re: Right kind of ammo for my 45 cal pistol

Question
QUESTION:
Dear Bob,

I am Rickie Austria from the Philippines, my gun is a rock island m1911 commander, a clone of colt. I've been shooying in
the range once a week, Is it okey to used hollowpoint for my gun to test its, dependability and accuracy?

ANSWER: Hi Rickie.

You should be able to shoot hollow-point ammunition as often as you like in any modern firearm without damaging it.  As long as the ammunition is the proper caliber, it is not loaded beyond the maximum pressure range for the cartridge, your firearm is in good functioning order, and you periodically clean your firearm then it should be perfectly fine.

Good luck and enjoy the shooting.

Bob

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Bob,
 Thanks for your quick response,I think that the JHP is for
live moving objects only. My pistol shoots around 800rds of ball ammunition as of today and no malfunction encountered after 100rds of break-in. Can you please give me some tips
in indoor shooting.  Thanks in advance.


Answer
Hi Rickie.

JHP ammunition is usually more expensive which is why most people won't use it for practice, however if you plan to use it for personal defense then you should at least fire several hundred rounds of it in your defensive pistol to make sure it works ok in your specific firearm.

When shooting at an indoor range you have several drawbacks.  The sound is generally louder so wear very good hearing protection.  I like to wear the foam plugs inside the ear and then a pair of muffs over the outside of the ear.  By reducing the sound you will flinch less and be more accurate.  Also, make sure you visit an official indoor range that has a permit to operate.  There are strict regulations for air quality, lead removal, and safety so you could really be risking your health if you shoot at an indoor range that was not setup or maintained properly.  I also recommend finding out what type of ammunition is required by the range then purchasing your own at the cheapest store before you go.  Most ranges charge a lot for ammunition and some won't let you bring your own since they want to make more money.  Another thing to look for is bright lighting.  Sights and targets can be harded to see indoors especially since many firearms and targets are black so if you plan to shoot a lot indoors then consider a set of tritium night-sights, fiberglass sight inserts, or some bright colored sight-paint.

Good eye protection is a must and I also recommend wearing a baseball cap pulled down to the rim of the glasses.  This will prevent the hot casings from flying in your face or slipping down into your glasses or shirt.

Good luck!

Bob