I have Federal HST 230 +P loaded in my Glock 30 and Colt XSE. I wouldn't mine having the new Winchester Ranger T's either, but they seem to be harder to find. The HST's and Ranger T's seem to perform a lot better than the other ammunition currently.
45 ACP defence rounds?
- Thread starter VetteV12
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230 Grain FMJ. No need for hollow points in a .45 ACP. There's really no need for hollow points in any handgun...they're a gimmick.
Shot placement...they'll stop all the same if hit well. If not hit well, no JHP in the world will make up for it.
Shot placement...they'll stop all the same if hit well. If not hit well, no JHP in the world will make up for it.
BlindJustice
Member
Interesting thread in that some of the stuff y'all are talking about isn't carried by the gun/ammo stores that are nearby. I have a:
S&W 1911 5" Bbl Stainless Steel as well as a
S S&W 625 5" Bbl. so I look online for .45 AUto RIm HD/SD as well.
Usually I can find winchester SXT 230 gr. JHPs for about 60 cents/rd
SPeer Gold DOt 230 gr. is closer to 20 rds/$20
However, I've read good things about both and keep em around because
they always feed in my 1911.
I've tried CorBon Conventional JHP (Sierra is what they use) and it expands like wicked stuff, 165 gr/1250 & 185 gr./1150 fps.... and yes I can
tell the difference when the sound barrier is broken.
Saturday after a range session breaking in a CZ 75B in 9MM Hey! I got it
as a range gun to save a few bucks on ammo costs but it's a good one. NO FTE or FTE good trigger DA/SA and cocked and Locked is a familiar option. ANyway after the range session we stopped by a local gun/'ammo store and I found some hot 200 gr. .45 ACP and bought both boxes they had and told the kid to buy 4 to replace them.
.45 ACP +P 200 gr. Hornady XTP JHP @ 1,055 FPS - That was from finding a report on the net the guy chrono'd because I couldn't
figure out the Hornady web site for velocity claim.
I bought 500 of the above 200 gr. XTP JHP as well as 500 Hornady TC-FMJ 200 gr. as well last fall and have new Starline brass but have been waffling to get it loaded I wanted some factory stuff to compare it to but other projects etc. I like this middle weight bullet for a bit more velocity than 230 gr. but also a bit more mass than 185 gr. or less for ACP or Auto RIm.
THe CorBon DPX 160 gr. - the bullet is a re-badged for CorBon marketing Barnes XPB HP - Solid COpper - CorBon contracted to have exclusive right to the 165 gr. Bullet weight. however, Barnes also lists their bullets for
.45 ACP = 185 gr.
.45 Colt = 225 gr.
.454 Casull = 250 gr.
and one that is hardley a HP it's real pointy for the
.460 XVR - 200 gr. - Grizzily bear skull penetrator?
I do have some of the Barnes XPB HP 225 gr. in .45 Auto
RIm - need to go shoot some wet newspaper with some
spoiled lunch meat or something to see if it opens up at 925 fps
or so.... it does have a big honking .260 across HP and thin
petals for the copper expansion.
I still have some cheapo 18 cents a round Leadhead 200 gr. SWC @ 1,025 FPS - penetration is not a problem and some stuff yah shoot penetration just might be a GOOD THING(tm)
I've also read a couple of reports of CorBon Powerball not opening up.
S&W 1911 5" Bbl Stainless Steel as well as a
S S&W 625 5" Bbl. so I look online for .45 AUto RIm HD/SD as well.
Usually I can find winchester SXT 230 gr. JHPs for about 60 cents/rd
SPeer Gold DOt 230 gr. is closer to 20 rds/$20
However, I've read good things about both and keep em around because
they always feed in my 1911.
I've tried CorBon Conventional JHP (Sierra is what they use) and it expands like wicked stuff, 165 gr/1250 & 185 gr./1150 fps.... and yes I can
tell the difference when the sound barrier is broken.
Saturday after a range session breaking in a CZ 75B in 9MM Hey! I got it
as a range gun to save a few bucks on ammo costs but it's a good one. NO FTE or FTE good trigger DA/SA and cocked and Locked is a familiar option. ANyway after the range session we stopped by a local gun/'ammo store and I found some hot 200 gr. .45 ACP and bought both boxes they had and told the kid to buy 4 to replace them.
