The .45 ACP, also known as the .45 Auto or simply the “forty-five,” could be the most important handgun cartridge in American history. But what truly matters to the modern .45 shooter, who favors the 1911-style handgun that made the round famous, is performance.
Nearly every manufacturer makes a .45 Auto product. There are target loads, defense options, competition bullets, +P rounds, and nearly every variation you can think of. That’s great for the consumer, but it makes choosing a round overwhelming.
If you’re struggling to select a box of ammo, here are our choices for the best .45 ACP ammo on the market:
Our Picks: Best .45 ACP Ammo
Best for Self Defense: Speer Gold Dot G2 230-grain Jacketed Hollow Point +P
Best for Target Shooting: Federal American Eagle 230-Grain
Best for Competition: Federal Gold Medal 185-grain FMJ Semi-Wadcutter
Best for Hunting: Underwood 200-grain Xtreme Penetrator +P
Best Value for .45 ACP Ammo: PMC Bronze 230 Grain Full Metal Jacket
Best 45 ACP Ammo for Defense
Speer LE Gold Dot G2 230-grain Jacketed Hollow Point +P
- Bullet weight: 230 grain
- Bullet type: Bonded JHP with an elastomer tip
- Muzzle velocity: 950 fps
- Muzzle energy: 461 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Expanding JHP bullets with an elastomer tip
- Bonded bullets for weight retention
- Reasonable price
Disadvantages:
- Heavy bullets with high muzzle energy often create excessive recoil
For the best overall .45 ACP ammo, we look for reliable performance, above-average speed and energy, and a fair price point. This round has it all, and it comes from one of the most elite ammo makers.
This ammo is loaded with 230-grain jacketed hollow point bullets. But they also feature a clear elastomer tip, which assists in bullet expansion and controlled consistency. On impact, the bullet opens into five petals that create a devastating wound. This gives you a better chance to stop an attacker.
While excellent for personal defense, the rounds come at a reasonable price, allowing you to train with the same ammo. Users won’t have to limit their range training; they can go through dozens of rounds without emptying their entire ammo budget. This is an important reason why we selected it for our top .45 ACP ammo.
Speer ammunition is trusted by law enforcement professionals across the country, so this is an easy choice for the best overall .45 ACP ammo.
Note: This is +P ammunition, meaning it’s packed for higher internal pressures. Be certain that your firearm can handle this additional power. Be especially cautious with classic 1911 handguns.
Good Alternative if this is not available? Federal HST 45 ACP +P Ammo.
Best .45 ACP Ammo for Training
Federal American Eagle 230 Grain
- Bullet weight: 230 grain
- Bullet type: Full metal jacket
- Muzzle velocity: 890 fps
- Muzzle energy: 404 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Full metal jacket leaves less barrel fouling
- American-made, Consistent performance
- Excellent price for high-volume shooting
Disadvantages:
- Strictly for training; Not an option for self-defense or hunting
Training ammunition should meet two needs. The first need is a bullet that does not leave excessive fouling in the barrel, which usually means a jacketed round. The second need is a low price. After all, it’s one thing to spend $2.50 per shot on hunting ammo, it’s another to spend this much on a thousand target rounds.
.45 ACP shooters will have a hard time finding a better option than this 230-grain load Federal. The American Eagle line of ammunition uses a full metal jacket, minimizing barrel fouling. It also comes with one of the lowest possible per-shot prices for .45 ammo which, while not the most expensive, is far from the cheapest.
Federal is an American company with manufacturing operations in Minnesota. With consistent performance and a great price, our testing and customer review data supports the idea that this is the best .45 ACP ammo for tactical training and casual target shooting.
Good alternative to Federal American Eagle if it’s not available? PMC Bronze 230 Grain 45 ACP Ammo.
Best .45 ACP for Competition
Federal Gold Medal 185-grain FMJ Semi-Wadcutter
- Bullet weight: 185 grains
- Bullet type: Full metal jacket semi-wadcutter
- Muzzle velocity: 770 fps
- Muzzle energy: 244 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Clear, crisp holes in paper targets
- Manageable recoil
- Match-grade performance
Disadvantages:
- Low speed and energy ratings
Our choice for the best .45 ACP for competition shooting is Federal’s Gold Medal 185-grain semi-wadcutter ammo. Wadcutter ammo is a tube-shaped bullet specially designed for shooting paper targets.
The wide cylinder takes a section (or wad) out of the paper instead of punching a hole, leaving a more visible impact. This allows for clear identification of shot placement. However, this type of ammunition lacks aerodynamics. The semi-wadcutter attempts to bridge the gap between traditional ammo and a wadcutter. It tapers towards the front yet maintains a flat-nose, cylindrical shape.
This round also has the benefits of a full metal jacket bullet. It fires cleanly and maintains your barrel, allowing for clean, consistent firing over and over again.
Best .45 ACP Ammo for Hunting
Underwood 200-grain Xtreme Penetrator +P
- Bullet weight: 200 grains
- Bullet type: Xtreme Penetrator
- Muzzle velocity: 1,000 fps
- Muzzle energy: 444 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Bullet design encourages deep penetration
- Nickel-plated brass cases
- Enhanced performance thanks to +P loading
Disadvantages:
- Does not expand like traditional hollow-point ammo
- High recoil
Hunters seeking whitetail deer and feral hogs often need advanced penetration, which makes a handgun less effective. Typical handgun rounds, even the powerful .45 ACP, lack the deep penetration delivered by a quality rifle cartridge. To give more penetration to the .45 ACP, Underwood has loaded the popular Xtreme Penetrator bullets into their reliable ammunition.
This ammo is designed for deep penetration, making it useful for deer, pigs, and other medium-sized game animals. Within a moderate range, this ammo can turn your .45 handgun into a world-class hunting tool.
You can hunt boar, deer, and black bear with Underwood’s Xtreme Penetrator.
Best Value for .45 ACP Ammo
PMC 230 Grain Full Metal Jacket
- Bullet weight: 200 grains
- Bullet type: Jacketed hollow point
- Muzzle velocity: 830 fps
- Muzzle energy: 352 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Jacketed ammo is easy on a barrel
- Low cost for high-volume shooting
- Expanding round for personal defense
Disadvantages:
- Less speed and power than many premium .45 ACP rounds
PMC’s brand is a trusted option for reliable feeding and quality ammo. Pair that reputation with such a low price point, it became a clear choice for our best value selection. This round has the ballistic performance you expect from a self-defense .45 ACP load, including terminal expansion, weight retention, and penetration.
However, with a low price compared to other FMJ options, it also makes an ideal option for high-volume range training. Budget-minded shooters can stock up on this ammo and enjoy affordable practice and responsible carry, all with the same ammunition.
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