Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .45 ACP personal defense ammo[factory]

Got the info I was looking for regarding 9mm ammo, now its on to 45 acp personal defense ammo. What do you guys recommend?
Thanks again.

230 hardball

i like to Hornady Critical Defense ammo with the 185 grain bullets. good weight retention in my testing and great expansion as well. they were going 1,000 FPS out of my 5" 1911.

heres a few pics

Which handgun?

JOG makes a good point...

Springfield 45 mil-spec.
If I decide on another 45, it will be a Rock Island Gov't model.
If its a 9mm, Sig Pro 2022.
Hope this helps.

Maybe it's old-school, but I like Hydra Shoks. Either the heavier or light ones, don't matter much.

Winchester Ranger, not sure if Id be too keen on using hardball as mentioned above for SD.

Several generations of U.S. soldiers used 230 hardball. I can't recall hearing too many complaints.

A government model and 230 grain hardball is a system. Browning designed them to work together,..and they do.

Any of the better 230 gr. HP rounds will do best. My first choice is the WW white box, but Hydra-Shoks, Rem GS, etc. all work.
I prefer the 230 gr. stuff over the 185 gr. stuff because it has more left if you need to shoot through glass or a door to get the bad guy. But anything that expands out of the .45 ACP works. E

Several generations of soldiers used muskets and they did the job too but I wouldnt recommend one to someone looking for sd rifle. Those same soldiers probably didnt have to worry about lawsuits from over penetration or shoot throughs on walls and other barriers if they missed.

When somebody is getting ready to send your body to the morgue, it's not a good time to concern yourself with lawsuits.

Agreed. I've seen some shootings go very bad because the good guy was worried about leagl action(s). Win the fight and worry about the legal stuff later. The sad truth is that very few justified shootings are really "clean." They are often not clear just as to wether they were justified. But one thing is certain. You can't explain your own death. E

No, its not a good time. Thats why I take the time beforehand. Im curious as to why no government agency or LE dept. is issuing this wonder round that you speak of.

Its not just legal actions....what about that little kid that you killed next door because your FMJ went through several walls where a HP might not have?

I live in a brick house.

He does too.

Lots of the gun writers like the accuracy and knockdown of the Federal Hydra Shoks.

Good thing people like yourself dont leave the house then.

It's a 45acp, so ammo choice is much much MUCH less critical than with a 9mm. Damn near anything will do the trick. The links I posted in the 9mm thread have good recommendations for 45 as well.

Agreed,
that was a very interesting read.
Thanks dougwx12.