ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.45 ACP Results in fps (2015)

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the 2015 tests in this caliber.

barrel length Buffalo Bore
Std P
low recoil 185 gr. FMJ-FN
Bufflao Bore
Std P
230 gr. FMJ-RN
Buffalo Bore +P
185 gr. JHP
Buffalo Bore +P
230 gr. JHP
Double Tap +P
160 gr. Barnes TAC-XP
Federal HST
Std P
230 gr. JHP
G2 Research RIP
Std P
162 gr. JHP
Hornady
Std P
185 gr. FTX Critical Defense
Hornady
+P
220 gr. Flexlock Critical Duty
Liberty Civil Defense
+P
78 gr. JHP
18" 1031 985 1398 1161 1457 926 1074 1210 1057 2230
16" 1024 1016 1438 1163 1442 n/a n/a 1214 1077 n/a
14" 1008 996 1399 1148 1451 n/a n/a 1196 1066 n/a
12" 976 996 1357 1129 1410 924 1057 1183 1063 2153
10" 909 955 1326 1110 1334 n/a n/a 1151 1059 n/a
9" 916 952 1308 1097 1270 n/a n/a 1135 1040 n/a
8" 921 944 1286 1094 1280 n/a n/a 1123 1035 n/a
7" 891 923 1257 1075 1224 n/a n/a 1100 1026 n/a
6" 867 923 1236 1062 1245 n/a n/a 1089 1017 n/a
5" 854 880 1196 1016 1208 896 990 1041 985 1865
4" 820 845 1135 981 1143 838 953 994 951 1823
3" 722 800 1063 907 1049 789 914 906 907 1672

 

real
world weapon
Buffalo Bore
Std P
low recoil 185 gr. FMJ-FN
Bufflao Bore
Std P 230 gr. FMJ-RN
Buffalo Bore +P 185 gr. JHP Buffalo Bore +P 230 gr. JHP Double Tap +P
160 gr. Barnes TAC-XP
Federal HST
Std P
230 gr. JHP
G2 Research RIP
Std P
162 gr. JHP
Hornady
Std P
185 gr. FTX Critical Defense
Hornady +P
220 gr. Flexlock Critical Duty
Liberty Civil Defense
+P
78 gr. JHP
Beretta
Cx4
carbine
16.6" barrel
997 933 1361 1124 1315 882 979 1161 1018 2180
Wilson
Combat
Hunter
1911
.460
5.5" barrel
791 819 1139 970 1162 n/a n/a 976 936 n/a
Glock 21
(.460)
5.2" barrel
792 826 1168 974 1070 n/a n/a 979 943 n/a
Glock 21
(.45 acp)
4.6" barrel
868 829 1132 951 1103 813 942 984 945 1831
Beretta
Px4
Storm SD
4.5" barrel
821 821 1138 967 1100 n/a n/a 981 924 n/a
Ed
Brown
Kobra
Carry
1911
4.25" barrel
798 811 1130 952 1121 816 961 969 932 1843
Glock 36
3.77" barrel
737 786 1067 928 1062 798 946 926 909 1788
Boberg
XR45 (A)
3.75" barrel
749 754 1060 902 1040 779 877 930 885 1768
Boberg
XR45 (B)
3.75" barrel
716 766 1052 906 1047 n/a n/a 937 894 n/a

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.