Don't Settle for Less Than the Best Ammo for 1911 45 ACP

I rarely carry a concealed 1911, but it's always nearby and ready so long as I'm home.

I would argue that shotguns are the better home defense weapon. But should the need ever arise, I wouldn't hesitate to use my 1911 to protect my family and myself.

That's why I recently decided to identify the best ammo for 1911 45 ACP: testing various cartridges to determine which ones constitute the most accurate, reliable, and reasonably priced 1911 45 ammo.

Below you'll find my conclusions. Read them as part of your own quest to make the best M1911 ammo purchase.

Recommended Ammo for 1911 .45 ACP

1. Hornady Critical Defense 45 ACP 185 Grain FTX JHP - Best Overall
2. Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 45 ACP 210 Grain JHP - Honorable Mention
3. Speer Gold Dot 45 ACP 185 Grain JHP - Best Defense
4. Federal HST 45 ACP +P 230 Grain JHP - Honorable Mention
5. Prvi Partizan 45 ACP 185 Grain JHP - Best Plinking Ammo
6. Fiocchi 45 ACP 200 Grain JHP - Honorable Mention

Best Ammo for 1911 45 ACP Overall

Hornady Critical Defense 45 ACP 185 Grain FTX JHP

Hornady Critical Defense 45 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 185 Grain FTX JHP Ammunition

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$30.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 185 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 900 fps (3" test barrel)
• Muzzle Energy: 333 ft-lbs

Pros

• Excellent ballistics
• Trusted brand
• Reloadable
• Accurate

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Hornady Critical Defense is one of the most trusted self-defense rounds. These are the brass-cased rounds that I trust in my 1911.

The FTX jacketed hollow point has a polymer insert which helps keep its nose cavity free and clear of debris that could have impaired terminal expansion. The insert also compresses in impact, which promotes more reliable expansion.

If you think a 185gr bullet is too light, then you can try Hornady Custom 45 ACP +P 230 Grain XTP JHP instead. This self-defense ammo doesn't have the FTX's polymer insert, but its higher striking energy can only help you subdue the threat (so long as you don't mind the added recoil).

I personally prefer the 185gr bullet because it packs a little less recoil yet plenty of stopping power.

Even though it's expensive, Hornady Critical Defense ammo's ballistics and reliability are well worth the extra money. If you practice with this ammo, you'll be able to reload the brass to get more of your money's worth out of this Hornady 45 ACP ammo.

Honorable Mentions

Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 45 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 210 Grain JHP Ammunition

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If you find that your 1911 handgun malfunctions less when using Winchester ammo, then I recommend buying Winchester USA Ready Defense 45 ACP 200 grain JHP or Winchester Ranger T-Series.

I like the USA Ready Defense rounds because they're a good compromise on bullet weight, recoil, and stopping power. They're designed specifically for civilian defense, whereas the Ranger T-Series ammo is designed for law enforcement (which in no way makes it unsuitable for defense, of course).

Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 45 ACP 210 grain JHP is a little less expensive than Hornady Critical Defense and has a heavier bullet.

The heavier bullet means it has a slower muzzle velocity – but also more muzzle energy, making it the harder-hitting round.

Federal Hydra-Shok is loaded with nickel-plated brass: smoother than unplated brass, which helps reduce the risk of malfunctions that could cause empty casings getting stuck in the 1911.

Best 45 ACP Defense Ammo for 1911

Speer Gold Dot 45 ACP 185 Grain JHP

Speer Gold Dot 45 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 185 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$34.99

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Specs

• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 185 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,050 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 453 ft-lbs

Pros

• Trusted by many shooters
• Designed for personal defense
• Excellent ballistics

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Speer Gold Dot 185gr JHP 45 ACP easily made my list of best 45 ACP hollow points, so it's no surprise I'm ranking it high on my list of 1911 45 ACP ammo.

Many concealed carriers brag about these rounds' reliability and accuracy. Ballistics are nothing to ignore, but remember that this is a 185gr bullet: one of the lighter 45 ACP self-defense bullets.

If you want to bump the power up, try Speer Gold Dot 45 ACP 230 Grain JHP. Its muzzle velocity is a little lower, but you get the added benefits of the heavier bullet (which are only advantageous so long as you can handle the added recoil, of course).

