Back in the .45 ACP game - what's a good ammo?

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Been carrying a 9x19 only for the last couple years, and only very rarely a .45 - decided to start carrying one on a more regular basis, but haven't checked into ammo in awhile. What's a good relatively cheap HP ammo that is cheap enough to run 200 or so through for testing, and also good for carry/defense - seems like the Speer Gold Dot was the only one cheap enough to do such on my budget. Whaddya recommend.... Blazer? Blazer-Brass? WWB HP? What? Thanks.

Yes, I put this here because some revos are in .45.

 

[nmxdaven]

DOUBLE TAP!!

I use the 185 Speer Gold Dots at 1225fps - 616 ft./lbs, and they come in below a p+ rating. Never failed to cycle and accurate as all get out. There a damn stout load and its all I use in my carry .45. Price is good too. A box of 50 runs around 40 bucks. Much better than off the shelf stuff at 30 for 25.

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm less concerned about the 200 round test on a revolver. I use 230 grain HSTs, but if you have a shorter barrel, you might want to look at the 185 stuff.

I don't think there's really a bad one.

 

[exflatlander]

I still like the 185 gr Silvertips but I wouldn't call them cheap.

Winchester has a new ammo out called the SXZ in which they make an FMJ training version and a JHP of the same weight and supposed performance so you can practice with the cheaper ball and carry the JHP.

I haven't tried it yet but I like the concept.

 

[BHP FAN]

+1 Winchester Silvertips!

 

[CoRoMo]

Haven't tried the Silvertips yet, but keep hearing good things.

 

[orionengnr]

I keep reading good things about the Federal HST round; haven't tried it (yet). That said, I have also read good write-ups on the Gold Dot and Golden Sabre, particularly the Bonded versions, as well as the Winchester Ranger.

I currently carry (and have for about three years) the Ranger 230 +p, because my carry .45s are 3-4" barrels, and the +p should gain back some of the velocity lost to the short barrel.

I have also bought a bunch of the Taurus TCB (Total Copper Bullet) 185gr rounds. This is the Barnes X-bullet (also used in the CorBon DPX load; I also have some of those) that is reputed to have consistent, reliable expansion in the variety of calibers in which it is offered. I still need to put a few more rounds through my carry 45s to ensure reliable function, but so far, so good.

If I were looking for 2-300 rounds to put through a semi-auto 45acp (as opposed to a box or so through a revolver) I'd be doing some shopping on-line. I buy the Ranger in 50-round boxes instead of 20-round boxes, and have bought Gold Dot that way on-line too, when all I could find locally was 20-round boxes. The Taurus stuff is available at Cheaper Than Dirt, but only in 20 round boxes--Barnes also also sells the bullet (available through Midway and probably others as well), so I may try rolling my own some day

To tell the truth, I'm not sure you can go too far wrong with any modern JHP made by a reputable manufacturer.

 

[gglass]

Federal HST LE ammunition is the latest generation and king of the hill for expansion, weight retention, jacket adhesion and penetration. Google the name and you will find test results from LE's that blow everything else out of the water. (and the cost is usually 30-40% less than most premium ammo - Priced for LE's)

The below link was sponsored by Federal but the test were performed by LE departments.

http://le.atk.com/general/irl/woundballistics.aspx

This ammo is freaky because it looks and expands the same every time. I've shot this stuff through everything and the recovered rounds look like Xerox copies.

Like this:

Federal HST... Accept no substitute!

I would buy Speer Gold Dots if I could not find HST's.

 

[bpl]

I like (and use) the Speer Gold Dots as they have a good reputation and can be found (relatively) inexpensively so you can actually afford to shoot some to test them in your gun. I buy them in 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP, often from ammunitiontogo.com. Looks like the Federal HST can be had for a reasonable price as well.

 

[VegasOPM]

I like ball ammo for .45, or lead semi wads. No expansion, but really good penetration and they feed in everything.

 

[S&Wfan]

I'd try to find the one that shot best (and at POI) in your particular specimen of your make/model handgun. Naturally, it's got to feed flawlessly every time. I prefer the 230 grain stuff.

Then, for practice I'd go to Wally World and by the 250 round 230 grain Remington ball . . . save your brass . . . and get into reloading your own practice ammo.

Truly, reloading is SO much cheaper . . . you'll save enough fast (if you shoot a lot) to either buy a new gun soon . . . or shoot five times as much!

 

[rmmoore]

Anyone ever consider JSP's for the .45? Rounded nose like FMJ, soft nose with "some" expansion, but decent penetration too.

 

[BikerRN]

If you don't mind using a little older technology, the Federal 230 Grain Hydra Shok is pretty good, and can be had fairly inexspensively sometimes.

