Just remember that those gelatin penetration results do not factor in skin elasticity and bone - just a somewhat simulated "tissue" and there again, everyone's muscle tissue is different...yep, I'm saying a standard velocity 230 FMJ is not over penetrative with a solid torso hit...and remember any bullet can over penetrate with peripheral hits. I've noticed that most of the 230 JHP ammo has a higher velocity compared to the FMJ versions...I'm sure that is to help whatever expansion it might get but for that fact and also since it isn't a completely round nosed bullet if it doesn't expand, it may just be to help it penetrate enough....hmmm, something to think about.
Don't get me wrong, if your pistol will function with a JHP and you have some by all means use them, but as has been said, a 230 FMJ will do it's part if you do yours. A possible benefit of a hollowpoint in a .45 is the edge that the hollowpoint has whether it expands or not, it may just cause a cut in some vessel or it to catch the edge of a bone that it would have gotten by as a FMJ...now, would that have been enough to make a difference overall...there are just too many variables to ever know...but then again, a wadcutter profile does have an advantage over a round nose profile.
I believe that the shorter the barrel, the more the 230 FMJ is beneficial...such as in a 3 or 3.5 inch short stroker so that it will have adequate penetration and be more feed friendly too....seems to me putting a lighter weight, high velocity +P hollowpoint round in a short barrel .45 is just asking for a lack of adequate penetration, not to mention being harder to control....now a standard pressure 185 grain should be easier to control, but then again, will it penetrate enough....and not knowing exactly what will be needed of your bullet as far as adequate penetration goes, in this case, you have to remember that just like money, ammo, friends, and fun; there ain't no such a thing as too much and it's way better than not enough...so it may just be best to stick with a good 'ol FMJ in those little rascals
Here's what I'm thinkin': For a 5 inch barrel, use a 185, 200, or 230 grain standard (or +P HP if it makes you feel better) pressure hollowpoint or FMJ load that your pistol likes and be confident......For a 4 or 4.5 inch barrel, use a 200 grain HP or a 200 or 230 FMJ and be confident....for a 3 or 3.5 inch barrel, use a 230 FMJ and be confident...the longer barrels give the lighter bullets their speed and the shorter the barrel, the more the heavier bullets momentum helps the needed penetration....as a parting note; I reload a lot of my .45s with lead bullets and if I was to ever have to use one of my loads in self defense, I think that some of my 200 grain SWCs or 230 Lead Round Noses out of one of my 5 inch guns or even the 230 LRN out of my short stroker would get the job done as well as anything as long as I do my part...
As usual, YMMV