Using cheaper ammo for defense purposes?

[Slugz]

As some may know, i just recently purchased a 1911 in .45 and I am looking for a moderately priced and readily available option for stocking up on some defense ammo for it. I know 1911's (especially cheaper models like mine) dont eat hollow points very well and im more interested in the penetration characteristics of FMJs anyways. I came across a good deal on some PMC Bronze .45 FMJs in 230 grain ($23 a box of 50 and i bought 3 boxes) and was wondering what some of you think about using it as a solid option for defense should the need ever arise. Im not big on spending $1+ per round for defense mostly because I want to train at the range with loads similar to what I plan to keep the gun loaded up with at home, and Hydrashoks and other high end defense loads make doing so pretty costly (not to mention the +P loads introduce metal fatigue sooner)

So what do you guys think? Will the 800+ FPS 230 gr. PMC Bronze FMJs stop an assailant through several layers of leather/denim or whatever else?

[HOGLEG]

First in....Shot placement is key. Triple tap!

45 ball ammo has stopped many since it's inception.

[stormvet]

It will work, not your best option but it will be effective. We all should put more thought into our training then in what ammo is marginally better then the next. Find a good solid round that functions in your gun and you can afford.

[finyllw]

I would pay $50.00 a round if I was gaurenteed it would work. That being said, you buy the best you can afford. Some of the newer stuff out there is supposed to work very well. Hopefully you only ever have to buy one box.

[luckystrike]

the 100 round packs of remington hollow points are great, $50. the winchester white 50rnd boxes of HPs are not expensive. run a couple hundred of those and see how they cycle. I use either of those because the projectile is shaped very 1911 ramp friendly. unlike the winchester pdx with the spikey crown on top of it.

then again if it came down to zombies id rather have 1K rounds of FMJs than 300 rounds of HPs for the same price.

[Slugz]

Yes well, with the second revolutionary war brewing here, 1 box doesn't seem like it will be enough. 100 boxes may not be enough if they really think they are going to match around town taking peoples guns. I just want to make sure what I'm using will penetrate well enough that i don't need to be point blank to use it if the time arises i ever have to. Hope i never do. But if my family or my rights are in danger, I will fight.

[westcoast362]

You can't buy just one box, because:
A) You have to make sure it works in your gun.
B) Practice with it.
That means practice with it several times a year.

[Slugz]

I take my other guns out A few times a month when finances permit. The pistol may not get as much use simply because of the cost of ammo. I remember back when a box of 50 cost Somewhere around $16 and it was expensive to shoot back then. Now its almost too expensive lol

[Sam]

While cost is an important concern, I think since you will be relying on this to possibly save your life you shouldn't cut corners here. Get yourself some premium self defense rounds, shoot a couple of boxes to ensure reliability and then shoot ball at the range. I dont think Normal pressure hollow points are that different in recoil from ball to be much of a concern.

[Slugz]

Hollow points don't feed well in 1911s though, and even less so in lower end models. Our so I've read. I want good cheap ammo. As one member stated, better to have 1000 decent rounds than 300 luxury rounds. Just want some "decent" ball ammo

[Pistolgrip Pump]

While cost is an important concern, I think since you will be relying on this to possibly save your life you shouldn't cut corners here. Get yourself some premium self defense rounds, shoot a couple of boxes to ensure reliability and then shoot ball at the range. I dont think Normal pressure hollow points are that different in recoil from ball to be much of a concern.

This. You already have a gun so you already justified spending whatever it cost for defending your life. Your life is clearly worth the 1k or whatever you spent on your gun so what is a dollar a round to feed it top notch ammo? Shoot whatever you want at the range but put the good **** in it when you need to rely on it to save your life. Shouldn't even need discussion. Just my opinion

[Slugz]

This. You already have a gun so you already justified spending whatever it cost for defending your life. Your life is clearly worth the 1k or whatever you spent on your gun so what is a dollar a round to feed it top notch ammo? Shoot whatever you want at the range but put the good **** in it when you need to rely on it to save your life. Shouldn't even need discussion. Just my opinion

In theory this is a sound idea, but im thinking about building up a cache of ammunition on a budget. I want to have thousands of rounds at my disposal should the sh*t hit the fan, but changing the price per box by even $5 changes the total amount spent on that amount of ammo by a CONSIDERABLE amount... I we are talking thousands of dollars here.. I mean if im just loading up a couple of mags to keep in and around my gun on the bedside table, sure... some hot loaded +P+ or something, perhaps even some black talons if I can get my dirty hands on em lol but im talking SHTF preparation. whats a "mid range" ammunition style that can be depended on in a sticky situation that is cheap enough to be practical to stockpile on. See what im sayin?

[Pistolgrip Pump]

Oh, yeah then that makes sense. Sorry can't help you there I just got my glock 21 so I don't know much about mid range ammo I was just referred to federal hydra shok jhp.

[b18bturboek9]

Next time you stop in and buy 2 or 3 boxes because your budget will only permit this. Say you buy 2 boxes of plinking ammo and a box of say 20 or 50 rounds of descent hollow points. If your slowly trying to build up a stash then every now and then buy a box of hollow points that cycle well in your gun. You dont have to spend alot because theres alot out there. Find which ones that work with your budget. I started off slowly when I first got into firearms and now have a nice stash of defensive rounds for all my handguns and rifles.

[Sam]

In theory this is a sound idea, but im thinking about building up a cache of ammunition on a budget. I want to have thousands of rounds at my disposal should the sh*t hit the fan, but changing the price per box by even $5 changes the total amount spent on that amount of ammo by a CONSIDERABLE amount... I we are talking thousands of dollars here.. I mean if im just loading up a couple of mags to keep in and around my gun on the bedside table, sure... some hot loaded +P+ or something, perhaps even some black talons if I can get my dirty hands on em lol but im talking SHTF preparation. whats a "mid range" ammunition style that can be depended on in a sticky situation that is cheap enough to be practical to stockpile on. See what im sayin?

Well having extra ammunition for a rainy day is a good idea, I think you'd probably be better off taking care of your current self defense needs and slowly working up a supply as you go along. Take a good read of this post and pick a round off of this list:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887