.460 Rowland
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Evil Monkey
New member
for what?
Evil Monkey
New member
are you willing to reload your own ammo? Because this stuff costs near $1.73 a round.
http://ammoseek.com/ammo/460-rowland
so much for plinking.....
http://ammoseek.com/ammo/460-rowland
so much for plinking.....
stagpanther
New member
I have a XD 45 acp and have been long thinking about this conversion too (I have a 10mm project underway at the moment).
According to the Rowland 460 website you can still fire conventional 45 acp out of it (I'm wondering if that includes 45 super, can't see why not) so you're hardly stuck with a wallet vacuum in terms of ammo. I can see that for the full-power 460 loads, though, it's probably financially advantageous to be a reloader.
According to the Rowland 460 website you can still fire conventional 45 acp out of it (I'm wondering if that includes 45 super, can't see why not) so you're hardly stuck with a wallet vacuum in terms of ammo. I can see that for the full-power 460 loads, though, it's probably financially advantageous to be a reloader.
dakota1911
New member
I have shot it in a 5 inch all steel 1911 that of course had the compensator on it. There is more felt recoil and blast than with a 45 ACP.
I have an XD45 that I converted a few months ago and have been having a lot of fun with. Mine uses the Rowland compensated barrel and I have also installed a DPM systems recoil reducer that seems to help quite a bit. Shooting 45ACP is like shooting lite loaded 9mm! I also use AGP extra strength springs in the magazines. Haven't had a FTF or FTE yet. I have been using Hornady 200gn XTPs so far and I have bought some 255gn gas checked slugs I have yet to try.
I haven't been able to find Accurate pistol powders around here for a couple years. Bought a box of the Buffalo Bore 255gn FN, and those kick like a mule!
I haven't been able to find Accurate pistol powders around here for a couple years. Bought a box of the Buffalo Bore 255gn FN, and those kick like a mule!
Creek Henry
New member
I prefer the 45 super. It is more versatile and shootable. And if you can't put your foe or prey down with that.... well the 460 might not be a help 
stagpanther
New member
Did you do a conversion for 45 super? I know some people say you can shoot them out of a stock 45 "every now and then" but in general not a good idea. What kind of changes (on what gun) did you do for your 45 super?I prefer the 45 super. It is more versatile and shootable. And if you can't put your foe or prey down with that.... well the 460 might not be a help
The .45 Super can be shot from ANY .45 ACP but the barrel should have good case support. I use a Gen4 Glock 21 with a compensated KKM barrel on it. I know others that shoot it from 1911's and XD's and others platforms with no issues.
With threading my KKM barrel is right at 5" long and I've loaded and shot anywhere from 185's doing 1600 fps to 255gr hardcasts doing 1325 fps or even 300gr hardcasts doing 1150 fps.
But the catch is, you have to handload to get those numbers AND you have to use a comp, it's a must. Without a comp I drive 230gr to around 1200 fps before the slide was moving too fast and feeding issues took place, not to mention it was chewing up my pricey Starline .45 Super.
Shooting .45 ACP in a proper .45 Super setup feels about like shooting a .22 or light 38 Special...very soft. But a 275gr rolling out at over 1200 fps will recoil from a polymer semi auto!
I wouldn't recommend shooting .45 ACP long term from a 460 Rowland barrel as the extractor isn't designed to hold a bullet in place and that's exactly what's happening when you use shorter ACP brass in a Rowland barrel. While the Rowland does have longer brass (to prevent it from chambering in the wrong gun), it's got the same max OAL as .45 ACP and Super.
Starline's .45 Super brass is as strong as their 460 Rowland brass, so as long as the same OAL is used, the Super can equal the Rowland, but at upper levels needs a comp.
With threading my KKM barrel is right at 5" long and I've loaded and shot anywhere from 185's doing 1600 fps to 255gr hardcasts doing 1325 fps or even 300gr hardcasts doing 1150 fps.
But the catch is, you have to handload to get those numbers AND you have to use a comp, it's a must. Without a comp I drive 230gr to around 1200 fps before the slide was moving too fast and feeding issues took place, not to mention it was chewing up my pricey Starline .45 Super.
Shooting .45 ACP in a proper .45 Super setup feels about like shooting a .22 or light 38 Special...very soft. But a 275gr rolling out at over 1200 fps will recoil from a polymer semi auto!
I wouldn't recommend shooting .45 ACP long term from a 460 Rowland barrel as the extractor isn't designed to hold a bullet in place and that's exactly what's happening when you use shorter ACP brass in a Rowland barrel. While the Rowland does have longer brass (to prevent it from chambering in the wrong gun), it's got the same max OAL as .45 ACP and Super.
Starline's .45 Super brass is as strong as their 460 Rowland brass, so as long as the same OAL is used, the Super can equal the Rowland, but at upper levels needs a comp.
stagpanther
New member
when you say comp--does that include a barrel that is simply ported (prefer not to have to remove comp to disassemble)--and did you need to do anything additional with a heavier guiderod/spring or other additional parts? thanx for the info.
In May, 2000, I worked up 460 Rowland loads in a 20 ounce Patriot Pistol 45acp designed by Nehemia Sirkis was first built but by Republic Arms in Chino CA, now built by Corba Arms Of Salt Lake City Utah.
I got a flinch and parts were falling off. I got free factory support for the project. I built a 38 pound triple recoil spring assembly and that seemed to work.
I did not use 460 Rowland brass, nor did I ream out the chamber for 460 Rowland brass. I used once fired mixed 45acp brass.
There are some concepts to get in touch with:
1) Chamber support
2) Chamber wall thickness
3) Slide mass
4) recoil spring force
Most people use a recoil compensator that throws gas and noise back at the shooter. I did not.
I found a continuous range of loads if the support and chamber thickness are good enough:
1) Gun jams with stock springs, due to load are too wimpy
2) Gun works with stock springs.
3) Standard 45 acp published loads
4) Gun jams with heavy springs
5) 45acp +P published loads and works with heavy springs
6) 45 super loads
7) 460 Rowland loads
8) primer pocket gets loose or primer pierces
I think you would be most happy with stiff springs and published 45acp +P published loads...... just guessing.
I got a flinch and parts were falling off. I got free factory support for the project. I built a 38 pound triple recoil spring assembly and that seemed to work.
I did not use 460 Rowland brass, nor did I ream out the chamber for 460 Rowland brass. I used once fired mixed 45acp brass.
There are some concepts to get in touch with:
1) Chamber support
2) Chamber wall thickness
3) Slide mass
4) recoil spring force
Most people use a recoil compensator that throws gas and noise back at the shooter. I did not.
I found a continuous range of loads if the support and chamber thickness are good enough:
1) Gun jams with stock springs, due to load are too wimpy
2) Gun works with stock springs.
3) Standard 45 acp published loads
4) Gun jams with heavy springs
5) 45acp +P published loads and works with heavy springs
6) 45 super loads
7) 460 Rowland loads
8) primer pocket gets loose or primer pierces
I think you would be most happy with stiff springs and published 45acp +P published loads...... just guessing.
ATPBULLETS
New member
I researched doing this for 6 months or better. I decided against it and opted for the 45 convertible from ruger Blackhawk in 5.5in.
it has proven to be a great choice for me as I have loaded both cartridges to high levels of energy and recoil for testing and development work.
it has proven to be a great choice for me as I have loaded both cartridges to high levels of energy and recoil for testing and development work.