Best ammo for SD in .45ACP

I luv how they gouge us with them small boxes of 20 at exuberant prices.

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That's why I jumped and bought 200 230 gr. Gold Dot bullets when Midway put 'em on sale a few years ago, and rolled up four boxes of my own! Four boxes of 50 handloads for the price of one box of 20 factory rounds? Oh hell yeah.

el Godfather said:

If it helps the gun that I am going to but this ammo for is H&K Mark23.

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Ok, that was my first handgun. Affording factory fresh ammo should not be a problem for you.

I shoot a full size 1911 and a SIG P220R.

I get the best overall average of penetration and expansion with Federal HST 230gr.

You can find fifty round boxes from $25.00-$30.00 if you shop.

My Glock 36 seems to like Hornady 200 grain XTP +Ps the best. They shoot the most accurately of any that I have been able to try, and have run flawlessly.
The Hydro-shocks and whatnot that I have tried have also run well. I think I just shoot better with the lighter bullets.

On a somewhat unrelated note: I was at the range yesterday, tried some Tulammo FMJs They all key-holed at seven yards. Got me thinking, 230 grain
FMJs unstable at seven yards might have some interesting terminal ballistics. Just a thought.

These are 230 grain Federal HSTs fired into soaking wet phone books. All ten rounds fired penetrated almost exactly 14" and they all expanded perfectly.



I carry the 230 grain HST +Ps now for a little more power in the woods.

I prefer Remington 230 grain Golden Saber BJHP. But I've never killed anybody with it.

Ultimately, the answer depends on the specific gun the round is going through.

Generally speaking, in a full size .45 the top rounds include:

- Speer Gold Dot 230 grain
- Federal HST 230 grain
- Winchester Ranger T 230 grain
- CorBon DPX 185 grain +P.

The "best" is dependent upon how reliably it runs in your individual weapon and how it you feels to you shooting it.

Short barreled and compact .45s change this list somewhat.

Can someone explain the difference between HydraShock and HydraStaticShock

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Hydrashock = a line of federal's ammunition

Hydrostatic shock is not a product. It's a reaction in flesh to the energy transfer when struck with a bullet. Has to do with pressure waves and such.

Two totally different things.

I remember buying a box of Federal hydroshock in the mid 1990s. It was the touted best .45 JHP in the market. It shoots great in my full size. I also got the Aguila brand but it iwll get stock on the feed ramp from a fullloaded mag. i have to top off one round in a loaded mag and it can feed from the slide.

I guese the Federal HST is way an improved version without the centerpost. I may have to get a box.

I use the copper DPX by Corbon or Bufflo Bore either one works fine in ALL my 1911 From Defender to Gov.

Which, in your opinion, is the best SD ammo in .45ACP?

To answer the question as broadly as possible-

Any premium-quality 230 gr. JHP.