.45 Ammo: HP vs. Ball

[JBHorne]

I have read that a lot of people feel HP is unnecessary with .45. They say the only reliable feeding ammo is 230gr. ball. Their only real justification is "well that's what the military uses."

What do you guys carry in your 1911? I personally carry HST.

Is HP really not needed? I use it primarily out of concern for over penetration and expansion second considering the .45 is already a big round. Ball just seems like it would rip through and could injure a person behind.

[BlackOnyx]

Im fairly certain the military would use HP if they could just like law enforcement.

[mkb909]

Personally I would say if you had no feeding or other reliabilty problems tracing back to the use of HP I would those, there is a reason police use HP and especially with the size and speed of ammunition like that I would be more comfortable using HP. Also, the military cannot use hollowpoint because it goes against the geneva convention.

[BlackOnyx]

Originally Posted by mkb909

Personally I would say if you had no feeding or other reliabilty problems tracing back to the use of HP I would those, there is a reason police use HP and especially with the size and speed of ammunition like that I would be more comfortable using HP. Also, the military cannot use hollowpoint because it goes against the geneva convention.

You are close..... From Wikipedia
The Hague Convention of 1899, Declaration III, prohibits the use in warfare of bullets that easily expand or flatten in the body.[4] This is often incorrectly believed to be prohibited in the Geneva Conventions, but it significantly predates those conventions, and is in fact a continuance of the St. Petersburg Declaration of 1868, which banned exploding projectiles of less than 400 grams, and weapons designed to aggravate injured soldiers or make their death inevitable. NATO members do not use small arms ammunition which is prohibited by the Hague Convention.

[Ishpeck]

The only reason not to go HP is if you're too cheap to fork out the dough.

[mkb909]

BlackOnyx,

Thanks for the update on why the military cannot use hollowpoints, good to know these things.

[BlackOnyx]

Im not sure if thats sarcasm or not but youre welcome.

[wot_racing]

I carry 200 grain Hornaday TAP +p in my colt commander.. If a 1911 will feed them, then I really believe anything will feed them if properly tuned..

For target practice, I roll my own with 230 grain LRN..

[bigun]

A properly adjusted 1911 will fire just about anything short of a rock. 99% of the problems experienced by new 1911 owners have to do with a improperly adjusted extractor or a improperly lubed pistol. A hp is always superior to a FMJ in real situations plus it is a .45 so the diameter of the hole will always be at least.45" even if it doesnt expand. My practice loads are 230 grain truncated cone cast lead because they approximate the profile of a hollow point and if a gun wont feed them it wont feed a hollow point either. As far as carry bullets I stay relatively cheap and carry WWB 230 grain HP's because I like to shoot at least a box of my carry load every range session at the end and recharge with fresh ammo in my mags before hitting the street.

[Neener Neener]

Originally Posted by bigun

99% of the problems experienced by new 1911 owners have to do with a improperly adjusted extractor or a improperly lubed pistol.

Can you elaborate on the "improperly lubed" comment? Do you mean too much, too little, or something else? I am relatively new to the 1911 game, so I am curious to learn a little about proper lubrication of these fine pistols. I generally try to make sure I have a good coat of oil on just about everything I can see, minus the exterior. On the slides and contact points on the barrel I will use some type of grease. I will oil the exterior, unless it is stainless, then wipe it off. Sometimes I will use a silicon cloth instead.