What do you think is the very best defensive 45 acp ammo?

[Buckeye 50]

Even factoring in Underwood's new Xtreme Defender, what do you think is the most effective for personal defense?  I mean, if given a choice of free ammo in 45acp, what would you use?


Thanks,


Pat

[will965]

Fed HST 230g HP.

[The_Shadow]

Remington Golden Saber, Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot from Underwood should all be quite effective.

[Rojo27]

My list would include:
Federal HST 230gr JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 230gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 230gr JHP   
Barnes, Corbon XPB/TAC-XP 185gr HP +P

First three choices also have +p options.  I shoot full size 1911 and so +p unnecessary with those three IMO.  Might have different opinion if relying on short barrel 45. 

[Blades]

First three choices also have +p options.  I shoot full size 1911 and so +p unnecessary with those three IMO.  Might have different opinion if relying on short barrel 45.

I looked at the +P 45 acp in the past for my Glock 30sf, and a few were only 50-60 more fps than the regular version. Not a big increase.

[DM1906]

First three choices also have +p options.  I shoot full size 1911 and so +p unnecessary with those three IMO.  Might have different opinion if relying on short barrel 45.

I looked at the +P 45 acp in the past for my Glock 30sf, and a few were only 50-60 more fps than the regular version. Not a big increase.

It may not seem like much, but 50-60 FPS is the difference between 3.8" and 4.5" barrels. Industry standard 230 gr. .45ACP is sub-800 FPS (MV) in the shorty, which moves many HP bullets below their designed impact velocities at distance. +P pushes that back up to full-size energy levels, which is absolutely significant. There are only a couple ammo mfg's providing ammo specifically for short barrels, which leaves very few options unless you roll your own. The staple offerings available are far less than optimal in compact pistols, and manageable recoil is often a significant factor.

[Blades]

Good to know. I was concerned a regular 230 Federal HST would not be effective from the G30 barrel, and the +P wouldn't help in the short barrel. Now days I just carry my G29.

[Rojo27]

Glock G29 is a fine choice for self defense (with proper ammo selection of course).

However, nothing wrong with your G30 (3.77" barrel) & 230 grain HST. 
Link to recent published clear ballistic gel testing using 3.64" Kahr 45acp:
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#45ACP

PS.  Please note difference in MV between regular & +P Federal HST 45acp was only 22fps
on this occasion with 3.64" barrel.  Expansion & penetration Results for both were quite good in this particular test.

[Bruno747]

I currently use 200gr gold dot Speer +p
Otherwise the remington 230gr 50rd hollow point.

Used to run pdx1 stuff until I realized it was so poorly crimped and the bullets were seating deeper from firing and even just chambering the first round.

[Reverendpdp]

My $.02.  All those mentioned are superb self-defense loads.  So now, get a box of each of the top 4-5 choices and test them for accuracy out of your gun.  The best defensive round will soon become evident! 

[Bruno747]

My $.02.  All those mentioned are superb self-defense loads.  So now, get a box of each of the top 4-5 choices and test them for accuracy out of your gun.  The best defensive round will soon become evident! 

Ha I totally forgot to mention that, its the reason I run the 200gr speed +P in my M&P and why I keep remington 230gr HP, it shoots best out of my CX4 45.