45acp ammo for woods carry

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jon86

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I am very aware of the marginal performance that 45acp has against 4 legged threats. However, it is the biggest handgun I have right now. I enjoy hiking, and right now I usually carry my glock 30 with either 230 grain golden sabre's or 200 grain +p speer gold dot hollow points. The biggest threat I would ever run into is a black bear. I can't afford a new gun right now, so in the meantime I must run what I brung. I am thinking of getting another type of ammo for woods carry. Please help me with my decision. Whatever I choose of course, I will make sure it functions flawlessly in my gun. I am thinking of these 3.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=214

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=69

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_34&products_id=96

Let me know what you think. Thanks!
 
bumpity bump.

keep in mind the glock 30 only has a 3.78 inch barrel. I am wondering how the performance of this ammo will suffer from a short barrel. All of the ballistics offered are from a 5 inch barrel.
 
Might want to check out the Cor-Bon DPX ammo. The test that I have read all seem to think it is a good round to carry.
 
I missed the part that said you had a Glock 30 :banghead:

In that case I think a flat-nosed 230gr FMJ round in a +P flavor - such as the BB load you linked
 
For WOods carry I'd want something other than FMJ for termianl performance . The Hornady XTP is a tough bullet with a good rep. for
accuracy. So, that points out which of these loads you're considering
can you shoot the best?

and the point about performance and the .45 ACP vs barrel length is valid
as the cartridge suffers a good velocity loss with barrel length
less than 4 inches.

Randall
 
Most of the time Black Bear's will run from the scent of Human odor's anyway they do here in NYS the one's that Iv'e seen while Deer hunting over the year's, But while in the Deer wood's I do carry my S & W M29 44 Magnum loaded with 245 gr. cast bullets just incase, As for the 45ACP any of the ammo that you mentioned will do the job if you just concentrait on Shot Placement, & getting them round's into their vital zone on them ?
 
You might consider the Double Tap offering with the Barnes XPB bullet

The Barnes bullet is solid copper with a bit of antimony to toughen it up
and a wide / deep holloowpoint bullet that is said to retain close to 100%
of it's bullet weight. Get practice ammo the same bullet weight and velocity for economical range/practice ammo.

R-
 
For many year I have carried a 1911 in the woods while hunting. We don't have bear here in south Texas but we do have some pretty thick skinned pigs. I have found 230 grain fmj ammo works best on thick skinned, heavy boned animals. Many a pig has dropped before my 1911.
 
This from 1st link This info in his overview.

The below velocities were fired from my personal Colt Gold Cup 1911 (5 inch)


1. 45185-----------1180 fps (185gr. Jhp)
2. 45200-----------1078 fps (200gr. Jhp)
3. 45230------------979 fps (230gr. Jhp)
4. 45230FMJ------981 fps (230gr. Fmj-FLAT NOSE)
5. 45255------------960 fps (255gr. HARD CAST-FLAT NOSE)


if you got a shorter barrel you will loose FPS those numbers from a 5"
 
You have a great question to which I can only refer you to Ayoob, on GT.com, in his self-defense section. If you need a link send me a PM.
 
as bears go,black bears are on the small side of the family.face shots with any of the name brand bullets,HP or FMJ should work...jwr
 
Do not use Hp's!

Any of the user's who directed you towards a lead SWC or a FMJ 230gr are right on the money. HP's in the 45 acp will offer only a few inches of penetration into a black bear. When HP's are used on heavy boned thick skinned animals the result is neatly mushroomed bullets just under the hide of the animal on same side of entrance. Slow heavy bullets such as the 45 acp need maximum penetration on thick animals. Humans are not thick skinned or heavy boned and that is why HP's are needed to prevent over penetration and to deposit maximum energy in a short wound depth. Lead SWC or FMJ for maximum penetration! Also 45 acp bullets are made to mushroom very easily due to its slow velocity and when it hits heavy resistance it mushrooms like crazy and is stopped at shallow depths.
 
The biggest threat I would ever run into is a black bear.
Click to expand...
I disagree.

The biggest threat you will ever likely run into in the woods is standing on his two hind legs, wearing a wife beater T-Shirt, tending his marijuana garden or meth lab, while strung out on PCP.

Carry the best 230 grain SD load you can get and it will not only work on Bubba the crackhead, but Yogi Bear too.

rc
 
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I disagree.

The biggest threat you will ever likely run into in the woods is standing on his two hind legs, wearing a wife beater T-Shirt, tending his marijuana garden or crack lab, while strung out on PCP.

Carry the best 230 grain SD load you can get and it will not only work on Bubba the crackhead, but Yogi Bear too.
Click to expand...

Ditto.

I like the 230 Gold Dots. They're bonded do they don't break up and work on a plethora of targets.

Maybe carry a mag of FP-FMJ, on the off chance you see something coming where you want/need the super penetration, but I'd carry the Gold Dots in the gun.
 
I have the same problem. I carry my XD45 service as my field carry. I always carry the Hornady Critical Defense in 185 grain. I like the higher velocity of the smaller bullet. They also have the TAP in +p at 200 grain.
 
I usually load fmj into my guns when heading off into the woods. But, that's mainly for economic reasons, not because I doubt that my jhps can't get the job done on black bear or otherwise.

If JHPs can't get the job done on thick skinned animals how do you explain the success of this frangible round on a large boar? http://www.gunblast.com/ExtremeShock.htm
 
i would think 10rds. of 230 fmj's would take care of any problems you might encounter.
 
FMJ vote

The great thing about the big 45 acp or (awesome combat pistol) is that even if you carry FMJ in the woods and are not concerned about over penetration in the event you have to shoot a two legged predator, it will still leave a big ass hole for them to bleed from.
 
RRT27 said:
The great thing about the big 45 acp or (awesome combat pistol) is that even if you carry FMJ in the woods and are not concerned about over penetration in the event you have to shoot a two legged predator, it will still leave a big ass hole for them to bleed from.
Click to expand...
+1 on that

That is what I do, but then I am more worried about Grizzlies more than black bears and moose more than them all.
 
I have to carry a .45auto when hiking(New England areas) also. I use 230g Rem. Golden Saber when the gun is on HD duty but when in the field I prefer carrying a bonded bullet so I load it up with Win. 230g PDX1 Bonded
 
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