Tough 45 auto bullets

Status
Not open for further replies.
Usually the plated offerings I have tried are soft and mushroom quickly like 10-12 BHN lead does. I just use 230 ball with a couple gold dots at end of the magfor my woods travel. Testerday I went berry picking down east (Franklin area) and took my 629 with hard cast 230 gr SWC. That was probably overkill but did not want to mess around if I ran into a blackie wanting my berries. There have been incidents that a bear has been killed with a .22 so a 45ACP a max load minimally expanding bullet would work if you aim well. I have only shot one with a 30-30 though.
 
Cool thanks FROG. I might try some gold dots and XTP into water jugs. Those are the only (2) affordable options to play with without getting into expensive monolithic stuff. While I don't like the hollow point, they are most likely to stay together at 45 ACP velocities. I would run the JHP instead of a BALL or JFN since I do not want a bullet that blows apart and that's what I'm seeing in my tests.
 
FROGO207 how do you feel about the Hornady HAP in place of the XTP as my next test bullet?

I like the idea of no petal grooves to "lessen expansion". There's a lot of controversy to if this bullet is identical to XTP in all forms except for the petal grooves.
 
I wonder if you could cram the 240 XTP MAG into the 45 ACP Case or if it a much longer bullet. That would certainly guarantee the lowest expansion of the hollow point bullets out there. *I do realize it would have to be a carefully developed load*
 
98s1lightning said:
I wonder if you could cram the 240 XTP MAG into the 45 ACP Case or if it a much longer bullet. That would certainly guarantee the lowest expansion of the hollow point bullets out there. *I do realize it would have to be a carefully developed load*
Click to expand...
This is dependent on your barrel, and magazine. I hotroded an Xd45 tac to nearly Rowland class loads in Super brass. The Stormlake barrel I used had a longer than average throat as I had no issue setting 240s out to touch the mag before hitting the lands.
In my XD I comfortably got 230s upto about 1050 with nothing more than a +4lb recoil spring. To take them to 1250, I had to got to a +10, and a compensator.
I also took the 240s to 1200, and they didn't expand worth a damn, so went back to the shorter 230s, then dropped to 200s at 1250 to reduce the gun torquing on me...I'm not a very good pistol shot.

Pressure is not likely going to be your issue with heavier bullets and heavier loadings. Your pistol will be the limit, and you'll need to carefully watch slide velocity and unlock.

Personally, after messing with that XD, I'd probably just go with a revolver, but I'm limited to 10rnds.
 
Loonwulf I'm gonna give the 200gr HAP a try. I'll report back. Another member posted some nice 230 XTPs that were recovered from some unknown target (im guessing water jug) and they looked real nice. The HAP should expand slightly less.
 
HAP are essentially XTP without expansion cuts. But they are still filled with soft lead.

98s1lightning said:
What the toughest bullet you can get that will penetrate and stay together. I'm looking to get the most out of my HK 45C for woods carry. I would like it to shoot faster, flatter, and as much energy as I can safely.

I feel undergunned with my 45 vs my 357 in the woods, but the 45 is so much easier to pack...
Click to expand...
My retired bullet caster hunted and carried .44 Mag or 45 Super as sidearm. He even made solid brass bullets for penetration and used .30 carbine bullet in .38 shotshell as sabot for .357 brass to increase penetration.

He said if I ever hunted and needed a sidearm, to forget about using plated or HP/jacketed bullets as these are made from soft lead or soft lead alloy that will expand and not penetrate the thick animal hide. And shooting a bear with slow moving 45ACP 230 gr FMJ with soft lead core will just piss off the bear and not do real damage.

Instead, he casted harder 24 BHN lead alloy bullets with FP nose for woods carry in his 45Super and .44 Mag.

Mark NM said:
My Choice was Laser-cast 230’s, Brinell 24 RN https://www.laser-cast.com/#!/45-Cal-230g-RN-452/p/93944897/category=25376421

Now those are tough.
Click to expand...
So just to answer your question (Against penetrating thick animal hide), I would agree with MarkNM and say 24 BHN hard cast lead bullet.

BUT due to low velocity of 45ACP, I would suggest different caliber for woods carry.

If you want semi-auto other than 45Super, I would suggest 10mm. If you want a lighter package with higher capacity than 1911, Glock 20 (SF, Short Frame if you have smaller hands).
 
Thanks livelife, I'm married to the HK 45C for some of my woods carry, it's what I have, I use HK autos exclusively for their excellent mag releases among other qualities. I know the 45 auto is on the weak side for woods, but I can't "easily" conceal my GP 100 and its not as convenient so it doesn't make it in the woods as much.

I will have to expand my considerations to the harder lead coated bullets that have been mentioned. It is unchartered territory for me and I want to be sure it's safe for the polygonal rifling. Also do these coated bullets have velocity restrictions like soft lead?

