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Extra Soft .45s
- Thread starter uncle.45
- Start date
a light target load with the 8lb. jug of HP38 I have on hand
I guess I should have mentioned my experience with HP-38 (or W231 - same stuff) . . .
Prior to working on super light 45 ACP loads, I worked on super light 38 Special loads. In the course of doing so, I learned that the famously clean burning W231 starts to leave behind a lot of residue and unspent (or partially spent - whatever the case may be) propellant flakes. It seems to suddenly hit a point where it doesn't work so well.
And believe me, you'd be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of HP-38/W231 than me. I happily possess over 10#'s of the stuff. But in 38 Special, I was underwhelmed at its performance with powder-puff loads. Knowing that, I didn't even bother trying it with 45 ACP.
But of course, if you have tons of HP-38 on hand, then I can certainly understand wanting to use it.
Nick,
I was also experiencing real 'dirty' performance with 5.2gr of HP38, but when I reduced the load to 4.0gr it ran way cleaner.
I feared it might be worse, but got a pleasant surprise.
I currently have 8lbs. of HP38, about 1300 185gr RNFP bullets, and 2000 good cases.
For now, I am going to find the spring this load runs OK on,
and go,go,go.
I was also experiencing real 'dirty' performance with 5.2gr of HP38, but when I reduced the load to 4.0gr it ran way cleaner.
I feared it might be worse, but got a pleasant surprise.
I currently have 8lbs. of HP38, about 1300 185gr RNFP bullets, and 2000 good cases.
For now, I am going to find the spring this load runs OK on,
and go,go,go.
uncle.45, not sure how this will fit in but here is an experience I just had this past week.
I have been curious about obtaining a 45acp or 40cal/10mm for myself but have never really shot one. So this week I was able to get together with a friend from another forum to shoot and he brought along 2 45's. One was a 1911 model with a 5" barrel and the other was a EAA Witness Compact 45. The Witness was a metal frame model and not a poly frame.
I was able to shoot them back to back so as to compare them and shot the same ammo from both. I was astonished by the lack of felt recoil from the Witness. I am very much impressed.
Now I will also state that I own a Witness Pavona in 380acp and it is exactly the same size as this 45acp. This 45 version even displayed less felt recoil to me than my blowback model 380. I'm pretty sure I will now be buying one of the Witness 45's.
BTW, I'm also a big fan of HP-38 but I've found it doesn't work very well in the 380 with a 100gr plated bullet.
I have been curious about obtaining a 45acp or 40cal/10mm for myself but have never really shot one. So this week I was able to get together with a friend from another forum to shoot and he brought along 2 45's. One was a 1911 model with a 5" barrel and the other was a EAA Witness Compact 45. The Witness was a metal frame model and not a poly frame.
I was able to shoot them back to back so as to compare them and shot the same ammo from both. I was astonished by the lack of felt recoil from the Witness. I am very much impressed.
Now I will also state that I own a Witness Pavona in 380acp and it is exactly the same size as this 45acp. This 45 version even displayed less felt recoil to me than my blowback model 380. I'm pretty sure I will now be buying one of the Witness 45's.
BTW, I'm also a big fan of HP-38 but I've found it doesn't work very well in the 380 with a 100gr plated bullet.
kmw,
I have owned different guns, but when it comes to what I own, shoot, and carry I now stick only to my favorites.
I only have Smith & Wesson revolvers and 1911s. All are .45acp.
Thus the user name uncle45.
I do occasionally shoot friends' guns just for giggles, but as I get older, I get seriously 'stuck in my ways'.
My revolvers shoot great on this load, and once I match the right recoil spring to it, my 1911s will run like 'butter on ice'.
I'm basically a happy camper.
I have owned different guns, but when it comes to what I own, shoot, and carry I now stick only to my favorites.
I only have Smith & Wesson revolvers and 1911s. All are .45acp.
Thus the user name uncle45.
I do occasionally shoot friends' guns just for giggles, but as I get older, I get seriously 'stuck in my ways'.
My revolvers shoot great on this load, and once I match the right recoil spring to it, my 1911s will run like 'butter on ice'.
I'm basically a happy camper.
uncle.45 no offense taken and am grateful for your time to read my post.
It's nice that you've found a love of your life. Other than my wife I'm still looking. As stated my experience with the 45acp is very limited in any platform. Though I do believe it will be my next caliber
My reference to the Witness was only to describe my experience and surprise at the performance of an out of the box stock pistol and how pleasant it was for me.
It's nice that you've found a love of your life. Other than my wife I'm still looking. As stated my experience with the 45acp is very limited in any platform. Though I do believe it will be my next caliber
My reference to the Witness was only to describe my experience and surprise at the performance of an out of the box stock pistol and how pleasant it was for me.
Well, yesterday's range trip was a bust!
I went with a group of 10 from our Synagogue, and I spent most of the time either talking with other men on the Usher/Security team, or helping the women improve their gun handling and accuracy. I hardly got to shoot.
I actually had a really good time, but I didn't get any 'spring tuning' done on the 1911.
I am going to the range this afternoon by myself, and I will post the results tonight.
I went with a group of 10 from our Synagogue, and I spent most of the time either talking with other men on the Usher/Security team, or helping the women improve their gun handling and accuracy. I hardly got to shoot.
I actually had a really good time, but I didn't get any 'spring tuning' done on the 1911.
I am going to the range this afternoon by myself, and I will post the results tonight.
Jim Watson
New member
The usual recoil spring for midrange (light target load) .45 ACP is 10 or 12 lbs.
No need to try to sneak up on it a pound at a time from hardball 16 lb.
