.45 acp ammo for self defense.

[delta13soultaker]

Originally Posted by RunningOnMT

The box says it's for target and range. Is there anything which would make this unsatisfactory for self defense?

Originally Posted by INSULATION TIM

This thread kind of drifted, yet was very informative. I don't think it ever answered Running's question highlighted above.

It's sort of a trick question.

Any ball projectile (FMJ) from nearly any modern handgun can be a "satisfactory" round for self-defense.

Excluding exotic loads like Glasers, buckshot, Magsafe, and frangible ammo (all the crappy high priced junk that totally fails to penetrate beyond a few inches) in general...

...any solid projectile from a modern handgun can be effectively put into self-defense service...because beyond that first criteria, adequate penetration, the bullet design totally pales next to solid shot placement in true center-mass.

A .22 LR lead round nose through the heart or greater vessels will work faster than a .45 ACP +P JHP in the large intestines. It has nothing to do with energy....your 12 year old daughter can kick harder than a .357 Magnum hits...it has everything to do with rapid blood loss and subsequent drop in blood pressure (hypovolemia)...which is only accomplished by lead crushing major blood vessels....and major blood vessels are located in a relatively limited area of the torso and pelvis.

Now.......

Had he asked, "Is there anything which would make this less than optimal for self defense?"...

The answer would be a clear, YES.

A solid 230 grain .45 non-expanding FMJ bullet will create a wound with 40% less volume than a quality 230 grain .45 expanding JHP bullet fired at the same velocity.

A 230 grain expanding JHP bullet is more efficient.

But that doesn't make the 230 grain .45 non-expanding FMJ bullet unsatisfactory...it's just not going to work as good.

I think of it like tires.....I can roll 27" tires on my Jeep...and it'll be a satisfactory off-road vehicle...but I use 32" tires and that is more optimal, because it equals 2.5" inches more ground clearance (32-27=5/2=2.5)...and without having to alter my drive shaft. But I get 2.5" more inches over mud, logs, and sharp rocks.

A JHP in large calibers gives you the same optimal performance as a better tool.......greater wound volume (40% +/-) without the stress of +P forces (+10% recoil), faster flip, extra flash, increased blast, more wear, etc etc etc....and .45 ACP is big enough that clogging is a minor issue....much more minor than in small calibers.

So.....45 ACP ball is satisfactory....it's just not the best you can use.