Best performance with less liability with the 45acp

[Gr8Heath]

Like most everyone, at least I hope, I have never fired a shot at organic matter. All My 45's run 230gr FMJ and are accurate enough to be scary...Even knowing the 45 has among the lowest velocities of large cal. ammo, I am still, well scared, of using them as self defense. Of course I know that is not the best option anyway. I have found lots of different ammo promising better expansion, less penetration, and less chance of a shoot through. however I have no basis as to which type is better. How much would a 180 gr frangible change it's accuracy. I guess I'm looking for a lighter round with the same ballistics (as far as accuracy). any input is appreciated. Be safe.

[ericire12]

I think the best generic advise I can give you is to stick with hallow points made by one of the major manufactures and designed specifically for personal defense. When it comes to personal defense ammo for handguns, I think it is of the utmost importance to pay attention to weight retention, then velocity and finally mass - I know I am going to stir the hornets nest with that comment, but what ever.

With .45 acp you are going to have great success with just about any ammo you choose (it is the definitive choice for personal defense handgun ammo), and probably your biggest concern should be reliability and ammo that shoots to point of aim. 

[Hazcat]

Big, soft 250 grain lead, "cowboy loads" of .45 Colt out of my Redhawk. 

[PegLeg45]

Yes, you will get a wide variety of replies on this one, I think.
So, I'll give my 2 pennies now.

Years ago I settled with a workable compromise between the 'mass v. velocity' idea mentioned (appropriately) earlier by ericire12.
I settled on 185 or 200 grain hollowpoints at or near +P (1150 fps) velocity such as Cor-Bon.
I feel the higher velocity gives more dynamic early expansion and shock value (purely my opinion).
I've also heard that the rapid expansion helps with over-penetration due to rapid deceleration (from drag).

There are many other fine ammo makers. I have tested Remington Golden Sabre, Federal Hydra-Shok, Winchester Silvertips and SXT, but always come back to Cor-Bon. It's a personal preference based on years of superior (un-failing) performance and overall accuracy in my pistols. (no, I don't work for Cor-Bon.. ).

As for accuracy, no two loads are the same so testing is definitely warranted.
One good thing about our hobby, the testing part is fun too.

[ratcatcher55]

I hope you know this but make sure that the hollow points you choose feed in your pistol and magazines.

My Springfield is picky about ammo even after a trip to a very good gunsmith.  I had an old Remington Rand that would only feed hardball.

I too ended up with Corbon DPX ammo as it fed every round from my mags (Wilson).

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

If your pistol doesn't like any other hollowpoints it should work okay if you feed it Pow'R'Balls. You know they're good because Cor-Bon makes it.    I have my .45 loaded with them as we speak. The 550 ft-lbs of ME is a real confidence booster too.     No idea what the accuracy is because when I shot a box or two I was only interested in function testing it. http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/powrball.htm

[ericire12]

If your pistol doesn't like any other hollowpoints it should work okay if you feed it Pow'R'Balls. You know they're good because Cor-Bon makes it.    I have my .45 loaded with them as we speak. The 550 ft-lbs of ME is a real confidence booster too.     No idea what the accuracy is because when I shot a box or two I was only interested in function testing it. http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/powrball.htm

I carried these in 9mm for a while and then switched to TAP. They feed great, and accuracy is perfectly acceptable (never really measured a group, but they are more then combat accurate). They would probably be a nice choice for a small caliber carry gun like .380

[DDMac]

I have always found that whatever the Feds are using has already passed the performance/liability test at many levels. Local law enforcement is always influenced by budget limitations (low bid mandate) which the Feds don't have. If you don't know any to ask, inquire at the largest local enforcement supply store. They will know or ask for you. Last time I checked, Speer Gold Dots were most favored.
Mac.

[cody6.0]

In the last year I have tried out a SR9, Glock 21C, LCP and PX4 in 40 S&W.

I live in a rural are and have set up everything from a simple target range to using old vehicles to test different rounds. Not only is it fun to have people over for a day of shooting but you get to see real life capabilities of different ammo.

- Blue/White box CorBon and Pow R Ball is fast and will do some damage with little over penitration. But when shot through simulated clothing it was common to see zero expansion. Into heavy clothing there seemed to be either no expansion or rapid expansion which usually seperated the core and jacket.

- Winchester BlackTalon/Ranger SXT are both heavier than the CorBon's and also offer little over penitration and better weight retention. A few shots through simulated heavy clothing resulted in tip clogging with no expansion but at a much lower rate than the fast and light CorBon's.

I also fired several middle weight JHP's like the Federal Hydro Shok, Winchester Ranger JHP/Bonded JHP and the such. Both of which use tappering or other means to control expansion rate and tip clogging.

I must say though that after a long day it was very common to see .45 bullets laying on the ground like someone dropped them, when they hit something they release there energy fast and stop moving.     

[PegLeg45]

Interesting info, Cody. Reminds me of the time I shot some Black talons (10+ years ago) through some stacked wood to check penetration. 3/4 of the rounds clogged with wood particles and never expanded at all. I actually took one of the intact bullets with the wood embedded into the hollow point cavity and put it into an empty casing and made a keychain out of it. Still got it somewhere.