What defense loads do YOU carry in your short barrel 1911?

Personally, I like to throw big ol' hollow point pumpkins for my self defense weapon. I've been feeding my Springfield Armory Micro Compact 1911 a steady diet of 230grn Federal Hydro Shok's for years. Personally, I've seen good results from these bullets on game for years. No over-penetration, but good weight retention, and massive energy transfer.

I've tried the 165grn version of the Hydro shok's, on accident because I didn't look closely enough at the box. Over the chrony, they ran about 110fps faster than my 230grners. Personally, I think that the lighter bullets don't have the mass to build pressure against the powder in a short barrel, so you don't get as much velocity increase as you'd expect. Federal claims that the muzzle energy is identical for both the 165 and the 230, however, they say the lighter bullet (rightfully so) sheds energy faster down range. Frankly, it's a short range proposition, so what do i care about the energy difference at 50yrds? Based on my chrony, I see about 7% more energy in the 230grn than the 165grn, even though Federal says they should be BOTH 414ft.lbs. at the muzzle (in their test barrel)

Momentum is an entirely different game. Momentum is what pushes a bullet through tissue, and keeps it from being deflected by bone, and opens up your hollow points. 165grn at 1000fps is 165k grn*fps. 230grns at 850fps is 195k grn*fps. That's an 18% difference in momentum, advantage for the heavy bullet.

So personally, I want a heavier bullet, even if it means I'm getting a little less velocity.

I don't have a short barreled 1911. I have a RIA 1911 and a Springfield XD service. In the XD I load remington Golden Saber 230 gr jhp. In the RIA I carry 230 fmj ball...as it was designed to by John Moses Browning. My father...a WWII/China Marine was witness on several occassions to the effectiveness of the 1911 w/ 230gr hardball.

I like a heavier slower round. A better chance that more if not all the energy of the round is expended in the target. A lighter faster bullet runs a chance of total penetration. If the round goes all the way through then it still has energy. Energy that is wasted.

But that is just my feelings on the subject.

If I were you, i could attempt to get her a lady Smith, in a huge high quality 5 shot revolver. 40 4 or 40 5. they're elementary to cope with, and doubtless the most strong. to boot, in case you want it for homestead protection, a huge bullet with a slower fps will be more suitable sensible than say a 9mm. you want preventing skill, and small cal.'s with extreme FPS costs have a more suitable constructive threat of allowing an invader to stay to inform the tale his ft and do you damage. to boot, revolvers will not in any respect jam, and because there is not any safe practices, you'll not in any respect want difficulty about fumbling to locate the safe practices. A revolver is your wonderful option. I have revolvers, and automatics. yet until eventually you're comfortable with an computerized, a revolver will serve you wonderful. Oh, and a note to very large.....even as someone breaks into your position, and is hurting your spouse or children...perchance then you'll opt to personal a firearm. yet having stated that, once you ought to ask why, perchance society could be more suitable constructive of in case you probably did not have a gun. And to the answerer to lines down....How is possessing a gun 'asking for problem'? Oh and to James Love....in case you are able to factor your finger...you are able to hit your objective...in case you are able to't use a handgun...you shouldn't personal a shotgun...and in case you do not recognize that...you shooldn't answer gun questions.

Remington Golden Saber 230 JHP

-OR-

Speer Gold Dot 230 JHP

I was trying out the 185 JHP Speer Gold Dot but it doesn't feed reliably in my gun.

I have Winchester Silvertips in my Glock 30.

Same theory, a lighter, faster hollow point is better.

But I have no proof my guess is correct, haven't shot enough people to notice the difference. And more than one person has said to me that the 230gr +P is a better call

230 gr hardball. I would forget about JHP expansion out of a short barrel.

magtech first defense 165gr +p in 45acp. i love em. shot ballistics gel with them and they out performed every other personal defense round we had that day as far as rate of expansion, penetration, and accuracy.