If you are looking for a low-recoil-ammunition alternative for the .45 ACP, this load might be just what you need. Granted, it's only a 165-grain bullet, but it will still offer between 10 and 11 inches of penetration with wide expansion. As you can expect, with a sub 1,000 fps muzzle velocity, recoil is mild. This is, however, not the load for sub-4-inch .45s, because velocity suffers to the point where reliable expansion may not be achieved.
| Load | Handgun | MV (fps) | PEN (inches) | EXP (inches) | RW (grains) |
| .45 ACP Federal 165-grain Guard Dog (EFMJ) | 1911 (4.25-inch barrel) | 980 | 10.25 | 0.72 | 165 |
