Magtech's 230-grain FMJ leaves at 837 fps with 358 ft-lbs, a power factor of 193 that makes USPSA major. From a 25-yard zero it drops 2.7 inches at 50 yards and 18.3 at 100, still carrying 808 fps and 333 ft-lbs at 50. Seven comparisons span 830 to 890 fps, and in the same pistol this load's recoil energy is within 1 percent of Independence Brass 230, Remington UMC 230 and the brass-cased CCI Blazer 230.

The three loads at 830 to 835 fps, Blazer 230, Independence Brass 230 and Remington UMC 230, are 2 to 7 fps slower and 2 to 6 ft-lbs behind at the muzzle, differences nobody will feel. Armscor 230 at 849 fps and Fiocchi Training Dynamics 230 at 860 fps are 12 and 23 fps faster, with about 2 and 4 percent more recoil energy in the same pistol. American Eagle 230 is the outlier: 890 fps and 404 ft-lbs, 53 fps and 46 ft-lbs over this load, about 10 percent more recoil energy, and 2.2 inches less drop at 100 yards. Winchester 185 FMJ goes the other way at 910 fps and 340 ft-lbs, 18 ft-lbs under this load with about 26 percent less recoil energy in the same pistol.

Buy it as everyday 230-grain ball for a .45 that gets shot a lot, and as practice for a standard-pressure 230-grain carry load. If that carry load is Federal HST 230 JHP, the HST leaves at 890 fps, 53 fps faster, with 46 ft-lbs more and about 10 percent more recoil energy in the same pistol; American Eagle 230 matches the HST's 890 fps exactly and is the closer rehearsal. Shooters who want the mildest jacketed .45 in this set should look at Winchester 185 instead.