Since the invention and subsequent military adoption of the M1911 pistol, the .45 ACP cartridge has been a staple in the American firearm market. And while the 230-gr. FMJ, or ball, round is probably the most common projectile to top the cartridge, advances in bullet design, particularly in the last couple decades, have given rise to a vast array of offerings. From hardball to hollow points, shooter’s today have quite a selection of performance- and purpose-driven ammunition from which to choose.
For American Rifleman’s Joe Kurtenbach, a pair of 185-gr. offerings from Hornady are among his favorite .45 ACP loads, and in this week's NRA Gun Gear of the Week video he explains some of the benefits of the company’s American Gunner and Critical Defense lines.
Additional Reading:
Understanding Hornady's Critical Defense and Critical Duty Ammo 
NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Favorite .45s From Hornady
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
NRA Leaders Attend White House Dinner as President Trump Signs Orders Expanding Access to Public Lands and Waterways
NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin and Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director John Commerford represented NRA members at a White House dinner hosted by President Donald J. Trump.
The America 250th Longrifle: Creating One Tribute to America's Semiquincentennial
As part of the America 250th celebrations this year, one longtime American Rifleman contributor had to have his own special tribute to our country's semiquincentennial.
The Long & Short of It: Rock Island Armory's Pak-Out Platform
One of the latest designs to come from Rock Island Armory is its Pak-Out, a folding shotgun that is offered in several different configurations.
Gun of the Week: The New Taurus Judge
For 2026, Taurus USA took a fresh look at one of its most popular platforms, the Judge revolver, and updated it with a new feature set while retaining the versatility that made it popular in the first place.
The Armed Citizen® Sept. 18, 2026
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
This Maryland County Moved to Disarm Jews and Others in the Face of Evil
Even given the unconscionable history of gun control, the law banning concealed carry in and within 100 yards of houses of worship and other public assemblies in Montgomery County, Md., is particularly disturbing.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
