Good defensive ammo for short bbl

[acpbrain]

I'm picking up a Springfield XD-s in 45acp
With it's 3.3" barrel what will perform better, lighter faster or heavy slower rounds?

[HypnoToad]

Speer makes a "short barrel" line of Gold Dot ammo that they've tried to design to expand properly out of a short barrel. It can be hard to find, but for self defense I assume you won't need a lot and can just buy online.

[KrisDSA]

I'm picking up a Springfield XD-s in 45acp
With it's 3.3" barrel what will perform better, lighter faster or heavy slower rounds?

I am a fan of

http://www.hornady.com/store/45-Auto-P-220-gr-Crit-Duty/

[afteractionreport]

Im in no way an expert but what i have noticed when shooting my m&p9c is that 115gr. Loads are "snapier" and have more of a muzzle flash than with 147gr. Ive never compared 115 with124 but i will assume a similar result happens.

My guess is that powder us still being burned out of the barrel with the lighter fsster round. With the heavy load since it takes bit more time to leave the barrel it burns before leaving the barrel...and the snap im guessing because of the added gr.

Just my experience...they were winchester brand ...

[acpbrain]

Hornady 185gr. Critical Defense looks good & I have seen it on shelves so that is a plus

[Port Authority]

Nothing seems to expand like 230gr HST.

Fair price and reliable performance.

There are a multitude of FBI tests and UTube videos.

I run +p's in my little Glock36 and they're a good pop, but that makes up for the short barrel.

There are many ... many threads on CalGuns on this topic.

Port

[riderr]

I am a fan of



http://www.hornady.com/store/45-Auto...-gr-Crit-Duty/

I would find Home Defense line more suitable for SD purpose.

[HypnoToad]

+1 on Federal Premium HST 230gr. if you want something more widely available than the Gold Dot Shorts. The HSTs are overwhelmingly liked by the XD community, while they tend to strongly recommend against the Hornadys for an XDS.

Links for you:

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/xd-s-discussion-room/238459-185-230-grn-defense-ammo.html

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/ammo-can/222809-got-me-some-45-acp-hornady-critical-defense.html

http://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/defensive-ammunition-ballistics/164801-short-barreled-45-owners-do-you-shoot-fmj-defense.html

And posts about an old test from 2002 when the existing hollow points were not doing the job in short barrels: http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=2249