What is the heaviest bullet that you shoot out of your 1911 45 ACP and your Glock 21?

[huntersdog]

I'm looking for a Woods load and also a deer hunting load for both the full-size 1911 45 ACP and full size Glock 21 45 ACP gun what bullet and powder would you recommend?

I do have some new 45 super brass available to that I could load up.

[M-Tecs]

These are the hottest heaviest loads I am aware of. I am not aware of any loading data that will equal them.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=395

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=397

[Lloyd Smale]

ive shot 255 round flats but anymore stick to the bullets designed for them. I hate to beat up an expensive 1911 when.

[ioon44]

I used to shoot 265 gr cast out of my 1911 when shooting bowling pins.

I think any defense load would be good for deer hunting.

[GhostHawk]

I only shoot 230 gr truncated cones out of mine. Started with a round nose but the TC feeds better, shoots as well or better.

Most of mine are pretty moderate loads of Red Dot. I would not go as low as 4.5 grains as mine came back sooty.
Went up a little and no more soot.

Considering that is almost double the weight of the average .30 caliber boolit I would have no concerns with it.

Yes you can go bigger, faster. But what is that going to do to your accuracy and confidence?

[Outpost75]

Bullets over 240-grains in an M1911 are frame crackers. It's your money.

[M-Tecs]

For those that want the next level https://www.460rowland.com/

[bangerjim]

I never go over 220. Normally stay at 200.You can split your gun wide open with those heavy boolits! Like said above................it's YOUR money!


Always stick with what is proven to work and be safe.

[M-Tecs]

The 230 grain bullet has been the standard since 1906. Hard to get much more proven that.

https://sightm1911.com/lib/history/45_Auto_Cartridge_History.htm

Heavy bullets are not the problem. Over pressure and slide velocity is. Slide velocity can be controlled somewhat by weight of the recoil spring, mainspring and the shape of the firing pin stop.

[bangerjim]

The 230 grain bullet has been the standard since 1906. Hard to get much more proven that.

https://sightm1911.com/lib/history/45_Auto_Cartridge_History.htm



But it is still nice to stay on the "comfortable side" of the specs, at least for me and my purposes. 200 suites me just fine.

Thanks for the info! :drinks:


banger

[Gtek]

230 is where JMB made it to run, mine live between there and 200. Every scenario is different but if you think you need more bang get something designed with more bang. Also if you do not have a 44 revolver this could be an excellent excuse/opportunity to dip ones toe.

[dougader]

265 WFNGC

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dmCMVJV/0/dc8ed15e/M/i-dmCMVJV-M.jpg

.

[DougGuy]

I used the 255gr LSWC in a 1911 on bowling pins, man it clears the table with authority! This load would be very effective on game as well. If you can't seat them about .060" proud of the case mouth, have your barrel throated so you can. The 1911 feeds much better with longer COA and you have more room for powder.

[bigboredad]

That buffalo boar load is a good load it puts you where the original 45 colt load was at. If you haven't already I would fit a flat bottom firing pin stop and consider a Wilson bushing compensator. A lot of folks will tell you the bushing comp and any comp on a 45acp is a waste. Well I have one on my 45acp and I have recently shot some 265gr bullets far above what anyone here will tell you what's safe the eject about 5ft from me and are comfortable to shoot with a 14 pound recoil spring. Set your gun up right get the chamber reamed from Doug and be smart about your loads. Don't try to use springs as your only upgrade

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk

[Texas by God]

Did the old 260 gr. Speer load from their book many decades ago. They worked but I felt it silly. As I shot more, I switched to cast and I've settled on 200grswc and 230 grTC bullets only. Either will do for my running about the farm with my .45 auto.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[Budzilla 19]

Other than 230 RN profile boolits, i tried a few 242 grain cup points. But not a bunch of them, though. 200 RNFP by Lee is my go to boolit now for 45ACP. Old Ruger P90 in 45ACP, 200 grain RNFP it'll drive them in a nice tight group at 25 yards if i do my part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As said before, your mileage may vary.

[Artful]

Lead 255 grain swc - over a stout charge of Unique in WW2 steel cases that were teflon coated - RIP Dean Grennell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Grennell) you were a bad influence but a great time.

