.45 acp Owners, I need your feedback please.

[Barang]

My first time to own a 45 caliber and I want to ask you guys a question regarding different bullets' grain. There's no right or wrong answer here, just an evaluation from your experiences.

I'm interested to know the recoil/snap that 185gr against 230gr produce. Do you feel a slight or big difference?

[Tank 57]

Honestly,I've never noticed much of a difference.Enjoy shooting .45.Don't feel it's very punishing.

Almost all my .45 shooting is from full size 1911s or my SIG P220.Might be more noticable in a smaller gun.

[Barang]

Ok thanks! Just brought home a P220 last night and not sure what grain to get tomorrow to feed her next week when I take her to the range. I guess for HD I'll pick 185gr to get more velocity?

[Mr.Hipp]

Only difference I ever noticed shooting 45 is a lot more of my shots end up in the bull.

[the_t0ny]

185 grain Miwall reloads and PMC bronze 230 grain feel about the same to me in my Springfield 1911. Just the 185 grain bullets leave a nicer hole in paper because they have a flat nose.

[Bsandoc40]

I haven't really noticed a difference between 185gr and 230gr thru both .45s. A better shooter probably could tell you if there is a difference. But as far as my experience, no noticeable recoil difference.

[P5Ret]

. I guess for HD I'll pick 185gr to get more velocity?

Stick with what you train with, if you train with 230's get the same for your defensive load, and shoot a box or two before you rely on it as a defensive load. Each gun shoots a bit different, and 185's may or may not be the best round for your gun. My P220 seems to like 230's better, never had a failure it just seems to shoot the 230's a bit more accurately.

[DT556]

I can't tell the difference.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Feel the same to me out of my 220. Nice gun BTW.

[axhoaxho]

Honestly I cannot really tell the difference.

[HPBrowningMK3]

They feel the same to me in a number of pistols including P220. My guns and I prefer 230 though.

I think there is a company that makes hotter 180 defense loads(hollow points) for 45 acp pistols with a shorter barrel and those are reportedly snappier. I don't have any experience with them.

[-hanko]

My first time to own a 45 caliber and I want to ask you guys a question regarding different bullets' grain weight.

. There's no right or wrong answer here, just an evaluation from your experiences.

I'm interested to know the recoil/snap that 185gr against 230gr produce. Do you feel a slight or big difference?

"Recoil/snap" is not a big deal in .45 acp...it's a low pressure cartridge by design.

You can expect a lighter bullet to leave the gun faster, so you will see a tiny bit more muzzle rise v. a heavier bullet.

Functionally and all things being equal except weight, a lighter bullet will hit higher on the target.

For self-defense ranges, not an issue.

For dedicated target shooting, you build the weapon around the cartridge you want to shoot.

[trigger945]

Same here, haven't noticed a difference. I'd echo the recommendation to try various types of HP before sticking to one. Make sure they cycle and you can shoot them well.

FWIW, I use PDX1.

Good luck OP!

[SNCaliber]

cant tell the difference really, but I practice with 230gr

[stphnman20]

Op, do yourself a favor and buy a bunch of 230gr bullets. Shoot till your hands, wrist, arms, back, shoulder and head hurt. Then, shoot some more. Reason why I say this is because you need to develope/stregthen the required muscles for the recoil.