Guide

.45 ACP Ammo 2026: Self-Defense, Range and +P Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 60 current .45 Auto loads on Federal's, Remington's, Speer's and Hornady's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 23 from Federal, 22 from Remington, 8 from Speer and 7 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from four makers, not every .45 ACP load sold.

Grouping follows each maker's own usage label where it prints one, and the product line where it doesn't. Hornady prints no usage label or stock status on our capture, so its standard-pressure loads sit in their own table. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses: "45 Auto" or "45 Auto +P."

Self-defense loads (standard pressure)

These are loads Federal labels Self-Defense, Speer Gold Dot personal-protection lines, Remington Golden Saber / Ultimate Defense, and Hornady Critical Defense (standard pressure). Hornady Critical Duty +P is in the +P section. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Download these 60 loads as a CSV: maker, load, item number, bullet, muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, test barrel, box count, maker status and the maker URL for each row. No prices. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0; more files on our open data page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Personal Defense HST	45 Auto	P45HST2S	230 gr HST Jacketed Hollow Point	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok	45 Auto	P45HS1	230 gr Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point	900 fps	414 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok Deep	45 Auto	P45HSD1	210 gr Hydra-Shok Deep Jacketed Hollow Point	980 fps	448 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Federal Personal Defense Punch	45 Auto	PD45P1	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Federal Personal Defense Punch	45 Auto	PD45P1G	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	890 fps	404 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Federal Practice & Defend	45 Auto	P45HST2TM100	230 gr HST JHP / Syntech TSJ	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	100	Available
Federal Syntech Defense	45 Auto	S45SJT1	205 gr Segmented Hollow Point	970 fps	428 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Federal Syntech Defense	45 Auto	S45SJT2	205 gr Segmented Hollow Point	970 fps	428 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Train + Protect	45 Auto	TP45VHP1	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	850 fps	369 ft-lb	5 in	50	Currently Unavailable
Hornady Critical Defense	45 Auto	90900	185 gr FTX® Critical Defense®	900 fps	333 ft-lb	3 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Remington Golden Saber Bonded	45 Auto	29325	185 gr Bonded Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	1,015 fps	423 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Golden Saber Bonded	45 Auto	29327	230 gr Bonded Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	875 fps	391 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Golden Saber Defense	45 Auto	27609	185 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	1,015 fps	423 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Golden Saber Defense	45 Auto	27612	230 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	875 fps	391 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Golden Saber Defense Compact	45 Auto	27619	230 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	725 fps	268 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington High Terminal Performance	45 Auto	R21453	185 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	1,000 fps	411 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington High Terminal Performance	45 Auto	21455	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Ultimate Defense Compact Handgun	45 Auto	28967	230 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	725 fps	268 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability
Remington Ultimate Defense Handgun	45 Auto	28971	185 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	1,015 fps	423 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability
Remington Ultimate Defense Handgun	45 Auto	28942	230 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	875 fps	391 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability
Speer Gold Dot Handgun Personal Protection	45 Auto	23964GD	185 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point	1,050 fps	453 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Speer Gold Dot Handgun Personal Protection	45 Auto	23966GD	230 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protection	45 Auto	23975GD	230 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point Short Barrel	820 fps	343 ft-lb	4 in	20	Available

.45 Auto +P loads

These loads are listed as 45 Auto +P on the maker page. SAAMI lists a higher maximum average pressure for +P than for standard 45 Automatic. Use +P only in firearms the maker says are rated for it.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Personal Defense HST	45 Auto +P	P45HST1S	230 gr HST Jacketed Hollow Point	950 fps	461 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Federal Solid Core	45 Auto +P	P45SHC1	240 gr Solid	1,000 fps	533 ft-lb	5 in	20	Currently Unavailable
Hornady Critical Duty	45 Auto +P	90926	220 gr FlexLock® Critical Duty®	975 fps	464 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	45 Auto +P	9096	230 gr XTP®	950 fps	461 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Remington Golden Saber Defense	45 Auto +P	27611	185 gr Brass Jacketed Hollow Point	1,140 fps	534 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Speer Gold Dot Carry Gun	45 Auto +P	24258	200 gr Gold Dot Hollow Point	1,080 fps	518 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available
Speer Gold Dot G2	45 Auto +P	24256	230 gr G2	950 fps	461 ft-lb	5 in	20	Available

Hornady standard-pressure loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these standard-pressure loads are listed here by product line.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady American Gunner	45 Auto	90904	185 gr XTP® American Gunner®	970 fps	386 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady BLACK	45 Auto	90901	185 gr XTP ® Hornady BLACK ®	970 fps	386 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	45 Auto	9112	200 gr XTP®	900 fps	360 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Custom	45 Auto	90971	230 gr XTP ® Subsonic	925 fps	437 ft-lb	5 in	20	Not listed on maker page

