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
Beretta AX800 Suprema: The Future Of Hunting Shotguns?
With its new AX800 Suprema, Beretta went back to the drawing board and developed an entirely new shotgun designed specifically for waterfowl hunting.
Preview: Daisy Woodland Trail Model 1999
The Daisy that Ralphie would want if he were still pining for a gravity-fed, lever-action BB gun in 2025, the feature-packed new Woodland Trail Model 1999 provides a modern update to the venerable platform while remaining highly affordable.
MidwayUSA Completes Corporate Office Building
Construction is complete on MidwayUSA’s new Roosevelt Corporate Offices Building, in Columbia, Mo., marking another major milestone in the company’s development of its 500-Year Campus.
The Best Of Both Worlds: EAA’s Girsan Witness2311 CMX
In expanding its presence in the realm of race-gun-inspired competition with the Witness2311 CMX, EAA Corp. and its Turkish manufacturing partner, Girsan, have produced one of their most significant collaborations to date.
The Armed Citizen® Dec. 1, 2025
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
Rifleman Q&A: Crates Of Cartridge Curiosities
"I have in my possession two interesting wooden boxes containing two sealed ammunition cans each. I initially assumed the cartridges to be corrosive-primed and marked them as such with a paint pen, but lately I am not so sure."
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
