Shorty 45 auto

[Cee Zee]

I use Speer gold dot 230gr for short barrels in my Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro. It does a great job IMO. It expands just fine and penetrates well also. At least it does according to the tests I ran.

That pistol holds 10+1 and is a compact pistol. It's a double stack that is thinner than a lot of single stack .45's. And it's very accurate, perfectly dependable (it has never failed to feed whatever I've put in it) conceals easy. It's probably my best CCW gun although I carry my SA XDm .40 in my car and a Ruger LCP in my pocket when I want to carry that way. Still I have a new IWB holster for the Taurus and I wouldn't hesitate for one second to carry it on me in almost every situation I only have issues with the weight (even though it's light as far as .45's go) causing my clothes to droop too much. Health conditions prohibit me wearing a belt so I do the best I can with what I have to work with.

 

[guitararmy]

Is the Federal Personal Defense 165gr round a good choice for a short barrel 45? IIRC it was thought to be a good match up for the Glock 30 when it first came out...

 

[RustyShackelford]

short barrel .45acp pistols: performance ....

Top pistolsmith & tactics trainer Bruce Gray says a carry-defense .45acp semi auto pistol needs at least a 4.0" barrel for best performance.
Whatever .45acp load you choose, make sure it can properly feed & cycle in your compact .45acp model.
New designs & engineering have improved greatly in 2015 but you still need to be aware of what functions in your gun.

Rusty

 

[Valkman]

I only shoot 230gr ammo in my .45acp 1911s. My carry round is Winchester Ranger T 230gr JHP +P in all of them - 3.5", 4.25", 5".

Same here, same ammo but not +P. I have 3.3" XDS, 4" Kimber and 5" 1911's and all like this ammo. I mostly run reloads (230gr) but the Ranger ammo is my go-to defensive carry ammo.

 

[v8stang289]

I carry 230 grain bonded Remington Golden Sabers in my 3" Kimber Ultra Carry. They averaged 763 fps over the chrono (vs 855 fps out of a 5" 1911)

 

[entropy]

I carry Hornady TAP 230 gr +p ammo in my XDs.

Same in my PT145, with a Glaser as the last round.

That pistol holds 10+1 and is a compact pistol. It's a double stack that is thinner than a lot of single stack .45's. And it's very accurate, perfectly dependable (it has never failed to feed whatever I've put in it) conceals easy. It's probably my best CCW gun although I carry my SA XDm .40 in my car and a Ruger LCP in my pocket when I want to carry that way. Still I have a new IWB holster for the Taurus and I wouldn't hesitate for one second to carry it on me in almost every situation I only have issues with the weight (even though it's light as far as .45's go) causing my clothes to droop too much. Health conditions prohibit me wearing a belt so I do the best I can with what I have to work with.

+1. I love my PT145. What IWB holster are you talking about, CeeZee? A Remora? Mine works without a belt, though I just did it as a trial. The PT145 is more concealable than my PT1911AR, and holds two more rounds. I have a freind that still has a hard time believing it's a .45ACP; he has too look at the bore to be sure it's not a 9.

 

[dakota1911]

I usually use 230gr FMJs from a well known maker like Winchester, etc. If they do not work with that then you have problems. Not bad ones but get them to work with that first.

 

[dakota1911]

Forgot the pictures. I have tried a bunch. From a Detonics I bought in 1984 as a backup to the Colt Gov I carried to a 2002 Colt Defender I bought in 2002. I have had a bunch of little 45 ACP autos and in 1911 land the Colt Defender has been the best so far. It will run will the 230gr Win. JHPs I like now and also the 185gr Silvertips. Works with my my 200gr SWC cast handloads. Nice little pistol. And the next one I buy may be horrible and take hours to sort out. If you want a little .45 I hope you do not get frustrated easily.

 

[mavracer]

I have the same 230gr Gold dots in everything CW45 and Officers 1911 included.