Need Recommendations: Favorite .45 Auto Carry Ammo?

tarosean said:

Been holding onto the last box for 30yrs?

I run HSTs in all calibers

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It seems I just don’t get into that many gunfights.

Rudolph31 said:

It seems I just don’t get into that many gunfights.

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Never been in one myself.. Buttttttt I do practice with my carry ammo.. talons, rangers, et al were used up decades ago.

Usually 230 gr domestic ball or Hornady 230 gr +P XTP.

JR24 said:

HST 230 grain, standard or +P.

Then again, I like HST everything.

Gold dot and Golden Saber bonded 230 grain work well too.

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Dang... First post stole my line!

I was impressed with the lab performance of the 230 HST. Expansion was .80 and penetration was plenty adequate.

I load the same in my 16" carbine

I load my own using 230gr Gold dots. I sometimes conceal carry a XDs and frequently carry it as my main woods gun. I use the same ammo in my XD mod 2 that sits next to my bed. I usually shoot 185gr FMJ in my 1911's for targets because it is cheaper to load.

One of the things I like about .45 acp is that I feel comfortable carrying just about any of the huge variety of ammo available for it. 185gr FMJ's might not be the most deadly round available... but it is still VERY deadly!

Ranger T-series, non +P.

They expand and penetrate reliably in testing.

https://www.luckygunner.com/45-acp-230-gr-jhp-winchester-ranger-t-series-50-rounds#geltest

They are reliable, accurate, and shoot to POA in my carry gun, an XD compact.



I shot them at night and found that they had much less flash than any other factory or reload ammo I tried.

Finally, I was able to buy a case of 500. Because I rotate carry ammo about every year or so, I'm not running out any time soon.

OP, whatever carry ammo you settle on, look at gel test results, confirm function in YOUR gun, shoot it at night, and then buy a gruntload of the same lot. And you won't have to think about this question again.

Life is good!

luzyfuerza said:

I shot them at night and found that they had much less flash than any other factory or reload ammo I tried.

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I don't mind more flash, and I kind of prefer it for a couple of reasons. First, I feel the flash will be much worse on the other end of the barrel. Second is that you can adjust your sight, or point of aim after the first shot.

DairyVet said:

The recommendations for HPs from a known manufacturer are good if your primary concern is 2 legged predators.

I went a different direction. My .45 is a woods/hiking companion, and I use Underwood 255gr hardcast.

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For that purpose I favor the 215gr "bowling pin" bullet from Magnus. A 36 caliber meplat with 215grs of mass behind it.

When I first started with 1911's some wouldn't feed JHP's reliably without a little modification, polishing and finding a bullet that would work reliably. Over the last 50 years new guns have been improved and new 1911 Colts and clones now usually come from the factory with chamfered chambers, polished feed ramps and opened ejection ports that enhance feeding of flat nose JHP's and SWC bullets and general improved ejection.

Ammo has also been improved and JHP's from the least expensive Winchester White box and Remington UMC all work well albeit they don't make as pretty a mushroom fired bullet as the much more expensive Federal HST's or Speer Gold Dots.

Typically now I carry 230gr HST or Hydra-Shock JHP's by Federal though I have Remington GS's, Winchester XTP's and Golde Dots that where picked up when found on sale or hand loaded bulk bullets that I will carry with confidence as replacement SD ammo when and if needed.

Remington 230 Grain Golden Saber Bonded....it is the issue/duty ammo I used.

Gel is gel not flesh and bone but some test results

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#45ACP

Gold Dots and HSTs seem to test well.

230 grain hardball from any quality manufacturer. I prioritize reliability from any semi-auto pistol intended for self-defense (to head off naysayers, I understand that lots of pistols reportedly feed truncated bullet configurations as well as they do full metal jacket stuff).

Zzeke said:

What's everyone's favorite .45 auto carry ammo?

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*Winchester Range-T
*Hornady Critical Defense.

My department uses the 230 +p HST in 45 and it has worked very well over the years.

Rudolph31 said:

Winchester Black Talon

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You do know that Winchester Black Talon has not been made in the last 20 years or so.
I don’t think I would trust 20 plus year old ammo for my daily carry.

There’s only a few left. The chambered round gets fired when I go to the range. It’s still reliable, and shoots to point of aim.