Best 45 ACP Self Defense ammo?

Manoa-Fisherman

I would like the opinions of the experts here on what their opinions are on what 45 ACP ammo they believe to be the best for self-defense.

KEVD18

im a big believer in ranger sxt's. i used to carry hydra shoks and i still like them, but the balistic performance of the sxt's impresses me more, so thats what i carry. YMMV...

rong

After reading a Cororner*s report
of gun shot wounds.
I think hardball is right up there.

Riomouse911

Just last week I participated in my second Winchester ammo demo in the past 2 years. The SXT round is a devastating performer in .45, .40, and 9mm+P+.

(This is basically the "black talon" bullet, and man does it work.)

I am also impressed with the Hornady Critical Defense/Critical Duty loads. I saw some informal testing side by side with the Winchester rounds at the first demo I participated in. I will be at a Hornady demo in September for some first-hand looks of their entire line.

charliemeyer007

The ammo that functions 100% in your pistol and you can shoot a good group with. You can practice with most any ammo but after I find my load I generally only shoot that at all ranges and targets.

dcs shooters

I'm with KEV and RIO on the SXT ammo [^]

sandwarrior

I can tell you that the SXT's, Hydra-shocks and just plain HP's will work better than the old Mil-surp "Ball" ammo that I used so much of.

"Ball" works, but takes the better part of a magazine to work. When defending your life, anything that is better (and runs through your gun) should be used![;)]

I wouldn't split hairs on "how good" a bullet works. If it works and runs through your gun stick with it. If it works better than the basic (ball), and still runs through your gun, by golly, you really better stick with it!

rufe-snow

Check "You Tube", there have been a number of videos showing the Hornady Critical Defense being shot into denim covered ballistic gelatin.

Made a believer out of me. I specially like the rounded hollow point that is covered with the red plastic plug. I have had feeding problems with blunt nose H-P's in the past.

After I ran some through my Glock for function testing, I was sold.

Smoky14

Corbon, if you can find and afford it.[:(!]

tsr1965

I agree with some of the other poster's, that you need it to function 100% in your gun first. I like the Speer 200 grain Gold Dot Hollowpoint's. They give me the best groups over all, in all 6 of my 45's, that I use. I second the SXT, and use them exclusively in the 10mm auto's.

Just so you know, and this is not a shot at sandwarrior, the old hardball, has worked succesfully as it was designed to, for over 100 years.

Best

MIKE WISKEY

just my opinion but "and you can shoot a good group with" should be WAY down on the list.
#1 should be reliability
#2 should be terminal preformance (Hornady c.d. or flrex tip or fed. hydro shock would be my choice).
#3 availablity
#4 YOUR ability to shoot/handle the gun/ammo combo.
most self defence shootings are at 7 yards or less, grouping doesn't matter much. Like my ccw instructor said " the reason to use h.p./soft point ammo is to reduce the risk of hitting someone because of the bullet exiting the target."