The Best 45 ACP Ammo for Every Situation

The 45 ACP is one of the greatest rounds ever created. There’s nothing like firing a 1911 at the range, and the 45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge has been proven in the realm of self-defense and law enforcement. After hours of researching and testing, I found that Speer Gold Dot is the best 45 ACP ammo.

Below you'll find my top five list of 45 Auto ammo for target shooting and self-defense. Whether you're firing a Colt 1911, Glock or Smith & Wesson chambered in 45 ACP, you can count on this ammo.

Recommended Ammo for 45 ACP

Best 45 ACP Ammo Testing Procedure

I began my research online, getting a feel for what most 45 ACP shooters prefer to use. I then headed to the gun range with a 1911 and my Springfield XD-S to see how the top-ranked rounds performed out of my firearms.

I kept these things in mind while firing these rounds:

• What was the round designed for?
• Accuracy
• Reliability
• Price

Knowing that you’re responsible for every round fired from your gun means you should be aware of what purpose the round was designed to perform. FMJs might make great training rounds, but they can endanger innocent bystanders by over-penetrating various barriers and soft tissue.

Being responsible for every round fired also means the ammo must be accurate so you have the best chance possible of quickly neutralizing a threat when called upon to do so. I ensured I could shoot tight groups with these rounds at the range.

When you pull the trigger, the ammo must go bang and cycle without malfunctioning. Lives depend on it. I fired slow, fast, and through a fairly dirty gun to ensure these rounds would work when I needed them most.

Price isn’t always a big factor, but I like to include it to help keep my significant other happy and for when I’m stocking up on range ammo.

My List of the Top 45 ACP Ammo

Speer Gold Dot 230 Grain JHP - Best 45 ACP Ammo Overall

Speer Gold Dot 45 ACP Ammo - 50 Rounds of 230 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$44.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 230 grain
• Casing Type: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 820 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 343 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

This is one of the brands that came up repeatedly during my research. Consensus holds that it’s reliable, accurate, and hard-hitting thanks to its performance-enhancing features, a bonded jacket and a two step nose cavity creation process.

Speer Gold Dot has excellent stopping power with a 230 grain bullet. Thanks to the unique jacketed hollow point (JHP), you don't have to worry too much about over-penetration, which keeps your friends and neighbors safer.

The nickel-plated brass case means you'll have fewer malfunctions because it's smoother than traditional brass-cased ammo. I found it to cycle through both of my 45 ACP pistols very well.

The biggest downside is that you'll need to pick up a few extra chores the week you buy this self-defense ammo. It's expensive.

If you're a ballistics-focused shooter, then you won't be impressed by the muzzle velocity or energy, but it's good enough to get the job done and expected with the heavier projectile.

Speer Gold Dot 230 grain JHP is one of the best 45 ACP hollow points because it’s reliable, hard-hitting, and trusted by many shooters across America. Don’t hesitate to pick up a couple of boxes today!

Federal Law Enforcement HST 230 Grain JHP - Best 45 ACP Ammo For Self-Defense

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

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$39.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 230 grain
• Casing Type: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 890 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 404 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Federal made this personal protection ammo for law enforcement officers needing high-quality ammo at a decent price. I love that it's priced so you can take your handgun to the range for training and also use it as a home defense round.

All of my law enforcement buddies strongly encourage practicing with the same ammo you carry so you can be more confident if you're ever forced to defend yourself or your family.

I found the smooth nickel-plated brass helps my gun cycle the casings with fewer malfunctions. II trust these rounds are very reliable as I had zero malfunctions while testing it.

While the ballistics are not the best compared to the other 45 ACP rounds (lower muzzle velocity than lighter projectiles and lower muzzle energy than +P ammo), they're about middle of the pack, which should be expected considering the insanely reasonable price of Federal Law Enforcement HST 230 Grain JHP.

