45 ACP Short Barrel

Styx

Styx

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
3,282
I am not a 45acp fan at all, but I am a fan of the 3.3 Shield 45 because it fits my hand well and points naturally. My problem is trying to find a decent 45acp offering that performs reliablely and better than 9mm and 40s&w with ballistic testing out a short barrel.

Any suggestions?
 
Styx

With both my Colt Combat Commander and Colt Officer's Model ACP I found 185 gr. Winchester Silvertip to be a very reliable and accurate load along with having decent penetration and expansion. Felt recoil seemed to be lessened somewhat with the lighter bullet. It also appears to be less expensive than some other ammunition manufacturers products.
 
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bannockburn said:
Styx

With both my Colt Combat Commander and Colt Officer's Model ACP I found 185 gr. Winchester Silvertip to be a very reliable and accurate load along with having decent penetration and expansion. Felt recoil seemed to be lessened somewhat with the lighter bullet. It also appears to be less expensive than some other ammunition manufacturers products.
Click to expand...

Before I switched to the Speers, I ran SilverTips. I tried a box of the 230grn GDSB's and the accuracy was so good, I switched... but I wouldn't discount the SilverTips. :thumbup:
 
There's a few Youtubes where guys gel tested the Gold Dot and HST 230's, standard & +P versions,
out of 3"-ish barrels. All looked Ok, as far as "gel performance", and give a better-built round for
carry.
 
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After I started this thread, I discovered Underwood 45acp 255gr hard cast. I am leaning towards that.
 
The Federal 230gr standard pressure fits that bill. It's what I used to carry back when I used to carry a S&W M&P Shield 45 (I've since sold that gun off, simply because I prefer the 9 Shield Plus). Anyway, I did a lot of research on that round's performance, specifically from a shorter barrel, and found a few videos of people testing it in gel specifically from a Shield 45. It's doing around 800fps from the Shield barrel, still expands perfectly, and was getting right around 12" penetration.
 
Styx said:
After I started this thread, I discovered Underwood 45acp 255gr hard cast. I am leaning towards that.
Click to expand...

Riomouse911 said:
That +P hunting load will have some serious bite on both ends of the small .45 ACP pistol. :oops:

Stay safe.
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The Shield 45 is a light shooter compared to other single stack 45acp I've shot. I should be fine. I ordered me a box, and if it feeds fine reliablely, that will be what I carry for now on.
 
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CDW4ME said:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
Looking at that ^ 230 HST, any Gold Dot, Ranger T
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The Federal HST1 +P is rated at 950 fps; the standard HST2 is 890 fps.
Sixty fps, it's not a "smokin' hot +P" :D

I've been shooting both versions out of S&W 4513TSW and Shorty 45,
and don't really notice much difference in recoil.

For me, the +P will probably be the better carry choice...there's some deals on the
+P online at various places, right now.
 
I will have to admit I am a little confused by this OP.

OP states that he is not a fan of the .45acp 'at all' but he buys one, a compact one no less. Then he goes out and chooses quite possibly the nastiest ammo possible for it when there are several good choices that will be much easier to handle.

What am I missing?

And before someone says 'it American and he can do what he wants' yes. Yes I know he can. He absolutely can. Not arguing that he can't. I just don't get any of his logic.


Also-I have a Kahr cw45. I shoot Federal HSTs out of it. 230gr.
 
I would also like to add, and I understand I am being critical of the OP but this is a discussion forum, that one 20 round box or ammo is absolutely in no way shape or form enough to testing functionality and reliability. That is especially true out of a short barreled gun that was originally designed for a different cartridge and using a cartridge not really designed to perform in such a gun. I'm not saying it won't function, but less than three magazines worth is nowhere close to enough testing. I have had and seen lots and lots of guns that have way too many failures to be considered reliable for SD but could sometimes get through a box of 20.

I am not sure what the number is and it is going to be different for everyone. Personally if I had a new Sig 220 or HK 45 or another well established ultra reliable combat .45 and a proven 230 grain JHP like WWB or HST, I could probably live with 7-10 magazines worth of testing. 50 rounds at the very least. VERY LEAST. And that would have to be some extreme situation with shortages or I was robbed of all my guns and money and starting over or something like that. In normal times I shoot hundreds and hundreds or rounds before I deem something reliable enough for SD.
 
