Poll: 45 ACP Carry Ammo

[147 Grain]

What carry ammo to you prefer for you 45 Auto and why. Please also provide model of pistol.

May vote for more than one choice at the same time if you carry or like two different loads.

[packa45]

my vote is for Speer GD in 230gr. I used to carry the 200gr+p but recoil was much heavier and it beats up my polymer frame .45acp (Taurus 24/7). I haven't had a single failure with either of the GD loads. Accuracy was also much better with the GD than WWB or S&B FMJ.

[Dave R]

I use a 185gr. Gold Dot. In my PT-145 with a short barrel, the 230gr loads were running a little slow for my taste. 700-750fps. So I use a 185gr. load that brings the velocity back up close to 900fps.

[SR420]

After trying several different brands and loads plus asking advise from LEO
and military folks I settled on SPEER GoldDot 230gr. GDHP for my G21 - :cool:

http://www.athenswater.com/images/g21-a_small.JPG (http://www.athenswater.com/images/g21-a.JPG)

[X-RAY]

Golden saber 230 JHP / Triton 230 JHP +P / Both function flawlessly in my Sig P 220.

[BobK]

Corbon DPX. Performed very well in testing. More accurate in my Kimber than anything else.

[147 Grain]

New Ruger KP-345PR with M6 Tactical Laser & Light Combo is like Mikey and eats everything well. :p

Prefer Ranger T 230-gr. +P (RA45TP) at 990 fps or Double Tap 230-gr. +P Gold Dots at 1,010 fps for self defense.

http://quantum-creations.com/ruger/345M6-2.jpg?px_fullquility_384564

http://quantum-creations.com/ruger/345M6.jpg?px_fullquility_384564

http://www.galleryofguns.com/prod_images/KP345PR.jpg?px_fullquility_384564

[147 Grain]

P.S.:

While there are many good ammo choices out there in 45 auto, I chose the following two rounds mostly due to their proven track record and ballistic testing data:

* Ranger T 230-gr. +P (RA45TP) tests show 15.2" & .78" in 4-Ply Denim and 15.7" & .78" in Heavy Cloth.

* Double Tap 230-gr. +P Gold Dot tests show 15.2" & .95" in 4-Ply Denim and 15.3" & .95" in Heavy Cloth.

[EIGHTYDUECE]

Federal 230 gr. Hydra Shoks JHP

[Sulaco2]

230 grain Gold Dot
Dept wide issue, SWAT issue for over ten years. Nuff said :D

[john in jax]

GA Arms (new mfg) 185 grain +P. Works well in all my .45's
1911 Govt Model
Para-Ordance P-14
S&W 4506
S&W 457

I've never had any type of malfunction with it.

[ATW525]

230 gr Gold Dot.

[poortrader]

Hey 147,

All of the .45 ACP rounds that you selected for your little poll all will do the job. It's just personal preference on deciding on which round to use. The only problem now is that you are going to have to spend money and practice with the round that you plan on carrying. :)

[The Body Bagger]

Federal 230 gr. Hydra Shoks JHP

Might want to change those out. Proven unreliable expansion with clothed targets. Seems the cloth jams the hollow point making it a FMJ.

[Rob96]

Federal 230gr Hydrashoks also, and no worries. ;)

[147 Grain]

Sorry, but no room for the FMJ Hydra-Shoks. Keep voting in the "other" category if you like 'em.

[omegapd]

Winchester 185g. Silvertips.

Guns with short barrels, like my AMT Back-up.

[AFAM704]

230 Federal Hydra-Shocks for my Kimber and SW99!

[stevelyn]

Federal Hydra-Shoks, 230 gr.

[BerettaCougar]

Federal Hydra-shok, 230gr out of a Beretta Cougar 8045 FS and Mini (I own both sizes)

[tjhands]

I, too, have Federal Hydra-Shok 230g rounds in my home-defense gun. Was surprised when I didn't see it on the list above. Thought it was in the top two or three choices.

[p99guy]

Federal 230 gr. Hydra Shok JHP, Springfield armory Gov't model Mil-Spec(modified) my dept's issue ammo for .45acp and 9mm is federal hydra shok and likely to be for a long time as all of us is happy with it...any hollow point can clog with fabric, and since it is aggession/tactics/shot placement that determines a lot of how things are going to go...one can get by somehow even if they had a .45 loaded with FMJ(which strangly enough is what it was loaded with from 1911 to the 1970's and managed to have a decent reputation as a stopper) Dont know Sgt York managed without the Uber ammo lol.
http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/2657/2004-07-20015.th.jpg (http://img121.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2004-07-20015.jpg)

[Davy Jones]

My carry ammo is 230 grain hydra shok as well. Does anyone have any ballistic data or expansion/penetration data on black talons?..

