silvermane_1
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Anyone Reload 45 Super?, l would like to hear about you experiences and any load data I am starting to reload for 45 Super myself. Thanks for any responses. 
Anyone Reload for 45 Super?
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Pete D.
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I have a couple of boxes of .45 Supers on the shelf. I loaded them a couple of years ago when I was playing with hotter loadings for the 1911.
i used a 28lb recoil spring, a FL guide rod, a flat bottom firing pin stop. Standard mainspring and FP.
Mostly loaded Unique (9.0 grs) into Starline brass and 185 grain Jswcs.
I went back to .45 ACP standards. I have no real need for the Super.
Note: I also dabbled in .400 CorBon. Need a barrel chambered for that. Fun cartridge. Flatter shooting at !00 yards.
i used a 28lb recoil spring, a FL guide rod, a flat bottom firing pin stop. Standard mainspring and FP.
Mostly loaded Unique (9.0 grs) into Starline brass and 185 grain Jswcs.
I went back to .45 ACP standards. I have no real need for the Super.
Note: I also dabbled in .400 CorBon. Need a barrel chambered for that. Fun cartridge. Flatter shooting at !00 yards.
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silvermane_1
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Thank you for your reply Pete D. another thing i am wondering is a flat bottom firing pin a necessary, because i plan on using the stock titanium pin in my Ruger 1911 CMD, also i plan on loading my 45 Super brass with 10.1 grains of AA#7 and using 185gr. XTPs and i plan on using a 20lb. recoil spring that way i can also shoot 45ACP.
earlthegoat2
Member
If you insist on a 20# recoil spring then I insist you do more research on .45 Super conversions. Unless your adding mass to the slide somehow or adding a compensator.
I’m sure there are many variations but 24-28# recoil springs are pretty standard as well as 25-30# mainsprings. Also, flat bottom firing pin stops and FLGRs are very common in these conversions. Maybe you can get away with a lighter spring in the Commander because of the faster spring take up in the shorter spring.
In short, you should not run .45 Super in your factory equipped SR1911CMD.
I’m sure there are many variations but 24-28# recoil springs are pretty standard as well as 25-30# mainsprings. Also, flat bottom firing pin stops and FLGRs are very common in these conversions. Maybe you can get away with a lighter spring in the Commander because of the faster spring take up in the shorter spring.
In short, you should not run .45 Super in your factory equipped SR1911CMD.
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^ I very much agree, flat bottom firing pin stop, and heavy springs would be my minimum, and I'd stick very close to the recommended super recipes.
I built up a .45xd to shoot .45 supers, closer to Rowland class loads actually.
The cases are not your weak link. You'll take your gun apart if you don't have it set up properly, and feed it a regular diet of even "normal" super loads.
If your only gonna fire a few to confirm zero, and use them for what ever purpose standard . 45acp won't work for, than your probably ok with minimal modifications.
I built up a .45xd to shoot .45 supers, closer to Rowland class loads actually.
The cases are not your weak link. You'll take your gun apart if you don't have it set up properly, and feed it a regular diet of even "normal" super loads.
If your only gonna fire a few to confirm zero, and use them for what ever purpose standard . 45acp won't work for, than your probably ok with minimal modifications.
Pete D.
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A flat bottom firing pin stop.
Vern Humphrey
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I tried .45 Super, and followed all the wisdom on it -- the heavy recoil springs really drive the slide forward. Result? Broke the legs off my barrel bushing.
earlthegoat2
Member
I guess I am wondering what would break if standard recoil and main springs are used.
Wrist?
Teeth?
Slide?
Perhaps nothing.
A buffer could help I suppose.
Like so many others, I merely dabbled with .45 Super before I wrote it off as a neat novelty. I wasn’t about to be the one to experiment with the hardware though.
Wrist?
Teeth?
Slide?
Perhaps nothing.
A buffer could help I suppose.
Like so many others, I merely dabbled with .45 Super before I wrote it off as a neat novelty. I wasn’t about to be the one to experiment with the hardware though.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I would not recommend shooting .45 Super -- no matter what you do, you're going to over-stress the gun. Sooner or later, something is going to break.
This I also feel is true, your shortening your firearms life by using loads in excess of what it was designed for.
No free lunch, as they say.
Adding a comp, is one way to try and get some cheaper nibbles, but I still feel your causing premature ware, to yourself, if not your firearm.
Increasing slide weight, I think is better than increasing spring weight, but again while you do reduce velocity now there's more mass slamming around.
Again if you have a specific purpose that you want the extra oomph for and are only planning on shooting a little of it, you can probably get away with minimal modifications. I still wouldn't do it from a stock gun, tho I know folks have.
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silvermane_1
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Oh ok, i thought that was a typo in that last post, thanks again Pete D.
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silvermane_1
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Thanks for all the replies so far. Also i plan on using 45 Super in my SR1911 CMD, it's the all steel model not the lightweight version, and it has a fully supported barrel, titanium firing pin and 18 lb. recoil spring and main spring(iirc). I plan on only shooting 185 gr. XTP 45Super starting loads in it, i plan on only carring 45 Super when I'm in bear/cougar country.
Riomouse911
Member
Like towing a 10,000 lb trailer with an F150, shooting the Super in Guns not made (or properly converted) for it is going to wear stuff out really quickly.
My Super is a SA V-16 long slide, which was factory made for the Super. It’s heavy and has a very stiff mainspring, but it’s also ported with cuts in the slide so some recoil and energy is mitigated. It’s reliable with full power .45 ACP loads on up to Super loads, it won’t cycle soft target .45 loads at all.
I’ve only shot Super factory loads in it (Believe it it not I still have some Triton and others on the shelf) but I also have 500 new super cases in a box waiting to be loaded. I think I’ll be looking at Power Pistol or 800x powders to start with 230 gr bullets, I’ve read good reviews on these two.
If you choose to soup up your stock .45s make sure it’s all the way around (even magazine spring strength may need to be increased as well) and keep a sharp eye for premature wear on parts that move or handle stress upon firing.
Good luck and stay safe!
My Super is a SA V-16 long slide, which was factory made for the Super. It’s heavy and has a very stiff mainspring, but it’s also ported with cuts in the slide so some recoil and energy is mitigated. It’s reliable with full power .45 ACP loads on up to Super loads, it won’t cycle soft target .45 loads at all.
I’ve only shot Super factory loads in it (Believe it it not I still have some Triton and others on the shelf) but I also have 500 new super cases in a box waiting to be loaded. I think I’ll be looking at Power Pistol or 800x powders to start with 230 gr bullets, I’ve read good reviews on these two.
If you choose to soup up your stock .45s make sure it’s all the way around (even magazine spring strength may need to be increased as well) and keep a sharp eye for premature wear on parts that move or handle stress upon firing.
Good luck and stay safe!
I used 800x and Longshot in my SUPER loading.
The 800x allows more velocity, but meters like crap. Longshot peeks sooner, but meters very well.
I actually mostly used Longshot, but kept it lower in the velocity spectrum (bout 1k with a 230), and used 800x weighted charges for my hunting loads.
Oddly enough I actually shot my xd45 loaded with super better than most, if not all, of my other handguns to date. Didn't do much better with standard acp loadings either.
The 800x allows more velocity, but meters like crap. Longshot peeks sooner, but meters very well.
I actually mostly used Longshot, but kept it lower in the velocity spectrum (bout 1k with a 230), and used 800x weighted charges for my hunting loads.
Oddly enough I actually shot my xd45 loaded with super better than most, if not all, of my other handguns to date. Didn't do much better with standard acp loadings either.
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