Best handloads for a .45 commander

B

Brutus

New member
Just popped for a new Dan Wesson commander. Got lots of favorites for full length gov. models. What's your favorite for the 4-1/4 inch barrel?
 
The one that cycles your specific gun everytime with the bullet you choose. There will not be much difference due to the barrel length. From a terminal ballistics point of view, I like 185 gr hollowpounts at max loads. Silhouette, BE86, Unique. It is a low pressure cartridge, so max fps are going to be in the 950 to 1150 fps range. Silhoutte a little more with +p loads.
 
Same loads as in your other 45's. I bought a Springfield Champion Operator LW 45 ACP and with the same 230 grain FMJ's and Hornady XTP's it shoots better than some of the other full sized 45's. I just prefer 230 grain bullet weights in all 1911 45's. Maybe just me but I had some cycling issues with 185"s and it was worse with my wife shooting it. Probably not gripping correctly or too light of loads.
 
Can't speak for the Dan Wesson but the Stainless 3" Para 1911 with match barrel has digested everything that I have thrown at it and without a single malfunction which is a better record than my 5" versions. So mostly I use 185 gr Semi - wads although this gun is not a light weight and is comfortable with heavier bullet weights. The size makes it ideal for a carry gun if a .45 is desired. Best to experiment and determine what bullet the Wesson prefers, it may hate 185s.
 
The same 6.5grn Unique under any 230grn FMJ bullet I've been loading for 30 years.

If you are looking for a good defensive or carry load for it, I like the Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot 230grn, it gives my 4" Kimber about a 75fps advantage over the standard Gold Dot load (if memory serves.)
 
In general, as the slide gets lighter and the recoil springs get shorter, those springs have to be stiffer. As a result, target loads can fail to function the shorter guns. Full power loads should work in them all, notwithstanding that some are finicky about bullet nose shape. I alter those guns to behave themselves.
 
My colt commander likes 200gr rnfp lead over universal.... Shoots them into a little hole at 15 yrds...these bullets cycle like butter.....my friend uses a 200gr truncated cone....they both cycle better for me than the wad cutter ....my colt will cycle the wad cutter pretty good...but not 100%

My .02
Ocharry
 
You have to work up the load for your pistol. The only difference between a load for a standard 5" Government and a 4.25" Commander is the velocity.
"...target loads can fail to function..." Which is why you must work up the load.
6.5 grains of Unique is the Max load.
 
A favorite load I've always relied on is the 200 grain swc. I no longer have my Commander but do have a Kimber Ultra Carry with a 3.5" tube. That bullet along with traditional 230 grain round nose is what I shoot in the shorty. I still have a very few rounds of the original 190 grain Super Vel JHP. They've been gone for decades but I've hoarded mine. Those things were fast and, man, did they open up.
 
No difference between my 5" models and the three Commander lengths that I shoot on a regular basis. With 200 gr LSWC's, I like 5.1-5.2 gr of Win 231 for right around 800 fps.

With 230 FMJ's, again with 231, the same load works well, but for a little more oomph, 5.4 grains runs pretty close to the gov't military load ~820 fps. It's a big slug, in either form, and I don't feel that add'l velocity is necessary. Either is very accurate from a good gun.

As always, these are my loads, worked up for my guns after using a GOOD manual for guidance & BTW, I don't abuse my guns with top loads, nor do I load powder puff loads. If interested, do your homework, consult a GOOD manual, consider the pressure implications, and press on.

HTH's Rod
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top