Best .45 Factory Defensive Ammo?

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sithanas

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I've been considering what kind of ammo I should be buying for use with my .45s, and I keep finding mixed advice. I hear that the old JHPs don't work as well as the new ones, which makes sense. But which new JHP should I be carrying? I've been looking real hard at the 185gr Cor-Bon DPX. What do you guys recommend?
 
230 gr Golden Sabers, 230 gr Gold Dots, 230 gr Ranger T (not Supreme SXT), or 230 gr HST.
 
230 gr Golden Sabers, 230 gr Gold Dots, 230 gr Ranger T (not Supreme SXT), or 230 gr HST.

The above mentioned choices are excellent suggestions. You will be well armed with any of them.
 
The one that gives 100% function and suitable accuracy in your pistols.....having said that, as far as hollow points go, the Remington Golden Saber in 185 or 230 grain would probably be some of the easiest to find or their standard 185 or 230 HP loads. If you can find them, the Winchester Ranger T (Law Enforcement) load in 230 grain is an excellent bullet, and then there is the easy to find Winchester Silver Tip in 185 grain, all in standard pressure, +P not necessary.....or just plain jane 230 grain FMJ...that's right, good 'ol hard ball. Fact is, about any standard pressure .45 rd will be good enough - if you are good enough with it ! ;)
 
What do I carry?

The Fed 230 Hydrashocks, or if I'm taking my 45 into the woods, I carry the Rem 185 +p's.

Fred
 
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=636613

I buy the bullet and load my own to about 400 ft lbs. The factory load is a +P load and makes claimed 518 ft lbs (click on the specifications link), which is pretty impressive. Mine shoots accurate and to point of aim at the lower velocities, though and is 100% functional. Of course, I've yet to find any load that isn't 100 percent functional in my Ruger.
 
I ran across Aguila IQ a few years back and have been carrying it ever since.
The bullet is a HP that is made from brittle metal. It's light weight (117gr) and very fast (almost 1300 fps from a 3 inch Derringer or 3 inch 1911). In the target the bullet breaks up into 3-4 big chunks, with the base still a full 45cal.

Just yesterday I was trying some penetration comparisons in wet phone books. The 45's only penetrated into the second book.

I shot a 230gr Remington Golden Saber and a Aguila IQ. The penetration for both bullets was exactly the same. The Remington bullet mushroomed perfect. The Aguila broke into 3 pieces and tore a LARGE hole through the book.

The back of the first book. Rem on the left. Aguila on the right.

45acpwetphonebook2.gif

The bullets.
Only two of the three pieces broke off the front of the Aguila. Probably if the third piece had broke off, there would be more destruction through the book.

phonebookAguilaandGS.gif
 
Have you ever fired any of that Aguila IQ 45 ammo indoors? It's like artillery. It's the loudest 45acp ammo I have ever heard. I cannot even imagine firing a few rounds of that ammo in a defensive situation with no hearing protection. It may or may not be an effective stopper but the volume is enough to keep me from buying it.

I like Winchester Ranger RA45T 230gr and Remington 185gr GS.
 
It is potent.;)

But I don't think it's that bad and if I ever had to use it for it's intended purpose the noise would be the last thing I'd be worrying about.


Besides my new HD and car gun is the Kel Tec PLR-16 .223 pistol.
Now that is LOUD.:D
 
any of the modern 230gr jhp offerings from a major manufacturer would be a decent starting point- just make sure that it feeds and functions in YOUR pistol ;)
 
For shorter barrels (i.e. < 5" ) I prefer Remington Golden Saber 185gr. +P. For full-length barrels, I prefer 230gr. GS. Both are FBI issue, and are used by many other LE agencies as well. Since they've done the testing for me, I'm confident in the ability of these bullets.
 
If you ever need your pistol in a "live action" situation, your body will be pumping out enough adrenalin to suppress any noise above normal. Its one of those "involuntary" bodily functions that happens understress. Kinda like crapping your pants when you get hit by a train.:neener:

SW
 
I use Hornady 185-grain XTP in my P97. I have yet to hear anyone say that it doesn't reliably expand or otherwise get the job done as the projectile is also used in their new TAP ammo. One other very nice thing about this ammo is that a box runs me $10.50 per twenty at the Sportsman's Warehouse where all the other high-speed, low-drag loads run at least $16.50 per box of 20.

Some pistols dislike the lip structure of the XTP by my friends Kimber and my Ruger feed them fine,
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
 
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