Best .45 defensive round?

Interesting that you go with the XTP Shmackey. I'm of the understanding that XTP's open rather slow compared to the Gold Dots and such, but I have always been able to get really good accuracy out of them.
I would assume the +P loads will open them up faster.

The Silvertip has enough grunt to do the job, maybe more or maybe less than other rounds, but I am confident in my ability to apply this round to where I determin it will do the most good with this gun.

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Agreeable! I have been able to see the Silvertips damage in game I have taken with them, they're an extremely capable round. Granted, it was in a different caliber but they are Silvertips none the less. I have used many different types of ammo in hunting handguns and the Silvertips have been the most accurate for me too. Matter of fact, so much so that I don't shoot anything else out of my hunting handguns.

In my defensive hanguns I use them, as well as Gold Dots, Golden Sabers and Win SXT's, the latter of which I really like also.

Interesting that you go with the XTP Shmackey.

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Either that or Golden Saber; both are excellent feeders.

sevenpoint62mm

In the event your particular 1911 has any feed problems not related to the magazine, try a box of Remington's 185 +P. The bullet countour is very much like ball ammo, and 1150 fps will make that hollow point open fairly reliably.

I just bought some of the Taurus copper hex bullets seen here: http://www.taurususa.com/products/products-ammo-45.cfm
They grouped very well for me and fed reliably.

I thought that solid copper bullets were banned by the "cop-killer bullet" ban?

...My guns shoot more accurately with the XTP than anything else, the Gold Dots feed but don't seem to have the accuracy and all the tests I've seen don't show a dimes difference in the branded modern hollowpoints.
...Overall the XTP feeds best and is the most accurate...IN MY GUNS...

Winchester Ranger or Remington Golden Sabre. Good profiles for feeding, reliable expansion, and tested to the top of the class with consistency.

Paul

I will echo the single most important part of this thread...

IT HAS TO BE 100% RELIABLE IN YOUR GUN!!

That being said, most modern self-defense rounds will do a pretty bang-up job of ruining the Bad Guy's day (pun intended). If not restricted in your area, any modern hollow point or expanding tip (EFMJ) ammo will do the trick. Some already mentioned are

Hyra-Shok
Gold Dot
Golden Sabre
XTP
Starfire
Ranger
Pow-R-Ball

And some of the less well-knowns like

Aguila IQ
MagSafe
BeeSafe

Aside from the reliability issue, it all comes down to shot placement. If you can't hit the BG, then the biggest gun in the most powerful caliber is nothing more than an expensive, noisy club. Suppose you had the choice of A) Missing the BG completely with a .500 Smith, or B) Hitting them where it counts with a .22 LR. Which do you think will be more effective?

Safe shooting!
Brad

Sounds like you're really trying to get a good, all-wround education on the pros and cons of your carry situation. Good Job!

Brad

What functions in your auto loader is the most important consideration. Since you're carrying a .45, you are fortunate since even .45 ball (which most guns will feed reliably) is a decent round. Rem Golden Sabre has a very ball-like profile, and if your gun feeds ball reliably, it will probably feed GS (though you shouldn't believe me - verify it in your firearm). Some other jacketed hollow points have a bigger hollow and more radical profile, and may not feed reliably in all guns, particularly 1911's.

Oddly enough, my carry load is Winchester Silvertips. I've never used them as my carry load,

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George, ya done confused me!



Not that that is very hard to do!

I like the Winchester 230 gr Ranger SXT's

Tested these out for accuracy & cycling in my SW1911:
Corbon 200gr, 230gr
Rem GS 185gr, 230gr
Speer GD 200gr, 230gr

Out of those, all cycled fine in my 1911, I found that I prefer the Golden Sabers 230gr or Gold Dot 230gr. I still need to try out the Fed HS, which are more available & cheaper around here.

My choices are - - -

- - Just almost any of the "major brand" 230 JHPs which are dead solid reliable in my pistols. tbeb summed up my feelings rather well:

(Don't get too wrapped up in what's the best round. Any will work if placed right.) Use whatever is 100% reliable in your pistol. Use what your pistol shoots to point of aim. The .45 ACP was designed for 230 gr. bullets. . . .

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My agency issues 230 Gold Dots and Win Ranger SXT 230s interchangeably. My everyday Commander and my primary Government Model both shoot the GDHPs a little tighter, so that is my choice. Our regs specify a factory JHP because of the (perceived) reduced risk of ricochets and over penetration. But for that rule, I could happily live with 230 FMJ - - It is controllable, accurate, and adequately powerful, and feeds reliably in almost any pistol.

My pistols also shoot the Remington Golden Saber 230 and Federal HydraShok well, and I would happily use either of them. I haven't shot enough Hornady XTP factory ammo to form an opinion. The bullets I have handloaded worked fine.

I do not feel the need for super-hot, ultra velocity light bullet ammo. The POSSIBLE added "stopping power" is not worth the trade-off: Additional muzzle flash and recoil recovery time.

Isn't it nice that there is such a wide variety of loads available? We can all exercise our free choice.

Best,
Johnny

Not trying to be difficult here guys, but IIRC, Browning actually designed the 1911 around the 200gr. LRN loading. It was the military that decided that 230gr. was better. SOmebody correct me if they can find otherwise documented.

However, 230 is generally accepted as the standard these days.

My default carry load of choice is either 200gr. +P or 230 SP Gold Dots with the 200gr. being the preferred round of the two. I have used/carried Cor-Bon, WWST, WWBHP, and Fed. HS in my various .45s. My current load is 230gr. Gold Dots bc the 200gr. loading is hard to find in this area and Natchez is still discriminating against Alabama residents.


Mino

Reliability and accuracy for your particular gun. When it comes to the .45 for CCW purposes, you won't see too much discussion concerning stopping power. Find the one that works BEST in your particular gun and you've got it made! Hey, it's a .45! The hard part is done!

jAK-47