I found in a middle 1950’s American Rifleman article written by James Clark of Clark Custom Guns
https://clarkcustomguns.com/about/
Mr Clark’s trophies and pictures are all on those wall shelves
that he was using a load of 3.5 grains Bullseye with a 200 gr H&G 68 bullet at 25 yards. I don’t remember if he had a 50 yard load. I presume he won the NRA 2700 Bullseye Championship with that load. This is a 90 point match, when this course of fire is shot with a 22lr,( 90 rounds), a centerfire pistol, (90 rounds), and a 45 (90 rounds), the total possible score is 2700.
Mr Clark shot that load when everyone used irons, when I tried it with an Ultra Dot on top of my Les Baer, I had the occasional failure to feed/eject, especially in cold weather. Even though I am using a 12 lb recoil spring, the pistol was still too sensitive to the extra weight on the slide. The Greybeards that used optics, they recommended 4.0 grs Bullseye Pistol powder with the 200 grain bullet, with the stipulation that I keep the bullet at 740 fps for stability at 50 yards. I found a lot change of Bullseye powder required an extra grain of powder to 4.1 grains with a H&G 68 type bullet. And with Xtreme Plated 200 grain SWC’s, I had to bump it up to 4.2 grains because I had failures to function.
I did conduct some tests with AA#5, it shot well, and the velocity I wanted was with this load
Bullseye Pistol powder still gives tighter extreme spreads and standard deviations than AA#5 even though AA#5 meters better because it is a ball powder. With these minimum loads, I want consistent slide velocities, so for match ammunition I will stay with Bullseye Pistol Powder or Titegroup.
200 LSWC (H&G 68 type)
4.0 grs Bullseye Lot 919 11/2005 WLP Nickle, mixed cases
8-Jun-15 T = 91 °F OAL 1.250" Taper Crimp 0.469" oiled cases
Ave Vel = 742.9
Std Dev = 9.89
ES = 33.19
High = 760.6
Low = 727.5
Number rds= 20
The competitor does not have to shoot a 1911 in NRA 2700 Bullseye. For the 45, a competitor can shoot a hogleg or N frame in 45LC. There used to be shooters who fired 45ACP S&W N frames in centerfire and 45. It is rare to see a revolver shooter because of the difficultly of double action shooting during timed fire, or rapid fire. I only shoot a revolver in CMP EIC matches, and that with a 38 Special revolver. I occasionally have rounds in the black with the revolver, and it is a real victory if all are on paper.
However, I seem to be the only one firing 200 grain anything in 2700 Bullseye Competition. Those that reload their own are shooting 185 grain LSWC’s, and the most common load I have heard is, 4.2 grains Bullseye Pistol Powder. I talked loads with Ernest and he showed me some of his targets.
Mind you, target loads are fired using 12 lb recoil springs, heavier springs will cause failures to feed or failures to eject. Spring tension for standard 230 grain ball loads is typically 16 lbs in a 1911. Those who are better financed shoot 185 JHP factory ammunition. This is a two times 2700 Bullseye Pistol National Champion, whom I scored at a 25 yard reduced match
Since this is the internet, everyone does this one handed at 25 yards, and of course, some do it with their eyes closed. However, I thought this shooter was doing very well, much better than me.
This is what he did with a 22lr
When I shot near AMU shooters they were using 185 grain JHP made by Atlanta Arms
https://atlantaarms.com/products/elite-45-acp-185gr-jhp.html
When I shot next to All Guard shooters, and next to the Team Captain, I asked him about the ammunition they were using. The Team Captain is a gunsmith and he told me the performance specifications he used in contracting with Zero ammunition. The ammunition is using a Zero 185 grain JHP. He wanted the bullet to be at 800-810 fps, but it turned out, the stuff on the line was in the 790’s. His accuracy criteria was 1.5 inch ten shot groups at 50 yards, out of two of the three custom 1911’s he provided as test articles. Notice, ten shot groups, not three shot groups. Three shots may be the current gold standard for consistency and accuracy for advertisers and influencers, but actually, as a standard for consistency and accuracy three shots is all narcissistic nonsense.
Having the most accurate load does not mean the shooter can actually hit a mountain, while shooting at its base. We live in a consumption based society, and one of the peculiarities is, people are taught that they can overcome a lack of marksmanship skills with expensive equipment purchases. You see this all the time, buy expensive whatever, and you will hit dead center. It sells stuff. However, in the real world, shooting is a skill, and it takes lots and lots of practice to be good. Ernst told me when he earned his Master Card, he was out at the range several days a week, between matches. It took constant practice. And it does. I thought was interesting, the Range Masters at the Bullseye Pistol Range at CMP Talladega knew me by name. To shoot there, you have to qualify. If you can keep all shots within a two foot by two foot target at 25 yards, you can shoot on the 25 yard targets. If you can do the same at 50 yards, you can shoot at the 50 yard targets.
They get mad when shooters hit that white frame around the target, and they get even more upset when someone hits the LED lights at 12 and 6 OC.
Turns out, so few had qualified, at the time, the Range Master’s remembered my name. The day I qualified, there was a big pile of 380 ACP brass forward of the firing line. Seems a group from Atlanta had showed up, and none of them were able to keep all their shots on the 25 yard target. Incidentally, for qualification, the CMP uses a paper target on a special frame, which is cheap to repair.
Then, what is your accuracy criteria? Are you out to group 10 shots within 3 inches at 50 yards? Or are you out to hit a human sized target at seven yards? The closer the target, target grade accuracy is not that important. A standard, cheapo 1911 will actually shoot pretty well at 7 yards, with duplicate ball ammunition. This was very acceptable
With irons, keeping on a pie plate at 25 yards is good for me
Also good enough with this cheap 1911
I am burning up a keg of 1990’s AA#5. Shoots 230 FMJ well.
Good enough to plink with.
A 230 with 5.0 grains Bullseye Pistol was the service load from 1910, and probably through Vietnam. Hard to beat as a starting load. I was trying to figure what the point of aim was, some shots are not on the pie plate.