argentine M1927, she was stoked with a late Colt 8-rd magazine full of 230gr hardball.

Larry

 

[Cyrano]

My Series 70, Combat Commander and RIA Compact carry Federal 230 gr HPs. I've shot a few in each pistol (those things are expensive!) but all three pistols also feed 180 gr cast SWCs for practice, so I'm pretty sure they'll feed JHPs.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Springfield Loaded. Federal HST 230. No issues.

In years past, the only 1911's that I had feed issues with were budget models in the $500 range. Most of the time polishing the feed ramp cured the problem.

Corbin Powrball is always a good option too.

 

[Arik]

Springfield TRP 230 Gold Dot

 

[Protected One]

ALL my defensive firearms are loaded with JHP. In most cases it's Hornady Critical Defense (or Critical Duty). No issues.

 

[cmort666]

I carry NOTHING but hollowpoints, JHPs for 9x19mm, 40S&W and .45acp, and lead HP-SWC in .38/.357.

I don't have an unlimited pot of public money to pay off judgments from through and throughs.

 

[Absalom]

You really can't generalize. There are so many different versions from various manufacturers out there now that any general statement about "THE 1911" is pretty meaningless.

During most of the 1911 design's prime time, ball was king with autoloaders because all brands had issues with hollow points. That's how people like Bill Wilson got into the business of making 1911's more reliable.

These days, a lot of companies like Kimber, Springfield and Smith&Wesson build features originally developed by the "customizers" into their off-the-shelf pistols.

FMJ ball .45 was king when all other pistol calibers used ball, too. Fish stories from the old days non-withstanding, there is no evidence I'm aware of that it's a particularly effective self-defense round compared to modern JHP designs in any other caliber.

When I still carried 1911's, I loaded them with Black Talons and later Federal Hydrashoks. It would not have occurred to me to depend for my life on a gun that could only be trusted with FMJ. So my recommendation would be (and of course it's my opinion only), if you want to use the 1911 for self defense and/or carry, buy a 1911 model that can handle JHP, and test it with the best ammo you want to carry until you're sure it does.

 

[Mainsail]

230gr HSTs in my Sig Carry Nightmare.

 

[Laketime]

185gr.jhp, standard and plus p.Ball is only for range sessions.

 

[hoc9sw]

230g Remington Golden Saber JHP for carry in my 1943 mfg Remington Rand 1911. It is the closest profile to FMJ, and is 100% reliable for me. It also works in my other 1911 .45s, so I use that in all.

FMJ is the preferred round, but with today's environment, it is my range ammo, may be home defense, but never CC.

 

[Joe A.]

My SA range officer compact that I carry every day is loaded gold dots. The Colt GM setting my desk in front of me is loaded with hst. The SA xdm is loaded with with Ranger T. The SA Loaded is loaded with fmj hand loads and the Colt GCNM is not loaded.

 

[tops]

200 gr. SWC. It can do anything but speak Spanish. Defense, offense, glass busting, tin can killing and paper punching. Larry

 

[Rastoff]

200gr FMJ hardball ammo. Stopping threats since 1911.

 

[Fishinfool]

When I carry a 1911 concealed for self defense, its usually a Kimber Ultra 3 inch shorty, loaded with 230 grain Winchester Ranger bonded. Reliable, and they show good expansion. What's not to like?

Larry

 

[ISCS Yoda]

200gr FMJ hardball ammo. Stopping threats since 1911.

Rastoff, that's not quite correct - I think it's 230 grain FMJ hardball - and that's milspec ammo and the Geneva convention rules - or Hague convention - I can't recall, mostly because I don't care - but you don't need to be sending that kind of ammo at your perpetrating opponent who has who knows what behind him in terms of innocent bystanders. Or hasa drywall behind him and a baby's room is next. You want expanding ammunition.

If I carried a 1911, which I surely will not, I'd be using Remington Golden Saber or something along those lines. My CS-45 likes that ammo. It likes 230 grain hardball, too, but I only use that at the range.

 

[alwslate]

I haven't carried my only 1911, Series 70 Colt Government model, for
many years now. Back when I bought it in the 70s I used to carry it
some but mostly in open carry when outdoors. Like many 1911s it
had a few feed failures when new and tight. It worked much better
after some break in rounds and polishing the feed ramp and barrel
throat. It is very reliable now but the only ammo I ever carried with
and will carry with is 230 gr FMJ.

 

[Chipmunk6]

Federal Guard Dog 165g
C6

 

[MrJT]

I'd be curious to know which brands of 1911.

I have two friends who like their 1911s. One has a Colt which he says is still a work in progress, the other has a Kimber. Both failed to feed hollow points properly. Not constantly, but more than I've ever had with any other auto loader, which got me thinking.

 

[wheelyfun66]

Nothing but JHP 230 gr ammo in my Colt

 

[ABNRGR]

JHP in !911

Winchester PDX1 Defender 230 grain JHP in Sig-Sauer Compact C3 with Crimson Trace Laser Grips, Night Sights and Magazine Well. Powerful, reliable, tack-driver.

 

[F75gunslinger]

Hornady critical defense JHP in my Sig 1911...feeds with no issue.

 

[gmiller0737]

In My Stainless Officers ACP I carry Remington 230 grain BJHP's

 

[cmort666]

I carry 200gr. JHPs in my .45s.

I started with Hornady TAP, but they stopped making the 200gr. .45s.

I switched to 200gr. Speer Gold Dots, since I haven't found anybody local with any quantity of Hornady 200gr. XTP.

 

[TeaDub]

I voted "other".

I only carry my Springfield Champion Operator in the cooler months. When carried, it is loaded with Federal HST. Many times, one of my backup magazines is loaded with FMJ. My Champion is still pretty new (w/ around 500 rounds). In a SD situation it is highly unlikely that I'd need those extra magazines. If I have to go to it, Mr Murphy may have reared his head with a malfunction. The second mag filled with FMJ would lessen the chances of another. Also, if I actually need that many rounds for SD, a little extra penetration may be a good thing. Perhaps I will shift to all HST at some point. My Springfield hasn't bobbled once.

While I am very particular about ammo choice with my 642 or my 9mm's. The 45 has a long track record and I shoot the 1911 better than my striker guns.

YMMV

 

[Rangerpat]

My Colt Government Model Series 70 is stoked with Remington HD Ultimate Home Defense 45 AUTO 230 gr. "brass jacketed hollow point bullets for maximum stopping power" (that's what the box says ).

 

[CH4]

Dan Wesson CCO with Hornady 185 grain FTX Critical Defense. FYI: by definition these are not JHPs, that's why I posted other. They are also legal in jurisdictions where hollow point ammo is illegal, e.g., New Jersey.

 

[ladder13]

230 gr Golden Sabers