What 1911 .45 ACP do you use for your self-defense/CCW rounds?

[nx302stang]

I tried to use the search function, but it doesn't work and just gives me a blank screen.

This is my first Colt 1911 copy. It's a SW stainless 1911. What round do you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Black Majik]

I wish there was a generic response to this answer, but truth is... each gun likes different ammo. Try a bunch out and see which your specific gun likes. It should be able to eat American Eagle, Winchester White Box, Blazer Brass and other plinking ammo of current manufacturer easily.

SD rounds, you can try Remington Golden Sabre, Speer Gold Dot, Federal Hydrashok, or Winchester Ranger ammo and see which your gun likes the most.

Wish I could give a standardized answer, but that's what you'll have to do. Not to worry though, your S&W 1911 is an excellent gun so it should eat all with no problem!

 

[Black Majik]

double tap

 

[Scratchy]

I like Hornady TAP 230gr or Winchester Ranger 230gr+p but Speer Gold Dot is great as well. Go to the range and find out what works best in your pistol.

 

[Joe Demko]

Federal 230 grain Hi-Shok® jacketed hollowpoints.

 

[chihuahuatn]

I'm not sure if you have read this but here is a good read......
http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=237

I carry Winchester Ranger 230gr JHP +P

 

[spencerhut]

Whatever the local PD or Sheriff keep in their duty sidearms is the safe way to go. I use Speer Gold Dots in my .45ACP, 40S&W and 9MM CCW guns.

 

[7-08WIN70]

everyone in my family carries 7 .45 cal 230 gr. federal hydra-shoks in there kimber tactical ultra 2's

 

[Rustynuts]

Federal HST's or Double Tap. Or Gold Dots, or EFMJ, or Golden Saber, or Silvertips, or TAP. Whatever goes bang!

 

[Markbo]

Get a small box of every round mentioned here and try them all from a bench to see what your gun shoots most accurately. The results might suprise you.

 

[Mad Magyar]

After checking various HP's for reliability in my .45's, I top off each mag with 3 Winchester 185gr SilverTip; the remainder FMJ-230gr...

 

[03Shadowbob]

Golden Sabres 230gr

 

[weisse52]

Federal 230 grain Hi-Shok, or 230 hardball

 

[skywarp_]

Federal 230Gr +P HST tactical.

 

[AndyC]

Golden Sabres

 

[Big Boomer]

Corbon DPX 185gr +P, Gold Dot 200gr +P

Also check under here: http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?f=16

for the sticky's on ramp and throat jobs. A simple polish with flitz can add a huge benefit and smoothness to feeding almost anything.

Sometimes I carry 230gr Winchester Ranger 230gr +P

 

[Guitargod1985]

230 grain Federal Hydrashoks.

 

[Hunter0924]

I would suggest check a few for reliability in your pistol. With that said I like Hornady TAP 200gr JHP(for shorter barrel pistols) and Winchester Ranger 230gr JHP

 

[opd743]

I don't have a 1911, YET, but I carry either Hydrashok 230gr or Double Tap 165gr in my G21.

 

[loop]

In my S&W Model 1917 I use Black Talons in 230.
In all my autos I use Remington Golden Sabers in 230, except in guns that don't like to feed, extract or eject them.
In those my SD rounds are either Remington or Winchester 230 HPs.
I try to keep my Kimbers and Sigs in Black Talons, but the supply isn't too good anymore. The thing about the Black Talons in the Sigs and Kimbers is the accuracy. Just plain dead one, but the Golden Sabers are a close second...
Most important thing is that they feed, extract and eject properly. Find the rounds that function reliably, then test for accuracy.
I'd rather shoot hardball that works than an HP that probably won't expand anyway...
I've tested most HPs through a chrono into water and reliable expansion occurs at 930 fps and above. Very few .45 rounds in 230 grain hit 930 fps.
Which opens up the argument for 200-grain semi-wadcutters...
My .45 auto round of choice until about 1998... and talk about accurate!

 

[possum]

all the above are fine answers but really it is whatever that works est for you and in your gun. i have a certain criterium for choosing sd/hd/ccw ammo. in order of importance for me.
1) reliability 100% all the time.
2) cotrolability while shooting rapid fire, and other various drills. basically recol and muzzle flip as compared to the others.
3) accuracy.