I recently bought a 1911 with a 5in barrel and would like some recommendations on self defense ammo. I picked up one box of Speer Gold Dot 230gr and 185gr.

Other than velocity are there any advantages or disadvantages to going with a lighter bullet like a 185gr verses 230gr?

Is one more likely to expand than the other?

I would go with the 230 as that nice long barrel will be plenty. I carry the 230 non P in my 45's the GD and Ranger Talon

Yes, go for the 230gr.

The 230gr bullet was intended for the original 5" barrel. It's a nice heavy chunk of lead blasting down range.

The Speer GDs are probably one of the best HP rounds on the market today. Just make sure you run at least a box or more of them through your 1911 to make sure it feeds and cycles them reliably.

I recently bought a 1911 and though I wont carry it often I would like to find a good carry load.
I currently use 185g Federal EFMJs in my Glock 21.
I am leaning toward 185gr JHP handloads, but I would like to see what other folks here in 1911s use.

quote:

Originally posted by Vero8:
I currently use 185g Federal EFMJs in my Glock 21.
I am leaning toward 185gr JHP handloads, but I would like to see what other folks here in 1911s use.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you load your Glock with EFMJs? The Glock generally eats whatever is fed to it.

Now, depending on the 1911, I might lean toward EFMJs if I knew that the particular 1911 was more ammo sensitive.

I'm just curious is all.

With a 5 inch barrel you can be assured of enough velocity to work, unless the nose gets filled and can't expand. The 230 gr loads have a little more "whomp" on the receiving end when you send the little present to them. Gold Dots are good, as Golden Sabre or the Winchester Ranger followed by the SXT.
357magman

I have no problem w/ good 185gr JHP loads. I like SpeerGD or Rem.GS or Hornady XTP, especially in short bbls. In a 5" pistol, recoil of the 230gr isn't as noticeable & vel. is up enough to guarantee expansion. There are also several good 230grJHP loads but the lighter 185gr, I like those three. Your criteria is:
#1 100% reliable in your pistol (50rds min.)
#2 reasonably accurate (for me, 2" @ 15yds)
#3 terminal performance (matters little if you don't have #1 & #2)

I use the Federal EFMJ in my 5" 1911. As a retired LE in NJ I can not carry hollow points. Federal does make it in 200gr.+P which I think is more effective. This is sold only by LE distributors, ie. Gil Hebard.

quote:

Originally posted by ARMT Guy:
If you don't mind me asking, why do you load your Glock with EFMJs? The Glock generally eats whatever is fed to it.

Now, depending on the 1911, I might lean toward EFMJs if I knew that the particular 1911 was more ammo sensitive.

I'm just curious is all.

----
When I bought that batch of EFMJs I was packing a Ruger P97 now it's just habit. If I can find any more I will likely go with the EFMJs in 1911, but I'm still looking for my version of the perfect 45acp round.

I don't really think there is a difference in shooting people. I'm carrying 185's right now, and other than a slight aversion to performance through windshield glass, I don't have a fear. But windshield glass is not anything your average CCW worries about. It's mainly about shooting flesh and bone. I think a quality 185 will do as well ballistically as a 230 in that realm. The big issues to me in a M1911 are as follows-

Will they cycle in the gun 100 percent reliably?

Does the bullet of my choice expand reliably?

Does 90%+ of the bullet remain in tact when fired into mediums such as heavy clothes, etc?

If the answer is yes in all three catagories, then I wouldn't fear it.

I have 230gr Hydrashocks in my .45.

They are accurate and feed well.

1st choice: 230-gr. Gold Dots.
2nd choice: 230-gr. Golden Sabers.

Get some 230 grain +P's in either Federal HST or Winchester Ranger T. Those are the newest and best performing rounds right now.

Another vote for the Federal HST 230gr +P's.

Double Tap also has some very quick 230gr gold dots that they load (230gr @ 1010fps)

Federal's bonded +P 230gr JHP is the best 45 load out there right now. I'll be transitioning to them this year as our Winchester +P runs out.

For me, the advantage of the .45 is the momentum inherent in the round. Momentum is primarily a function of projectile weight. I see no point of a 185 gr. duty load unless you have a really short barrel .45. If I wanted a short barrel gun (<4") - I'd take a .40 S&W as the platform was designed for performance from short barrels.

Just out of curiosity, why would some of you recommend the Gold Dot over the Ranger 230gr? I'm debating between buying a half case of one of the two loads.

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by scobun:
Just out of curiosity, why would some of you recommend the Gold Dot over the Ranger 230gr? I'm debating between buying a half case of one of the two loads.Thanks.

The difference between the top loads is not great. IIRC, Gold Dots typically perform better on auto glass than the non-bonded Winchester Rangers. I suspect that the bonded Rangers close this gap but I haven't seen any definitive testing.

quote:

Originally posted by scobun:
Just out of curiosity, why would some of you recommend the Gold Dot over the Ranger 230gr? I'm debating between buying a half case of one of the two loads.

Thanks.

There is no reason to choose one over the other. Anyone that tells you there is a huge diff. just doesn't get it. Buy 50rds of each, shoo tthem in your pistol & go w/ the most accurate & always, most reliable. In fact, you could throw in HST, Rem.GS, even Hornady XTP, they will all do the job if you can. Anything else is just BS.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by scobun:
Just out of curiosity, why would some of you recommend the Gold Dot over the Ranger 230gr? I'm debating between buying a half case of one of the two loads.

Thanks.

There is no reason to choose one over the other. Anyone that tells you there is a huge diff. just doesn't get it. Buy 50rds of each, shoo tthem in your pistol & go w/ the most accurate & always, most reliable. In fact, you could throw in HST, Rem.GS, even Hornady XTP, they will all do the job if you can. Anything else is just BS.

http://le.atk.com/pdf/LosAngelesWBW.pdf

Seems like a big difference to me.

quote:

Originally posted by SubSolar:

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by scobun:
Just out of curiosity, why would some of you recommend the Gold Dot over the Ranger 230gr? I'm debating between buying a half case of one of the two loads.

Thanks.

There is no reason to choose one over the other. Anyone that tells you there is a huge diff. just doesn't get it. Buy 50rds of each, shoo tthem in your pistol & go w/ the most accurate & always, most reliable. In fact, you could throw in HST, Rem.GS, even Hornady XTP, they will all do the job if you can. Anything else is just BS.

http://le.atk.com/pdf/LosAngelesWBW.pdf
Seems like a big difference to me.

WHERE?
Really, there is not enough diff. to justify one over the other. You are talking 10ths of an inch in many cases. THe human body is not calibrated bal.gel. It really doesn't matter that much & if you think one bullet over another is going to save your bacon, I only hope you can shoot well enough to take advantage of the bullets/ammo used.