Best ammo for SD in .45ACP

I'd be more inclined to go with a modern bonded core ammo.
The first ones that come to mind are Speer GOld dot, Federal HST, and Winchester Ranger/PDX1.

Hydrashocks are getting to be older technology. The newer HST has replaced it.

I have shot quite a few of the 230 grain Winchester Ranger T in a 1911 and they run great. The bullet profile feeds nicely.

I'm sure this will turn into a can of worms quickly.....

Personally, I carry handloads with 230gr. Speer Gold Dot bullets that I bought on sale from Midway. Many LE agencies use Gold Dots, and I've also read that many have moved AWAY from Hydroshocks because of poor performance, particularly through car doors and windshields. Of course, that has no bearing on your use for self-defense, you're not likely to be shooting through car doors and windshields.

Bottom line, IMO, is any quality hollowpoint ammo would be fine for SD, just not FMJ bullets. If all I could get was Winchester White Box hollowpoints at WalMart, I certainly wouldn't worry about them.

But this is always "one of those subjects" that stirs up the hornets' nest.

After a few years of limited "unofficial" testing, I feel better carrying HSTs than Hydrashocks.
Hydrashocks are more prone to plug with debris and fail to expand in my "tests" which include, among other things, different clothing material .
HSTs, Winchester white box, Win PDX, Critical Defense and Gold Dots have all done better (at expanding, not always penetration, though) as far as I've "tested".

I do believe the newer, top rated hollow points are better than Hydrashocks, but I think you are doing some hairsplitting for the differences.

I believe the difference between the best .380 round and the worst .45 ACP is greater than the difference between the worst 45 ACP round and the best .45 ACP round.

Think of all the people that don't carry at all or choose a .380. Even with the worst .45 ACP bullet, you are better off than them.

Winchester Ranger Talon work fine in my guns. IMHO hollow points are great in a 45 but if you only had FMJ ammo I would not worry about using it. It worked well for the troops in the war.

I am on the Speer Gold Dot bandwagon for .45ACP. Very clean shooting round, feeds better, and it seems to have "fun" going through barriers like denim. There are some interesting designs coming out that use polymer tips but I think that tech is still in its infancy compared to traditional JHP design.

Think of all the people that don't carry at all or choose a .380. Even with the worst .45 ACP bullet, you are better off than them.

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How so?

Whichever one you can put where you aim

JTQ wrote,
Think of all the people that don't carry at all or choose a .380. Even with the worst .45 ACP bullet, you are better off than them.

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tarosean wrote,
How so?

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First off, can we agree the guy with the worst .45 ACP round is better off than the guy that didn't bring a gun to a gunfight?

For the guy that did bring the .380, he is most likely carrying a small, hard to shoot pistol. In addition, the .380, no matter what bullet type is only sending an 80 to 100 gr. bullet down range with only about 200 ft/lbs of energy. Compare this to a 165 to 230 gr. 45ACP bullet with about 350-400 ft/lbs of energy most likely coming out of a much more shootable gun. I'll take the .45 ACP any day.

Every gun shoots different,yes even the same make and model of identical guns.

I like the Federal HST, non-plus P.

Whichever one you can put where you aim

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From .22lr solids through .45 HSTs, as long as they've proven to work through your particular gun, that is easily the most important aspect.

For a 45 this is a no brainer.
Get either Winchester Ranger T or Federal HST, Both are excellent and will stop bad guys the best of about any round on the market.
No matter what go with the 230 Grain ammo for best results, don't mess with the lighter stuff.

The next 4 pictures are Ranger T. Its quite clear why it does the job.










I have no shot HST Bullets however heres the ammo box.

The ones that are reliable in your gun,you can hit the target with.

230 gr Gold Dot Short Barrel (if your barrel is indeed short!).

Rockyriver, from what medium did you remove that Winchester?

Personally I like the 230 grain +P Hornady TAP FPD.

Good quality ammo and only costs 17.99 a box locally.



Of course the 185 grain Golden sabers are pretty nasty too but dont have the penetration the heavier 230 grain bullets do.

The bullet I showed was removed from water Jugs

My G30 shoots the 230 grain Remington Golden Saber the best, so that's what I keep in the mags.

My system isn't ideal- but I honestly buy whatever is on sale that feeds in my gun. Any modern expanding hollowpoint that feeds well and I can actually shoot regularly is better than a box I never fire at the range because I'm too cheap.

Admittedly, this is my own problem, but I doubt I'm the only one out there that hates firing $1+ ammo into paper regularly.

Winchester Ranger Talon work fine in my guns. IMHO hollow points are great in a 45 but if you only had FMJ ammo I would not worry about using it. It worked well for the troops in the war.

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I think it worked well in more than one.

I can't really speak as to what's "best" but anything with 230 grains ought to be sufficient.
Even hard ball.

HDCamel said:

I can't really speak as to what's "best" but anything with 230 grains ought to be sufficient.
Even hard ball.

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I seem to recall Fiocchi assembles excellent load in this caliber for very good price for box of FIFTY. One can pay more and get it in sealed metal can sort of like peanuts.

EBK said:

Personally I like the 230 grain +P Hornady TAP FPD.

Good quality ammo and only costs 17.99 a box locally.



Of course the 185 grain Golden sabers are pretty nasty too but dont have the penetration the heavier 230 grain bullets do.

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I luv how they gouge us with them small boxes of 20 in larger calibers at exuberant prices. Them ole' boys who need to use non-tox soft shot in old shotguns have even worse. A box of 25 cartridges is very close to $100. That is absurd price by any standard.