Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What is your favorite all around, do it all, bullet for the .45 ACP ?

I've kinda settled on the 200 gr., lead SWC at 800-950 fps. and am still trying out different loads to see which one shoots the best, etc.
I like lead because it's cheap, and accurate. Like the semi wad cutter shape because it kills alot better than a round nose design.
Was considering the FMJ, 230 gr., flat point designs like Hornady's, but they apparently are no longer made. Anybody know of a lead, 230 gr. FP that works well ? I see that there are such bullets for the .45 Colt.
So what are your thoughts ? E

If I had to do with one bullet, I'd stay with the 230 grain ball.

I use a 200 gr RNFP cast, but carry 200 gr Gold Dots for self defense. If I had to, I'd use the RNFP for that, too.

I'd have to agree with you. 200 grain cast lead SWC.

I am right there with you Sir.

I had a bullet mold made for me by a tool and die man.
It was to duplicate the 230 gr Hornady flat noise 230 gr.
I don't know why but the bullets weigh 245 grs with #2 alloy.
Anyhow it is a three cavity mold. It should penetrate!

Well if we're talking about non-expanding bullets, then Lee makes a 230 grain truncated cone flat point mold that's pretty good. I'm completely unimpressed with the killing power of the .45ACP on small game in non-expanding bullets. With JHP's the .45ACP is very impressive, and I have a great deal of confidence.

If I didn't have access to JHP's though, the afore mentioned bullet from the Lee mold (preferably their excellent 6 cavity mold) would be my go-to bullet.

For my plinking rounds I use a cast 230 grain round nose from a 6 cavity Lee mold...I'm a huge fan of the Lee 6 cavity molds; they're worth more than they charge for them if you ask me. Once you learn how to use an aluminum mold (and they are quite different from cast iron), then you can really crank 'em out with those 6 cavity molds.

Hornady 230 FP is now part of the HAP competition bullet line...it is also my favorite "do-all" .45 ACP bullet.

http://www.hornady.com/store/45-Cal-.451-230-gr-HAP-Bulk-Box-of-1500/


Bob

I Shoot Winchester White Box Exclusively.
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Mostly 'cause I shoot's paper and Diet-Coke cans.

The 185 JHP at 1100 hits like "the hammer of Thor" on blacktails and jackrabbits (and perhaps pigs- I don't remember if I've done that).

I like the 230 grain bullets if we are talking lead or jacketed bullets. I also like the 185 grain XPB bullet at 1100+ FPS in my testing this bullet work very well in both expansion and pentration

Thanks fellas. Looks like I'm going to be shooting up a few rds. testing for accuracy, and how well they blow up/penetrate my standard 2.5 gal water jugs. E

I have tried several of those self-defense ammo bullets! However, I went back to what those FMJ bullets for my Glock model 21-SF. The make a big hole and I don't need to ask if they will penetrate deep enough, they get the job done in spades.

Remember a guy I knew who worked security in South Africa.
Back when it was still run by us racists.
Carried a 1911 stoked with some 185 gr HP AND then 230 FMJs. Had a
bad guy come along wearing VERY heavy wool jacket. Knocked him down twice with the 185s but he got back up, then the 230s came up to the chamber...he stopped getting back up.
The 185s failed to get through all that wool, the 230s had no problem.

That's the main reason I live in sunny California-- no very heavy wool jackets on our bad guys. Strong-man tops and bikini bras offer little resistance.

That's why in a lead core bullet jacketed or other wise I use 230 grain or heavier

A quick look shows me that the 185 has a small edge in both energy and momentum (at defensive distance). I'll posit that the difference, in the situation described, would be because of frontal area, more so as the HP expands, and 'cloth grip' (vs point piercing).
Given equal profiles & construction, the 230 might not come out ahead.


(But I've nothing against 230s. The .45 ACP wad of lead is a good thing however it flies.)

I like 200 gr H&G #68 SWC style for a do it all bullet (mine are from the same outfit that supplies Black Hills Ammunition). With tuned handloads the accuracy is amazing. Plus as E intimated, the performance isn't shabby at all either.

185g Nosler with 9.6g of AA#5 would do it all. This bullet gives great expansion and shoots about 1 1/2" at 25 yds in my Kimber and never fails to feed.

Semi wad cutters do not feed reliably in my Kimber.

I have used this bullet for years in a variety of .45acp's. Mostly 1911 variations. Still have a whole bunch loaded and i also cast for it. Works just great in front of a variety of different powders.
Having said that, not ALL .45's will accept it. I have had issues in a springfield xd with it, and a sig 220 really doesn't like it either. The pistol has to be accepting of that ledge on it or it just don't feed properly. You can have similar issues with some jacketed rounds too. I have started casting round nose so i can get interchangeability in most everything.