glockorama
New member
How many load ball ammo for defensive purposes and why. I'm not looking for a debate on which HP is better, I'm interested in how many prefer ball to any HP. What is the best quality ball ammo?
1911 defense ammo--ball or HP's?
- Thread starter glockorama
- Start date
Mark IV Series 80
New member
For defense: 230 grain Hydra-Shoks.
Favorite Hardball: Speer Lawman, Federal American Eagle.
Favorite Hardball: Speer Lawman, Federal American Eagle.
Jamie Young
New member
Ball
Mister_Dinky
Moderator
Now using the Federal EFMJ. If it doesn't work as advertised it is still hardball at +P. If it does work as advertised it should be a real show stopper. Hope I never find out.
Too weird!!! I was just pondering this while I was surfing over here. Ball all the way. In a defensive handgun, you want something that you know will feed EVERY SINGLE TIME, first and foremost. Plus, .45 is a BIG bullet....how much expansion do you really need? PLUS, you never know when you might need the extra penetration ball offers. Ball is all I buy anymore.
I have quite a few hollowpoints on hand for 9mm. I think hollowpoints are OK in a good, reliable 9mm. I'm told 9mm can overpenetrate, and hollowpoints obviously help prevent that. Also I think 9mm is a more inherently reliable cartridge, for whatever reason...maybe it's because the case is tapered vs. the straight-walled .40 and .45. So a good 9mm should feed most hollowpoints just as well as ball.
As for the best quality ball....I like Winchester's white-box stuff best in any caliber. Federal American Eagle and Sellier&Bellot make good handgun ball. I'm sure Speer Lawman is great stuff too, but I just never use it.
I have quite a few hollowpoints on hand for 9mm. I think hollowpoints are OK in a good, reliable 9mm. I'm told 9mm can overpenetrate, and hollowpoints obviously help prevent that. Also I think 9mm is a more inherently reliable cartridge, for whatever reason...maybe it's because the case is tapered vs. the straight-walled .40 and .45. So a good 9mm should feed most hollowpoints just as well as ball.
As for the best quality ball....I like Winchester's white-box stuff best in any caliber. Federal American Eagle and Sellier&Bellot make good handgun ball. I'm sure Speer Lawman is great stuff too, but I just never use it.
Vanguard.45
New member
Why just one?
Two of the three styles of bullet I use are hollowpoint/ derivatives. The other is hardball.
My Springfield TRP with a Nowlin Match Barrell feeds everything every time, so why limit myself to just one style. Currently, when I am carrying my .45 on one of my side jobs, I have three mags with me- One has Glaser Safety Slugs, One has Wnchester Hardball, and the third has Remington Golden Sabers.
Some may say that using "vicious" ammunition will get you in trouble in court or that carrying a "super-tuned" handgun will be food for the lawyers. I say that if I am justified in shooting someone, I intend to do it to the very best of my ability (and probably until the gun runs dry with whatever I'm carrying at the time). That includes being prepared with the best equipment (and ammunition) possible. Let the lawyers sort it all out later. I'm the one standing there with my life on the line!
Two of the three styles of bullet I use are hollowpoint/ derivatives. The other is hardball.
My Springfield TRP with a Nowlin Match Barrell feeds everything every time, so why limit myself to just one style. Currently, when I am carrying my .45 on one of my side jobs, I have three mags with me- One has Glaser Safety Slugs, One has Wnchester Hardball, and the third has Remington Golden Sabers.
Some may say that using "vicious" ammunition will get you in trouble in court or that carrying a "super-tuned" handgun will be food for the lawyers. I say that if I am justified in shooting someone, I intend to do it to the very best of my ability (and probably until the gun runs dry with whatever I'm carrying at the time). That includes being prepared with the best equipment (and ammunition) possible. Let the lawyers sort it all out later. I'm the one standing there with my life on the line!
Very true.
And it's best to keep in mind that .45acp 230gr ball will out penetrate 115gr 9mm ball by 3 inches. The average penetration of ball in ballistic gelatin is 27".
The average human torso is nowhere near 27" in depth. Food for thought.
