1911 45 acp load

[flhroy]

I had a RIA 1911a1 in 45acp follow me home a couple of weeks ago. I want to try cast in it now but the lightest 45 boolit that I cast is the Lee 255 swc. I found a load for a 260 gr lead boolit that calls for 7.5 gr of HS-6. I've made up couple of dummy rounds and at 1.20", oal they cycle fine. Is this load safe to use without worrying about abusing the pistol? Or should I wait on using cast untill I get a lighter mould?

Thanks

Roy

[KYCaster]

I've shot a bunch of 255 RNFP in 1911's with no ill effects, but you'd probably be wise to install a 20# recoil spring.

Because of the reduced case volumn with heavy boolits, OAL can make a HUGE difference in pressure. Work up loads carefully and make sure your crimp doesn't allow the boolit to move when it hits the feed ramp, that could cause a disasterous increase in pressure.

Enjoy
Jerry

[nicholst55]

I used to shoot Hornady's swaged 250 grain SWC in .45 ACP, although it's been 20 years ago and I can't locate any specifics. It fed just fine through my gun and shot acceptable groups. Seems like I was using HS-6 powder at the time, but I could be mistaken.

[Pepe Ray]

The Midway Loadmap for the 45ACP show loads for the 250 gr. Swage SWC, but only for Bullseye, Herco, Red Dot, Unique and Win231.
Pepe Ray

[Dist. Pistol Shot #1289]

I would reccomend waiting untill you get a 230 ,200 or 185 gr mould before you run those 255 through it. Yes if you cant wait a heavy recoil spring may help, but if it feels like the slide is coming back hard , it is too hard for it . Browning was a genius stick to his reccomendations and you will be OK. Another problem may be the dia of these 255 grainers may be to big at the 45 acp uses a .451-.452 dia bullet the 45 Long Colt uses a .454-.455 Dia bullet . The 255 grain bullet was designed for the Long Colt not the ACP.
Be careful and have fun!
Best Regards,
DPS #1289

[Lloyd Smale]

Personaly im not a fan of heavies in a 1911. My 1911s are all nice guns and im not about to beat them up. They rarely even see ball level loads. That extra 100fps doesnt buy you enough to worry about. the 45s kill by putting a big hole in something not by shocking it. I do use heavys in my model 25 smiths though as they just shoot better with them. I use alot of surplus pr200 in mine. Ive got about a 60 lb stash of it but you cant find it anymore. Its nothing but aa2 though. I shoot 200s with between 4-5 grains of if depending on what the individual gun likes. Other then that most of my acps for the 1911s are loaded with bullseye. I know alot of guys swear by 231/hp38 and ive loaded lots with that too but bullseye just seems to be a tad more accurate.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I think I'd buy one of those tumble lube 200 grain SWC' molds Lee sells and make bullets with that before I used those big old bullets in my pistol. I use those and my 3 Rock Islands love them.

Dave

[Freightman]

Love the 185-200g in mine not real fond of anything over 230, pulled down a bunch of 255g given to me as I think that is to heavy and second place I don't shoot other peoples re-loads.

[trickyasafox]

if you go with the 200gr, the only way i get those darn things to run is if i load em long. 1.266

[flhroy]

Thanks for the replies guys. Guess I'll get a couple of 200 grain 2 cavity moulds. One swc and the other rf to see which one the pistol likes best. Untill then I its taylor mades and save the brass.
The first box of shells I bought had aluminum cases that can't be reloaded. I had never seen that before. I'll be paying closer attention next time.


Take Care

Roy

[DLCTEX]

I have run a lot of 255 gr. boolits through my 1911, but have quit since reading an article by an experienced military armorer who stated that the heavier spring wasn't the only consideration. He stated that the biggest problem was the battering of the locking lugs by the heavier boolits. Dale

[Lloyd Smale]

theres two group buy 45acp molds running right now in the group buy section of this forum.