Federal Premium ammunition is loved by many shooters and concealed carriers, which is why it’s consistently considered some of the best 45 ACP ammo for self-defense.

Sellier & Bellot 230 Grain FMJ - Best 45 ACP Ammo For Target Practice

Sellier & Bellot 45 ACP Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 230 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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$409.99

$389.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 230 grain
• Casing Type: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 853 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 371 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Sellier & Bellot manufactures ammo trusted and loved by shooters needing a budget-friendly target shooting option. These FMJ bullets aren't designed for self or home defense, but the bullet weight is identical to most defense bullets, and I found them to have similar ballistics when training.

However, the ballistics don't perfectly match all carry ammo (especially if you carry a round with a lighter projectile), so you'll still need to train with your defense rounds incrementally.

I love the low price of this ammo because it allows me to buy and shoot more rounds without refinancing my home. To get the lowest price possible, you'll need to buy in bulk, which isn't a big deal unless you don't have anywhere to store it.

Don’t hesitate to grab a box of Sellier & Bellot 230 Grain FMJ before your next visit to the shooting range because it’s one of the best 45 ACP rounds for target practice and training.

Hornady Critical Defense 185 Grain FTX JHP - Best Medium Weight 45 ACP Ammo

Hornady Critical Defense 45 ACP Ammo - 200 Rounds of 185 Grain FTX JHP Ammunition

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$288.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 185 grain
• Casing Type: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,000 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 411 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Hornady is one of the top ammunition manufacturers, especially when it comes to crafting personal defense ammo. Critical Defense was designed so concealed carriers could have an accurate and dependable round with top-notch ballistics.

These are the rounds I choose to carry in my Springfield 45 ACP pistol at my house.

I’ve found the medium-weight JHP bullet has a higher muzzle velocity and muzzle energy than heavier bullets, which is needed to counteract the loss in bullet weight retention.

The biggest con I have for this ammo is its price. Because it has a polymer-tipped hollow point, it’s one of the most expensive 45 ACP rounds on the market. The polymer tip is worth it in my opinion because it aids in expansion and helps to prevent the nose cavity from getting clogged.

Speaking of price, make sure to check out our stock of Hornady 45 ACP ammo for more options.

However, if price isn’t a major concern, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything more reliable and accurate than Hornady Critical Defense.

Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 165 Grain SCHP - Best 45 ACP Self-Defense Ammo Short Barrel

Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 45 ACP Ammo - 25 Rounds of 165 Grain SCHP Ammunition

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$19.99

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Specs

• Bullet Weight: 165 grain
• Casing Type: Brass
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,148 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 483 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

If you are concerned with lead fouling up your barrel, you must purchase these Sellier & Bellot rounds.

Lead was not used to make these solid copper hollow point bullets. This is better for your barrel and the environment since lead will not get into water supplies, and animals will not accidentally ingest it.

The biggest reason I would purchase these rounds is for the increased accuracy and deeper penetration.

While firing these rounds, I found that the lighter bullet means a slightly lower recoil, but it also means it has a little less stopping power. However, 45 ACP rounds have plenty of knockdown power, no matter the bullet weight, so I don’t worry about this too much.

I discovered that the muzzle velocity and energy are absurdly high, which is to be expected when compared to much heavier bullets like those of Federal Law Enforcement HST 230 Grain JHP.

The main problem I have with this ammo is that SCHP bullets are known to expand less than traditional lead hollow point bullets because copper is more rigid than lead. This means they are slightly more likely to over-penetrate than traditional HPs but still much less likely than FMJs.

However, Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 165 Grain SCHP is difficult to top for the price, whether you're at the range, on the job, or carrying for personal protection.

Parting Shots: Best 45 ACP Ammo for All Scenarios

While the best 45 ACP ammo depends on your personal preferences, most 45 ACP lovers agree that Speer Gold Dot is the top choice for most applications.

If you disagree, don’t worry. We have many more options available at Ammo.com.

Written by

Wes Littlefield