Self-defense ammo: FMJ or untested JHP?

[Bama Drifter]

buy ammo on arrival

I found you about 5 gun stores in the greater Colorado Springs metro area. Check HERE:

https://www.google.com/#q=colorado springs gun stores

below place shows Cor-Bon to TulAmmo & everything in between:
http://www.redbearguns.com/catalog.handgun-ammunition?&caliber=5

Anyway, my condolences on moving to a restricted state... at least you get 15rd mags instead of 10! Best of luck on new job, too!

 

[cdk8]

Personally I would carry another firearm I have already ran JHPs through. My reasoning for this is both related to the effectiveness of [good] hollow point ammunition and their ability to reduce the risk of overpenetration. If I lived in a more remote area, the latter would probably not be as much of a concern, and even less so with .45.

If that was not an option, I would load JHPs and use a brand I am confident with. Most likely that would be the 230 grain Speer Gold Dot. While I would personally get to a range ASAP to cycle some rounds through it, I would not have any significant concern regarding reliable feeding with the GDHP through a properly upkept and correctly operating factory gun, having shot tens of thousands of Gold Dots through more guns than I can remember and having seen nothing but impressive consistency & effectiveness. This effectiveness includes the Gold Dot's ability to rapidly incapacitate.

 

[GRIZ22]

While I prefer to use hollowpoints for SD, I have no problem using FMJs for that purpose.

 

[bluzman]

FMJ. For any of my pistols, I always make sure that at least 200 rds of any brand of JHP can be fired with zero FTF/FTEs before I'll use it for home defense or carry it. That's just me.

 

[samweller]

In .45ACP 230 gr. FMJ's are all you need. You do not need JHP's and they only increase a chance of FTF. I even carry FMJ's in my BHP 9 sometimes, but in 9 MM, I prefer XTP's. Sometimes, I will rack a JHP into the chamber, then top the magazine off with an FMJ just to be sure. But, in .45, you don't need to do that.