Which Speer Gold Dot .45ACP ammunition is the best?

[sequins]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a Glock 30 (Gen4) for use as a concealed pistol that I will carry about on my person. I'm familiar with the .45ACP cartridge and have fired several boxes of 180 and 230gr ball ammunition through various 1911s and a Glock 21 prior to this purchase, but I've never fired any 45ACP defense ammunition. Now that I plan to use it for CCW I'm curious what people think of the Speer Gold Dot loadings.

So far I've carried 9mm and felt very comfortable with the Speer Gold Dot 124gr loadings as well as the Speer Gold Dot .357mag 125gr loading but this will be my first .45ACP self defense weapon and I am just now starting my research into a high quality carry round.

I see that Speer offers three loadings in the current catalogue, two different bullet weights in standard pressure and then a single weight in +P. Which one do you think I should use?

185gr
Muzzle Velocity: 1050
Muzzle Energy: 453

200gr +P
Muzzle Velocity: 1080
Muzzle Energy: 518

230gr
Muzzle Velocity: 890
Muzzle Energy: 404

edit: Oops, I meant to say "Speer" not "Spper"

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like to shoot the bullet weight that was meant for the cartridge. A 230gr 45 ACP round at that velocity took our military through 2 world wars, Korea and Vietnam. I see no reason why you need to change now. That big hunk of hurt will stop the attack just as it's done for over 100 years. No need for lighter faster bullets.

 

[Walkalong]

I have no idea which one is "best", but I have the 200 Gr +P in my 3" 1911.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

I would not have any concerns, carrying any of them. They will all do the job!

However, at the present time, I have the 200gn +P in my 4" Springfield Commander.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

It's not all about muzzle energy. It's also about momentum, reliability, and accuracy.

And not necessarily in that order.


First and foremost, you want ammunition that's reliable in the weapon you're intending to shoot it in. Not all ammunition cycles reliably in every gun for a variety of reasons.

How do you know it's reliable? You shoot it in the gun you intend to use it with. How much should you shoot to determine if it's reliable enough for you? That varies, and you'll hear lots of people come up with their own criteria...but there is no definitive number of rounds. Suffice it to say that the more you shoot in your gun, the better picture you will get on how reliably your gun cycles with that ammunition.


The other factor that can't be ignored is accuracy. Not all ammunition will have the same point of impact or accuracy. Given that premium self-defense ammunition tends to be quite a bit more expensive than typical target ammunition, it gets to be quite a bit more expensive to do all your target shooting and training with premium self-defense ammunition.

Which means that choosing self-defense ammo that shoots appreciably different than your chosen practice ammo might not be in your best interest.


Momentum is a better indication of penetration capability, all other factors being equal, than muzzle energy. For the muzzle energies you list, the order is as follows (highest to lowest):

200 gr.
185 gr.
230 gr.


For momentum, the order is as follows (highest to lowest):

200 gr.
230 gr.
185 gr.



So, it's not just a matter of "what's best", it's a matter of "what's best for YOU and the gun YOU intend to use".

My personal opinion is that each of these self-defense rounds is perfectly adequate to serve in that capacity. So your choice should be made weighted more heavily on the other factors I've listed.


As for me, I use Gold Dot 230 gr. My reasoning is that it cycles reliably in my pistol, it's accurate, and it's virtually indistinguishable as to point of impact when compared to my chosen target ammo.

 

[JTQ]

I consider it all hair splitting. Pick the one you can get, feeds well in your gun, are willing to pay for, and you like.

 

[Walkalong]

As long as the ammo in question feeds 100% in your gun, and is a reasonable pick for self defense (Most any major brand), then it is the least important factor in self defense.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As long as the ammo in question feeds 100% in your gun, and is a reasonable pick for self defense (Most any major brand), then it is the least important factor in self defense.

I can't agree more.

Most, if not all name brand ammo sold today will do what it was intended to do but it must be reliable. There are no second chances in a SD situation.

 

[entropy]

+1, reliability is first. I chose 230 gr., but the other two would do the job also, as long as they are reliable in your gun.

 

[PabloJ]

Right now it is 230gr Speer GD JHP from SG at $24.95 per 50. Next week it may be something else.