[147 Grain]

Ranger T 45 Auto Data (Standard versus +P):

Note: Standard Ranger 230-gr. (RA45T) has MV of 885 fps and the +P version (RA45TP) = 990 fps. The plus P's 105 fps advantage really shines in the 4-Ply Denim and Heavy Cloth categories, as outlined below:

Gel
* Standard = 11.6" & .75"
*** Plus P = 13.2" & .79"

4-Ply Denim
* Standard = 12.7" & .72"
*** Plus P = 15.2" & .78"

Heavy Cloth
* Standard = 12.3" & .75"
*** Plus P = 15.7" & .78"

Source: 2005 Winchester LE Catalog, page. 19.

Steve

P.S. Double Tap's 230-gr. +P is outstanding as well, with similar penetration, but with more expansion from the Gold Dot round at 1,010 fps.

[azspyder]

I use Hornady 200 TAP in my Kimber Ultra Carry (3" barrel). The muzzle flah is lower than anything else I tried and they are more accurate.

[JR47]

Federal 230 gr. Hydra-Shok. :)

[Rob96]

Sorry, but no room for the FMJ Hydra-Shoks. Keep voting in the "other" category if you like 'em.

Just what I did. Despite what happens in the 4 layer denim testing, I get to talk to someone who works with people doing some great things overseas. Hydrashoks work, Hornady TAP is also another load that is working well.

[BigSlick]

230 Hydra shoks

[shooter429]

As a carry load I use the Cor Bon 230+p in Govt. models and Glock 30. For Home defense I switch to Cor Bon 185 Gr. +p
My other choice has been Federal HS 230.

So why are these companies/products left out of the voter choices? And putting Cor Bon next to Handloads?

I have great confidence in my DIY ammo too but...

Shooter429

[dirksterg30]

230 grain Golden Saber

[JohnO]

Another vote for the Federal Hydra Shok. All my 45's are loaded with them.

[Dre_sa]

my 1911 was made in 1943. im not planning to put +p though it. i carry federal hydrashock 230 gr. at standard pressure. i havent fired them extensively yet only about 20 rds to check accuracy.
one question though will this cause undue wear on my baby boy?
come to think of it would +p do any worse?

[wayneinFL]

All of the .45 ACP rounds that you selected for your little poll all will do the job. It's just personal preference on deciding on which round to use. The only problem now is that you are going to have to spend money and practice with the round that you plan on carrying

That's exactly why I choose winchester white box. I can afford to practice with what I carry. And I can afford enough ammo to run through it to prove it reliable.

[Samuel2001]

+1 CorBon .45ACP 185gr. JHP.

Good stuff, and my gat gobbles it up too! :D

[michael t]

CorBon 160 DPX in my short barrels and any good 230 in my commander or govt.

[shield20]

200gr Hornady from Colt XSE Ltwt Commander. Best 'feeling' round out of this piece, accurate, reliable, and not a bad price for primo ammo.

The new Fed HST 230gr/950fps for full size SW1911 - just awesome specs on this round - shoots well too (2nd choice in the XSE).

[tex45acp]

Add another to the counter for the Federal 230gr. Hydrashoks. Every mag I have is stuffed with them. Accurate and feeds well in all my guns.

[drdirk]

good enough in a 45ACP! Practice, carry and reload them.

[CobrayCommando]

Double Tap: 230gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1010fps - 15.25" .95"
Golden Saber: 230gr 885 fps 14.05" 0.76" Clothed: 16.55" 0.69"
Speer Gold Dot:230gr 896 fps - 16.00" 0.69"
Ranger SXT: 12.625" 0.822"
Standard FMJ: 27.559" 0.451"

[147 Grain]

In addition:

Ranger T (not Winchester Supreme's SXT) in 230-gr. +P (RA45TP) = 15.3" and .85 in gel and 4-Ply Denim.

Double Tap is similar to the above in penetration, but has 1/10" greater expansion due to its higher velocity.

Double Tap / Ranger T / Golden Saber are the top 3 performing 45 auto rounds on the market today!

[PeterGunn]

Not a Federal load on your list... so I had to vote "other."

Federal 230gr. Hyda-shok in a SW1911. Typical set-up includes 9 rounds loaded and (2) mags on stand-by. Currently I only use Wilson combat mags with the S&W. When carried, the S&W is usually riding in a Miami Classic or a Kydex paddle.

The only other load I use is actually the WWB 230gr. JHP.

Great thread!

God Bless!