Range and training loads

Federal Target Shooting loads, Speer Lawman training, Remington UMC / Range / Range Clean / Subsonic Handgun, and similar practice loads.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal 250th Anniversary USA Handgun	45 Auto	AE45USA	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	890 fps	404 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Federal American Eagle Handgun	45 Auto	AE45A	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal American Eagle Handgun	45 Auto	AE45A100	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	100	Available
Federal American Eagle Indoor Range Training	45 Auto	AE45N1	230 gr Total Metal Jacket	850 fps	369 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal American Eagle Indoor Range Training Lead Free	45 Auto	AE45LF1	137 gr Lead Free IRT	1,200 fps	438 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Champion Training	45 Auto	WM5233	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	830 fps	352 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Champion Training	45 Auto	WM52332	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	830 fps	352 ft-lb	5 in	200	Available
Federal Gold Medal Handgun	45 Auto	GM45B	185 gr Full Metal Jacket Semi-Wadcutter	770 fps	244 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Gold Medal Handgun	45 Auto	GM45A	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	860 fps	378 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Syntech Action Pistol	45 Auto	AE45SJAP1	220 gr Syntech Jacket Flat Nose	795 fps	309 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Syntech Range	45 Auto	AE45SJ1	230 gr Syntech Jacket Flat Nose	830 fps	352 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Federal Syntech Training Match	45 Auto	AE45SJ2	230 gr Syntech Jacket Flat Nose	890 fps	404 ft-lb	5 in	50	Currently Unavailable
Remington Range	45 Auto	27777	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	830 fps	352 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington Range Clean	45 Auto	27687	230 gr Flat Nose Enclosed Base	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington Subsonic Handgun	45 Auto	28428	230 gr Flat Nose Enclosed Base	830 fps	352 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23818	185 gr Full Metal Jacket	1,015 fps	423 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23649	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	500	Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23689	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	100	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23696	230 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23726	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	50	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23781	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	250	Available
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23797	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	100	Currently Unavailable
Remington UMC Handgun	45 Auto	23817	230 gr Full Metal Jacket	835 fps	356 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	200	Available
Speer Lawman Handgun Clean-Fire Training	45 Auto	53885	230 gr Total Metal Jacket	845 fps	365 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available
Speer Lawman Handgun Training	45 Auto	53654	185 gr Total Metal Jacket	1,050 fps	453 ft-lb	5 in	50	Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability
Speer Lawman Handgun Training	45 Auto	53653	230 gr Total Metal Jacket	830 fps	352 ft-lb	5 in	50	Available

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Federal lists a 5 inch test barrel on 21 of its 23 loads, and Speer lists 5 inches on 7 of its 8 (Gold Dot 23975GD lists 4 inches). Hornady lists 5 inches on six loads, but its Critical Defense load (90900) lists a 3 inch barrel, so its figure can't be lined up against the 5 inch loads. Remington's pages list no test barrel. A compact pistol with a 3 to 4 inch barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. For how velocity changes with barrel length in .45 ACP, see our barrel length vs velocity data for .45 ACP.

.45 Automatic: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "45 AUTOMATIC [45 AUTO]" and "45 AUTOMATIC +P [45 AUTO +P]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022, its centerfire pistol and revolver standard (approved Dec. 13, 2022). The cartridge drawing was issued 05/29/1979 and revised 10/13/1992. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 21,000 psi for 45 Automatic and 23,000 psi for 45 Automatic +P, both measured by transducer (the table shows 210 and 230 in psi/100). Cartridge overall length runs from 1.190 in minimum to 1.275 in maximum. Case length is .898 in (−.010), and jacketed bullet diameter is .4520 in (−.0030). Bore is .442 in and groove is .450 in.

"+P" means the maker loads the round to a higher pressure than the standard SAAMI limit, as SAAMI's separate +P listing shows. Fire +P only in a firearm its maker says is rated for it. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.3 PDF.

What the +P loads in our tables are

Seven of the 60 loads are listed as 45 Auto +P on the maker page. They sit in the +P table above, including Hornady's Critical Duty +P. The remaining 53 are listed as 45 Auto.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: its .45 Auto product pages say "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no figures to copy.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we did not verify its product pages this round.
Hornady: item 90933 (Handgun Hunter MonoFlex) has no ballistics table on its page and is left out.
Test barrels and stock status: Remington's pages list no test barrel, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.

Pistols for .45 ACP

The .45 ACP is the classic 1911 round, and today it also runs in double-stack 2011 pistols and compact carry guns. See new 2011 pistols of 2026. Barrel length changes velocity, as the .45 ACP barrel length data shows.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal, Speer and Remington show availability on their own product pages (for example "Available," "Currently Unavailable" or "Check With Your Local Ammo Store For Availability"). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

Comparing cartridges? See 9mm vs .45 ACP. For more ammo, see 9mm ammo, .45 Colt ammo (a different cartridge), .308 Win ammo, 5.56/.223 ammo, the .45 ACP barrel length data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

More comparisons: .45 ACP vs 10mm Auto.

Frequently asked questions

What is +P in .45 ACP ammo?

It means the maker loads the round to a higher pressure than standard 45 Auto. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 23,000 psi for 45 Automatic +P and 21,000 psi for standard 45 Automatic. Use +P only in a firearm its maker says is rated for it. Seven loads in our tables are listed as 45 Auto +P.

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for .45 ACP?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 21,000 psi for 45 Automatic and 23,000 psi for 45 Automatic +P, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2022 (the table shows 210 and 230 in psi/100).

What grain is .45 ACP ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 137 gr to 240 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your pistol is set up to shoot.

How fast is .45 ACP ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 725 fps to 1,200 fps, and muzzle energies from 244 ft-lb to 534 ft-lb. Test barrels vary: most Federal, Speer and Hornady loads list 5 inches, one Hornady load lists 3 inches, and Remington's pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. Most loads in our tables list 5 inches. A shorter carry-gun barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. See our .45 ACP barrel length data.

Do you list prices or stock for .45 ACP ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

Keep exploring

Cite this data

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GunReleases.com (The Release Desk), “.45 ACP factory ammo ballistics: loads from maker pages,” updated Nov 4, 2026. https://gunreleases.com/guides/45-acp-ammo/

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