.45 ACP Pet Loads

[Searcher4851]

4.3 gains of bullseye behind a 200 gr LSW sized to .452, Winchester brass and primer has been my target load for many years. Worked to that load in a series 70, and found it works just as well in my R1.
3" group at 25 yards offhand is fine.
Without a Ransom rest or other similar device it's hard to tell the difference between load differential and shooter differential. jmho/ymmv

 

[michaelnel]

> Do you actually think a Les Baer Custom 1911 would shoot anything buy
> very well no matter which powder you use within reason? That's what they
> are supposed to do when you spend $1980 for 1911.

The accuracy of mine varies quite a bit with different powders thank you very much. Sometimes 2" groups at 25 yards, sometimes .63". That's why I am testing it with the Ransom rest, to find out what loads the pistol really likes and what loads it doesn't.

 

[Slamfire]

Hi guys! Im shooting a Colt Series 70 1911, and am getting respectable accuracy, just under 3" at 25 yds. Currently using remington and winchester brass, as well as some picked-up mixed range brass. Can't currently tell sorting brass is helping, may discontinue in the future.

So is 3" all you can reasonably expect? Its not like I'm doing it all day, they open up some times. I was hoping to find a somewhat more consistent load. The TG has an edge up close, but opens to 4-5" from 25 yards.

When I got my Colt Series 80 Combat Elite, back in the 80’s, I called Colt and asked about factory accuracy. M1911’s were shipped if they shot around 3.5 inches at 25 yards. The NM were only a little better.

I am of the opinion that modern M1911’s made to much tighter tolerances will do better, (my Les Baer Wadcutter is amazing) but if you are shooting 3 inches at 25 yards that is very good and will be very hard to improve. I don’t see how you are going to do better if the inherent accuracy of the pistol is less than your accuracy goals.

 

[HighExpert]

A Les Baer is worth the money. I have a Premier II that was accurized by Les and will shoot 1.4" at 50yds all day long. It is not nearly as finicky as some .45s are about loads but does require consistency to be competitive. My uses 12# springs with an Ultradot sight and the load I use is as follows. The Nationals are still leftover from when National built bullets well and actually delivered them. I bought 25K and still have plenty left.

.45ACP w/Red Dot Sight
SWC 200gr (National)
3.9 Bullseye (5.7)
1.241 OAL
700FPS

OR

.45ACP
JHP 185gr (Star)
4.3 Bullseye (6.0)
1.176 OAL
710 FPS Match

 

[michaelnel]

-> A Les Baer is worth the money.

I'm sure glad I bought mine. I never dreamed a 1911 could shoot this well for the price. I bought mine barely used (appx 75 rounds through it) at a nice discount too.

 

[jjjitters]

I shot thousands of my own cast H&G#68(200gr swc) over 4.8-5.0gr HP-38,was always an accurate load. Just for S & Giggles I loaded some up with SR7625 since I was getting great accuracy with that powder in other calibers and loadings. The SR7625 rounds actually beat the HP-38's !!!

Every gun/barrel will have its favorite powder/bullet combo (harmonics?) even the pricey guns, though some bullets just are the perfect design for a caliber and does well with a huge # of different powders.

 

[DC Plumber]

I just started shooting 200g LSWC out of my Sig 1911s. I started with 5.0g of Universal and they are cream puffs and cycle the gun with a standard 16 lb. spring no problem. Accuracy seems to be there, but I haven't gotten too serious yet. Plenty good for plinking.