How Many Carry a 1911 with FMJ Ammo?

[SharpsDressedMan]

I sometimes use JHP's, but for the most part, I am content to pack my .45's with regular FMJ ammo. I don't expect miracle expansion with JHP's at standard velocities, so FMJ's and their reliability and superior pentration is a good enough choice, in my opinion. Anyone else less than enchanted with JHP's in the .45?

 

[rich642z]

I use fmj ammo in both of my 1913 and 1925 Colts because they hate jhps.

 

[Masterartisan]

I use FMJ in my Kimber Pro Carry II...flawless operation...why tempt fate?

 

[ratt_finkel]

How much penetration are you looking for? Even lack luster hollow points expand quite nicely in this size. It's not a .22

 

[fal762x51]

I carry 230g FMJ exclusively in any 1911 used for defense.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

My 1911 would not feed JHPs reliably out of the box, so I carry ball. One of these days I might see if it's sufficiently broken in to feed them now, but if it doesn't I'm not going to be overly concerned about it.

 

[daehawc]

Same here, I normally carry standard FMJ for a couple reasons.

I know it feeds flawlessly as I've fired thousands upon thousands of FMJ through my 1911s. I've only shot a few boxes worth of the JHP due to its price.

I like the penetration of the FMJ, its proven itself in combat for a century.

Its what I practice with so I'm used to the recoil and its POI from my guns.

I figure a couple .45 ACP hardballs should stop the threat or I should have gotten a rifle.

 

[cfullgraf]

Most of my M1911s shoot JHPs that are shaped like 230 RN. Not so well with other shaped bullets. But, I have not bothered to try any JHPs in my newer M1911s.

Even so, I feel 230 FMJs are more than adequate for the job. So, I only reload 230 FMJs or 230 plated RM bullets. So, if I use a M1911 for self defense, the ammunition in the gun is identical to what i practice with.

 

[USSR]

Cheap, and very effective.

Don

 

[micromontenegro]

I also carry 230 gr ball. In fact, I carry .45 ACP just to be able to load it with FMJ and still feel protected. Wouldn't do it with a lesser caliber.

 

[bikerdoc]

FMJ only here.

 

[2wheels]

I prefer to carry JHPs but I've been known to run with FMJs, if I don't have any of the JHPs I know run reliably in my 1911s on hand I have zero problem loading up a .45 with FMJs.

 

[EMC45]

I carry 230gr. Ball FMJ. They work so why not?

 

[Goblin]

First 2 rds are FMJ in my bedside .45.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I carry a Kimber UCC II and have had no problems with 185 grain HP/XTP...

 

[ElrodCod]

I don't carry a 1911 anymore but when I did it was usually loaded with hollowpoints. It was carried with hardball on rare occasions when, for one reason or another, hollopoints couldn't be used. I never felt that I was inadequately armed.

 

[doorman]

I carry my Springfield Loaded 1911a1 with whatever I have handy. I reload both FMJ and JHP. The 1911 platform was originally designed for the ball ammo and served the armed forces for many years.

 

[Onmilo]

 

[AllisonDT]

I carry 230gr. Ball FMJ. They work so why not?

What do you mean, "they work?"

While no FMJ is going to ever expand, a JHP is never going to get smaller than .45" and will almost always expand some. With a decent JHP, it will almost always expand a lot. Why handicap yourself on purpose?

If my gun didn't reliably cycle a quality JHP, it sure wouldn't be my carry gun.

 

[KodiakBeer]

If my gun didn't reliably cycle a quality JHP, it sure wouldn't be my carry gun.

+1

I won't go into it here, but it's surprisingly easy to "break the lip" of even an old GI pistol so that it feeds hollowpoints, so why would anyone carry a .45 with FMJ's?

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I should have stated that with my guns, it's not so much that they won't feed hollowpoints (they all do, as far as I know), it is just that I feel the .45 is effective enough with FMJ's that I don't HAVE to use JHP's. As I see, some of you feel the same way.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I also noly use FMJs in my 1911. I know they'll function flawlessly in my gun and they will certainly stop a BG if I'm even halfway doing my part. I do carry HPs in my other sometimes carry gun, a Springfield XD 45, but that's because the XD seems to love the 185gr HPs and is very consistant with each shot.

 

[Sniper X]

first two rounds in every carry mag is 230gr JHP +P+, the rest are all FMJ Match.

 

[Japle]

When I carry a .45, whether it's a 1911 or an XD, it's loaded with CorBon JHPs. There are other good JHP loads on the market, but I happen to have CorBon, so I use it.

If I had a .45 that would only feed FMJs I wouldn't carry it.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

First 2 rds are FMJ in my bedside .45.

Uh, why?

I should have stated that with my guns, it's not so much that they won't feed hollowpoints (they all do, as far as I know), it is just that I feel the .45 is effective enough with FMJ's that I don't HAVE to use JHP's. As I see, some of you feel the same way.

No offense but that is just laziness, JHPs expand quiet nicely and perform better on target than FMJ. Why would you limit yourself if the round functions in your carry gun? That doesn't make sense.