Best Self Deffense round for 30

[New Mag]

I recently picked up a model 30 and was wondering if anyone knows the best (tested not personal feeling) ammo for this gun is.

I have carried Golden Saber 230gr in the past in my 1911....but for the life of me I can't remember why.

Thanks for the input.

[Stealther]

Ballistics data seems to be inconclusive. For every test that shows one bullet design is superior, another shows that it is not.

Read the boards for real-life shooting info, check out www.ammolab.com and reach your own conclusions. Until they start using people on death-row for balistics tests we may never know for sure what round is truly superior.

Instead of worrying about which round is 5% more effective, spend time at the range and improve your marksmanship and stress-fire capability. I think all will agree that shot placement means more than what bullet you use.

Personally I carry either Federal EFMJ 200gr +p or Rem. Golden Sabre 185gr +p in my G30. My full size 1911 gets 230gr Golden Sabre until Cor-bon releases a Pow'r'ball in 230gr.

From what I've read the general opinion is a JHP that will penetrate 14-18 inches of balistics gelatin (covered with a few layers of denim) and expand to the largest diameter while not fragmenting. That or a FMJ to the head if that is within your skill capability under stress.

[SAWBONES]

Lots of opinions about this and no definitive way to choose among different rounds.

Get a good hollowpoint design, 185-230gr, and you'll be as "certain" as it's possible to be that your .45ACP bullet will perform as it needs to.
No big difference in terminal effectiveness between brands, designs, loads, and bullet weights has ever been able to be reliably demonstrated, though hollow points are better than ball, both because of greater wounding potential and because of minimizing the risk of over-penetration.
Ballistic gelatin testing and IWBA results offer one school of thought about how you should choose your self-defense cartridge, while those who espouse "One Shot Stop" data usually recommend something different.
I dunno who's right, though the former are demonstrating better science than the latter.

Personally, I carry Pro Load 200gr+P JHP in my G30 because it's reliable, accurate, precise, and has low muzzle flash.
If Cor-Bon comes out with a 200gr Pow'RBall load, I may well switch to that, IF it proves to be accurate, precise, and to have low muzzle flash.

This stuff gets argued repeatedly and forever (it's fun, to a point), but more important than any consideration of differences among different cartridges within a caliber is hitting something that matters, repeatedly, till the threat ceases.

Best.

[cowboywannabe]

the vast majority of .45acp ballistic tests you see come from a 5" barrel.
so in choosing one based on velocity for more reliable expansion, higher energy or what ever, always cut 100 feet per second off the listed velocity if you want to have a reasonable guess at the ballistics from a glock 30 with the same ammo. this 100 f.p.s. is a rough guesstimate and is actually 50-100 f.p.s. depending on the load. i always err on the side of the devil's advocate.
if federal lists it hydra-shok at 870 f.p.s. it is probably doing that from a 5" barrel and will give you closer to 800 f.p.s. from a 3.5 or so inch barrel. this is just an example.
take it all in, shift through the bull and take what will work for you.

[New Mag]

Thanks for the input.

I will probably stick with the Golden Saber but go down to 185gr. to pick the speed up a little to compensate for the shorter barrel.

[Short Cut]

I'm a big bullet fan so I practice with 230 grain hardball and carry & occasionally practice with 230 grain Golden Sabre (http://www.remington.com/ammo/pistol_revolver/goldnsaber.htm). Another nice feature of this round for carry and home defense is its almost total lack of muzzle flash. High muzzle flash can temporarily cause serious degradation to the shooter's night vision.

I don't care for a lot of muzzle flash either and also carry GS230 gr. It's used by a number of large LE agencys, ammolab and others have nice pics showing positive results on gelatin and through clothing etc. and it feeds well in my G30. Thats enough for me. Occasionally I'll load Corbons's 200gr HP. Nice wide mouth and also appears to perform well. It's also very low flash... though I don't especially care for the extra recoil of the +P round. Nevertheless, if I'm short on GS I'll load the Corbons.

Corbons's Powerball looks very interesting. I haven't tried any yet but If the fireball doesn't blind me I might switch. I've had negative results with various 165gr +P loads in the blast and fireball category so far but the jury is out on Powerball. I won't decide until I've actually tried them myself.