Speer Gold Dot is marketed to law enforcement officers and regular Joes alike. The LE ammo is packaged in 50-round boxes; the civilian ammo is packaged in 20-round boxes. Despite this, they truly are one and the same ammo.

Honorable Mentions

Federal Law Enforcement HST 45 ACP +P Ammo - 50 Rounds of 230 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$39.99

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The Remington Golden Saber Bonded 45 ACP 230 Grain BJHP is an effective selection for defense, with a bullet that is designed to undergo expansion after having penetrated a small amount of soft tissue. You might find that its nickel-plated brass cycles better in your Remington 45 ACP 1911.

Federal Premium Law Enforcement HST 45 ACP +P 230 Grain JHP isn't for the faint of heart. The +P means it's loaded hotter than typical factory ammo, so it'll have more recoil. Its heavier bullet and hotter propellant charge mean it's also more powerful than other 45 ACP rounds.

The Underwood 45 ACP +P 230 grain JHP ammo has a high muzzle velocity and tremendous muzzle energy, and costs around the same as other popular defense loads.

Best 1911 Pistol Ammo for Practice

Prvi Partizan 45 ACP 185 Grain JHP

Prvi Partizan 45 ACP Ammo - 50 Rounds of 185 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$35.49

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 185 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 935 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 359 ft-lbs

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Practice with the same ammo you carry
• Solid ballistics
• Designed for self-defense

Cons

• Lesser known brand

Why We Chose It

Using the same ammo for target practice and everyday carry is ideal, but that can get expensive fast.

That's not the case with Prvi Partizan 185gr JHP. These rounds are inexpensive and designed for personal defense.

They don't offer the best terminal ballistics, which is expected when you're saving this much money, but if you're ever forced to stop a threat with them (and your aim is good), neither you nor the bad guy will notice the difference.

Prvi Partizan 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ is slightly less expensive because it's loaded with simple FMJs as opposed to more more sophisticated JHPs. These are perfectly fine target shooting, but I wouldn't carry FMJs. They tend to over-penetrate, and have less stopping power because they don't expand on impact.

If you prefer well-known ammo brands, this isn't the ammo for you. Prvi Partizan does have an excellent reputation worldwide. They may not have flashy marketing, but that hardly matters (with the exception of Ammo.com's flashy marketing, which should always be paid attention to).

For the price, you can't beat the Prvi Partizan 185gr JHP for practice and everyday carry.

Honorable Mentions

Fiocchi 45 ACP Ammo - 50 Rounds of 200 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$28.99

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Federal American Eagle 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ is not the cheapest ammo on the market, but if you prefer an ammo brand that's a household name, these are the rounds for you.

Shooters have trusted Federal American Eagle for decades. I don't see that changing anytime soon, especially when the full metal jacket bullet's ballistics are comparable to JHPs'.

Although Sellier & Bellot 45 ACP 230 grain JHP doesn't have the same reliable terminal ballistics as other high-end JHP ammo, it's nearly half the price. You'll be able to practice and carry this ammo without breaking the bank.

Speer Lawman 45 ACP 230 grain TMJ is designed to perform similarly to defense or law enforcement ammo without carrying the JHP's higher manufacturing cost.

I have to mention the Fiocchi 45 ACP 200 grain JHP because it sits in the sweet spot of price point and bullet weight. Not too heavy; not too light.

How to Choose the best 45 ACP for 1911

With so many options and things to consider, deciding which ammo is best for you can be daunting. But it doesn't have to be when you narrow your considerations down to three of the most important: budget, reliability, and recoil.

Budget

Setting and staying within your budget is critical. It's silly to buy ammo but not the essentials like food, water, and shelter.

At Ammo.com, we offer quality ammo in all budget ranges, so you're sure to find the rounds that work for your situation.

Hollow point bullets are more expensive than full metal jacket bullets. Hollow points are the better option for personal defense, so they're worth stretching the budget a tad.

Reliability

This is the most crucial consideration, in my opinion. If you can't trust the rounds to go off and not jam, don't trust them with your life.

That's why it's critical to test multiple brands and bullet weights with your ammo. You may find that Colt 1911s shoot a specific brand and bullet weight better than others.

