Last reviewed: 2026-04-17 by Jake Terry, FFL07/SOT3, NRA-certified firearms instructor.
The Aguila 45 ACP 230 grain full metal jacket sits at the center of the pressure curve for .45 Automatic Colt Pistol — 830 feet per second, 352 foot-pounds, loaded to SAAMI-spec pressures that cycle service pistols without overstressing recoil springs or accelerators. This is range ammunition: fifty rounds of brass-cased, boxer-primed, non-corrosive cartridges designed to feed, fire, extract, and eject through thousands of repetitions without introducing variables. Aguila manufactures this load at its Cuernavaca facility in Mexico, where the company has produced rimfire and centerfire ammunition since 1961, supplying commercial shooters and law enforcement agencies across North and South America.
Load Profile
The 230-grain projectile is the historical standard for 45 ACP, selected by the U.S. Army in 1911 and retained through a century of platform evolution. Full metal jacket construction — a gilding metal cup drawn over a lead core — reduces barrel fouling relative to cast or plated bullets and minimizes airborne lead at indoor ranges. The round-nose ogive feeds reliably in magazines with varying witness-hole geometry and feed-lip tension. Muzzle velocity of 830 fps places this load in the middle of the commercial range-ammo band, slower than +P defensive loads (which run 880-950 fps) but consistent with the recoil impulse and slide velocity of ball ammunition that generations of 1911 shooters used to establish sight pictures and trigger control.
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 45 ACP |
| Bullet weight | 230 grains |
| Bullet type | Full Metal Jacket |
| Muzzle velocity | 830 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 352 ft-lbs |
| Rounds/box | 50 |
| Case | Brass |
| Primer | Boxer |
| Corrosive | No |
| Reloadable | Yes |
| Intended use | Range & Target |
| Manufacturer | Aguila |
Brass cases with boxer primers support reloading — once-fired Aguila brass accepts large pistol primers, and the 0.898-inch case length matches published trim specifications. For shooters building training inventories, this translates to component recovery and a second lifecycle. The load runs within the service-pistol envelope: recoil-spring life remains on manufacturer schedules, and ejection patterns stay consistent across barrel lengths from 3.5 to 5 inches. Fifty-round packaging suits range sessions without requiring case purchases, and the $26.99 box price keeps per-round cost under $0.54 — competitive with other brass-cased, boxer-primed 45 ACP ammo in the standard-pressure class.
Safe Handling & Compliance
Federal law requires purchasers to be at least 18 years old for rifle and shotgun ammunition, and at least 21 for handgun ammunition. Ammunition cannot be shipped to certain states, counties, and cities — review our ammunition shipping restrictions before ordering. Store ammunition in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and out of reach of unauthorized users.
- Observe the four universal firearms safety rules: treat every firearm as if it is loaded, never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to fire, and be certain of your target and what lies beyond it.
- Verify that this ammunition is legal to purchase, possess, and use in your state, county, and municipality — some jurisdictions impose restrictions on cartridge types, bullet construction, or ammunition quantities.
- This ammunition contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm under Proposition 65 — use adequate ventilation when shooting indoors, and wash hands after handling.
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