1911 45acp loads

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kidneyboy

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I just picked up a 2001 Springfield Mil Spec and would like to load some rounds that would have been common for that gun around that time. My guess is 230gr something - Lead round nose? FMJ?
I don't have older loading manuals to look back through but I'm guessing some of you guys were reloading for these in the early 2000s ;)

The gun looks to have been a safe queen, no wear marks, no carbon deposits anywhere and dry as a bone. After a dusting, cleaning and lube I ran some light loaded 185 and 200gr SWC through it (4.0gr BE and 4.2gr WST) and it shot low and had some FTE. So before I start replacing parts and stuff I thought it would be a good idea to shoot some bullets it was designed for.
 
(4.0gr BE and 4.2gr WST) and it shot low and had some FTE.
May be too light.

Any lead, coated lead, plated, or jacketed 230 Gr round nose and 5.0 Grs Bullseye, or 5.0+ Grs W-231 etc will be very close to the original 230 Gr ball ammo.

But you are not in any way limited to that. The 200 Gr SWC is a long time favorite of the target crowd, along with lighter SWCs, 185 gr JHPs (Zero, Nosler...)

Berrys makes a HBRN 185 Gr RN that feeds in anything and will be accurate. I like the Precision 200 Gr coated SWC, but the SNS 175 Gr SWC shot great too.

They make lighter recoil spring weights that some people use for running real light loads, but you can go pretty light in a 5" 1911 with a standard 16 Lb spring and still function.

Lots and lots of choices.

My old SA bone stock (Before the "GI" "Mil Spec" model came out) will shoot near about anything.
 
The light bullets are fine if they feed, some 1911s feed SWCs with no issues others are more picky.
Charges to me appear a bit on the light side for the lighter bullets with a stock spring.
If you want to go that light you can change the spring.

https://www.gunsprings.com/COLT/1911 GOV'T PISTOL/cID1/mID1/dID1

Otherwise with a factory spring you can up the charge (assuming you stay below listed max) until you get proper function.
 
I just picked up a 2001 Springfield Mil Spec and would like to load some rounds that would have been common for that gun around that time. My guess is 230gr something - Lead round nose? FMJ?
I don't have older loading manuals to look back through but I'm guessing some of you guys were reloading for these in the early 2000s ;)

The gun looks to have been a safe queen, no wear marks, no carbon deposits anywhere and dry as a bone. After a dusting, cleaning and lube I ran some light loaded 185 and 200gr SWC through it (4.0gr BE and 4.2gr WST) and it shot low and had some FTE. So before I start replacing parts and stuff I thought it would be a good idea to shoot some bullets it was designed for.
I agree with Walkalong, too light of loads.

As far as the bullets the gun was designed for. I remember reading that the original design was for a 200 gr. RN. But the military wanted the heavier 230 gr. RN. But hey, I wasn't there. :D
 
I had a stainless Springfield 1911 from around that same era, it would throw cases right at my head... and I have a burn mark in my eyebrow from where a case lodged in between my shooting glasses and my head. I called it 'The Wretch' and eventually sold it to my brother, who still has it. What I know now... is all I really needed to do was adjust or replace the extractor, but that's all water under the bridge.

Walk is correct, those are probably too light. Oddly enough, I'm working with both BE-86 and WST right now and 200grn bullets for my 4" 1911's, to come up with a standard loading for them. I don't think, based on previous experience, WST is a good powder for the 230grn bullet, but BE-86 should be OK... I'll know soon enough.

My standard 1911 full-house load is any 230grn FMJ bullet and 6.5grn Unique, I've been loading that for almost 30 years. It is a maximum load, you would need to work up to it in your pistol. I've also used W231 with the 230grn bullet, and you have to max charge it, too, to get the same performance; I don't like pushing W231 up like that, so I abandoned it with the 230grn bullet, but W231 does work well enough with 200grn bullets.
 
Every new to me cartridge I load, I try to find a "classic" load. For my 45 ACP it was a 230 FMJ and Bullseye. I usually start with starting loads from my manuals and work up. I now use a lot of 225 gr RN, some 200 SWC and I have a "just in case" load that works well in all three; 230 FMJ over 5.0 Bullseye.
 
