.45 acp effective range?

Question

What is the maximum effective range against a human target for a 230 grain .45 acp fired from a 4" barrel?

Answer 1

The military Tommy gun (45 ACP) had sights calibrated to 300 yards. For area harrasment and suppression fire. At my local club we sometimes shoot out to the 100 yard steel target (human upper torso size with head) With a little good training and practice you can hit that steel at 100 with a Glock, Sig and Para-Ordnance 45 ACP pistol.

Maximum Effective range is probably 75-85 yards. Still very dangerous to several hundred yards.

Answer 2

Effective range is dependent upon the shooter, but I'd say 40-50 yards is the  outer edge of effective range.  that is not to say you wouldn't kill someone with a stray shot 200 yards away, but a shot of that nature would not be from accurate fire, it would be from accidental fire.

Yes, a hollow point will be effective on a heavily clothed person.  The .45 caliber bullet is large and doesn't really need to expand in order to deliver it's payload of force.

Answer 3

50 Yards is considered an "effective" range with the .45ACP cartridge for combat.

Hollowpoint bullets generally enhance the effectiveness of the .45ACP cartridge.  If heavy winter clothing is anticipated, certain bullets are marketed to address that concern.

Body armor is available to prevent the .45ACP cartridge (and other pistol calibers) from being effective.  If the target is wearing body armor, then it may be preferable to attempt to hit vulnerable (non-armored) areas of a target.

Answer 4

50 yards max effective range.  500 yards max range.  At 500 yards, a military ball round would hit the dirt.  Any thing you fire out of the .45ACP is effective.  Body armor may stop the round, but it won't stop the trauma that results from absorbing that much energy!!  The target is going to have a difficult time returning fire.