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What is generally accepted as the best Defensive Ammo in .45 these days? I know this is a very general question and I am looking for a very specific answer.

Everytime I ask at a shop, I get, "It is all a matter of personal preference" How hard is it to understand that I do not have a personal preference? They just don't get it...

BrassMonkey wrote:What is generally accepted as the best Defensive Ammo in .45 these days? I know this is a very general question and I am looking for a very specific answer.

Everytime I ask at a shop, I get, "It is all a matter of personal preference" How hard is it to understand that I do not have a personal preference? They just don't get it...

I prefer a heavy round. I carry 230 grain Hydrashock.

Some people prefer the bonded bullets Federal makes a 230 bonded bullet also.

Back in my day, HydraShock was absolute crap. I am assuming this has changed?

What is a bonded bullet? I could go look it up for myself, but an answer here answers the question for everyone else who might want to know in the future.

hollow points.

according to my research (reading all ya'll's posts) go with Federales HydroShockers, Speer GoldDots, and/or all of the above.

I see most folks who employ Agent 45 enjoy either of those two.
it's a good start at least.

I see that the Hyrda's are loaded +P. Is my Kimber Custom II rated for the loading?

Federal HST 230g +p

In my opinion the best defensive round on out there for the average person. Having seen what they do to a deer at 25 yards I trust them.

http://www.le.atk.com/pdf/Pierce%20Coun ... rkshop.pdf

Perhaps a bonded (gold dot) might be better if you are shooting through objects, but for civilian SD use.. the HST gets my vote

And when I shop at the local police supply shop in Austin (GT DIST) they recommend the HST round

about 16 bucks for a box of 50
very, very accurate in my Springfield

BrassMonkey wrote:What is a bonded bullet? I could go look it up for myself, but an answer here answers the question for everyone else who might want to know in the future.

Essentially, a bonded bullet has its lead core "bonded" in some way--could be chemical bonding or physical, like soldering--to the copper jacket. This is to prevent separation of the jacket from the core after penetration, and it results in a bullet that retains most of its mass, intact. But don't trust me; I'm no expert.

Makes sense to me. Thanks...

Skiprr wrote:

BrassMonkey wrote:What is a bonded bullet? I could go look it up for myself, but an answer here answers the question for everyone else who might want to know in the future.

Essentially, a bonded bullet has its lead core "bonded" in some way--could be chemical bonding or physical, like soldering--to the copper jacket. This is to prevent separation of the jacket from the core after penetration, and it results in a bullet that retains most of its mass, intact. But don't trust me; I'm no expert.

My gun seeme to digest all different brands.
Preferance is Remington Golden Sabre 230 gr. for my .45.

Mr LT has good taste, 230 Remington GS is what I carry in my 220 and 1911. When I am carrying a 9mm I use Gold Dot. My 2" 44mag is loaded with 44spl Corbon.

When I carry a .45, it's loaded with Remington Golden Saber 230 grain JHPs. They're accurate and (most importantly!!) reliable . . . and if for some reason they don't expand, they're still going to perform at least as well as 230 hardball . . . and that isn't too bad.

Seriously, IMHO any name-brand, full-power 230 grain JHP from a major manufacturer's "premium" line will do just as well, as long as it's reliable in your gun.

I have my doubts about some of the "personal defense" or "reduced recoil" loads which sacrifice bullet weight or velocity (sometimes both!) to achieve the "benefit" of reduced recoil.

All the major companies' top shelf defense ammo is very good these days. I would say that the differences in terms of stopping power, AS APPLIED TO REAL LIFE SITUATIONS, are more or less academic.

I would try several different types and take note of how reliably your gun feeds them. Due to different bullet shapes, this is one area where the top shelf rounds differ significantly.

This will set you back a few bucks. I'd want to put at least 50 rounds through the gun without any sort of malfunction before I trusted a round. Ideally, much more.

I think the Corbon Powerball rounds look interesting. These have a rubber ball filling the hollowpoint cavity that gives the bullet nose a profile almost exactly like hardball, which is what the 1911 was designed to feed. Upon impact, the rubber ball is supposed to aid in reliable expansion.

Personally, I carry Federal Hydra-Shoks. My gun feeds them with good reliability. And since many PD's issue them (in various calibers) it gives some (though not total) immunity from the spurious charge that you shot someone with an especially "deadly" bullet (a hollowpoint) rather than a non-expanding type like FMJ - hence, you "intended" to kill. If this charge is ever brought, you can then call a parade of high ranking police officers from various departments and ask THEM what round their department issues. It will be easy for your attorney to find many such officials who will answer that question with, "Federal Hydra-Shok".

Since they will also freely testify that they do not "intend to kill", your attorney can demonstrate that nothing in your selection of a cartridge can be imputed to mean that YOU intended to kill either.

Massad Ayoob has written extensively about this. I wish I could take credit for dreaming it up myself, but the preceding is essentially a distillation of his very pursuasive arguments on this subject.

So, pick a round that your gun reliably feeds. A round that goes "BANG" every time is a thousand times better than one that jams, no matter HOW the ballistics compare.

And pick a round that is popular with cops.

I got some Hydroshocks the other day. Have no idea how they perform, and hope I never have to----they just look cool!!

.......................and the cops carry and recommend them!

BrassMonkey wrote:Back in my day, HydraShock was absolute crap. I am assuming this has changed?

Not sure when your day was, but I've been carrying 230gr HydraShoks for over 20 years and they have always been highly regarded.

The HydraShoks are NOT +P and will work fine in any quality pistol.

They are not to be confused with these:

ccoker wrote:Federal HST 230g +p

These are Federal's upgrade to the HydraShok.

They were introduced as the HiShok II, but are now referred to as Tactical HST.

They are available in bonded as the Tactical Bonded.

As has been said, the bonded has properties better suited to penetrating barriers.

My personal opinion is that the premier round currently available is the Corbon DPX. I just can't afford enough of them to establish reliability.