.45 Auto Defensive Ammo Weight

[ArchAngelCD]

In the opinion of those who carry a 1911 as their SD weapon or use one for Home Defense, when it comes to .45 Auto defensive ammo, what weight bullet would you use and why?

 

[Black Majik]

230 gr.

 

[1911 guy]

I'd stick with 230gr.

With a .45acp, you give up bullet weight and don't get much velocity gain if you go with the lighter +P stuff. Consider the result to be the worst of both worlds. In my opinion, you're better off sticking with 230gr bullets in a .45acp. Other calibers, such as 9mm, can make a go of it, especially 9mm where you can gain weight and velocity at the same time.

 

[Big Boomer]

I use 200 grain gold dots in my carry pieces, mainly because they hit POA better, the 230 grainers are a little high.

I do use the 185 grain corbon DPX as they also hit POA and have renowned penetration.

I do rarely carry some 230+p rangers

 

[johnle]

230gr all the way...

mainly because I shoot so much 230gr FMJ at the range, I sleep well knowing that my hollow points will go exactly where i have practiced to shoot.

 

[possum]

there is just something about 230gr that i love, when punching paper almost a 1/2 inch in diameter, and launching lead that is 230gr's in weight gets me all excited!

i would test various loads and see what feeds reliably, is controlable to shoot, and accuarte, if i had 2 loads of more that were colse to the same performance and 230gr was one of them then i would take the 230gr.

 

[PCRit]

230gr Win Ranger RA45T or RA45TP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

230gr all the way...

mainly because I shoot so much 230gr FMJ at the range, I sleep well knowing that my hollow points will go exactly where i have practiced to shoot.

johnle,
That's a good point, thank you. I should have thought of that since I do that very same thing with bullet weight for my .38 Special practice/carry rounds.

 

[ta4]

Federal HST 230g or Gold Dot 230g.

 

[UnTainted]

JMB wanted 200

 

[hexidismal]

230gr all the way...
mainly because I shoot so much 230gr FMJ at the range, I sleep well knowing that my hollow points will go exactly where i have practiced to shoot.

Yeah, I pretty much have the same reasoning. I carry 230 grainers mostly just to match similarity of recoil characteristics with my range practice ammo.

 

[Bisley38.40]

I like 230 grain for my full size pistols and 185 grain Gold Dot +P for my Kahr P45. My reasoning is that the short barrel pistol needs a little help achieving the velocity necessary for proper bullet expansion.

 

[Gun Slinger]

230 gr. Winchester Ranger (RA45T) in my fullsize HK USP45 house gun.

I want the biggest hunk of lead I can get. 230 grains at 850 f.p.s. gets it done for me.

The "talons" are just "icing on the cake".

GS

 

[Hunter0924]

It really depends on barrel length, a shorter barrel will get a lighter bullet up to speed faster for optimum expansion. For a 5 inch gun I prefer the 230gr.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Since I carry a compact size , New Agent,Defender,Detonic, I carry Corbon 185DPX
IN larger guns I shoot 230 but the 185 is starting to make inroads their also.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It seems the 230gr bullet beats all the others combined over 5 to 1. Hard to argue with that kind of support for the 230gr bullet.

Thank you all for your input...