[the pistolero]

Hey folks, I guess this is the newbie in me coming out again -- but as y'all might remember, I recently picked up a Kimber Tactical Ultra II, .45acp with a 3-inch barrel. I plan to use it as my carry gun when I get my CHL here in the next couple of months (if the money situation works out). My question is, what kind of ammunition would be best to load it with? I know that with that 3" barrel, you lose a fair bit of muzzle velocity -- I've seen a rule of thumb that for every inch you take off the barrel you lose about 50 fps (thanks, GeekWithA.45) -- and that with a shorter-barreled gun like the Kimber you could (indeed, have to) drop down to 200- or 185-grain +P ammunition to maintain the energy levels you need. Any of you have a similar carry gun? What do you use?

[SHOOT1SAM]

www.doubletapammo.com

Superb quality ammunition at top velocities.

Sam

[carnaby]

I had a Kimber Ultra Carry II. Loved it. It really liked Remington Golden Sabers. It was extremely accurate for such a short barrel. It didn't like reloads made with Speer Gold Dot bullets though. The Golden Sabers have a rounder profile that fed very well. The Gold Dots would sometimes stick to the feed ramp, not good. Factory Gold Dot ammo might have worked better, but I never tried it, since Golden Sabers are superb SD ammo. You can get them in +P too, but I don't know if the little Kimber is up to it. I think Springfield recommends +P only in their full size 1911's, couldn't find any info on the Kimber in that regard.

[Ken Rainey]

I've just recently acquired an Ultra Eclipse and talked to a custom shop representative that carried one also. They carried 230 FMJ. If hollowpoints were tried, they recommended Golden Sabers or Hydra Shoks and said Rangers should be ok. They did not recommend Gold Dot or CorBon. I'm probably gonna stick with the 230 FMJ and may try some 185s like Silver Tips or Golden Sabers in standard pressure - something with a feed friendly profile - if they are more accurate - not for expansion. Expansion is iffy in full size guns and I have no dillusions of it happening in a short stroker...actually, expansion would be a bad thing out of these short barrels because of the lower velocity thus reducing the needed penetration....+P ammo is not recommended.

[the pistolero]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Carnaby, I read in the Springfield 1911 manual that +P ammo was only recommended for their full-size 1911s as well, so I'll keep that in mind for the Kimber. I was wondering about the penetration and expansion for hollow-points myself, with the considerable reduction of muzzle velocity out of the 3" barrel...

[carnaby]

Yeah, the reduced muzzle velocity is why I sold mine. Now when I carry a compact I've got my Bersa "Thunder" .380 :p

Kinda dumb really, since a 3" .45 is still going to blow away, so to speak, a .380 auto. I carry a full size 1911 if I'm not worried about concealment too much. I'd really like a 1911 with the 4" or so barrel and a compact grip. That'd do.

[M2 Carbine]

Kimber Tactical Ultra II

Aguila IQ= 1280fps
Federal 230gr Hydro Shock= 787fps
Winchester 185gr Silvertip= 866fps
1942 GI 230gr FMJ= 745fps
Remington 185gr Golden Saber= 888fps
Speer Gold Dot 200gr= 967fps

If you do your part the 3 inch barrel will get it done.:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/kimber_tu_50_yards_3.jpg

[TOADMAN]

Speer makes a 230gr JHP 45 ACP specifically for short barrels...Great self defense ammo.