Forty-five ammo choices

I was feeling sort of nostalgic today, so I emptied my BHP mags to give them a break, locked the Browning up in the safe, and brought out this old beast. It's now riding close to my right side in a tan leather O'Rourke.

Hey, Wes. I'm carrying the 70 to work with me in the morning; I'm sure the boss will appreciate the musical guns game I sometimes play.

I rescued this old gun from a pawn shop after a friend called me and told me about it. Someone had done an "action" job on it, which left it dropping the hammer to half cock half the time and even dropping all the way every once in a while. I didn't trust the old beast from the get-go, but even though I knew it had problems, I didn't argue the price with the guy. It was a consignment gun, and he couldn't bargain, so I had to shell out $400. I replaced the hammer, sear, trigger, and disconnector, then added a full length stainless recoil spring guide and matching spring, and finally added the grips, which I purchased at a gun show in Kenner, Louisiana back in September. My total investment currently is about $460, which is actually a pretty good price for a Series 70. (I sold one in 98% condition with box and paperwork last year for about a grand.)

The final step on this one is going to be a day trip up to Mr. Birdsong's shop to get it Black T'd. The finish is getting kind of rough, and I'd rather not do any refinishing that will require polishing. I can have it microblasted and Black T'd while leaving the lettering razor sharp.

The Ranger 230 is my duty load and favorite 45 load period. Suppose to have good balistics and I like the smaller HP with a harder rim that doesn't collapse like the GDs.

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Jim: I like WW's Ranger Talon 230 gr as well. It's harder to find in non-LEO circles, but it can be found without breaking any laws in most states. According to tests I've reviewed it is a superb performer. I am convinced that the 230 gr Gold Dot HP is equally potent, and the 185 gr GDHP only slightly less so. I am less impressed with the terminal ballistic performance of any 165 gr JHP offering out there with the possible exception of the solid copper HP bullet from Cor-Bon.

I'm not sure what you mean by "collapse" with respect to the GDHP. In OIS's I've been privy to here in WI, the GDHP in .40 and 9mm has performed very well. The 180 gr .40 S&W load punches through automobile glass very well and does heavy damage to felons on the receiving end. I would anticipate the .45 to perform as well, but as few agencies up here use .45 ACP sidearms, shootings data is hard to come by.

With the ready availability of the Ranger and GDHPloads almost anywhere in America, I don't feel the need to carry anything else. Winchester's SXT is not a bad round, but it is clearly outclassed by the GDHP and Ranger Talon.

My only caveat with the Ranger Talon 230 gr is that one of my Commander-size 1911's chokes on it sometimes. Gold Dots function reliably in all my .45's, 1911 and otherwise, so it's simpler for me just to buy the GDHP's and use that in all my guns.

I use Federal Hydra-Shoks. They work well in the LW Commander.



ZM

My first string home defense gun is a 3" stainless Ruger Speed Six loaded with 147-grain Hydra Shock +P+. I sometimes carry a .45, however.