[Lictalon]

My wife and I are looking for a good self-defense load for our 1911s. She has a 3'' Ultra Carry, I have the 4'' Compact...not that we need to carry the same load, of course.

Many of the sites I'm looking at have info from 2-3 years ago, and I know manufacturers are changing ammo all the time. I'd like something that would penetrate at least 12 inches; a bit more would be better. Expansion is good, but I'm willing to deal w/o it.

Thoughts?

[denfoote]

Most, if not all of your premium ammo is made to the FBI specifications, which specifies a penetration of 12-14 inches and an expansion of .50 times the original diameter.

In a short barreled pistol, I have the Glock 30, the lighter weight bullets SEEM to work better. Ammunition performance is NOT an exact science. There are just to many variables involved, some of them mutually exclusive, to design for.

The point of all this, distilled down, is that any of the premium rounds will do their appointed jobs. This leaves you to find out which one your particular gun "likes" in terms of bullet weight, shape, feeding characteristics, etc. For example, I have a Glock 29 (10mm) with a .40S&W barrel. The original 10mm barrel "likes" 180gr bullets, while the .40S&W prefers the 165gr.

Buy a bunch of different ones, go to the range, and have fun finding what your guns like!! Make a day of it!! :D

[10-Ring]

Modern ammo in a properly functioning firearm should easily meet or exceed your standard. As mentioned, just a variety of ammo & use whichever works best in your firearm.

[CWL]

Your expectations are outdated. You can expect better than this by using 185gr Remington Golden Sabers.

[sanchezero]

Ditto with the 185gr ammo. The word is it works better outta the itty bitty guns.

:cool:

[Lone_Gunman]

230g Hard Ball works fine out of everything.

Its going to be hard to pick a bad bullet in 45 acp.

[clubsoda22]

Aguila IQ. I have some for my 1911 and it is fast (1450fps fast). These bullets are made of aluminum (only 117 grains), so they do not expand per se. They break into 3-4 sharp pieces on contact with a soft target or, if you hit a hard target, like a car door or 3/4" bulletproof glass, it will collapse into a sharp point and penetrate. If you enjoy plate shooting watch out, i've heared of this stuff cracking steel plates (though you're still ok on an indoor range as the backers are not flat)

Bare gelatin, same effect noted through 8 layers of denim. click picture to link
http://www.aguilaammo.com/images/test1.jpg (http://www.aguilaammo.com/iq.htm)

Through 3/4 inch bulletproof glass. Click picture to link.
http://www.aguilaammo.com/images/test3.jpg (http://www.aguilaammo.com/iq.htm)

[Ala Dan]

Surprise!:uhoh: How about the old standard pressure
Remington 185 grain JHP's? :rolleyes: :D They
sure seem to work well in SIG's!;)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[tbeb]

I like the Federal Hydra-Shok 230 gr. JHP.

[PCRCCW]

In the shorter barrel guns the velocity loss is not what would concern me...its reliability. If you have shot the guns enough to know they will run" no matter what..then your alright with most ammo these days.

Federal HydraS or Tactical, Speer Dots, Sabers, Corbon etc...all produce great carry loads. If you have ANY questions about feeding get Corbon
Powerball ammo. Like an expanding full metal jacket of sorts...and will feed in EVERYTHING...better than most FMJ's because of a better bullet profile. From a 5" barrel the stuff clocks at 1300FPS in 165 gr and doesnt lose alot in shorter ones also.

Shoot well.

[Lictalon]

Thanks for the replies...apparently things have changed since 1999, heh?

[Pumpkinheaver]

I like the 165 hydra shok for in the house. I keep my kimber loaded with 200gr cor bon's the rest of the time.

[Snowdog]

All my 1911s and other .45acp's are fed 230gr Remington Golden Sabers.
Expansion should be there, but there's no doubt penetration will too.