I disagree. When it can be avoided, why make the same mistakes that others have already made, and passed on the information? These forums have a goldmine of information, that one can learn simply by reading, and then reading the feedback too. I don't have enough basic knowledge, let alone the time and money, to experiment unless I already have a pretty good idea they will work properly, or even more so to know they are safe and won't damage anything - especially me!
You have been a member of this forum for a few years now and a shooter longer than that so you do have some information. Likely more than you are aware of.
You have been shooting some ammo, in some caliber, in some guns for a bit now. What was your experience with brands of range practice ammo? Why would that not apply to 45 acp ammo? If UMC makes good 9mm ball ammo why would it's 45 acp be worse? Or at least worth a few boxes to give it a shot, literally?
Why would quality ammo from known makers damage your guns or yourself? If it did it would not continue in business for long enough to become known and sell in the tens of thousands of rounds each week.
You say you don't have the time or the money. You have the rest of your life. Years of shooting ahead of you. You have all the money that years of labor will provide you with.
You know the names from gun magazines and this forum and others where you are a member and from the reviews at Midway and elsewhere. So you already possess the basic knowledge you need.
Remington, Federal, UMC, Winchester, CCI/Speer, PMC, S&B, Fiocchi, American Eagle, Magtech, and a few others are major manufacturers who produce 230 gr. ball ammo intended for range practice. It's all more or less good stuff. Your gun or you will favor one or the other but only after you try it. You already knew this.
You will find things out on your own.
You will find over time that Win. 230 gr. ball in the 50 round white boxes is usually very uniform stuff. But that the same ammo in the 100 round bulk boxes is less consistent and is often hit and miss. Pull 20 rounds at random from a box and compare them side by side with an eye for the oal. Still useful to practice malf drills.
You'll find that some Norinco ammo is good and some so inconsistent that it looks like a squib load is likely to occur. Useful for nothing but malf drills.
But this means not much in the telling because another fella will have a different experience. You need your own.
I did not say pay no attention to the advice of others...but no need to overthink it. You already know more than you give yourself credit for.
tipoc