Gun modified with double spring system (Detonics) and extra power firing pin spring - this was the beginning of the 45 Super cartridges.

[lar45]

I shoot a 270 at around 950 in my AMT 7" longslide. I put a heavy spring in. It dumps brass about 18" away.

[fredj338]

I have a 270SAA mold that throws 280gr cast soft. I tried a few running about 800fps, fed fine in my 1911.

[fredj338]

Bullets over 240-grains in an M1911 are frame crackers. It's your money.

Just depends on how hard you run them.

[WinchesterM1]

For those that want the next level https://www.460rowland.com/

I’ve got a 460 Rowland conversion barrel for my G21 G4 and I shoot the Lee 255 rf out of it with Long shot and it is a beast!!! I’ve killed a couple of deer with it, and it smacks them hard with real soft alloy(75/25 pb/WW) I don’t like hunting with it because the brass is so expensive and I lose it

[M-Tecs]

I’ve got a 460 Rowland conversion barrel for my G21 G4 and I shoot the Lee 255 rf out of it with Long shot and it is a beast!!! I’ve killed a couple of deer with it, and it smacks them hard with real soft alloy(75/25 pb/WW) I don’t like hunting with it because the brass is so expensive and I lose it

I have a couple of 6" 1911 10mm's but I am seriously thinking about a 460 Rowland for an upcoming Alaska trip. I will be in remote bear country for 4 to 6 weeks helping a buddy build some cabins. Due to the type of work we will be doing carrying a rifle or shotgun will be too cumbersome.

I've shot a couple of 45 Supers. The 1911 in a 460 Rowland is going to be a handful. I might consider going to a Glock or a FNX™-45 for this application.

[W.R.Buchanan]

My G21 has had exactly 2 factory loaded rounds fired thru it. I have always used either 230 gr plated boolits or PC'd Lyman 452374.

The last thousand I have loaded are the Cast Lymans. 5.7 gr of W231 is the load.

This is the only load I have ever used in my .45 ACP guns. It is close to a .45ACP ball load and I see no reason for anything else for this caliber.

I don't consider this caliber to be a "Hunting Caliber" except under unusual circumstances,,, like,,, that's all you've got.

120 years of proven service should be enough for anyone to follow.

Randy

[mortre]

Heaviest I have gone is the Lee TL452-230-TC, which was coming out at about 235 for me. I'm pretty sure that was my first cast bullet attempt actually and made a few mistakes. Though I still have a few of those loaded up that I have carried as a "woods" load. I was using 5.4gr of Universal, sizing at .451 and crimping at .469. The load averaged 875fps and produced none to some leading depending on the 45 I was shooting it out of. It's been known to leave little lead "hairs" in the barrel of my officer sized 1911. I've sense retired that load and moved on to a 230gr round nose mold from mp-molds, loosened up the crimp to .471 and starting powder coating as opposed to TL.

I'm not sure what the deal is with Universal, but the load data is all over the place. Hodgdon probably has the most conservative data, but despite loading my bullets longer and sizing them smaller than the Hodgdon site specifies I am still matching their published velocity.

[Beaverhunter2]

Not a 1911 or a G21 but I use the Lee 252 SWC (PC or Speed Green) with 5.2gr of Unique out of my HK USP. Shoots super accurate. Probably +P (which the USP is rated for).

Be safe! Have fun!

John

[muskeg13]

Lyman 452664 is a rounded flat nose rated at 250 grains, but comes in at 256gr with my ww alloy. I load these for both a M1911 and a Charter Arms Pitbull in .45 ACP. I've had no problems shooting heavier than normal boolits in either gun, but load rather moderately. I've loaded with Bullseye, Titegroup, Power Pistol, and prefer Unique. The M1911 will function reliably, and is accurate, with as little as 4.0 grains of Unique, but I usually load between 4.5-5.2 grains. @about 5.0 grains, it produces 760-790 fps in the 5" M1911 (depends on light conditions for the chronograph and the temperature) and about 100 fps less in the 2.25" Charter Arms. Recoil is mild in the full sized M1911, but becomes a handfull in the 22 oz Pitbull.