My Favorite 45's

Let me tell you a little bit about my favorite 45's.

First, I really think vinyl gets a bad...

What?

What the fuck are you talking about?

I'm supposed to write about 45's, right?

Oh, not "45's" but ".45's"?

Oh shit.

Alright, aaaaaaand shifting gears....

My favorite .45's.


These are a few of my favorite thiiiiiings...right, there we go.

From left to right:

• Winchester White-Box 230gr. Ball
• Black Hills 230gr Jacketed Hollow Point
• Federal 230gr HydraShok JHP
• Speer GoldDot 230gr JHP
• Winchester Black Talon 230gr SXT

One of the things that comes into play when selecting personal defense ammo, for me, is "what will get me into trouble" if I have to use it. So, obviously, the Black Talon is not one of my defensive loads. I don't want some grieving meth-addicted widow suing me cuz I smoked her would-be mugger with an "evil," banned cartridge.

I favor the Speer GoldDot for the same reason. It's the duty cartridge for San Diego PD, or it was the last I checked. Good enough for the cops is good enough for me, plus I like the performance on gel and on paper.

What should you be looking for in a .45 defensive round? First, it needs to cycle well in the pistol you choose. For instance, if Black Hills won't load in your 1991A1, then obviously you shouldn't use it, regardless of performance statistics.

After making sure it feeds reliably (no FTF's in 200rds is usually my criteria), make sure its going to do what you want it to do. Namely, make a big, wide, permanent wound channel. Almost any modern JHP round will do that. Some of the first generation Silvertip's had expansion problems, but today most won't.

Now you can get picky and choose the round that groups the best out of your pistol and enjoy. Cost should never be an option in choosing something that will potentially save the life of you or your loved ones, so don't buy cheap reloads or some crappy Russian bulk ammo and expect it to perform. No! *rolls up newspaper* No! Bad crappy ammo!

Note the little halos of light around the casings. A trick of the camera flash, or some kind of divine justice, encased in brass and nickel? You decide...

These are a few of my favorite things...