The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - why isnt the .45 SWC a popular defensive round?

Dwight55 · December 2, 2009, 10:12 AM

If you shoot SWC ammo into something that you know it won't fully penetrate, you will see why they don't really make excellent self defense ammo.

The first things to go by the way side is that nice flat shoulder that makes the pretty round holes in the paper. That leaves you with a bullet that more closely resembles a 158 grain round nosed .38 special load.

The lead in SWC ammo I used to buy (for my own reloads) was very soft, and they just went to pieces in telephone book practice.

As far as their having a loading problem. I have shot any number of 1911's and NEVER had one that would not shoot SWC ammo straight out of the box with no mods whatsoever. SWC ammo was originally engineered to do just that, . . . make pretty round paper holes, . . . be easy to re-capture, melt, and re-cast, . . . and feed 100% reliably in all 1911's.

May God bless,
Dwight

December 2, 2009, 10:12 AM	#26
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,568	If you shoot SWC ammo into something that you know it won't fully penetrate, you will see why they don't really make excellent self defense ammo. The first things to go by the way side is that nice flat shoulder that makes the pretty round holes in the paper. That leaves you with a bullet that more closely resembles a 158 grain round nosed .38 special load. The lead in SWC ammo I used to buy (for my own reloads) was very soft, and they just went to pieces in telephone book practice. As far as their having a loading problem. I have shot any number of 1911's and NEVER had one that would not shoot SWC ammo straight out of the box with no mods whatsoever. SWC ammo was originally engineered to do just that, . . . make pretty round paper holes, . . . be easy to re-capture, melt, and re-cast, . . . and feed 100% reliably in all 1911's. May God bless, Dwight __________________ www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!