.45 ACP Speer 230-grain Gold Dot (Short Barrel)

by
posted on November 1, 2012
230grain.jpg

Short-barreled handguns offer ballistic challenges to ammunition engineers. These challenges arise because if a bullet is designed to work at the low velocities short-barreled handguns produce, it may not hold together and deliver the desired results when fired from a longer barrel, which will generate more velocity. Design a load that will be optimal out of a 5-inch gun, however, and it might not expand enough out of a short-barreled handgun. Furthermore, ammunition manufacturers have no control over the barrel length from which you shoot their ammo. Speer understands this conundrum, and offers a variety of loads specifically engineered for short-barreled handguns. To let you know, the company marks them as such right on the box. Speer's 230-grain Short Barrel load for the .45 ACP is one of the best performing loads for the cartridge I've tested from a short barrel. It penetrates deep, expands moderately well and the recoil is controllable.

Load Handgun MV (fps) PEN (inches) EXP (inches) RW (grains)
.45 ACP Speer 230-grain Gold Dot (Short Barrel) Colt 1911 (4.25-inch barrel) 783 16.25 0.63 230

Latest

Derya Melik Gold Pistol
Derya Melik Gold Pistol

First Look: Derya Melik Gold Pistol

Based on the ubiquitous Beretta 92 pistol.

First Look: Bond Arms First Lady Pistol

Chambered in .38 Spl. and inspired by an icon.

Exclusive CZ 75 Royal Air Force Limited Edition Now Available to U.S. Buyers

Created to honor the Czechoslovakians who served in the Royal Air Force.

Dipping a Toe Into Modernity

Updating an older Gen3 Glock to (almost) a Gen4/Gen5 MOS.

First Look: Beretta 20X Bobcat Pistols

Four new distinctive models of this diminutive pocket pistol.

First Look: Reptilia Offset Scope Mounts

Easily switch between a magnified optic and a red dot.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.