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AR15.COM
12/28/2009 4:52:27 PM EDT
I just tried out some 230 grn .45 ACP Federal HST and was disappointed in its accuracy.  I have shot impressive groups with the old 200 grain speer bullet in the cheap Blazer brand - flying ashtray at 25 yds - roughly 3".  With the HST, it was only as good as salad plate accuracy - were talking about 6".  Is this typical accuracy for the current generation of JHPs?   I am looking to compare notes here.  I understand that HST has excellent expansion and bullet design, but I was hoping for a more accurate round.  Any recommendations for accurate alternative defensive ammo?  

Regards,

Multi-Tool
12/28/2009 6:16:55 PM EDT
[#1]
Hornady TAP 200 grain is very good in all my .45's.
12/29/2009 3:26:34 PM EDT
[#2]
Did you try shooting it in a different gun to see if the accuracy improved at all?
12/29/2009 3:51:49 PM EDT
[#3]
Xyas,

Yes the ammo was tested in more than 1 gun with similar results.  I bought it from ammunitiontogo about a year ago.  Perhaps it was a reject lot - I expected it to perform much better.  

Multi-Tool
12/29/2009 7:09:36 PM EDT
[#4]
Penetration is where the trend is now... we all know it has been since the advent of Corbon. More velocity ie. fps doesn't always go together with accuracy. My experience has been a midrange load will usually be more accurate.... case uniformity and being at or under SAAMI case spec helps too. I've seen some Winchester cases over height.
12/30/2009 9:55:41 AM EDT
[#5]
I have always fond Gold Dots to have excellent accuracy.  They also show very small standard deviation in velocity (<10fps) when shot over a chrony.
12/30/2009 2:05:53 PM EDT
[#6]
I haven't tried Gold Dots in over 10 years; however, way back when I did, they just wouldn't feed, even in a throated pistol.  I even had one round pushed back in the case after attempting to chamber it.  Have there been any changes in the .45 Gold Dots since the mid 1990s?

Multi-Tool
12/30/2009 4:19:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
I haven't tried Gold Dots in over 10 years; however, way back when I did, they just wouldn't feed, even in a throated pistol.  I even had one round pushed back in the case after attempting to chamber it.  Have there been any changes in the .45 Gold Dots since the mid 1990s?

Multi-Tool


Not really, the line has expanded but there have not really been any changes.  With the exception of the 200 grain .45, Gold Dots have always had an excellent feed profile.
12/30/2009 6:49:47 PM EDT
[#8]
I just shot 230 grain HST +P rounds through my Glock 21 and 30 today.  At 7 yards EVERY bullet was in the 10 ring on a B-26 qualification target.  Over three-quarters were in the X ring.  That's accurate enough for me.  Didn't try 25 yards, but 3" seems reasonable given the VERY tight grouping.  Might just be that your gun doesn't like HST.  Gold Dots have also been accurate for me, and expansion is only a bit less than the HST.