Best ammo for PT 145 Millenium Pro

[chrisnoel27]

I've never owned any pistol with a 3 inch barrel and am having trouble finding the right carry ammo for this gun. I bought some Remington Golden Sabre and tested with 1x4 and 2 phone books, penetrated the 1x4 and 400 hundred pages of the first phone book with hardly any expansion. Not impressed.
What have you guys and gals tried and found successful with the Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro?

 

[jpwilly]

Fed HydraShok 185gr.

 

[BP Hunter]

I heard that a 3" barrel, like the Millenium Pro would need a lighter bullet for higher velocity to make it effective as a defensive round. I have a Glock 36 (.45 semicompact). So I use Hornady Self Defense Ammo in 185gr. The lighter bullet also is more comfortable shooting then using a 230gr .45 cal. bullet.

 

[borntoventure]

What BP_Hunter said is exactly what I finally ended up finding out myself, these 3" barrels do not like the traditional 230gr bullets. Mine loves just about any 185gr and even a 165gr I found a a local shop but it was too rare to get used to.

Just up until this week it's been my main CCW running Hornady 165gr SD/LEO rounds but I've replaced it with a XD45 and back to the good ol' 230gr PDX rounds.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I've never owned any pistol with a 3 inch barrel and am having trouble finding the right carry ammo for this gun. I bought some Remington Golden Sabre and tested with 1x4 and 2 phone books, penetrated the 1x4 and 400 hundred pages of the first phone book with hardly any expansion. Not impressed.

You have to take into account that wood and phonebooks do not simulate human tissue.

 

[bigmike45]

I have carried my PT-145 for years stoked with 230gr HydraShoks....especially after taking down a 280lb hog with it, when my AR jammed using steel case ammo. One round broadside through the heart/lung area, from 15yards away. Lungs and top of heart were gone. The animal took 3 steps and fell over. I am confident it will work as effectively in a human.

 

[Hypnogator]

I am confident it will work as effectively in a human.

I'm not. Last I heard, hogs don't wear clothing, which is the Hydra-Shok design's big flaw.

I carry Federal 230-gr Tactical Bonded in my PT-145. Give good expansion in tests with bare ordinance gelatin and through heavy clothing (4 layers of denim) and are formulated for use in short-barreled weapons.

My second choice would be 185-gr Cor-Bon DPX rounds, or the Taurus equivalent in non-plus-P. Also give excellent expansion and penetration, but without as much muzzle-flip as the 230-gr stuff.

With modern premium JHPs, the notion that .45 ACP bullets of any reasonable weight won't expand from a 3" barrel is just hogwash.

 

[Giterboosted]

I run golden sabers and pdx1 in mine

 

[drdann]

I use Remington and Federal 230 GR FMJ in mine, and have never had any issues... my niece did have a couple of FTEs due to limp wristing

 

[armsmaster270]

Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection Short Barrel ammo.