Favorite .45 ACP Self Defense Ammo?

[Guncrazy45]

Currently, I've got Speer Gold Dots in 230gr in all of my .45s. But I've only shot a few of them--less than the recommended 200 rounds to check reliability. And I certainly don't use them for practice, because at about $25.00 for a box of 20, it's too damn expensive.

I'll probably be switching to the Remington Golden Sabers, because I can get a decent price buying them in bulk for hand loading.

"Oooh, but if you shoot someone with handloads, a prosecutor might..." Yeah, yeah. Save your breath. Not interested.

To me, the most important thing in a defense round used in an autoloader is reliable feeding. Hardball .45 is famous for that. The Golden Saber has a profile that is similar, and all reports I've heard say that it feeds just as well. I plan to test that for myself, in each of my guns.

After that, I want a bullet big enough (.45--check) and fast enough (I plan to work up to maximum loads), in order to hit as hard as possible.

And since it's for defense purposes, and such engagements typically take place at short range, accuracy is the least of my worries.

Anyway, that's how I'm going to determine what my favorite .45 ACP self defense ammo will be. The only better way to choose a logical favorite would be to line up a bunch of bad guys, and see what happens when you shoot them with different loads, under varying conditions. Which wouldn't be a bad idea, really.

 

[BlindJustice]

I'm not sure what the poster meant by 'Designer: ammo in regards
to .45 ACP ammo offerings by Double Tap. Try to buy Speer Gold Dot
JHPs in 20 rd boxes from Speer and it's at or more than $1 a round.
Double Tap offers either FMJ or Speer Gold Dot JHPs. Where's these
"Exploders?" DT offers the Gold DOts in 185 gr.200 gr. & 230 gr.
bullet weights at approx. $33/50 rds = 66 cents a round & most of the
brass is Starline. Seems good value and performance for the $$$ to
me so take that for what you will.

Randall

 

[Rampant_Colt]

Thanks for that Midway link, Guncrazy45!

I plan on reloading my own .45 230gr Golden Sabers for defensive purposes after i get a decent powder combination. I agree wth what you said about reliability being most important.
Golden Sabers have a most excellent feed profile, excellent terminal ballistics and expand under a wide variety of scenarios.
Until Winchester offers us their excellent Ranger T as a reloading component, i'll stick with the R-P GS as a handloaded defensive round.
[I don't have a crystal ball to predict the future with this new administration]


*I'll never understand why people buy Gold Dot ammunition loaded by "Double Tap" when Speer features it as their premium ammo available in 50rd boxes, and has an excellent reputation. You can't fix or improve on good

 

[JZ06]

After seeing a friend test some Federal HST in .45 G.A.P., I'm a believer in HST

 

[The Bushmaster]

185 grain Hornady HP/XTP seated to 1.190" over 7.6 grains of WSF and WLP primer all encased in Federal cases. 870 fps from a 3" barrel...

Here it comes...Wait for it...

 

[Peter Gun]

230 gr golden sabers, i use them in 165gr in my .40s too.
ive done some elementary ammo testing, and they always open the biggest and nastiest.

 

[Drail]

Speer Gold Dot. 200 or 230 gr.

 

[eldon519]

Corbon 185 gr DPX +P.

.80-caliber expansion and easily meets FBI penetration standards.

 

[kitsapcharly]

Double Tap 230 grain FMJ fills my XD-45c. Take a look at their site or Midway.

 

[skoro]

I like Federal HST and Remington Golden Sabers, both in 230gr.

 

[Elbeeo]

Federal HST 230gr +P (P45HST1)

 

[benzuncle]

I'll probably be switching to the Remington Golden Sabers, because I can get a decent price buying them in bulk for hand loading.

The Golden Saber has a profile that is similar...

+1 with Guncrazy45 and Rampant_Colt.

I have handloaded 500 rounds of 230gr Remington Golden Sabers for $14.13 per box of 50. They cycle perfectly every time through the three 45's I've tried them in.

 

[GLOCK45GUY]

230 HST +P here as well.

Shot one into the ground (packed clay). It opened up to a perfect .78 in diameter, and weighed 227g.

 

[Bill_G]

Rem Golden Saber 230gr

 

[DAN LESTER]

Hornday 185 JHP/Xp over
BULLSEYE

TRY A WATERMELON

 

[Keoni]

Since I'm thrifty (cheap) I carry Winchester USA45JHP 230gr.

 

[ROVERMAN]

Federal 200gr. +P EFMJ. I carry this in the .45 as well as the 124gr +P in my 9mm.

 

[fafnir]

Aguila IQ's

Fast, accurate, great energy transfer, but, I've only got 4 boxes left
and can't find anyone who stocks them.

 

[Bubba613]

230gr S&B FMJ.
I never recommend fmj loads for defense except in really small calibers (.32 etc) and .45acp. The fmj has a long history of doing quite well. I really don't see much reason to change.

 

[Clipper]

Plain old 185gr. Winchester Silvertips. I'm not impressed by the latest wiz-bang bullets. I'm impressed by accuracy and reliability, and after 30+ years, thousands of rounds of many calibers & zero failures, I'll stick with what works.

 

[kitsapcharly]

FMJ is most reliable feeder in all sorts of autos. Generally heavier bullets and somewhat hot loads also tend to cycle the action most reliably.
I like to use standard power ball-type loads for practice. If that functions flawlessly than the somewhat hotter loads from Double Tap are sure to work in the same gun. The difference in recoil is not very much so I feel this is close enough to "practice with what you carry." I can't afford to practice with that stuff but find the recoil isn't all that much different.
Works for me.

 

[twhitson87]

Hmm, favorite how? Without having ever shot anyone, and hopefully never doing so, all I can do is throw in my vote for Federal HSTs (having only read about them and owning a box of their +Ps), Winchester Ranger T's (same deal), and of course Speer Gold Dots. I'd trust the police to know what they're doing by carrying the Gold Dots. A .45 is going to do a decent job regardless of hollowpoint design, in my opinion. Like I said though, I've never used them on anyone... Vote casted!

 

[ZeBool]

Federal 230 grain Hydra-shocks. They're pretty beasty-looking.

 

[Mike U.]

Mainly carry Ranger Talons 230 gr. +P.
I've run over 300 rounds thru my H&K USP and it feeds every time and is damned accurate to boot.
Practice ammo is usually WWB.

 

[foghornl]

All my .45ACP guns get fed Rem 230Gr. "Golden Sabres"