.45 ACP +P 200 gr. Hornady XTP JHP @ 1,055 FPS - That was from finding a report on the net the guy chrono'd because I couldn't
figure out the Hornady web site for velocity claim.
I bought 500 of the above 200 gr. XTP JHP as well as 500 Hornady TC-FMJ 200 gr. as well last fall and have new Starline brass but have been waffling to get it loaded I wanted some factory stuff to compare it to but other projects etc. I like this middle weight bullet for a bit more velocity than 230 gr. but also a bit more mass than 185 gr. or less for ACP or Auto RIm.
THe CorBon DPX 160 gr. - the bullet is a re-badged for CorBon marketing Barnes XPB HP - Solid COpper - CorBon contracted to have exclusive right to the 165 gr. Bullet weight. however, Barnes also lists their bullets for
.45 ACP = 185 gr.
.45 Colt = 225 gr.
.454 Casull = 250 gr.
and one that is hardley a HP it's real pointy for the
.460 XVR - 200 gr. - Grizzily bear skull penetrator?
I do have some of the Barnes XPB HP 225 gr. in .45 Auto
RIm - need to go shoot some wet newspaper with some
spoiled lunch meat or something to see if it opens up at 925 fps
or so.... it does have a big honking .260 across HP and thin
petals for the copper expansion.
I still have some cheapo 18 cents a round Leadhead 200 gr. SWC @ 1,025 FPS - penetration is not a problem and some stuff yah shoot penetration just might be a GOOD THING(tm)
I've also read a couple of reports of CorBon Powerball not opening up.
Big Boomer
Member
Those are some really impressive numbers. I have not been to their site for a while. Mostly I have been turned off by Double Tap because they used mostly the XTP Bullet. This IMHO is not the greatest for SD.
Now that I see they are using the Gold Dot's I am starting to take another look. And with the numbers listed above those are light to mid range 45 SUPER numbers they are showing there.
Look here at the 45 Super load data chart to see for yourselves.
http://www.realguns.com/loads/45Super.htm
It's not a hot 45 Super by any means but WELL within the range. Now the thing is that with the Super you have to use the super brass or you have to worry about the unsupported case failure and blowing out just above the web.
I am wondering how they managed to get these numbers out of a 5" barrel and now worry about overpressure?
I'll have to take a trip down to Cabela's and see if they have them in a take a look see.
I might just be switching my carry ammo soon
That being said...I currently use Gold Dot 200gr +p in my 1911's I also am a fan of the 185gr +p Corbon DPX bullets.I do have a box or 4 of the SXT's that I carry in the car as "back up ammo" but those two are what are always in the mag.
The XTP bullets I have seen break up too much and have jacket core separation issues, especially at higher velocities in the +p categories. Although, oddly enough, they seem to have the fastest load potential in most calibers. Wierd eh?
It would be interesting to see the new T-series though in the Rangers. I might have to pick up some of those. Nonetheless my primary bullets will be Gold Dot or DPX regardless of who is pushing them out the end of the barrel.
>> 230 Grain FMJ. No need for hollow points in a .45 ACP. There's really no need for hollow points in any handgun...they're a gimmick.
I don't agree with this. A 9mm hollow point will expand to way more than a .45 FMJ. A .45 HST or Ranger T can expand to over 1", that's like putting silver dollar sized holes in a bad guy. That's much better than .45" FMJ in my opinion.
I don't agree with this. A 9mm hollow point will expand to way more than a .45 FMJ. A .45 HST or Ranger T can expand to over 1", that's like putting silver dollar sized holes in a bad guy. That's much better than .45" FMJ in my opinion.
TimboKhan
Member
You know, I just make life simple and use Hydra-shoks in both my .357 and my .45. They work good out of both guns, and while I am sure an argument could be made for the superiority or advantages of any of the other SD rounds, Hydra-Shoks have a good reputation for performance. Additionally, they are easy to find, which is nice.
This is honestly not one of the more informed opinions I have ever given on THR, but my patience for testing ammo that is as expensive as the SD ammo tends to be pretty low. They function good in both guns that I need them to function in, so Hydra-shoks it is.
There is nothing wrong with using ball ammo in a .45 as your SD ammo, but it's false to say that hollow-points are a gimmick. I think there is plenty of conclusive evidence that show pretty clearly that hollow point bullets expand reliably in a given medium, and besides, a bigger hole is always better. Always.
