Carry Ammo?

[DeltaKilo]

I carry a 1911 .45 every day as my CCW pistol and have been looking at the various types of ammo available. Currently I use Winchester Ranger T-series ammo for CCW, though it's getting very scarce and hard to come by.

I realize that this discussion is probably an oft-repeated one, but haven't been able to locate any previous discussions that are specifically about ammo.

I also realize that shot placement and sure-function in my gun are the two MOST IMPORTANT aspects of ANY self defense ammo/gun.

Assuming I'm steady as a ransom rest, and assuming my gun will feed anything I give it, what ammo do you like? what ammo works well? What should I stay away from?

Dave

[7idl]

REM GS in my .45 [Flower]

[kwando]

i also carried ranger t's in .40 S&W caliber, and i have one box left over. Just cycled through two mags that i've carried for the last year this weekend. I did not realize they were low on supply until i started looking to buy 500 or so rounds this weekend.

i don't think you can go wrong with speer gold dots or federal hydra shoks.

[Colorado Osprey]

.........i don't think you can go wrong with speer gold dots or federal hydra shoks.

2 very proven loads.......(smirk) Gold Dots...45....Flying Ash Trays

The Federal have less muzzle flash if that is important to you....but seem to leave more soot.

Ranger ammo is good but don't forget Hornady XTP and Remington Golden Saber also.

The fact is that ammo in the last 20 years has jumped not by small steps but by huge strides.
Any premium hollow point ammo will do the trick if it functions reliably in your gun.
Many, many 1911's have trouble feeding any hollow point. They were designed from the ground up to shoot round nose bullets. Obviously they can be tweeked and adjusted to shoot hollow point ammo.

This is one of the reasons that the Gold Dot was re-worked to specifically feed in the 1911.

[DeltaKilo]

I know my 1911 will cycle most of the popular HP ammo, and whatever I carry, I test fire first.

I've been considering the Corbon DPX and Hornady TAP ammunition, also considering Gold Dots.

I really like the Ranger, they cycle well, they feed well, they shoot well. However, with the lack of availability, I'm stuck trying to find an alternative.

Dave

[Tim K]

I carry what the local police department carries. If I'm ever involved in a shooting, God forbid, I don't want some prosecutor asking me why I chose such-and-such ammo, and isn't that ammo especially deadly? Being portrayed as a vigilantee is a real risk, and I figure anything I can do to reduce that is worth the effort.

Around here that means Gold Sabers which are, I suppose, as good as the next round. As stated above, shot placement is more important than the projectile.

[PhL0aTeR]

federal hydra shoks.


X2

[7idl]

I carry what the local police department carries. If I'm ever involved in a shooting, God forbid, I don't want some prosecutor asking me why I chose such-and-such ammo, and isn't that ammo especially deadly? Being portrayed as a vigilantee is a real risk, and I figure anything I can do to reduce that is worth the effort.

Around here that means Gold Sabers which are, I suppose, as good as the next round. As stated above, shot placement is more important than the projectile.


has anyone ever been went after by liar..er..lawyers for choice of ammo?

[DeltaKilo]

So anyone have any experience with or opinion on the Corbon DPX or Hornady ammo?

[Colorado Osprey]

So anyone have any experience with or opinion on the Corbon DPX or Hornady ammo?

I carried Hornady XTP as spare duty ammo for a while, but only as a back up. It doesn't perform well through auto glass, but as a civilian that normally isn't an issue. I had enough confidence in it to still carry it....not leave it in the car.

I also carried Cor-Bon in a back-up Sig 230 380acp. My reasoning was it was as close to 9mm as I could get.

Again, any premium ammo should be just fine....just remember to funtion test in your weapon. Before trusting my life with it's reliability I would shoot at least 100 rounds of it...which can get pretty expensive.

[DeltaKilo]

thanks for the info.

One of the things I am concerned about is being able to have the best round possible for the money, and something that I can rely on to do its job as long as I can do mine.

I realize I spend a lot of time comparing ballistics and reading reviews of things, so it helps to have real-life opinions to balance things out.

As to what works in my gun: Hydrashocks (and most other Federal HPs I've had at one time or another) don't like my guns. I don't know why. Hornady seems to work OK, but the HP deforms a bit when the round is jacked into the chamber. Corbon DPX works, cheap Winchester WB JHP stuff works, Ranger T works.

Suppose what I'm after is more of a down-to-earth this-stuff-works reality check over the marketing hype of every ammo manufacturer under the sun. =)

DK

[Bailey Guns]

Maybe check out a box or two of the (fairly) new Federal EFMJ (expanding full metal jacket) stuff. I've had good luck with it.

[DeltaKilo]

Okay, as an addendum, I've been told about a company called Double Tap Ammo which loads a custom load using the Gold Dot as the basis. Anyone know anything about them, and whether they're good ammo?

[Ah Pook]

Which ever is most reliable.

Barnes XPB 185 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal HST 230 gr +P JHP (P45HST1)
Federal Tactical 230 gr JHP (LE45T1)
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr JHP (RA45T)
Winchester Ranger-T 230 gr +P JHP (RA45TP)