I just love the 40 to 45 handgun calibers. Bias advisement is now complete.
The 45 ACP and Auto Rim are about as perfect a service and counter-goblin handgun caliber as you can get. The 45 ACP/AR resembles the 357 Magnum in that any load run at standard pressures will be sufficient to resolve an exchange of finality irrespective of bullet weight.
The 45 ACP's bullet weights in commercial and handloaded ammunition have come with 3 ranges of bullet weight--185 grains, 200 grains, and 230 grains. The 185s come in mild target loads at ~800 FPS, while the old Winchester Silvertips run at 975-1000 FPS.
The 200 grain loads are mostly a handloading proposition, and the majority of those got sent at 900 FPS to make "Major Caliber" status within the old IPSC rubrics. In autopistols the 200 grain bullets at 900 FPS are subjectively more comfy to shoot than 230 grain hardball at 825 FPS, in the views of many. Speer once loaded a 200 grain 'Flying Ashtray' bullet at 900-925 FPS in their 'Lawman' line of carry ammo. I haven't seen any of that stuff locally in a long time.
The 230 grain bullets kind of rule the earth owing to the old GI Hardball being coin of the realm for 75 years. Text above correctly pointed out that John Browning designed the 45 ACP around a 200 grain bullet at 875-900 FPS, and the ,gov wanted a heavier bullet. The 230 grain bullet was the result. I speculate that the Ordnance Board wanted the 45 ACP to hew as close to the 45 Colt's terminal ballistics as possible after seeing the 45 Colt's stopping effectiveness against the berserker Moro tribesmen in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American War.
My carry ammo in my 45 ACP/AR is the WWB 230 grain HP. These clock at 860-875 FPS from my S&W M-625 x 4" (just like Ben's) and just under 900 FPS from my Series 80 Colt Gold Cup and SIG P-220. I have seen the good work done by these loads during my career when the now-relegated WWB loadings were first-line W-W carry loads sold as 'Ranger SXT' ammo. If I could find those 200 grain Lawman loads I would swap those in immediately, but they are unobtainium hereabouts.
My agency conducted a few misunderstandings with the old WWSTHP 185 grain bullets too. These were not found lacking.
My point--full snort 357 Magnum and 45 ACP loads work, and bullet weight selection doesn't matter a bit. Load up--go forth--and sin no more.
