Question about handguns from a noob.

[TexasComputerDude]

Hey yall, I've been shooting rifles and revolvers since damn near birth and I finally bought my first two semi-automatics in the past year. The two guns that I've recently purchased are a springfield armory 1911 and a Glock 30. I am trying to determine what kinds of ammunition I should shoot through them.

The reason I am asking is because I bought some GOLD-DOT 45 AUTO 230 GR GDHP as recommended by the old guy at academy and it really hates my 1911. It doesn't feed right. It like leaves a mark below where the bullet is supposed to go into. Are .45 semi automatics able to shoot any .45 ACP ammo without modification?

Also, god forbid I am ever put in the situation where I have to shoot someone, what kind of bullets will hit an average size guy and not travel all the way through. Do hollowpoints lose enough of their energy expanding into the target that they don't penetrate as far as regular bullets?


Thanks for any input.

[Mike1951]

Sadly, some 1911's require 'break-in' of up to 300-400 rounds before failures cease and some are even more problematic.

Use the least expensive brass cased FMJ ammo that you can locate for the break-in.

If problems don't go away, a trip back to Springfield may be necessary. The good news is that they have an excellent service department.

Most of the premium self defense loads for the .45acp will have near ideal penetration characteristics.

Speer Gold Dots, Remington Golden Sabre, Federal HST, Federal Hydra-Shok, Hornady TAP, Corbon and others can be excellent choices. The essential thing is to establish that they are reliable in your particular handgun. This is done after break-in issues have been cured and you fire, without issue, whatever quantity of the chosen self defense makes you comfortable, typically 100-200 rounds.

You may experience fewer new pistol issues with your Glock. Have you test fired it yet?

[Mithras61]

I have an SA GI.45 and it shoots pretty much anything I can afford to buy for it. The only ammo-related issues I've ever had were caused by poor technique (limp-wristing). I have fired Cor-Bon DPX, Federal Hydrashoks, various FMJs including (but not limited to) Federal, Independence, Aguila, Wolf, Blazer, Blazer Brass and various non-branded reloads.

Having said that, what sort of problem(s) did you have with the Gold-Dots in it, and what (if anything) did you try to correct the problem?

[TexasComputerDude]

Sadly, some 1911's require 'break-in' of up to 300-400 rounds before failures cease and some are even more problematic.

Use the least expensive brass cased FMJ ammo that you can locate for the break-in.

If problems don't go away, a trip back to Springfield may be necessary. The good news is that they have an excellent service department.

Most of the premium self defense loads for the .45acp will have near ideal penetration characteristics.

Speer Gold Dots, Remington Golden Sabre, Federal HST, Federal Hydra-Shok, Hornady TAP, Corbon and others can be excellent choices. The essential thing is to establish that they are reliable in your particular handgun. This is done after break-in issues have been cured and you fire, without issue, whatever quantity of the chosen self defense makes you comfortable, typically 100-200 rounds.

You may experience fewer new pistol issues with your Glock. Have you test fired it yet?

I've test fired it with 2 different types of regular ammo, around 50 rounds and no problems what so ever and its dead on accurate, I took my chl firing test after firing only 1 clip threw it the night and passed with flying colors. I haven't had the time (or money) to really test fire any hollowpoints in it yet.

My springfield armory 1911 is labeled as .45 GI MILSPEC 00 GREEN on the box. I really have no idea how many shots have been fired through it as I bought it used for like 380$ Its extremely reliable with independance ammo and anything other than american eagle.

[TexasComputerDude]

I have an SA GI.45 and it shoots pretty much anything I can afford to buy for it. The only ammo-related issues I've ever had were caused by poor technique (limp-wristing). I have fired Cor-Bon DPX, Federal Hydrashoks, various FMJs including (but not limited to) Federal, Independence, Aguila, Wolf, Blazer, Blazer Brass and various non-branded reloads.

Having said that, what sort of problem(s) did you have with the Gold-Dots in it, and what (if anything) did you try to correct the problem?

Well, they seemed to be going from the magazine into the pistol at the wrong angle, but I think it was the magazine I was using. The rounds were leaving a mark below where they were supposed to enter the barrel. I really didn't do anything to try and correct the issue as I didn't feel safe doing it without doing some research. I was thinking it needed to be throated for different brands but idk.

Also I just learned from my chl instructor that my gun is very tight. I couldn't take it apart to clean it it was so tight and even the instructor had trouble getting it apart. I have since managed to get it apart and cleaned and oiled it EXTREMELY well and now I can pull the slide back without TOO much effort lol. I suspect the previous owner never cleaned it either. I'm not sure how old the gun is but I assume the 00 in the name means 2000.

I bought my glock brand new because I wanted a gun I could 100% depend on and feel safe with. I am extremely happy with my new glock. I have only fired 100 rounds through it though (on account of being a poor college kid) but I just have a feeling this gun is going to be great.

[MoJo]

A lot of feed problems in 1911 pistols can be traced to magazines. A lot of OEM magazines are slightly less than stellar. Try a quality replacement mag from someone like Wilson, Chip McCormick, or Tripp.

Does your gun have the wood grips with US on them? I think the label may read O D Green if your pistol is green colored. If so it is a pure mil spec 1911 and it may need a little tweaking of the feed ramp to feed hollow points. Try different magazines first.

