[Lineman]

Would you consider plain vanilla GI .45 ACP 230 grain FMJ hardball ammo sufficient for self defense purposes? Or would you insist on some form of expanding bullet?

While I definitely feel that expansion is a serious bonus for defensive ammo, it is hard to down play the legendary status of GI ball as a one shot manstopper!! After all, a 1/2" hole clean through someone is nothing to sneeze at!! If all I had available was .45 ACP 230 FMJ ball, I would not feel that I was under armed!!

How about you???

 

[Chuck43]

As far as the defensive ability of 230 gr ball ammo I wouldn't worry. What would worry me is where it went after it exited it's intended target. With an expandable bullet there is less of a danger of it going through the target and hitting someone you didn't intend to shoot.

 

[Kimsey]

I was thinking the same think the other day. I thought, would I want to stand in front of one of those bullets, or how about 2?? NOT! I would not even want to stand in front of a 22 or a 380. I am concerned about where the projectile goes after it hits the target. Don't forget there are 7 or 8 shots in the mag. You be the judge. Ball ammo or defensive ammo, where ever shoots well in your firearm is my opinion.

 

[Islander]

If ball ammo was all I had, I certainly wouldn't feel it wasn't adequate to stop a threat. I would however prefer a hollow point.

 

[Ultraman]

I keep the HK loaded with ball ammowhen hiking in bear country (my backyard)...otherwise hollow points for the reasons mentioned above

 

[Chuck66]

As far as the defensive ability of 230 gr ball ammo I wouldn't worry. What would worry me is where it went after it exited it's intended target. With an expandable bullet there is less of a danger of it going through the target and hitting someone you didn't intend to shoot.

I agree. I would have some concern of where the bullet would go afterwards.

As far as pure defense for my life goes.... I'm completely confident that hitting the bad guy with a 230g bowling ball will protect me.

 

[Nellybelle]

There are a whole bunch of dead Japanese's, Germans and Viet Cong that would tell the ball ammunition works just fine as a personal defense cartridge. That is, If they could!

 

[bigdog10]

Just shoot someone with a couple and ask them if they can tell the difference!

 

[pbsdaddy]

There are indeed many enemy soldier, across the world, who suffered the fate of being the recipient of a 45 ball projectile. However, For every one of them, I'll bet good money one can't find a single GI who cared where the round went afterwards.
We have discussed this issue in the past and my response will always be the same. Practice with the ball because it's cheaper. Carry the hollow points because they are safer.
Helping some store clerk and, in the process, killing another customer is not a good thing. In most states, that is called 2nd degree murder. You carried, you intended to kill someone. Just not that someone. Not a charge I want to face without being able to say I took every reasonable precaution.