There is a screwball myth that .45acp hardball doesn't give deep penetration and this continues to give people the wrong impression to this day.
I use JHP (230gr Rem. GoldenSabers). It's completely reliable from my Kimber Classic. If the JHP fails to expand, well hell, I tried... and I then get the performance of hardball.
To each his own.
Andrew Wyatt
New member
depending on my mood at the time, I'll either shoot hardcast lead 185 grain SWCs, 230 grain ball, or winchester silvertips.
I tend to favor ball for most things, because i know it'll work every time and it's cheap.
I'm probably going to acquire some 230 grain golden sabers because they seem to be about the best thing on four wheels for .45 ammo.
I tend to favor ball for most things, because i know it'll work every time and it's cheap.
I'm probably going to acquire some 230 grain golden sabers because they seem to be about the best thing on four wheels for .45 ammo.
I use anything from S&B and Blazers and Winchesters. Whatever is proven for 500 rounds through my particular gun. For example, my Springfield will digest all Blazers, but not necessarily Remington FMJs. My Colt will feed only Winchesters FMJ reliably. My s&W 4506 and Glocks feed SWCs of all brands. The Glocks will choke on a Blazer FMJ from time to time.
I honestly think that the casing length variation and general bullet seatings of particular manufacturers will affect the feed reliability of particular guns (even of the same model and brand). Thus, the same Remington 230gr FMJs may not feed well out of two 1911 Springfield Loaded pistols. One may be a dream and the other a dog.
In any event, based on some of my target tests, I think the JHPs are a hit and miss. Unless impact 90 degrees head on into a dense/soft medium, the mushroom may not even form. Most of the time, my recovered bullets tend to clump around the barrier fabric (denim, leather, cotton, etc.) and turn into a hardball anyway. The main advantage of a clumped JHP is the sharper edge as it works its way into the target and sever neighboring organs and blood vessels.
You still pay premium for JHP for this clumping, and you may risk feed jams.
I like FMJs because they will go through glass and sheet metal and retain enough mass to reach target. JHPs may not.
I honestly think that the casing length variation and general bullet seatings of particular manufacturers will affect the feed reliability of particular guns (even of the same model and brand). Thus, the same Remington 230gr FMJs may not feed well out of two 1911 Springfield Loaded pistols. One may be a dream and the other a dog.
In any event, based on some of my target tests, I think the JHPs are a hit and miss. Unless impact 90 degrees head on into a dense/soft medium, the mushroom may not even form. Most of the time, my recovered bullets tend to clump around the barrier fabric (denim, leather, cotton, etc.) and turn into a hardball anyway. The main advantage of a clumped JHP is the sharper edge as it works its way into the target and sever neighboring organs and blood vessels.
You still pay premium for JHP for this clumping, and you may risk feed jams.
I like FMJs because they will go through glass and sheet metal and retain enough mass to reach target. JHPs may not.
Jamie Young
New member
How many people have you killed Tamara?
I have been carrying Remington Golden Sabres in my 1911 as of late. But fellow TFLer KSFreeman tells us that it is not very suitable for night fighting. Apparently, Remington is using a powder that has lots of flash. I'm going to be switching to the Black Hills 230 gr. HP round since its cheap (more practice) and it doesn't flash at night as much.
Mo_Zam_Beek
New member
Ball is a very good choice in my book.
Closer to the pressures of what I practice with.
Big as a broomstick anyway.
Corbon Powerball and Federal version are very interesting as well.
As to penitration - DEEP.
FWIW - While shooting a stage the other week - Standing target behind a car door with window down - I *missed* and put one low - in reality, it penitrated the car door and I still got my "A" zone.
Like I said - ball ain't so bad.
Closer to the pressures of what I practice with.
Big as a broomstick anyway.
Corbon Powerball and Federal version are very interesting as well.
As to penitration - DEEP.
FWIW - While shooting a stage the other week - Standing target behind a car door with window down - I *missed* and put one low - in reality, it penitrated the car door and I still got my "A" zone.
Like I said - ball ain't so bad.