Ammo question

[Jmurman]

I shoot a Kimber Pro Carry. My defensive load is the 185 Gold Dot or Cor Bon 185.

I have been told that it is best to practice with the saame grain as you have defensively. If that is the case I will be looking for a source for 185 gr, preferrably SWC lead. Cabelas has a decent deal on 230 gr SWC, but no 185.

Any help

 

[WEPS]

why not just shoot 230grn ball all the time? it has been my experience that 45's shoot 230grn ball better anyway. i have also heard that good expansion is questionable when it comes to 45. a 23ograin bullet will make just as big a hole as the best 9mmJHP. V/R chris

 

[cratz2]

Just as an idea... Georgia Arms has 185 Gr HP ammo for $.21 per round if you buy 500 at a time or $.20 per round if you buy 1000... That's only a fraction of a cent more than I usually pay for S&B FMJ ammo.

 

[Jmurman]

"why not just shoot 230grn ball all the time? it has been my experience that 45's shoot 230grn ball better anyway. i have also heard that good expansion is questionable when it comes to 45. a 23ograin bullet will make just as big a hole as the best 9mmJHP."

Thanks for the reply. I remember reading a story a couple of years back about a gun fight where the 5" Glock combined with 230 gr Hydra Shocks didnt open as they should have. This was due to a slower muzzle velocity. So, I changed to 185 +P as I use a 4 1/2" Pro Carry...my thinking is to increase muzzle velocity.

 

[perry1963]

i've never seen 185 gr LSWC so i don't know were to get them, you see the 200gr LSWC all the time, as long as your pistol functions with this and your defense load without having to change recoil springs, it should, use them, if you are in a life threating situation and have to use you firearm you are not going to notice a differance in the two because of adreniline.

 

[beemerb]

JMURMAN
I shoot a lot of 45 cal 185 gr LSWC.The manufacturer is red line in San Diego,CA.
Order number is 619-280-9763. Information/fax 619-425-5648.
These are a good hard cast bullet.I have been useing them for allmost 10 years and am very happy with them.
Bob

 

[beemerb]

Sorry double post

 

[beemerb]

sorry triple post.????

 

[Lennyjoe]

I too use a Pro Carry II for CCW and have been using Speer Gold Dot 200gr +P for personal protection.

I usually shoot 230gr ball at the range and a box or two of Speer at least once a month. The local store charges $14 per 20 for the Speer.

The Speer ammo feeds fine and doesnt kick bad at all.

 

[Jim K]

I have not just advocated practice with the same weight bullet used in the carry ammo, but practice WITH the carry ammo, at least enough to make sure the carry ammo works in your gun and you can handle it.

Jim

 

[Jmurman]

"JMURMAN
I shoot a lot of 45 cal 185 gr LSWC.The manufacturer is red line in San Diego,CA.
Order number is 619-280-9763. Information/fax 619-425-5648.
These are a good hard cast bullet.I have been useing them for allmost 10 years and am very happy with them.
Bob"

Thanks Bob, I looked at their site and it doesnt appear to be working now. I'll call them when I get a chance.

I did make a buy on 200 gr LSWC...600 rounds for 152 delivered. This should hold me for a while any way, but I would like to find a steady source for this ammo.

Jerry

 

[cratz2]

Another thing to keep in mind is just because the weights are both below 230 grains, doesn't mean they are going to feel even remotely similar. The 185 gr hps are used to get velocity as high as is reasonably possible for 'ensured' expansion... Usually the LSWCs are very light loads... so light in fact that Colt Gold cups come with two different recoil springs - one for 230 gr ball ammo and a noticably lighter spring for 200 gr LSWCs.

I've shot very few 185s through any of my 1911s, but my Gold Cup did come with many handloaded 200 LSWCs and they felt so much lighter than the 200 Gr +P Gold Dots that were my carry load, that if you didn't know it was the same gun, you'd never suspect it.

Don't get me wrong... the light 200 gr LSWC is a great load for playing and for serious target shooting, but I just feel that there are better options for duplicating a 185 Gr defensive load... Namely the 185 Gr HPs from Georgia Amrs.

Just food for thought... maybe for future searchers.

 

[Jmurman]

Cratz2....thansk for the tip on Georgia Arms. Pricing looks pretty good.

I'll burn through this 600 lot that I just ordered and place an order with them. So, you've used them, and they are pretty good?

 

[jzzmusician]

Being a newbie, here's an incredibly basic question:

Isn't 230 gr ammo hotter than 185? And why 185 for defensive rounds?

thanks,

Jzz

 

[Jmurman]

a 230 gr round isnt a hotter round, just heavier and for the most part slower. The 185 will be faster and the bullet should have better performance.

 

[beemerb]

I worked up a load with the 185 LSWC that shoots the same at 25 yards as my carry ammo so they are good practice ammo.Recoil is light and wear and tear on the gun is nil. It works for me and thats what important to me.
Bob

 

[Jmurman]

Cratz2....

I just got off the phone with Gerogia Arms...very friendly folks. I placed a order for 185 gr hp, and 185 Gold Dot for a trial. I might have me a new supplier!

Thanks
Jerry