200gr 45 auto at 1150fps is 587 ft/lbs energy
158gr 357 mag at 1300fps is 593 ft/lbs energy

Winchester white box flh 45 auto I clocked 230 @ 790fps that's 319 ft/lbs

If I can meet my goal velocity, I'm at almost double the energy of the plain Jane off the shelf 45 auto. I would be VERY please with that power level and a bullet that stayed together. It would make me feel better about toting the 45acp fer sure.
 
98s1lightning said:
I will have to expand my considerations to the harder lead coated bullets that have been mentioned. It is unchartered territory for me and I want to be sure it's safe for the polygonal rifling. Also do these coated bullets have velocity restrictions like soft lead?
Click to expand...
I believe coated lead bullets have been tested to 1800 fps without leading the barrel.

I have shot both powder coated and Hi-Tek coated bullets in my Glock barrels without leading. And most coated bullet manufacturers list BHN for their bullets.


How about 155 gr Hi-Tek2 coated grooveless bullet with 18 BHN for higher velocity? http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=380&category=20&secondary=13

ht_idp10.jpg

Hodgdon load data shows 1,166 fps - 1,187 fps for 155 gr Lead SWC out of 5" barrel using .451" sized bullet and since MBC coated bullets are sized .452" (IDP #10), velocity may be comparable from your shorter 3.94" HK polygonal barrel - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
  • 155 gr LSWC Winchester 244 Dia .451" COL 1.230" Start 6.5 gr (1,062 fps) 15,200 PSI - Max 7.2 gr (1,166 fps) 19,200 PSI
  • 155 gr LSWC Hodgdon CFE Pistol Dia .451" COL 1.230" Start 7.9 gr (1,081 fps) 14,900 PSI - Max 8.6 gr (1,187 fps) 19,200 PSI

PM sent with MBC 5% THR discount code and bullet sample PIF offer.
 
Last edited:
45 acp ball ammo in a stock 1911 has killed grizzly in Alaska. shot placement is key with any load.

luck,

murf
 
Last edited:
thanks, livelife, for that reference to the grizzly killed in denali with the 45 acp.

murf
 
98s1lightning said:
Loonwulf do you have any Hornady #45220 240 XTP MAG on hand?!?!?!
Click to expand...

Not sure what you were wanting to know but I do.

6DF193E6-91AB-4666-B695-D2820A8B4A02.jpeg

Attached a couple more XTP for length reference.

I don’t think any would be as tough as an FMJ though.
 

Attachments

  • 3E4A3900-C977-450C-9FE9-DBDF24C3A0BA.jpeg
    3E4A3900-C977-450C-9FE9-DBDF24C3A0BA.jpeg
    107.3 KB · Views: 4
  • 5B5ABA12-BB5F-49D6-8F1E-6F73013CC1E7.jpeg
    5B5ABA12-BB5F-49D6-8F1E-6F73013CC1E7.jpeg
    124.4 KB · Views: 4
Last edited:
98s1lightning said:
Loonwulf I'm gonna give the 200gr HAP a try. I'll report back. Another member posted some nice 230 XTPs that were recovered from some unknown target (im guessing water jug) and they looked real nice. The HAP should expand slightly less.
Click to expand...
most of those in the pic were recovered from a dirt bank. a few were shot in water jugs and expanded perfectly and a lot.

murf
 
This is a Hornady 200gr HAP bullet. It was recovered from this 1 gallon water jug shot through long ways (approx. 8" water) and I had to dig it out of just over 1" of penetration into a pine log!!! I'm HAPPY with these results so far. If I had to guess this bullet was running about 800-850fps. I did not have my chrono handy today. DSC04007.JPG SO if they open up SLIGHTLY at 1100ish fps I will be cool with that too! (which I doubt they will open)

Providing that testing proves the bullet to run with no jams they will be high on my list for tough bullets.
 
I will say that some folks really doubted this bullet and I truly believe that researching through the computer, and browsing the web to learn as much as you can is very helpful BUT I cant recommend enough to DO YOUR OWN TESTING and MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.

I want to thank everyone who responds to my posts good or bad, even things that may seem offensive have valued information. Even when original posters don't like responses sometimes the things they don't like are the truth. Hah.

Thanks guys, I hope my contributions can help others too.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

98s1lightning
  • Locked
Hornady 240gr XTP MAG #45220 for 45 ACP
Replies
12
Views
4K
98s1lightning
98s1lightning
98s1lightning
  • Locked
Ramshot Silhouette for High Velocity 45 Auto
Replies
18
Views
2K
98s1lightning
98s1lightning
N
  • Locked
Warm .45 Auto Rim loads?
Replies
10
Views
8K
44and45
4
98s1lightning
  • Locked
0.452" dia Jacketed Mystery Bullet
Replies
9
Views
428
98s1lightning
98s1lightning
L
  • Locked
45 Colt reload question
Replies
15
Views
1K
bigpower491
bigpower491
Back
Top