I tend to lean toward lighter bullets at higher velocities for personal protection and this is the load I generally carry in my 1911s. Why? It creates a massive wound cavity and sheds bullet fragments that can cause additional wounding. Penetration is also optimal at around 10 inches. I've tested a lot of .45 ACP loads and most penetrate a bit deeper and almost all the bullets will retain more weight. However, I have yet to test another .45 ACP hollow point load that creates so much damage inside a block of 10 percent ordnance gelatin, inside wet newsprint or inside the now discontinued Bullet Test Tube. Why does this bullet—a specially built Sierra JHP made just for Cor-Bon—create so much devastation? It expands very wide to 3/4 of an inch or more and it is moving very fast.
Shooting ResultsLoad | IV (fps) | PEN (inches) | ED (inch) | RW (grains) |
.45 ACP +P 165-grain Cor-Bon JHP | 1,264 | 10 3/4 | .78 | .68 |