[bdickens]

I notice you didn't mention any feed problems with the Glock....

[TexasComputerDude]

A lot of feed problems in 1911 pistols can be traced to magazines. A lot of OEM magazines are slightly less than stellar. Try a quality replacement mag from someone like Wilson, Chip McCormick, or Tripp.

Does your gun have the wood grips with US on them? I think the label may read O D Green if your pistol is green colored. If so it is a pure mil spec 1911 and it may need a little tweaking of the feed ramp to feed hollow points. Try different magazines first.

actually yes, its green with US on the grips. Are mil spec 1911's not very good?

Actually I think I may have messed up the magazine, I kept bullets in it for a long time, (months.) Just in case. I will go buy a quality magazine asap and try it out.

[TexasComputerDude]

I notice you didn't mention any feed problems with the Glock....

haha, I love my 1911 but my glock feels like it could save my life one day. I've just had to many malfunctions with my 1911 to consider it safe for duty.

but to be fair, half of the malfunctions were due to me being a jackass shooting at rabbits like a mad man. We go out to roswell, nm and go out into the fields and everyone else brings ar15's and ak47's and I bring my 1911. I may not get as many rabbits as them, but I get a couple and its alot more satisfying to throw a hail of lead out at tiny rabbit and hit it. Its a tad bit expensive though. Oh, and my 1911 doesn't like being fired above the horizontal. I was firing at rabbits up the side of a mountain and after the first 2 shots it stovepiped. actually all the malfunctions have been stovepiping. and i think it was due to my shooting style.

The glock I'm more professional with so no problems.

[Mithras61]

A lot of feed problems in 1911 pistols can be traced to magazines. A lot of OEM magazines are slightly less than stellar. Try a quality replacement mag from someone like Wilson, Chip McCormick, or Tripp.

Does your gun have the wood grips with US on them? I think the label may read O D Green if your pistol is green colored. If so it is a pure mil spec 1911 and it may need a little tweaking of the feed ramp to feed hollow points. Try different magazines first.

actually yes, its green with US on the grips. Are mil spec 1911's not very good?

Actually I think I may have messed up the magazine, I kept bullets in it for a long time, (months.) Just in case. I will go buy a quality magazine asap and try it out.

Keeping magazines loaded shouldn't damage them. It sounds like they may be malformed, or like perhaps you need to have the feed ramp polished. I agree that a better quality magazine than what you have now may fix the problem, but if it was that dirty/tight to begin with it may be worth it to spend some time doing a deep cleaning on it and then trying again. Make sure you clean the magazines as well (carbon fouling can cause feeding problems in magazines as well). If you have the magazines with welded bottoms, you can et some pretty decent cleaning of them by depressing the follower and cleaning inside the magazine with some CLP or something similar (Ed's Red, Hoppes #9, break cleaner, whatever you prefer) and some patches or swabs of some sort and that may help clear it up some too.

[TexasComputerDude]

Keeping magazines loaded shouldn't damage them. It sounds like they may be malformed, or like perhaps you need to have the feed ramp polished. I agree that a better quality magazine than what you have now may fix the problem, but if it was that dirty/tight to begin with it may be worth it to spend some time doing a deep cleaning on it and then trying again. Make sure you clean the magazines as well (carbon fouling can cause feeding problems in magazines as well). If you have the magazines with welded bottoms, you can et some pretty decent cleaning of them by depressing the follower and cleaning inside the magazine with some CLP or something similar (Ed's Red, Hoppes #9, break cleaner, whatever you prefer) and some patches or swabs of some sort and that may help clear it up some too.

I didn't even think about cleaning the magazines lol. I'll give it a try. thx alot.

[rm9792]

Keeping the bullets in for years shouldnt matter on a quality magazine. It is use that wears a spring, not constant compression. Like others said, get some good mags, feed hardball first and see how that feeds. If it feeds hardball ok then wont feed others, you might need a smith to look into it. SA GI specs are nice 1911's and I have a couple that feed whatever I give them. I am partial to SA and Kimbers, they are excellent 1911's.
If you dont know how dont try to polish the ramp or chamber yourself. It is real easy to change the angle and ruin a frame or barrel.

[TexasComputerDude]

Keeping the bullets in for years shouldn't matter on a quality magazine. It is use that wears a spring, not constant compression. Like others said, get some good mags, feed hardball first and see how that feeds. If it feeds hardball ok then wont feed others, you might need a smith to look into it. SA GI specs are nice 1911's and I have a couple that feed whatever I give them. I am partial to SA and Kimbers, they are excellent 1911's.
If you don't know how don't try to polish the ramp or chamber yourself. It is real easy to change the angle and ruin a frame or barrel.

ah, thanks for the tip. I'm probobly going to find a gunsmith in the Lufkin area and see how much he will charge to do any adjustments for me.

[eric]

Used handgun purchases are a no,no for me personally unless you know the seller personally and the history of the gun. If that springfield was extremely dirty, that shows it was abused and 380 dollars is another signal. Get em new , break em in and keep it for life.

[rm9792]

Used guns are a hard thing for a "noob" to buy as they wont know what to look for. Take a knowledgeable friend or get a smith to look over.