.45 acp self defense ammo of choice for full size gun?

[AcceptableUserName]

I have a Sig p220 and FNP-45 and am kind of favoring Hydrashok and Starfire 230 Gr JHP as the round of choice for them. Both guns seem to feed everything I've put through them just fine, along with my Glock 30 I had. What do you like in your full size .45 and why? I like the big 230 gr. but boutique brands like Cor Bon and RCBD seem to have seem interesting lighter products that have some impressive ballistics. Also, does anyone know if my guns are or are not rated for +P ammo?

 

[Kangspec]

federal hst

 

[ChristopherG]

I'm under the impression that the 230 gr. Gold Dot is the Gold Standard in .45 acp bullets these days--though another bonded bullet might be just as good. Bonded options include, what--the Golden Saber, Winchester Ranger... any others?

 

[AcceptableUserName]

can someone explain how bonded comes into play and what the difference between a non-bonded and bonded bullet is?

 

[Dr.Rob]

Federal 230gr Hydrashocks.

 

[jpwilly]

Gold Dot and Fed Hydrashok are a couple of the best.

Me I shoot and the standard HP stuff.
1. because the odds of me getting into a firearms related pissing match are very very low
2. because the cost of premium SD ammo is outrageous.
3. It's a freaking .45" already!

 

[sidheshooter]

Much as per jpwilly above. The standard pressure 230 gr. high-tech bullets seem to be the cat's meow (at least on someone else's issue/dime).

I'm a WWB 230 jhp sort of guy for .45, on my own budget. It's good enough.

 

[purebred]

Winchester Ranger RA45
Bonded bullets dont break apart ( Copper Jacket breaks away from leadcore)

 

[powermad]

From what I have seen others post on the FNP45, they don't like the federal HST. Turns into a jamomatic.
I load mine with Rem GS 230 for SD, just because I bought a bunch of it when ammo was reasonable and my gun likes it.

Got a shload of Rem UMC 230 JHP also. Same reason.
If the first one or 2 rounds don't do the trick then there is 13 more where that came from. If they won't stay down after that I hope Mila shows up to lend a hand.

 

[MikePaiN]

Federal 230gr Hydrashocks.

+1
I also have a full sized Sig 220 and Para 1911, I use the Federal 230gr Hydrashocks as defensive ammo in both.

 

[wnycollector]

Last fall I was down to my last box of Doubletap 230gr gold dots. Being short on cash, I picked up a few boxes of fiocchi 230gr JHP after reading this write up http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/search?q=fiocchi
Fiocchi makes very accurate ammo at fair prices.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Federal HSTs and Hydra Shoks
Remington Golden Saber
Winchester Silvertip

But you would be doing OK with WWB JHPs or Remington UMC JHPs as well.

 

[rbohm]

most fo the factory ammunition is going to be pretty good these days, especially the name brands. i tend to prefer winchester silver tips, federal hydroshocks, or federal ball(for target practice). if eldorado makes their starfire round in .45 scp, and i think they do, it is also a good self defense round. as for going to +p, you dont need to with the .45 as it hits quite hard to begin with. as for bullet weight, i tend to prefer 230 grain rounds, but 185 and 200 grain rounds are also very good.

 

[ScareyH22A]

I've never shot anyone much less compared different bullet effectiveness but from my internet searches, the Federal HST's look impressive.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Any standard pressure 230g load will do. If it is reliable in your gun, that is what matters. Heck, even 230g ball has been known to work quite well.

 

[Schleprok62]

Winchester 230gr Black Talons... I bought them a long time ago for just this purpose...

I know... I know... LEO's frown upon this stuff, but I bought it when it was legal... I also know that ER Dr's don't like getting cut while trying to remove them also... we won't mention the anti's sentiments...

Cheers...

P.S. I hope and pray that I never have to use them...

 

[HorseSoldier]

+1 what rbohm said -- they're all mostly pretty good these days.

For 99% of shooters out there, debating bullet selection in a defensive gun is
"how many angels fit on the head of a pin" sort of stuff. Practice more, worry about which whiz-bang bullet less. Put most anything, including FMJ, somewhere important enough and you finish the fight. Put most anything, including the most expensive JHP designs out there, somewhere unimportant and it won't do the job. Misses with high end JHPs count for even less . . .

 

[DanielW]

I use Speer Gold Dot and Winchester Ranger.

 

[wditto]

well, I have to say, your choice of sidearms is IMPECABLE ! Two of the very best.....

 

[distra]

Hornady XTP 230gr JHP or Hornady custom 230gr JHP.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

hahah thanks wditto.


whats the deal with "thunder ranch barnes expander" stuff? and if I so chose, where could I come by some Black Talons?

 

[NMGonzo]

I dunno ... but I have a .45 for making big holes in living organisms. Even if that living organism is hiding behind a car door.

Zombies ... that is another whole ballgame.

 

[DR505]

230 Gr. Rem Golden Saber...have a vault full of it at work.

 

[sigman]

Speer Gold Dot

is the way to go.This used to be called " the flying ashtray " because the hollow point is a gaping hole and is humorously called an " ashtray ".
FBI tests have shown this round to penetrate walls,glass,heavy clothing and wood,and STILL mushroom in human bodies. + P ammo is made to be shot out of short barrel pistols.I use Hollow point Hornady's 230 +P .45 ammo for my Sig P220 because my barrel is just shy of being 4" inches long.The 230 grain bullet performs dramatically,and best, when fired from a 5" long barrel like a 1911.
Anyway,a 230 grain .45 is going to hit a perp. like a sledgehammer no matter what !!
I love this big cal. because he dosen't have a muzzel flash,flip,and recoil like the .357 .

 

[TehK1w1]

I buy whatever I can find...
Honestly though any 180-230 gr. quality hollowpoint should be fine, as long as you avoid the gimmicky stuff. Of course, 230gr. ball has the longest track record, and it's a pretty good one