Find out which ammo is most reliable in your 1911 and stick with that.

Recoil

Recoil drastically affects how accurately and quickly you can fire follow-up shots. It can determine whether a self-defense scenario ends in your favor or not.

You can call me a wimp (please don't, though, because Ammo.com doesn't condone bullying), but I prefer as little recoil as possible. It helps me be fire more accurately, and can get back on target quicker.

Just don't go choose a round with so little recoil that you're drastically sacrificing knockdown power. There's a happy medium to find. Once again, test out several brands, bullet weights, and powder loads to determine which works best for you.

How to Save Money on 1911 Ammo

There are a few ways to save money when buying ammo, but they typically require a more significant investment upfront.

Reload

Reloading is a skill worth having, and it doesn't require a gunsmithing certificate. You can reuse your spent brass and save money on factory ammo.

Reloading takes time to figure out, but once you get everything set to how you like it, you can quickly pump out several hundred rounds in your spare time.

The upfront cost is substantial because you have to purchase reloading equipment and ammunition supplies.

The money you save depends on how fast you can crank out rounds.

Buy in Bulk

Buying bulk 45 ACP ammo is an excellent way to save money. The more rounds you buy at once, the more you save.

Five hundred rounds of Browning 45 ACP 230 Grain FMJ cost much less per round thanks to the economy of scale. That's why many shooters buy bulk ammo instead of 20 or 50 rounds at a time.

Combine the Two

If you have the time and money, combining the two tips mentioned above is best.

When you buy bulk ammo, you get the bulk discount. Afterward you can reload the spent brass to increase your savings even more.

Buy Aluminum-Cased Ammo

Buying steel or aluminum-cased ammo (like Blazer 45 ACP 230 Grain FMJ) is another way to save money. Just take care that the former type of case isn't worth attempting to reload, and the latter is outright impossible to reload.

Common Bullets Used in 1911 45 ACP Ammo

Bullet selection is critical when choosing the best ammo for a 1911 45 ACP. The first step in selecting the best bullet is knowing what each one was designed for and understanding how that fits into your situation.

FMJ

The full metal jacket bullet was designed in the late 1800s for military rifles. It's still the primary bullet used in warfare, but civilians mostly use it for target practice.

The FMJ gets its name from the metal coat (usually copper alloy) encompassing its lead core. Its jacket hardens the FMJ so the bullet can feed reliably in a semi-automatic, and also reduces fouling of the barrel.

The FMJ is less than ideal for self-defense because it can't expand. In addition to minimizing the risk of over-penetration (which can jeopardize bystanders), expansion also maximizes trauma to the threat.

TMJ

The key difference between a total metal jacket and a full metal jacket is this: The TMJ's jacket shields the base of the bullet's lead core against hot propellant gasses, whereas an FMJ's does not.

TMJ bullets are better for indoor shooting ranges, where they minimize shooters' exposure to lead gas.

JHP

A jacketed hollow point is what most concealed carriers use.

The JHP boasts better stopping power than an FMJ or TMJ, and is also less likely to over-penetrate. However, JHP ammo is also more expensive, and also illegal for everyday carry in New Jersey (Tony Soprano gets in trouble because of this in season six).

BJHP

"BJHP" may refer to a brass jacketed hollow point, which Remington loads in its Golden Saber line of ammunition. It functions essentially the same as any other JHP. "BJHP" may also refer to a bonded jacketed hollow point, which features a jacket that is electrochemically fused (or welded) to its core. Thus fortified, the bullet is able to exhibit higher weigt retention and more reliable penetration characteristics as a result.

SCHP

A solid copper hollow point is entirely made of copper – zero lead. The SCHP is nontoxic and clean-shooting. It is also durable, thus helping it conserve the weight and momentum it needs to access a threat's vital organs.

Parting Shots

While the 1911 is one of the greatest guns ever made, it's nothing more than a paperweight without the best ammo.

That's why I buy Hornady Critical Defense 185 grain FTX JHP for my 1911. It's some of the best personal defense ammo on the market.

There's no sense in putting your family or yourself at risk any longer. Pick up a box or ten today!

Written by

Wes Littlefield