[priv8ter]

Alas, after a trip to the range and some negative feeding experience's with Winchester Silvertips, and some research into expansion problems of hollow points from short-barreled .45's, I have decided that I am willing to risk my life on .45 ACP FMJ.

That being said, I was wondering if all FMJ .45 loads are created for use as target fodder, or if there are some ammo companies that produce FMJ loads with self-defense in mind.

And, if someone made a 185gr hardball load, that might even be the best for the 3.5 inch barrel of my Firestorm Mini .45.

Thanks folks...
:D

Greg

[B Coyote]

I believe Winchester is producing a 185 grain FMJ. The last time I saw it was at a local shop, last year. IIRC, it was a special order for a customer with a 3" Kimber.

I've found that most 230 grain FMJ loads are created similar. Remington, Winchester and Federal all gave me similar results in my 5" Kimber. If one is really BETTER than the other...I couldn't tell.

FWIW, I use Winchester White Box 230 grain JHP in my 3" Kimber. If I have to use it in an unhappy social occasion, I'm plugging the target with a 230 grain bullet...if it expands, great. If not...the bullet is the equivalent of a FMJ anyway...

Regards,
bc:)

[sm]

I'm surprised the 185 STHP's didn't feed.

These tend to feed when nothing else will...IME even when FMJ wouldn't feed. Execptions are guns that have shorter than commander bbl ( like 3.5" 1911 style) which tend to have problems anyway) or some shade tree tinkering.

165 gr and up avail from Rem
185 gr and up avail from Win and Fed.

See Proload, Gray Area Ammo, Corbon ... etc for additional listings...HTH

[priv8ter]

re1973:

The problem with the 185gr STHP's was the first round...it usually took three attempts to convince the round to chamber. The rest of the magazine would then function fine.

I have heard of some folks that keep Ball as the first round in thier mags, backed up by Hollow Points, but I'm an all or nothing guy. To quote from my nuclear power background: 'It doesn't matter if you are right or wrong, just be consitent.'

What I really need to do is some expansion testing, to see if I will even get any expansion out of a hollow point with my gun. But for right now though, until the gun is broken in more, I'm using FMJ...just don't have full confidence in the fancy stuff yet.

[sm]

I'm no expert [shocked huh] ;)

Sounds like a problem that those smarter than I can steer you through. In a 1911 I look at the mag lips, how high mag sits in relation to FP.,ejector, extractor ...blah blah. Follower on mag...

I mainly just shoot the durn things. STHP I have used for ever because a long time ago not a lot of choices, it always fed. I use in 45ACP, 9mm, 38 spl. My main use is "indoor occasions". I use the "shoot dirt" method of testing, killed critters, I do weird stuff like shoot walls,floors, ceilings, car doors with a lot of different loads [an controlled enviroment]

My 'social loads" sometimes are the 185 STHP, I'd have to look but I either have some SXT's or some home brews, In my 1911, CCW. I check all carry ammo a min of 500 rds before I carry it. I focus on reliable everyrtime with said gun, then accuracy POA/POI.

Let us know, I still think its a gun dealie/not ammo.

Hardball: Winchester White box, Federal Classic,or AE and I really have liked the Fiocchi...I actually found them less $ than the white box --Fiocchi makes a good rd.

[themic]

tried Corbon pow'R'ball?

[TheMariner]

hmmm... I say hardball is hardball... infact, I generally trust my life more to a FMJ flatnose round in .40S&W or FMJ ball in .45 than JHP... I honestly don't think I have to worry about over-penetration and expansion is nice but not neccessary... the only thing I shoot JHP is .38/.357 and lower, where there's plenty of speed and JHP is a great preformance enhancer for damage...

I've never had a failure to feed in my .40S&W on FMJ... and that's what I like.

[Dobe]

I have decided that I am willing to risk my life on .45 ACP FMJ.

I personally do not see a problem with depending on hardball for defense in a .45 ACP.

[Chipperman]

For your average ball ammo, S&B is hotter than a lot of the other brands.

I'd feel perfectly happy carrying S&B .45 FMJ for defense.

[1911Tuner]

if the first round feeding issue occurs during a slidelock
load/reload, try chambering the first round in the mag
by inserting it into the pistol that is in battery and racking
the slide. Don't ride the slide...let it fla at full speed. !911's
are designed to feed that way.

The slide dragging backward on the round tends to "nose" it
upward a little, and give it a slightly straighter angle into
the barrel throat. You don't get that from slidelock.

Another likely cause is that the slide is slowing down on the
top round due to more drag caused by higher tension from
the magazine spring. This will produce the same effect as
riding the slide into battery, and the round just brings it to a
halt, or it doesn't have the "oomph" to force it up the hill
and break it over to horizontal. Again, a slingshot loading
gives the slide a little better running start, because it starts
from a little farther back.

Try loading the top round via slingshot, and see what it does.
The fact that all other rounds feed indicates that the magazine
is probably okay.

Some hardball is "harder" than others, but the difference will
be slight. PMC runs toward the high end of the scale in my
experience, but the target won't know the difference between
800fps and 850. Original GI hardball specs called for a 234
grain bullet at 830, plus/minus 25 fps. Most commercial 230 grain
loadings will fall in that range.

Keep us posted,
Tuner