My standard hardball load is 4.0 gr of Bullseye under a 230 gr jacketed bullet. All of my 1911's function perfectly with this load from my Gold Cup (12# spring) to a Commander (18#spring). If your RO doesn't dunction with this load, it is either over sprung or has another problem.
 
2001 Springfield Mil Spec ... 185 and 200gr SWC through it (4.0gr BE and 4.2gr WST) and it shot low and had some FTE. So before I start replacing parts and stuff I thought it would be a good idea to shoot some bullets it was designed for.
My BIL's SA 1911, my Sig 1911 and a friend's RIA 1911 all reliably feed/chamber and extract/eject light target loads of 200 gr SWC with 4.0 gr of Red Dot/Promo, even with new 16 lb recoil spring.

Before you do anything, I recommend you shoot a box of factory ammo.

If factory 230 gr FMJ shoots well and extract/eject spent cases without issues, it's not the pistol but your reloads.

If you experience extraction/ejection issues with factory ammo, then I would investigate the pistol closer.
 
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The light loads I tried are from a couple of High Master Bullseye shooters. The recipes I used are under published minimums. I wasn't expecting them to run as well as they did. Also shot those with a 14# spring with better but inconsistent results. There are some old (2007) Precision 200gr Lead RNFP's in the pile I'll try out also.
I'm real happy it runs wadcutters.
 
Thanks for the replies so far.
I'm going to add here that the failures to eject were consistent with what happens with light loads.
bds, running a box of factory ammo is actually next on the list. I don't really expect any issues but do like to take these things really slow.
 
I have been running a 12 lbs spring with 200 gr SWC light loads. YMMV as I also use a Harrison small radius firing pin stop and my barrel has tight lock up. Currently, I am developing some N320 loads for some 180 SWC FB from Summers Enterprises and moved to a 10 lbs spring. This morning, one spent case, loaded at 5.1 grains, did not make it out of the chamber. Groups were consistent with my shivering.
 
The light loads I tried are from a couple of High Master Bullseye shooters ... Also shot those with a 14# spring with better but inconsistent results.

... failures to eject were consistent with what happens with light loads.
We overlooked one reloading basics - What OAL are you using?

With 200 gr SWC, I usually load with shoulders "one thumbnail thickness" or .030" above the case mouth (as shown below). If loaded longer, it could explain FTE issue you are experiencing with light target loads, even with 14 lb recoil spring (due to lower chamber pressures causing inefficient powder burn).
There are ... 200gr Lead RNFP's in the pile I'll try out also.
I found 200 gr RNFP with shorter bullet base acts like 200 gr SWC loaded longer and requires higher powder charge to reliably cycle the slide.

index.php
 
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We overlooked one reloading basics - What OAL are you using?

With 200 gr SWC, I usually load with shoulders "one thumbnail thickness" or .030" above the case mouth (as shown below). If loaded longer, it could explain FTE issue you are experiencing with light target loads, even with 14 lb recoil spring (due to lower chamber pressures causing inefficient powder burn).

I found 200 gr RNFP with shorter bullet base acts like 200 gr SWC loaded longer and requires higher powder charge to reliably cycle the slide.

index.php

OAL for both 185 and 200SWC is 1.225. I started with the thumbnail above the case mouth (1.240) but that failed the plunk test.
The 200gr RNFP is at 1.175, also based on the plunk test.

IMG_3540.JPG
 
OAL for ... 200SWC is 1.225. I started with the thumbnail above the case mouth (1.240) but that failed the plunk test.

The 200gr RNFP is at 1.175, also based on the plunk test.
Nice, the reloads look great and appear to have good neck tension. Well, then we could rule out longer OAL lowering chamber pressures.

So we are back to not enough powder charge vs extractor/ejector issue.

Are the spent brass stove piping or not even clearing the chamber?
 
Nice, the reloads look great and appear to have good neck tension.

Well, then we could rule out longer OAL lowering chamber pressures.

So we are back to not enough powder charge vs extractor/ejector issue.

Are the spent brass stove piping or not even clearing the chamber?