Agsalaska said:
I will have to admit I am a little confused by this OP.

OP states that he is not a fan of the .45acp 'at all' but he buys one, a compact one no less. Then he goes out and chooses quite possibly the nastiest ammo possible for it when there are several good choices that will be much easier to handle.

What am I missing?

And before someone says 'it American and he can do what he wants' yes. Yes I know he can. He absolutely can. Not arguing that he can't. I just don't get any of his logic.


Also-I have a Kahr cw45. I shoot Federal HSTs out of it. 230gr.
Click to expand...
The Shield 45 was the first 45acp I've ever purchased. I was able to purchase the Performance Center version with a $100 rebate S&W was running, so I got it in the mid $300. The gun itself fits my hand perfectly and more comfortably than the 9mm Shields, and it points naturally for me, as I stated in my OP. I just need to find the best option in ammo.


As far as ammo is concerned, I originally was going to settle for a JHP offering when I created the post. I knew nothing about the other options that were available. I'll rather go for more penetration versus the 14" or so penetration and little to no barrier penetration of most popular options (which are reasons why I am not really a fan of 45acp). I was leaning towards 230 Ranger T, but I'd ideally would prefer more penetration.
 
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Agsalaska said:
I would also like to add, and I understand I am being critical of the OP but this is a discussion forum, that one 20 round box or ammo is absolutely in no way shape or form enough to testing functionality and reliability. That is especially true out of a short barreled gun that was originally designed for a different cartridge and using a cartridge not really designed to perform in such a gun. I'm not saying it won't function, but less than three magazines worth is nowhere close to enough testing. I have had and seen lots and lots of guns that have way too many failures to be considered reliable for SD but could sometimes get through a box of 20.

I am not sure what the number is and it is going to be different for everyone. Personally if I had a new Sig 220 or HK 45 or another well established ultra reliable combat .45 and a proven 230 grain JHP like WWB or HST, I could probably live with 7-10 magazines worth of testing. 50 rounds at the very least. VERY LEAST. And that would have to be some extreme situation with shortages or I was robbed of all my guns and money and starting over or something like that. In normal times I shoot hundreds and hundreds or rounds before I deem something reliable enough for SD.
Click to expand...
I will buy a box, see how it goes. If it's manageable, I will buy more. I'll try Ranger T next if the Underwood doesn't work out. I purchased a few boxes of Federal Hydra Shok from Wal-Mart years ago that I currently carry in the meantime.

I've never shot or felt the need to shoot hundreds rounds of carry ammo before carrying it. I'll shoot a box or two, and then will shoot more periodically throughout the future. That's just how I do it.
 
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Styx said:
I will buy a box, see how it goes. If it's manageable, I will buy more. I'll try Ranger T next if the Underwood doesn't work out. I purchased a few boxes of Federal Hydra Shok from Wal-Mart years ago that I currently carry in the meantime.

I've never shot or felt the need to shoot hundreds rounds of carry ammo before carrying it. I'll shoot a box or two, and then will shoot more periodically throughout the future. That's just how I do it.
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Fair enough. Each to their own.
 
Agsalaska said:
Fair enough. Each to their own.
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Yes, sadly enough, I don't have the income at the current time to spend hundreds to several thousands at a time on guns and ammo like I did in the past. I would no doubt take you up on your great advice (I don't disagree with you) by shooting hundreds of rounds of self-defense ammo through my guns before carrying it, but I have to make the best of it.
 
Styx said:
Yes, sadly enough, I don't have the income at the current time to spend hundreds to several thousands at a time on guns and ammo like I did in the past. I would no doubt take you up on your great advice (I don't disagree with you) by shooting hundreds of rounds of self-defense ammo through my guns before carrying it, but I have to make the best of it.
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I understand how that can go. Been there.
 
Ten years or so ago I bought a bunch (cough cough several thou) of the Ranger 230+P, plus a bunch more Ranger 127 for 9mm. Been using it ever since in my 1911s and Kahr P45, and the Kahr PM9.
Two years ago I bought a bunch of HST 230 gr. (cough cough...) and a like amount of the 147 gr 9mm...I think I'm set for a while, unless somebody comes up with something a whole lot better (plasma death ray, maybe?)
In summary: Buy the best ammo you can afford (and find), shoot it regularly.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
 
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