Your argument on shot placement is true in general, and specifically for hunting, but I think it might be a little short-sighted in a self defense scenario. Depending on the situation, a good hunter is either going to snap-shoot, meaning that good round expansion is critical, or is going to have at least some time to take a well-aimed shot and will often even have the advantage of a some sort of rest. Additionally, the amount of adrenaline poured into the system when taking shot at an elk is vastly different than the level of adrenalin and stress pouring through your body in a SD situation. I think that taking the time to squeeze off a well-aimed shot to a specific area in a life threatening situation is beyond most of our skills. Thats not to say that you don't aim in a SD scenario, but it is to say that your accuracy is probably going to suffer, and pin-point accuracy is unlikely to be a major concern.
Your right in general terms about shot placement, but I will take all the help I can get from the bullet.
This is honestly not one of the more informed opinions I have ever given on THR, but my patience for testing ammo that is as expensive as the SD ammo tends to be pretty low. They function good in both guns that I need them to function in, so Hydra-shoks it is.
There is nothing wrong with using ball ammo in a .45 as your SD ammo, but it's false to say that hollow-points are a gimmick. I think there is plenty of conclusive evidence that show pretty clearly that hollow point bullets expand reliably in a given medium, and besides, a bigger hole is always better. Always.
Your argument on shot placement is true in general, and specifically for hunting, but I think it might be a little short-sighted in a self defense scenario. Depending on the situation, a good hunter is either going to snap-shoot, meaning that good round expansion is critical, or is going to have at least some time to take a well-aimed shot and will often even have the advantage of a some sort of rest. Additionally, the amount of adrenaline poured into the system when taking shot at an elk is vastly different than the level of adrenalin and stress pouring through your body in a SD situation. I think that taking the time to squeeze off a well-aimed shot to a specific area in a life threatening situation is beyond most of our skills. Thats not to say that you don't aim in a SD scenario, but it is to say that your accuracy is probably going to suffer, and pin-point accuracy is unlikely to be a major concern.
Your right in general terms about shot placement, but I will take all the help I can get from the bullet.
I have to respectfully disagree with what a few members are saying about Corbon Powr'Ball being a great SD round. Yes, it has a polymer tip for easier feeding. It does travel very fast. It does maintain approx. 80% of it's weight on average. Sounds good doesn't it??? That's where the positve ends. Here's what quite a few people have experienced with this round. UNDERPENETRATION.
The incredibly light bullet weight that these rounds are is a serious concern. 165 grains is already on the light side for 45 acp. Factor in losing 20% of this already small weight and....... you get the point. I'm sure alot of guys swear by Pow'rBall, but I just wanted to give an opposing view. I considered carrying it too, but there's too much else out there that has nothing BUT great reviews. (HST, and Ranger T, DPX, Taurus HEX) All of these are PREMIUM SD rounds, and most people have had great success with these. Again, check to make sure they work in your gun and all that. Happy shooting.
The incredibly light bullet weight that these rounds are is a serious concern. 165 grains is already on the light side for 45 acp. Factor in losing 20% of this already small weight and....... you get the point. I'm sure alot of guys swear by Pow'rBall, but I just wanted to give an opposing view. I considered carrying it too, but there's too much else out there that has nothing BUT great reviews. (HST, and Ranger T, DPX, Taurus HEX) All of these are PREMIUM SD rounds, and most people have had great success with these. Again, check to make sure they work in your gun and all that. Happy shooting.DawgFvr
Member
I use 160 grain Corbon DPX...and it is not +P...in my Taurus Millennium Pro PT145.
Why? Becuase is is a compact, short barreled .45 ACP and I believe that the lighter grained Corbon DPX has the greatest chance to expand reliably. The round feeds well too.
This article convinced me: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 160 gr DPX.htm
Why? Becuase is is a compact, short barreled .45 ACP and I believe that the lighter grained Corbon DPX has the greatest chance to expand reliably. The round feeds well too.
This article convinced me: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 160 gr DPX.htm
MicrometerMike
Member
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- Apr 7, 2008
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I stand to be corrected on this but I beleive the Gold dot is the same bullet that was previously loade in the "Lawman" series of ammunition. That .45cal 200gr., bullet is excellent. The expansion with adaquate velocities is 1" or better...
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