My powderpuff .45s (and 9mm) have everything from 10 to 13 lb because that was what was on hand. They function well.
No need to try to sneak up on it a pound at a time from hardball 16 lb.
My powderpuff .45s (and 9mm) have everything from 10 to 13 lb because that was what was on hand. They function well.
The range was brutal today!
I went by myself, and progressed from one spring to the next looking for the one my SW1911 would run on, but all I got was aggravated!
At or above 12# it would cycle the slide just enough to reset the trigger, but would not eject the spent case or strip the next round.
Below 12# it would eject well, but would not go fully back into battery to fire the next round.
Several of you said you run loads this light, but you used SWCs or LSWCs. Is there any reason why RNFPs shouldn't run as well or better? I have shot a case of Freedom Munitions 185gr FP ammo without one failure.
This pistol has fired 3,000 rounds of standard pressure and +P factory ammo without a single glitch. (Both RN and HP)
The COL is 1.177. Would a longer COL feed better?
Pile on guys. I need some input.
I went by myself, and progressed from one spring to the next looking for the one my SW1911 would run on, but all I got was aggravated!
At or above 12# it would cycle the slide just enough to reset the trigger, but would not eject the spent case or strip the next round.
Below 12# it would eject well, but would not go fully back into battery to fire the next round.
Several of you said you run loads this light, but you used SWCs or LSWCs. Is there any reason why RNFPs shouldn't run as well or better? I have shot a case of Freedom Munitions 185gr FP ammo without one failure.
This pistol has fired 3,000 rounds of standard pressure and +P factory ammo without a single glitch. (Both RN and HP)
The COL is 1.177. Would a longer COL feed better?
Pile on guys. I need some input.
Some shapes feed better than others, and I've had one flat nose design my gun didn't like well, so that could be a factor. Magazine feed lip profile is a common offender, and a different magazine may cure the problem. You could also up the load to 4.2 grains. Most of my old loads were with Bullseye, which takes a couple tenths or so less than HP38 to reach a given peak pressure. A chronograph would probably tell you if that's the issue, if you have access to one.
Thanks Unclenick! That's good Intel.
I was wondering about profiles of different brands of the same bullet types being slightly different.
I might try some of the Xtreme bullets that Freedom Munitions uses since I know this pistol has run them successfully.
Since this load is SO soft I think I will also bump the charge up to 4.2gr as well.
Thanks again! I will post an update when I have results.
I was wondering about profiles of different brands of the same bullet types being slightly different.
I might try some of the Xtreme bullets that Freedom Munitions uses since I know this pistol has run them successfully.
Since this load is SO soft I think I will also bump the charge up to 4.2gr as well.
Thanks again! I will post an update when I have results.
The Range SUCKED Again Today!
The title says it all.
With the powder drop bumped up to 4.4gr and a 12# spring, there were FTEs.
With a 10# spring there were failures to go back into battery.
Both ways the gun would sometimes just lock up about 1/4" from being back in battery.
To make sure my 1911 wasn't experiencing some sort of failure, I put a 16# spring back in it, and ran some factory 230gr FMJRN ammo.
It ran like a Swiss watch as it always has.
I think I will try ONE more increase in powder charge. If it doesn't run like I want it to on 5.0gr I am going to use the rest of the 185gr RNFP bullets in my revolver, then work up a load with FMJRNs that I can use in both guns.
I will let you know know how it goes!
The title says it all.
With the powder drop bumped up to 4.4gr and a 12# spring, there were FTEs.
With a 10# spring there were failures to go back into battery.
Both ways the gun would sometimes just lock up about 1/4" from being back in battery.
To make sure my 1911 wasn't experiencing some sort of failure, I put a 16# spring back in it, and ran some factory 230gr FMJRN ammo.
It ran like a Swiss watch as it always has.
I think I will try ONE more increase in powder charge. If it doesn't run like I want it to on 5.0gr I am going to use the rest of the 185gr RNFP bullets in my revolver, then work up a load with FMJRNs that I can use in both guns.
I will let you know know how it goes!
I don't have my notes in front of me right now bit I've been working on a light load for sometime. It seems as if you gain one perk and lose another. I want to say my load is a 230gn round nose with about 5gns of universal. (Def not the best powder for this, I just have an excess of it and am determined to use it) my reason for the light load is for brass collection. It cycles my pistol flawlessly and drops the brass right at my feet, but there is a small amount of unburned powder. I've been tweaking on it here and there and left it last year. I'll probably revisit it this winter when I have the most time to load and experiment! Good luck!
IT IS ALIVE!!
I finally had a good range outing today!
I decided to tell the Wife that you can't make a 1911 run on bunny farts, and I loaded 300 rounds at my original soft load of 5.2grains. I switched to a 14# spring, and she ran like a 1911 should. 100%! 300 out of 300 cycled properly, and it shot pretty soft to boot!
My only complaint is how DIRTY it is!
I am going to increase the powder drop to 5.5gr in the next batch to see if it 'cleans up' some. Any input?
This is an obscure TV reference, but a few of you will get it---
"Why, if I was any happier I would need a book"!!
Dan Conner
I finally had a good range outing today!
I decided to tell the Wife that you can't make a 1911 run on bunny farts, and I loaded 300 rounds at my original soft load of 5.2grains. I switched to a 14# spring, and she ran like a 1911 should. 100%! 300 out of 300 cycled properly, and it shot pretty soft to boot!
My only complaint is how DIRTY it is!
I am going to increase the powder drop to 5.5gr in the next batch to see if it 'cleans up' some. Any input?
This is an obscure TV reference, but a few of you will get it---
"Why, if I was any happier I would need a book"!!
Dan Conner