I carry the HST, because I can get it cheap and it works 100% in my gun. In my 9mm I carry the 9BPLE because I can get it fairly cheap too. I believe that Federal also has a Hi Shok bullet in 230 Grain for the 45 ACP. That would be the same type of bullet as what the 9BPLE has.

Honestly, in a 45 ACP I have no problem carrying WWB. It's inexspensive and easy to find. My main concern with any ammo I select, besides how it functions in my gun, is if I can get resupplied with it easily.

I just ordered 500 Rounds of Federal Hydra Shoks from Cabela's for my 40 S&W. Ammunition To Go was out of my "preferred" Federal Classic 180 Grain JHP's.

Good luck in finding ammo that functions in your gun. Get enough ammo that you can afford to run at least 200 failure-free rounds through your gun before trusting it. Also, look in to being able to get 500 - 1000 Rounds/Year as a minimum. That alone eliminates lots of ammo for me, as I might only be able to buy it once. I don't look for one time deals on ammo, but rather continued resupply. Sometimes that means having to select "yesterday's technology". It worked then, so I fail to see why it wouldn't work now.

BikerRN

 

[onebigelf]

The Gold Dots are good and due to a profile radius close to that of ball are frequently recommended as one of the better feeding HP's. I also like the COR_BON PowrBall for the same reason. I've never fed it in a 45 it wouldn't run in.

John

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Where can you buy the gold dots in bulk, to get down the per-round price? Ammoman or what?

 

[T Bone]

The three I see most commonly recommended are the Speer Gold Dots, the Winchester Ranger T's and the Federal HST (the most recent addition to that list). At least two of these are "law enforcement only" ammo, but all can be had to the general public via various internet dealers. All are believed to be top performers from a defensive point of view.

I quit running the Silver Tips in the 1980's when a local officer was killed after putting multiple .45 ACP Silver Tips into a suspect. The rounds failed to expand, the suspect was able to mortally wound her. I think the suspect survived.

Try some of each if you can, see what runs best for you. Buy a case of it, run the 200 rd. function test and stock the rest for your range work. Then fire Winchester White Box or something else inexpensive for most of your range sessions, followed by a few magazines of your carry ammo. That's how I do it anyway...

 

[The Foo]

Aguila for plinking.

Federal HST 230g +P for self defense loads.

 

[Walkalong]

Gold Dot, SXT, HST, XTP, Golden Saber. Any major makers offering that feeds in your gun. I bought ran 100 each of 230 Gr Golden Sabers, 200 Gr Gold Dots, and 230 Gr XTP's through my CDP Ultra without a hic up when I still had under 500 rounds on the gun. (Break in period my A***) I loaded them myself to factory O.A.L..

 

[CrankyOldGuy]

PremiumSauces,

What are you feeding?
Can it handle +P?
Can you tolerate 230gr +P or do you prefer a lighter recoiling load?

The best answer depends on you and your pistol.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I like the Federal HST. Unless opening up to about an inch isn't big enuff for ya

 

[DawgFvr]

Everything is good if you place it in the right spot.

None of them are if you don't.

 

[jjohnson]

For... What?

Sauces....... do you reload?

I like hollow points in smaller calibers, but up here in American Siberia (Minnesoviet), if it's SD ammo, you'd have to figure your hollowpoints will
plug with very thick winter clothing in the winter. For a .45ACP, jeez, lots of us would say ball ammo would do the job.

If you don't reload, I'd just use Blazers. If you do reload, Winchester Silvertips get my vote. They're not spendy like, CorBon for example but it's good ammo. I've found the Gold Dots pretty good, too, and the price is reasonable. I'm with you - I hate to pay a buck a round for SD ammo. I like to be able to shoot some of my carry ammo now and then without breaking the bank. Even if I can get a six year, no interest loan on a few boxes....:banghead:

 

[Mello]

If cost is a major concern, consider investing in a progressive reloading machine. Recover your brass and shoot cast bullets for practice. Your average cost per shot over 10,000 rounds will be significantly lower than buying loaded ammo even including the reloading machine.

You can of course also load jacketed hollow point bullets to what ever velocity you feel is reasonable and have great defensive load too. I'd test each round in a "go-no-go" gauge before betting my life on it.

 

[rklessdriver]

I have 2 .45ACP pistols I carry occasionally. A Smith 625 and a Baer PII. I mostly carry a Smith 36 these days, but I still occasionally strap on a big gun.

Federal HST is indeed top of the line right now but my Baer PII dosen't feed them 100%.

Federal Hydra Shok is my first choice, time tested and proven (and both my carry .45's like them).

After that I don't think it matters much.

The Remington UMC 230gr JHP (which is freakishly accurate out of my Baer PII and Smith 625 for some reason) is a decent budget defense round you can afford (kinda) to paractice with.

I'd even carry ball and not feel under gunned with a .45.

Afterall shot placement is KING...
Will