Doc Holliday

Here is my question.

230 gr. or the lighter faster stuff out of the short tube? Does it really matter? I am partial to the 230gr loadings but I am worried a little about enough velocity for expansion.

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MitchellCT

Black Hills 230 Grain std velocity.

rhinokrk

Any quality 230gr JHP, is my vote.

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dukalmighty

I would use what they do in the movies that knocks the BG back 6 feet on impact

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BikerRN

I like the 185 Grain +P in a short barrel 45 acp.

CorBon DPX gets my vote right now.

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ICTsnub

I had been using some 230 gr. Black Talon I squirrelled away, but I broke down and bought some Gold Dot when I was at Bass Pro. I've shot to recover everything from 115gr. mega hollowpoint to 230's, and they all have expanded like you would hope. I like 230 gr. penetration for the value meal generation.
Tom

bmcgilvray

Only my opinion but I want to throw heavy lead so choose 230 grain bullets for the .45 ACP. .45 bullets are big and fat already. Don't have any short-barreled .45 pistols but would still prefer 230 grain for one if I had it.

Expansion isn't a deal maker on defensive loads with me. I kinda like the semi-wadcutter bullets one can shoot in revolvers best of all. I lean towards the heavier bullets within the weight range considered standard for a given cartridge when selecting loads.

Pete Zaria

+1.

I don't know if it really works this way, but I've always imagined lighter bullets would do better from shorter barrels.
The powder charge has less "time" to accelerate the bullet with a short barrel - and it won't be able to get a heavy bullet going anywhere near as fast as a light bullet, in the same amount of time (or should I say, same length barrel).

For a 3.5" .45 ACP I'd probably choose a 185gr +P loading as BikerRN suggested.

CorBon, GoldDot, Federal HST are all great choices.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

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crzy4guns

[quote=BikerRN;728549]I like the 185 Grain +P in a short barrel 45 acp.

Me too, I think you lose too much velocity in the shorter barrels to give reliable expansion with the heavier bullets.

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