best cartridge in 1911 with long barrel

[nekshot]

I cannot explain my infatuation with longer pistol barrels. I like performance but not pushing the envelope of safety. My question is how much improved would a 38 super be in a 7 inch barrel. What about the 10mm? I wish there was a 44 cal in a 1911 because I have more molds for 44. Any sound experience in this matter. Please save all of our time with stupid answers. I am a mature adult and respect mature answers. Thanks

[Outpost75]

I have tested .45 ACP ammo extensively in rifle barrels up to 26 inches.

Cannot speak to the .38 Super or 10mm, but I can tell you that shooting ordinary Ball M1911, that once you get to a 26 inch barrel that bore drag overcomes expansion ratio and muzzle exit velocity does not exceed what you can expect from an M1911 pistol. Advantage is that noise level is very low and you do not require a can. With match grade ammo and slow-twist barrel in the range of 1:20 to 1:32" that 200 yard head shots are possible. Use Unertl 10x scope with mil-dot, zero for ball at 100 yards and each tic on mildot is 10 yards. Using modified M40A1 rebored to .45 ACP, machining away bottom of receiver to fit M1911 pistol frame to hold magazine, anchored with taper pins and TIG welding, then cutting off right locking lug and mating feed ramp of M1911 pistol frame to receiver diaphragm of M40, you get modern equivalent of DeLisle Carbine. NWSC Crane, IN did a bunch of these in 1970s when I was there... Expect they are still around somewhere.

[onelight]

Limited ammo selections here on his tests but interesting and informative to look through anyway.
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/

[reddog81]

What do you mean by best? An extra 2” will get about 50 to 75 FPS in any of the calibers, but it all depends on the powder, bullet, etc.

I prefer 45 ACP because it’s easy to load for, easy for me to shoot accurately, brass is easy to get, load data is plentiful, it’s very versatile with loads for a 200 grain SWC going from 650 FPS to 1,100 FPS

[nekshot]

Limited ammo selections here on his tests but interesting and informative to look through anyway.
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/

Thanks for this info. I believe my questions will be answered with this site.

[GhostHawk]

I agree with Reddog81. Stick with what JM Browning designed it for.

There are extended barrels for 1911's. At one point I thought about a 12" barrel. But, you gain no sight distance. You can't put a front sight on the barrel and have it go through the bushing. In my case I decided it made more sense to buy a PCC with 18" barrel and rail.

.45acp is easy to load, requires only modest amounts of Red Dot powder.
And then I discovered the .32sw long and the advantages of less. Less speed, less lead, less powder, less muzzle blast and recoil. And less missing with much tighter groups.

Have fun.

[RJM52]

Have a 7" ROTO 4M barrel from SARCO in .38 Super... Compared against a 4.25" Commander:

130 grain Winchester FMJ-RN
SR 4756 powder
7.0/1159/1284
7.5/1197/1315
8.0/1273/1387

115 Gold Dot HP
8.5/1306/1475
9.0/1380/1550


Don't have a 7" 10mm but do have a couple of 6" guns...Glock 40 and a PARA Hunter:

Don't ask why my 5" Kimber STII gets higher velocity than the 6" PARA..

165 Gold Dot HP
AAC-9
9.0/1276/1218
9.5/1290/1295
9.5/1296/1284
10.0/1303/1276

Montana Bullet Works 200 HC
Longshot Powder
RIA 4.25"/PARA 6"
8.6/1210/1260

[3leggedturtle]

Look up the .38 Casull thats run in a 1911. If you can get the Book of the 1911 it has a great rundown of other cartridges and their velocities. I dont want or need another caliber to reload for, but if was going to have a 6-7" barreled 1911 it would be in 10mm. Otherwise I would sell about 3-5 guns and get the Coonan Arms in 357 Mag. BTW they are also making them in 10mm. The T/C Contender load manual shows what 10mm can do in a closed breech with a longer barrel. Todd/3leg

[littlejack]

According to my Chrony records:
Taurus 45acp with 5" barrell vs Just Right Carbine with 16"
Two loads tested: 10 shot average.
1. Heavy cast ball equivalent: 234 grns. rnbb W/ HP-38.
5.8 grains / 909 / 1072
2. The LEE 255 grain rnfp W/ Herco.
6.8 grins / 917 / 1097

Hope this helps.
Regards

[6string]

I would like to suggest you consider the 30 LUGER, aka 7,65 Luger.
I have seen and shot a Colt 1911 built by bullseye shooter and gunsmith Dave Salyer of Rock Hill, SC.
You would likely need a 9mm slide. Dave made a barrel by fitting a short length of 30 cal Douglas rifle barrel blank to a regular 1911 barrel breech/lug. It's fairly straightforward and low cost.
The result was a very accurate, low recoil pistol suitable for competitive use.
If you know the cartridge, you may know that, loaded to old Luger Carbine pressure it is an accurate flat shooting cartridge out to 150-200 yds and beyond. Kaiser Wilhelm used his 30 Luger carbine for hunting.

Jim

[charlie b]

If it were me, I'd go with the 10mm. But, .38 Super, .357Sig, 7.62x25, etc would all be interesting.

[ss30378]

Lighter bullets with larger charges of slower powders will see the most gain with longer tubes. I run 30 super(30 luger on full 9x23 case) 9mm, 40, 357 sig, 9x25 dillon, 10mm and 38 casull from 6" tubes and the 38 casull is definitely the most fun.

[nun2kute]

Magnum Research makes a 44 cal auto. ( 429 DE ) I'm not sure that's considered a 1911 or not, maybe something to look into !?