Self-Defense .45 Ammo

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The Dutchman

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Whats the best self defense .45ACP ammo out there? Some people have told me that the Ranger T-series is excellent however its only available for law enforcement. Other have told me that Hydra-Shock is the best. Any opinions or preferences?
 
While like the vast majority of others I can answer only from spec sheets and target practice rather than actual use (and heck even those who can speak from actual use almost never have done any kind of controlled comparison!) I am fond of DoubleTap Ammo myself - reasonably priced with some startling performance specs and I find they feed with no problems at all in my SW1911PD.

I shoot both 200 and 230gr JHP versions - and probably prefer both the specs and the performance of the 200gr.
 
I use Ranger T's, they are not restricted to LEO only but I usually can only get them at gun shows. (If anyone knows where to order this online for a decent price let me know)
 
The ammunition that is absolutely reliable in your gun and that you can shoot reasonably fast and accurately is probably the best for you. All the major US manufacturers - Winchester, Speer, Federal, Remington - make good products. I suggest 230 grain loads using one of the law enforcement lines from one of these manufacturers.

Winchester does not "officially" sell their Ranger T line to non-LEOs, but you can find folks on Glock Talk and Warrior Talk forums that will. Also, I think Florida Bulllets will also sell Ranger Ts to non-LEOs. Nothing illegal about this ammo in most states - simply a marketing ploy by Winchester to set apart their LEO ammo from that available to us lesser mortals.

regards,
Steve
 
.45 ACP SD Ammo?

I shoot and carry the WW JHP's 230 grain in my 1911. The ammolab (when it was open) ran some tests on this ammo in ballistic gelatin and found (for what you pay for it) that was it performed very well. Seems to be sorrt of a bargain basement Silvertip.
 
Any good HP that your gun will feed reliably will work. I've used Golden Sabers, Gold Dots, Silvertips, Starfires and Black Talons in my P220. Any of those will do the job.
 
Self-defense 45 acp

I have bought Win 45 ACP RA45T on gunbroker.com in the high teens $$$.
Even with shipping it still cheaper than 2 - 20 round boxs of factory HP.

Have also found 4 boxes of the original 9mm black talon in the high teens.

Just make sure it is legal in your state.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Leonard
 
I use 230 g Hydrashoks myself.

The Winchester Ranger SXT is also excellent.

The FBI guys who get .45s (SWAT) use the Remington Golden Saber apparently with spectacular success and due to the Hydras being harder to find in 230g now, I might switch to those.

the Gold Dot also works well.
 
I have heard a lot of good things from all these designs but I have heard little about Extreme Shock Fang Faced bullets....are these just a novelty? Also I know they took Black Talons off the market but is the Ranger T-series inferior to the Black Talon?
 
My twenty years old Colt Gov't had 500 rounds thru it 400 were 230 grains ball ammo and the other 100 Hydra Shocks 230 grains.
Once I shoot some wet telephone books with this ammo, the recovered bullet shows good expansion with a post sticking out of the middle.
The "trauma' to the phone books was severe.
black bear
 
My glock 30 that i owned was real
accurate with 200gr +P gold dots
made by speer.185gr golden sabres
were also quite accurate.
 
Also I know they took Black Talons off the market but is the Ranger T-series inferior to the Black Talon?
Click to expand...

Actually, they are an improved Black Talon. The "T" stands fror "Talon", in fact; they just quit painting it black.
 
Federal Personal defense

A friend of mine who had used a .45 in several shootings said the basic Federal Self Defense, not Hydra-Shok, worked perfectly fine and all expanded well.
 
We just received some Hornady .45 ACP Personal Defense ammo that I'm
really interested in trying? Like most others, my experience is limited too
punching holes in paper, not in humans; but this Hornady ammo really
looks good. It has deep serrations around the thin jacketed hollow point,
which should make it expand a bit better. Priced at only $12.95 per 20
round box, I may have to run a box thru the Springer G.I. for testing.
 
I use the Hornady XTP in my .38, and it's reliably accurate. As far as penetration, I've only put holes in paper targets myself. However, the guy at Gander Mountain who recommended it to me used them to shoot some melons in his backyard, and they made a heck of a hole! :eek: :what: :D
 
Currently Winchester Silvertips 230 grain or 185 grain Federal EFMJ.

All things considered as long as it functions in my autos I really don't much care what it is. Most modern HP rounds are pretty darn good but not good enough that marksmenship isn't really the deciding factor. As long as it goes bang and I can put rounds where I want I am happy.

Chris
 
Does no one here ever check out the THR Trading post? >> http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=124675


Personally I carry Remington Golden Sabre or Winchester Ranger.
I also really like and used to carry the Triton ammo before they went belly up.


I have found that Silvertips often fragment and don't penetrate deeply enough.
I have had good test results with the 230 gr Hydra-Shok but the lighter, watered down stuff often doesn't expand.

Glaser Pow'r Ball shows promise but I am unimpressed with the Federal EFMJ.



But to be honest, my first two or three rounds are Glaser Safety slugs.
 
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