The goal of any manufacturer developing ammunition for self-defense is to design a bullet capable of stopping an attack with only one shot. Stopping an assailant with only one shot reduces the chances for a stray bullet to strike an innocent person. As well, shoot to stop the threat, and when you are no longer in danger, stop shooting. Firing more than three or four shots, as opposed to firing just one or two times, could be used against you by a prosecutor.
Liberty Ammunition is getting close to one-shot stop power with the Overwatch line of self-defense ammo. It is available in 9mm, .357 Magnum, 10mm, .45 ACP, .223 and .300 Blackout. I tested the .45 ACP.
About Liberty Overwatch Ammunition
Unlike Liberty Ammunition’s original line, Civil Defense, which offered 9mm and .45 ACP as +P loads, the Overwatch ammo loads are all standard pressure. Rather than being nickel-clad like the Civil Defense brand, the Overwatch brass cases are black-plated for increased lubricity. The black coating enhances reliable functioning and gives the Overwatch lineup a very distinctive appearance.
The profile of the .45 ACP projectile is also different than its Civil Defense kin. It uses a truncated cone profile in place of a rounded one. The projectile’s weight is a heavier 105 grains. While the Overwatch .45 has a lower 1,600 feet per second muzzle velocity than the Civil Defense counterpart, it still delivers a whopping 597 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.
But what got my attention was the Overwatch .45’s hollow-point cavity, which measures 7 centimeters across. The hollow-point cavity is actually a two-point projective designed to maintain the explosive impact effect while offering deeper penetration. This is accomplished by a narrow ring that is scored into the bullet below the cartridge case mouth. The scoring causes a separation upon impact. So while fragments are dispersed throughout the wound path, the separated cylindrical base continues to travel.
The Overwatch ammunition claims to be faster than the speed of sound as well as lighter to carry and harder hitting than conventional ammo. The packaging also says the loads have reduced recoil as compared to others.
Liberty Overwatch Ammo at the Range
Prior to testing with the clay block, I had put 20 rounds through my Remington R1 Executive Ultralight Compact 1911 to check functioning. Overwatch accuracy was excellent, on par with standard .45 ACP loads. Despite having double the velocity of a standard .45 load, the point of aim was dead on. Physical recoil was lower, but the blast was a bit greater.
I set up the 25-pound block of moist modeling clay about 15 feet away on a board placed on two sawhorses and fired my test shot from a kneeling position. The Overwatch bullet blew a chunk of clay backward, striking me in the hat when it impacted. The projectile created a large entrance hole that drew a sizable amount of clay from the front of the block into the cavity while simultaneously expelling the piece that hit me rearward. The outside of the 8×10-inch block was stretched out on the left side. I checked the rear of the block and found one very tiny exit hole about 2 centimeters in diameter. All the rest of the bullet was contained in the block.
It was hard to see the fragments with the naked eye when I sectioned the block. It wasn’t until I magnified the images that I could see them. It was like looking at a lunar landscape with tiny flecks of metal in them. My best estimate is that the cavity measured 5 ½ inches in width at the widest point, narrowing to about 1 inch toward the far end of the block. It appears that the cylindrical base of the projectile traveled about 9 ¾ inches to the end of the block, but I was unable to recover it.
Should You Buy Liberty Overwatch Ammunition for Your .45?
Liberty Ammunition has a lot going for it. It certainly makes a great concealed carry and personal defense. I feel confident carrying Liberty’s new Overwatch ammo into harm’s way, knowing that its use will also reduce risk to innocent parties.
Source:
Liberty Ammunition: LibertyAmmo.com
