.45 ACP Suggestions

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

What do you think would be the best range/plinking ammo for a Model 1911A1? I know that most manufacturers specify 230 grain ball, but what about muzzle velocity? Anything to worry about on that? What about brands?

 

[Dave T]

Ball is the standard around which the 1911 built its reputation of over 100 years. The 1968 Mil/Spec requirements for Ball called for a velocity of 830 fps +- 15 fps (saw this in Vietnam). That gave an acceptable range of 815-845 fps. That velocity range (and the pressure needed to generate it) in combination with a FMJ round nose bullet has proven to be the most reliable ammunition for the 1911 style pistols, including the many variations on the original 5" Government Model.

Confess I don't understand what your concern is about velocity. Ball is what works, as close to 100% of the time as anything.

Dave

 

[Blue Brick]

Federal American Eagle is 890 fps.

 

[RustyShackelford]

QC....

I recently bought a LE trade in Glock 21 gen 04 .45acp pistol. I shot a few brands thru it(approx 240 total).
Of the budget, milspec FMJ 230gr rounds, Id buy the Federal American Eagle.
It had decent QC & no feeding/cycle issues.
The Winchester white box & Blazer brass types were okay but my first pick would be Federal American Eagle.

Check www.grafs.com www.sgammo.com www.brownells.com www.midwayusa.com www.policehq.com www.cheaperthandirt.com .

 

[JTQ]

Just about all .45ACP 230gr ball ammo is going to be in the same velocity ball park. I don't think anybody makes .45ACP +P ball ammo so there won't be any real fast stuff, though there may be some "target" stuff in the 750fps range. Most 230gr ball ammo will be in the range Dave T mentioned.

 

[moxie]

The best range/plinking ammo for your gun is usually the cheapest 230FMJ you can find. Typically that's at Walmart and is the Winchester White Box or Federal or UMC. They are all pretty similar in velocity and are pretty equivalent to "ball" milspec. "Ball" is just a military term for FMJ, usually.

Your gun might work better or be more accurate with one brand over the others. Try them all and see for yourself.

 

[RustyShackelford]

$, quality....

That is true that if you are training or punching paper, any regular 230gr FMJ round will be okay. My suggestion is for Federal Eagle. It's a value but as noted, Winchester, Hornady, CCI-Blazer etc are all fine.
Even PMC can be purchased in bulk for good prices.

 

[Yo Mama]

If I could go back and do it all over again, I would prioritize getting a set and reloading.

.45acp is my favorite gun, I wish I could shoot them more, but even target ammo is just to expensive (just had my 3rd kid).

 

[M1GarandDeerHunter]

I have had great luck with Federal FMJ .45 auto, Just shot a box off friday of 100 rds. works great. Remington, (buy it by the case) Winchester etc. They all seem to work pretty darn well. I buy case lots or qty deals that make the most sense $$$ wise. Your pistols may have a preferance, but for me I just buy whats cheap and available and run with it as I like qty.

 

[george burns]

Any new ammo you can find should be fine. These days you take what you can get.

 

[Drail]

The best range/plinking round I have found over the years is a 200 gr. H&G SWC round loaded to 750 fps. Unfortunately this pretty much requires you load it yourself which I used to strongly recommend to all of the new guys but with the current "shortage of everything" doesn't work out so well. I am so glad I took up handloading 30 years ago when components WERE cheap and easily found. (cases of 5000 primers for $30 or a lb. of powder for $8.) Trying to handload now is almost as absurd as trying to find factory ammo that is affordable. I still have all of the required tooling but when I see the prices on components I just walk away muttering.

 

[rs7]

Any ammo is ok. Get a good pistol. As long as you're shooting ball, you should be good to go. 45's are fun and effective.

 

[herrwalther]

230gr all is 230gr ball. I don't shoot 230 all that much since most of my carry .45 ammo is JHP in a lighter weight and I like my target rounds to be in the same class. But when it comes to target ammo, whatever is cheapest. Blazer and American Eagle are usually what I can find cheap. A note on Blazer however. They switched to small pistol primers in their .45 ammo, so if you reload your brass that is something to be aware of.

 

[Tcruse]

Take a look at Tula BrassMaxx. It seems to be in the $18 range at WalMart.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Best plinking is whatever 230 gr ball ammo is cheapest and functions reliably in your pistol.

I almost exclusively use Winchester White Box. It's about 43 bucks at Walmart for a 100 round box. I believe I've seen UMC 250 round boxes there for about 112 bucks. I might try that out next time I need to pick up ammo.

 

[Water-Man]

I mostly shoot Fiocchi FMJ. It's been very reliable and clean.

 

[nugun55]

Since I don't reload (yet), I use CCI blazer aluminum cased 230gr for most of my range plinking. It's reliable, fairly accurate and clean. also, makes spent cartridge clean up easier, since I use the same in 180gr for my 40S&W handguns. Several online stores run specials on it periodically.

 

[Chocolate Bayou]

230gr Winchester white box, 100% of the time

 

[wally]

I see the prices on components I just walk away muttering.

True but even so, my reloads still run half to a third of factory ammo which means 2-3X the shooting for the same $$$ and some time reloading, so unless you have more $$$ than spare time reloading still is worthwhile. Problem currently is finding powder

But even the cheapest .22lr is running about the same as my 9mm reloads these days.

 

[Welding Rod]

I recently switched to Speer Lawman and it seems to be fine, domestic, relatively low cost ammo.