Corbon's +P .45 Colt drives a 200-grain jacketed hollow point, a defensive bullet, to 1,100 fps and 537 ft-lbs, the highest velocity and energy of the six loads compared. The +P designation is the main caution: Corbon restricts the load to revolvers rated for it, so check your revolver's rating before you buy. Power factor is 220, 55 points over the 165 USPSA major floor. From a 25-yard zero it is 1.5 inches low at 50 yards and 11.1 inches low at 100. The brass case is reloadable.

The two 200-grain hollow points without a +P label are the nearest peers. Barnes VOR-TX 200-grain XPB leaves at 1,025 fps and 467 ft-lbs, 75 fps and 70 ft-lbs behind the Corbon, with about 11 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver. CCI Blazer 200-grain JHP is 100 fps and 93 ft-lbs behind with about 15 percent less recoil. The 225-grain loads fall further back: Federal American Eagle 225-grain JSP at 860 fps gives up 168 ft-lbs and Winchester PDX1 Defender 225-grain JHP at 850 fps gives up 176, with about 16 and 17 percent less recoil. Hornady Critical Defense 185-grain FTX at 920 fps and 348 ft-lbs is 189 ft-lbs behind and recoils about 36 percent less.

Buy this only if your revolver is rated for +P and you want the most muzzle energy of any 200-grain hollow point in this comparison; the 70 ft-lbs it holds over the Barnes VOR-TX is what the extra pressure buys. Underwood's Extreme Defender 135-grain reaches 596 ft-lbs, 59 more than the Corbon, with about 30 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver. For practice or cowboy matches, Atomic's 200-grain LRNFP at 800 fps recoils about 41 percent less.