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I've been doing some reading on .45 ACP penetration and have seen claims that hollow points aren't needed since even if a 230 grain .45 FMJ passes through someone, it will likely just drop/fall to the ground.

So my inquisitive nature has gotten the best of me. Do you guys who shoot .45 charge with HP or FMJ for personal self-defense?

A FMJ .45 ACP round will penetrate through 12+ inches of wood.

It will also penetrate through your interior wall, through your exterior wall, your fence, and stop in your neighbor's siding.

I have firsthand experience with the first situation, the second I have very reliable secondhand knowledge.

I carry Speer Gold Dot 200+P, but have been eyeing the Winchester Ranger 230+P. Make sure that whatever you choose to carry is function tested to your satisfaction in each gun that you intend to use it with.

I would recommend carrying the HP, and practicing with the FMJ. If you're in a cold environment where the bad guys would likely have on a lot of layer of clothing, then the FMJ might be a better option.

It is true that once a bullet fired from a handgun hits something substantial, that it will lose a significant amount of it's energy - but I would not count on it not doing any damage beyond that target, nor would I count on it being at all predictable. Keep in mind that there is a very good, and very real chance that you will miss with some of the rounds in a defensive situation - meaning that rounds are hitting unintended targets.

Hollowpoint, for three reasons:

1. I don't want over-penetration of any kind. Bystander safety is a concern for me.
2. I don't want over-penetration of any kind. I want ALL the bullet's energy to get dumped into the target's body, for maximum effect.
3. It's not a guarantee, but a hollowpoint is more likely to splatter itself on a hard object than ricochet if you miss, unlike a FMJ, which might hold together better and ricochet off or go through walls and hard objects if you miss.

Once you send it, you have no more control over what happens to it. For that reason, I think that hollowpoints and/or frangible ammo is safer to use in a public shooting.

That said, I practice almost exclusively with FMJ for cost reasons, and once or twice a year I'll cap off a few SD loads just to confirm point of aim and remind myself how they feel when they shoot.

KFP, thanks. I wanted to hear from some folks with more experience with this than I have.

I picked up some Cor Bon 200+p (1050 fps, 490 ft/lbs) today but after reading a bit, I was wondering if that was good or bad.

Here's the article I referred to in the OP:

"Though some claim it to be over-penetrative, I’ve found such claims to be more of an assumption than a fact, based upon the well-documented tendency of FMJ 9mms and even the .38 Specials toward excessive penetration of human targets.

In fact, the .45ACP FMJ isn’t at all over-penetrative. When used on humans, it will either remain inside the target or exit to fall to the ground behind it, fully spent. And in addition to its more than acceptable stopping power, it exhibits not only flawless feeding and function in the widest variety of guns, but is highly accurate, completely controllable in the fast shooting sequences typical of tactical encounters, and shoots to point of aim in nearly any type of gun. How much better does it get than that?"

TAM,

I agree completely with what you've said. It's consistent with everything I know...

FMJ for target practice, JHP for self defense.

completely w/ KFP & TAM.
Quality Personal Defense JHPs for carry.
For practice I reload FMJs now. I still have a few LRNs.

Quahog wrote:KFP, thanks. I wanted to hear from some folks with more experience with this than I have.

I picked up some Cor Bon 200+p (1050 fps, 490 ft/lbs) today but after reading a bit, I was wondering if that was good or bad.

Here's the article I referred to in the OP:

"Though some claim it to be over-penetrative, I’ve found such claims to be more of an assumption than a fact, based upon the well-documented tendency of FMJ 9mms and even the .38 Specials toward excessive penetration of human targets.

In fact, the .45ACP FMJ isn’t at all over-penetrative. When used on humans, it will either remain inside the target or exit to fall to the ground behind it, fully spent. And in addition to its more than acceptable stopping power, it exhibits not only flawless feeding and function in the widest variety of guns, but is highly accurate, completely controllable in the fast shooting sequences typical of tactical encounters, and shoots to point of aim in nearly any type of gun. How much better does it get than that?"

Where did you get that information? Whoever wrote that has done anyone who reads that and takes it as gospel a great disservice.

Here's a link to some genuine data. .45 230 grain penetration data

ANY ammunition loaded by CorBon is going to be top shelf, if it works in your gun it'll work on the BG.

Hollow points all the way. I just ordered some .45 230 gr Winchester Ranger Talons +P from Ammunition to Go along with some 9mm 147 gr Winchester Ranger Talon SXT's. Normally I use Federal HST .230 gr Tactical but Ammunition to go has been out of those for a while. I want the biggest hole the bullet will make.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/ ... point-ammo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MoJo wrote:

Quahog wrote:KFP, thanks. I wanted to hear from some folks with more experience with this than I have.

I picked up some Cor Bon 200+p (1050 fps, 490 ft/lbs) today but after reading a bit, I was wondering if that was good or bad.

Here's the article I referred to in the OP:

"Though some claim it to be over-penetrative, I’ve found such claims to be more of an assumption than a fact, based upon the well-documented tendency of FMJ 9mms and even the .38 Specials toward excessive penetration of human targets.

In fact, the .45ACP FMJ isn’t at all over-penetrative. When used on humans, it will either remain inside the target or exit to fall to the ground behind it, fully spent. And in addition to its more than acceptable stopping power, it exhibits not only flawless feeding and function in the widest variety of guns, but is highly accurate, completely controllable in the fast shooting sequences typical of tactical encounters, and shoots to point of aim in nearly any type of gun. How much better does it get than that?"

Where did you get that information? Whoever wrote that has done anyone who reads that and takes it as gospel a great disservice.

Here's a link to some genuine data. .45 230 grain penetration data

ANY ammunition loaded by CorBon is going to be top shelf, if it works in your gun it'll work on the BG.

Thank you for your response MoJo!

Quahog, If the above statement was true the search for the magic bullet would be over.

Keep in mind the whole purpose of FMJ was that it was what the Geneva conv. required from what I remember. JHP was not proper for shooting combatants. FMJ was never supposed to be a better man stopper.

glbedd53 wrote:Keep in mind the whole purpose of FMJ was that it was what the Geneva conv. required from what I remember. JHP was not proper for shooting combatants. FMJ was never supposed to be a better man stopper.

The Geneva Convention is about the treatment of POWs and displaced persons (refugees). The Hague Accords addressed the use of "DumDum" bullets. BTW the US never signed the Hague Accords therefore by international law we are not bound by them.

TAM's ....... statement, goes for me ...
DITTO, ditto...SAME, same !



Mac .45 >>>>>>>> ## %%%%% ##

I have a Para-Ordnance, so I just load it up with 14+1 and throw it at whatever's bothering me. It doesn't make a hole, but it's a lot of mass.