 

[LeonCarr]

Buy one box of each and see which one feeds reliably and "shoots to the sights".

IME a typical .45 ACP handgun with fixed sights will have sights regulated for 230 grain bullets, but some will surprise you. A buddy of mine just bought a Gen 4 G21 that shoots the 200 Grain +P Gold Dot (In my best Dr. Evil Voice) like a "Laser" at 50 feet, with POA/POI with a 6 o'clock hold matching perfectly.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[bannockburn]

sequins

I like to use the lighter weight bullets (185 and 200 gr.), in my Combat Commander and Officers Model. The 230 gr. runs just fine in all of my full size 1911s.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I went 230g because .45 is supposed to be big and slow. 180g is dropping down to .40 numbers and if I want to carry .40 then I would get a .40. Not scientific I know.

 

[BSA1]

That big hunk of hurt will stop the attack just as it's done for over 100 years. No need for lighter faster bullets

What can I say? I like shooting pumpkin balls through my 45's so that puts me in the 230 gr. JHP crowd.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I'm issued 185 grain Gold Dots, but I'd honestly prefer 230 grain Gold Dots. Someone speculated the agency's decision is based partially on the fear of over penetration liability.

Penetration is a vital factor for me, and I'd like more please. I carry what I'm issued.

 

[sequins]

Thanks for all the input you guys. I only wish the 230gr was +P also but I suppose the Gold Dot folks know what they're doing.

I ordered 200rds of the 230gr standard pressure and plan to shoot 100 rounds and use the other 100 for carry/hd magazines if the first 100 feed good.

 

[captainamerica]

We just bought 1000 rounds of Gold Dot 230 HPs for a 3.3" XDS but haven't checked for reliability yet even though in our minds that is the only issue. But I wouldn't have an issue with the other 2 choices in the poll above, if reliable as well, even though 230 grain would be my first choice.

 

[PowerG]

I've heard the "conventional wisdom" that says 230gr for full size, lower weights for shorter barrels, on the theory that velocity loss may affect expansion. I carry a Commander and use 230, it is reliable in my gun and heavy for caliber bullets tend to penetrate more, and these are my most important criteria.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I shoot 230 gr ammo in all my 45s because they hit at point of aim.

If they feed reliably, in a tested bullet, of a weight the gun was designed for, that's what I carry.

I favor Speer and Hornady ammo.

I've played with heavy and lite for caliber bullets, and don't care for the way it shifts the point of impact up and down. This is probably because I favor fixed sights as well on my auto loaders. In Revolvers, it doesn't bother me so much because I have sights to adjust if need be.

 

[mavracer]

I run 230 standard pressure Gold Dots in all my 45s

 

[WYO]

I carry factory loaded 230 grain standard pressure Gold Dots in my Glock 30SF, but the 5 shot average muzzle velocity when fired over my Oehler chronograph skyscreens is 808 fps out of that gun, not 890. They function perfectly in the gun. (For captainamerica, I got 782 fps shooting the same load out of a 3.3" XDs.)

 

[captainamerica]

I carry factory loaded 230 grain standard pressure Gold Dots in my Glock 30SF, but the 5 shot average muzzle velocity when fired over my Oehler chronograph skyscreens is 808 fps out of that gun, not 890. They function perfectly in the gun. (For captainamerica, I got 782 fps shooting the same load out of a 3.3" XDs.)

Thanks. I'm okay with the upper 700's. We shot the 230 gr Gold Dots this morning and the reliability is great so far.

 

[Nullcone]

Assuming reliability and accuracy were acceptable, I'd go with the 200gr in a mini 45 acp (and in fact do with my Commander-sized 45) and step down to 185gr if needed.

I like to shoot the bullet weight that was meant for the cartridge

Wasn't the original loading a 200gr? Circa 1905?

 

[stinger 327]

If you want to go with the lighter fastest velocity load how is the Corbon PowerBall load? I think it is 165 grains

 

[gwpercle]

First : The load that functions 100% of the time.

Second : the one I can shoot accurately.

Having ammo that does not reliably function can get you killed in a "situation", also
misses don't count and will get you killed.
Buy some of each and go with what works best for you and your gun. What works for me and my gun doesn't mean doodly-squat.