How effective is the 45 ACP Ball round for self-defense?

[Jim Watson]

So, for a time, I carried a premium JHP in the chamber, and the mag was loaded with good-quality round-noised FMJ.

I did that. Norma and Super Vel hollow points did not feed reliably in my USGI 1911 so I chambered one and loaded the magazine with hardball.
Still do. I did not want to go to the trouble to check out my P220 with JHPs, so it is loaded that way now.

I have shot enough 9BP over the years since M Ayoob mentioned it that I am comfortable with it after short trials in a new gun. But .45 ammo is a moving target. I could identify three variants of .45 Hydrashok by eye and read that there were five altogether.

 

[Conelrad]

Confidence in your shooting ability and weapon means more than ammo technicalities.

A well trained shooter with a .45 SAA would be more effective than a wonder-9 in the hands of a Barney Fife...

 

[Rexster]

I did that. Norma and Super Vel hollow points did not feed reliably in my USGI 1911 so I chambered one and loaded the magazine with hardball.
Still do. I did not want to go to the trouble to check out my P220 with JHPs, so it is loaded that way now.

A P220 should be quite omnivorous. My old-school P220, with the heel-clip mag release, fed fresh 1991-193 Federal 230-grain Hydra Shoks and same-era Speer 200-grain “Flying Ash Tray” JHPs, with 100% reliability, but, yes, we should always first test a statistically-meaningful sample. Interestingly, I sold that P220 because the heel-clip mag retainer snagged several times, on the patrol car’s seat back fabric, allowing the mag to drop, partially. I reverted to revolvers, for duty, from 1993 to 1997, starting with the GP100 seen in my avatar image.

Edited to add: By 1991, I was working so much overtime that I could afford to buy enough JHPs to test a new pistol.

 

[Anchorite]

A P220 should be quite omnivorous. My old-school P220, with the heel-clip mag release, fed fresh 1991-193 Federal 230-grain Hydra Shoks and same-era Speer 200-grain “Flying Ash Tray” JHPs, with 100% reliability, but, yes, we should always first test a statistically-meaningful sample. Interestingly, I sold that P220 because the heel-clip mag retainer snagged several times, on the patrol car’s seat back fabric, allowing the mag to drop, partially. I reverted to revolvers, for duty, from 1993 to 1997, starting with the GP100 seen in my avatar image.

Edited to add: By 1991, I was working so much overtime that I could afford to buy enough JHPs to test a new pistol.

Sounds like my 4506. Damn thing will feed empty cases. Still have it, and still love it.

 

[Gordon]

When I came home from VN (where I was issued a 1911A1 Ithaca which saved my life, successfully ) in 71 first thing I did was buy a Combat Command .45 and over the next few years daily carried it and then added those King Sights and a nice trigger and feed ramp polishing . I shot a couple huge wild boar with the old Norma 230 grain Hollow point that didn't expand in anything. Then in the 80s and affording top tier training and entering competitions developed the other rig pictured which pretty much says it all. Nowadays I carry a .45 Sig P220 West German made and tuned by Gray Guns , and play with my Custom Cajun CZ 97 BD in .45 for range and casual competition . I also like little .40 S&W hicap pistols and the mighty 10mm Hunting pistols. How ever Jeff Cooper explained it to me in 1984 why the .45acp is about it for defense against human aggressors , not that he had to ........

 

[Rodfac]

the heel-clip mag retainer snagged several times, on the patrol car’s seat back fabric, allowing the mag to drop, partially.

Not good...I've had several holsters that did the same thing with an American style, side button mag release, some of them, were my own construction and design and several more were commercial models.

It's a feature (mag interference/release) that should be tested/scrutinized; and in all positions and body movements, too. Recall also, that an unwanted mag release, may not result in the magazine completely dropping free, but may in fact, allow it to slip down far enough in the 'well' to preclude feeding the next round after the first shot is fired.....

Best regards, Rod

 

[W.E.G.]

Do we still tap/rack/bang malfunctions?