If you were going to carry 45 ACP ball for self defense...

[Balrog]

What brand and load would you carry?

Please, this discussion is NOT about hollowpoints, or a discussion about the advantages of hollowpoints. Just about FMJ loads only.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

 

[Balrog]

why the shock?

 

[Ben86]

If I had to I'd go for Federal expanding full metal jacket load.

If you mean classical FMJ than I'd probably go with Winchester USA. If I wanted something hotter I'd get some Buffalo Bore fmj.

I'm curious why you ask? Around my rural property in the sticks I carry my M&P9 loaded with the first three rounds being 9mm nato spec fmj. I do this out for practicality sake in case I need to shoot a varmint I don't have to waste premium jhps.

 

[Dr.Rob]

You might look for a truncated cone shaped bullet instead of a round nose.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...eadless-primer-tmj-ammo/cName/45-acp-fmj-ammo

If you want round nose FMJ 'ball' ammo, PMC, Remington, Winchester, Federal are all about equal.

I haven't bought any Prvi ammo in 45ACP but I have several other calibers (44 mag, 8mm Mauser, etc) and they all perform flawlessly. It's also less expensive than a lot of the USA made brands.

 

[481]

Sticking to non-expanding FMJs for my .45 Auto, I'd go with Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi or Sellier&Bellot 230 gr. FMJs and expect a high probabilty that the round will exit (since 230 gr. ball @ 850 +/- 25 fps will produce about 26" of penetration against soft tissue) whom- or whatever I have to shoot.

My personal experience with Remington/UMC ammo has been less than desirable- seems to be low power stuff with some QC issues and cycles unreliably in some of my pistols.

 

[GCBurner]

The Winchester 230 grain FMJ in the white box bulk package works fine as an all-purpose load for practice, or CCW. It's been 100% reliable in both my Glock and 1911A1.

 

[Balrog]

Is Sellier and Bellot going to be reliable enough for self defense usage??

 

[GCBurner]

I haven't shot any S&B in .45 calibre, but the 9mm and .32ACP I've used has worked fine. Some S&B ammo seems to be loaded a little hotter than US ammo, but that may just be a subjective opinion, I haven't personally tested by brand for comparison.

 

[chris in va]

I'd crank up my lead round nose bullets to max charges. In fact, I plan to do that if/when I carry my 97b as it doesn't seem to like hollowpoints much.

 

[Nushif]

Is Sellier and Bellot going to be reliable enough for self defense usage??

Kinda curious as to why you are asking this question ... I have never even seen a bad rebiew of S&B ammo. I am sure they are out there, but look hard enough and yiu will faind a bad review of anything.

I guess I am legitimately curious as to why you think S&B is not reliable enough?

 

[mljdeckard]

I've shot plenty of American Eagle, WWB, S&B, etc, and honestly, I see little if any difference between them.

 

[ku4hx]

Ball? My own: 230 grain hard cast (Brinell=18) clocked at 890 fps and perfectly reliable through 1,000s of rounds fired.

 

[Balrog]

I guess I am legitimately curious as to why you think S&B is not reliable enough?

Well, all I did was ask a question... I asked if S&B was reliable enough. Since it is a quesiton, you can safely assume that I must not know the answer. So you are drawing erroneous conclusions by saying I don't think S&B is reliable enough.

 

[kentucky_smith]

Heard Ed Brown talking to Mossad Ayoob once, said his personal carry load was .45 ball.

 

[Dave T]

Hornady used to offer a 230g truncated cone load and bullet. Since they discontinued that the Fiocchi TC load looks like a possible replacement. I may have to get a box or two to chronograph and otherwise test.

Dave

 

[Chindo18Z]

SB & Fiocchi are the ammo manufacturing powerhouses of Europe.

Both firms produce ammunition of excellent quality...often loaded to higher velocities than the offerings of the US Big Three (Winchester, Federal, & Remington).

I'd use either brand without reservation (in 230 gr FMJ .45 ACP).

 

[jmr40]

The ones that shot most accurately in my gun.

 

[mavracer]

If I had to carry FMJ I'd use these
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=830755

 

[gunsablazin]

I carry WWWB FMJ most of the time when I carry my 1911, but I have used S&B, Federal, and Remington with no problems as well.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I don't think effectiveness changes much when shooting different brands of FMJ ammo in .45ACP.

That being set aside, I'd go with accuracy, cleanliness and cost. My most consistent experience has been with CCI Blaser. It is what I use for practice and local IDPA matches

 

[NG VI]

I'd go with Fiocchi, S&B, CCI, or really anything else. With an FMJ projectile at handgun velocities you aren't going to see any real performance differences on the target's end as long as they're not ultra-light target loads. So whichever one your specific pistol likes best, go for it.

 

[ugaarguy]

If you're going to carry FMJ, might as well get it with a sealed primer. I wish S&B still sealed the case mouth like they used to.
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/produ...r-bellot-230gr-fmj-ammo/cName/45-acp-fmj-ammo

 

[Tape]

 

[David E]

I would not rely on aluminum cased Blazer ammo for serious purposes. Brass case would be ok.

I have some military FMJ that has a sealed bullet and primer, so I'd carry that.