SD ammo, 185 vs 230, .45acp? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Kelavis · 04-13-2008, 08:57 PM

New guy here, I have read page after page of ammo discussion to avoid starting a thread, but I had too, so forgive me.

I have heard varied info on the importance, differences, uses of each grain. Is 185 better for home-defense to decrease bullets going through walls or exiting the target? Is 230 the defacto carry weight? I have read about people using different weights for different times of year based on the type of clothing they would expect to encounter.

Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

hotpig · 04-14-2008, 04:45 AM

The 45 seems to have a lot of traditionalist. Many will always use 230gr hard ball as their carry round.

Many also are stuck in the 1990's thinking velocity is key for performance. They will choose light weight or +P rounds.

Bullet technology in the last ten years has been phenomenal. A third generation 230gr hp ammo will perform in all seasons and in compact or full size guns.

What matters more than anything is what works for you and your gun. Personal preference is the real key. Everything else is just white noise.

fredj338 · 04-14-2008, 07:57 AM

hotpig is right, most of todays JHP will expand down to a very low vel.. A 185gr JHP CAN offer abit less penetration through barriers, but anything that will give good penetration in the BG is likely to over penetrate walls. Switching ammo in warm v cold climates is sketchy to me, use the same ammo so you always know what to expect when the first round goes off.
The great thing about the 45acp is just about any decent JHP is a good choice. The bullet doesn't need much expansion to get above 50cal. A poor choice in the 9mm can be a diff. story. I still like 185grJHPs in the short bbl. 45s mostly for less recoil but I'm still old school & like to see the bullet impacting around 900fps.

Despite what anyone tells you about this or that ammo being "the best", it always goes like this:
#1 100% Reliable in your pistol
#2 reasonabel level off accuracy in your pistol (for me that's 3"max @ 15yds)
#3 terminal perf. (w/o #1 & #2, this matter little).

tomfoolery · 04-14-2008, 08:00 AM

I carry 230gr. JHP and have no concerns over velocity or over or under penetration. The fact of the matter is you are still throwing .45cal rounds through the air!

Go with what works and whats good for the money.

Kelavis · 04-14-2008, 09:01 AM

Thanks for the input, I really want to settle on a round so I can start to practice with it. I shot Hydro-shoks, Speer GD, Taurus copper Hex and some Homeland Defense 230 +p. I like the copper round, no lead or jacket and $16 a box. I've heard a lot more about Corbon DPX which is the same round except it is +p which I don't really want because the 230 +p was crazy. I liked the Speer rounds better than Federal but it's too early to tell definitively. Based on all the information I have read over the past couple weeks, I'll probably go with the Speer GD or Federal HST, in 230g. Thanks again.

tomfoolery · 04-14-2008, 09:05 AM

For the record, I carry Speer Gold Dot or Winchester Ranger...both 230gr.

04-14-2008, 08:00 AM	#4
tomfoolery XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,690	I carry 230gr. JHP and have no concerns over velocity or over or under penetration. The fact of the matter is you are still throwing .45cal rounds through the air! Go with what works and whats good for the money. __________________ "It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees." "One is none, two is one, and three is just a good time." Clint Smith, referring to the number of guns you carry daily.

04-14-2008, 09:05 AM	#6
tomfoolery XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,690	For the record, I carry Speer Gold Dot or Winchester Ranger...both 230gr. __________________ "It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees." "One is none, two is one, and three is just a good time." Clint Smith, referring to the number of guns you carry daily.

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04-13-2008, 08:57 PM	#1
Kelavis XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 14	SD ammo, 185 vs 230, .45acp? New guy here, I have read page after page of ammo discussion to avoid starting a thread, but I had too, so forgive me. I have heard varied info on the importance, differences, uses of each grain. Is 185 better for home-defense to decrease bullets going through walls or exiting the target? Is 230 the defacto carry weight? I have read about people using different weights for different times of year based on the type of clothing they would expect to encounter. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

04-14-2008, 04:45 AM	#2
hotpig XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SW Illinois Posts: 256	The 45 seems to have a lot of traditionalist. Many will always use 230gr hard ball as their carry round. Many also are stuck in the 1990's thinking velocity is key for performance. They will choose light weight or +P rounds. Bullet technology in the last ten years has been phenomenal. A third generation 230gr hp ammo will perform in all seasons and in compact or full size guns. What matters more than anything is what works for you and your gun. Personal preference is the real key. Everything else is just white noise.

04-14-2008, 07:57 AM	#3
fredj338 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,190	hotpig is right, most of todays JHP will expand down to a very low vel.. A 185gr JHP CAN offer abit less penetration through barriers, but anything that will give good penetration in the BG is likely to over penetrate walls. Switching ammo in warm v cold climates is sketchy to me, use the same ammo so you always know what to expect when the first round goes off. The great thing about the 45acp is just about any decent JHP is a good choice. The bullet doesn't need much expansion to get above 50cal. A poor choice in the 9mm can be a diff. story. I still like 185grJHPs in the short bbl. 45s mostly for less recoil but I'm still old school & like to see the bullet impacting around 900fps. Despite what anyone tells you about this or that ammo being "the best", it always goes like this: #1 100% Reliable in your pistol #2 reasonabel level off accuracy in your pistol (for me that's 3"max @ 15yds) #3 terminal perf. (w/o #1 & #2, this matter little). __________________ EVERY GOOD SHOOTER SHOULD BE A HANDLOADER! Last edited by fredj338 : 04-14-2008 at 08:00 AM.

04-14-2008, 09:01 AM	#5
Kelavis XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 14	Thanks for the input, I really want to settle on a round so I can start to practice with it. I shot Hydro-shoks, Speer GD, Taurus copper Hex and some Homeland Defense 230 +p. I like the copper round, no lead or jacket and $16 a box. I've heard a lot more about Corbon DPX which is the same round except it is +p which I don't really want because the 230 +p was crazy. I liked the Speer rounds better than Federal but it's too early to tell definitively. Based on all the information I have read over the past couple weeks, I'll probably go with the Speer GD or Federal HST, in 230g. Thanks again.