I'll have to go back to my notes for that. I was also trying to figure out ammo for a 1911 22 that day so there were function problems galore. As I mentioned earlier these really showed all the signs of being loaded to light. An error in my test method was starting with a light charge. My normal procedure is to try a charge in the middle of the loading range and check for function. With WST that would be about 4.7 or 4.8gr. I started at 4.2 which is below the published minimum. While that load is popular with the bullseye guys and their bullseye specific wadguns I'm not a bullseye guy and my gun isn't a wadgun.
Sometime this week I'll run some factory ammo and some more reasonably loaded SWC's
 
There are several good loads mentioned above. I recommend a 230gr FMJ or LRN bullet over 5.2gr W231/HP-38 which is one of the loads I shoot. Nothing at all wrong with the same bullet over 5.0gr Bullseye. Ball ammo should work best in a standard 1911.

My suggestion is to replace the recoil spring since that is the wear part that is usually changed ever 5,000 rounds. It can't hurt to spend $7/8 on maintenance of your "new" gun. When I buy a used 1911 I always change at least the recoil spring. In a 45 Auto 1911 the factory stock spring in 16lbs like said above.

Factory power recoil spring: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3415121962/wolff-recoil-spring-1911-government

Or the full service pak: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/576439/wolff-service-spring-pack-1911-government-45-acp
 
There are several good loads mentioned above. I recommend a 230gr FMJ or LRN bullet over 5.2gr W231/HP-38 which is one of the loads I shoot. Nothing at all wrong with the same bullet over 5.0gr Bullseye. Ball ammo should work best in a standard 1911.

My suggestion is to replace the recoil spring since that is the wear part that is usually changed ever 5,000 rounds. It can't hurt to spend $7/8 on maintenance of your "new" gun. When I buy a used 1911 I always change at least the recoil spring. In a 45 Auto 1911 the factory stock spring in 16lbs like said above.

Factory power recoil spring: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3415121962/wolff-recoil-spring-1911-government

Or the full service pak: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/576439/wolff-service-spring-pack-1911-government-45-acp

I have a variety of springs here. From 16 - 12lb. I'll work these things in one at a time.
Will also pick up some Acme 230gr round nose.
Except for the N320 I have all the powders mentioned so far.
 
I have a variety of springs here. From 16 - 12lb. I'll work these things in one at a time.
Will also pick up some Acme 230gr round nose.
Except for the N320 I have all the powders mentioned so far.
That's good. If you load middle range loads from published sources the 16lb spring should work perfectly. If you are going to shoot the lighthouses you have on hand the 12lb to 14lb springs will probably work for you baring any other problems.

Good luck, he safe!
 
4.2 grains of Bullseye with a home cast 210 grain SWC works like a charm in all my 1911’s. It’s my go to load for my older guns - WW1 & WW2 era. It’s also functions my newer guns just fine - Kimber, Colt, Etc. My Lyman manual goes down to 3.6 grains of BE with a 200 grain SWC.

The type of bullet used shouldn’t have any effect on a failure to eject. The extractor and ejector have no way of knowing if your shooting FMJ or lead SWC’s.

If it was my gun I’d be wondering if someone replaced the mainspring or firing pin stop along with the recoil spring. It’s possible someone set it up for .45 Super or something like that. Of course if the condition was still pristine that doesn’t seem likely. Maybe it’s just a faulty extractor.
 
230gr fmj with 5.0 of Bullseye. I use large primer brass. I just like a classic load in a classic pistol. Perfect fit.
 
MY 1911 with a tight KKM chamber cycles perfectly with 200 gr SWC and 3.8-4.0grs of Bullseye and a 12 lbs recoil spring.

From the OP's original description, the 1911 sounds almost new. It may just need a few hundred rounds of factory ammo shot through it to break it in before it is ready to cycle reliably with light bullseye target loads.
 
Went to the range today. Before leaving I put the factory spring back in. Shot 3 different bullets and 4 different published loads. 100% function and 2 of those loads had pretty darn good groups. POI for all loads at 10yds and 15yds was about 4" below POA. So the gun functions properly and the sights need some work. I am happy with all of that.
Next up will be a box factory ball ammo and some Acme 230gr RN that I need to put together.
You guys have been a great help, Thanks.
 
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