Happy 1911

[CZ93X62]

I have all Colt magazines for my in-house 1911A1-pattern pistol--a Series 80 Gold Cup National Match. Colt magazines correspond closely to the JMB OEM GI design specs, and these mags feed 230 grain FMJ Ball--Lyman #452374--Lyman #452460--Lee 230 TC--and my agency's authorized 45 ACP carry load, the WWB 230 grain JHPs.

These are GREAT LOADS--they run 890-910 FPS from the 5" Colt barrel, and about 40 FPS slower from the SIG P-220's 4.4" tube. They even feed 100% in my bro-in-law's box-stock Series 70 Gold Cup, and OEM Series 70s were notorious for choking on JHPs. The WWB JHPs wereformerly known as "Ranger SXT", which replaced the evil Black Talons of the 1990s by deleting the black paint and the little hooks at the petal edges. Well, kind of, as far as the hooks go. 1-3 of those per applicant usually resolves the matter permanently. The Lee 230 grain TC atop 5.5 grains of WW-231 does a very close duplication of these WWB ballistics, and I use them as practice fodder.

 

[wquiles]

The Lee 230 grain TC atop 5.5 grains of WW-231 does a very close duplication of these WWB ballistics, and I use them as practice fodder.

Since I am starting just now to play with some 45 Super loads on my 1911 using the same exact Lee 230gr TC, can you please let me know what OL works well in your 1911 so that I have another reference point?

My first loads of the Lee (here in the middle) are at about 1.239".

 

[Pistolero]

You're welcome, sir.
I think a lot of people, even people who own 1911s, are unaware that there are three
different designs of magazines out there. Well, overall, way more than that, but three
different designs of feed lips. There are a myriad of follower designs, many different
body designs, with or without removable floorplates, 7 rd, 8 rd, 10 rd, etc. But all
the issues other than the feed lips pale in comparison, function wise, although not
all 8 rd mags are entirely reliable, either. AFAIK, there is only one 8 rd 1911 mag which
is 100% reliable.

Many 1911s will run just about any ammo with just about any mag, but some have a
preference, and if you are unaware of the fact that you may have two or three different design
mags in your possession, you might be confused on trying to trouble shoot feeding issues if
they come up.

Baseline knowledge always helps.

Bill

 

[CZ93X62]

I seat ALL of the Lee TC autopistol bullet designs with about .020" of front drive band exposed above the case mouth--9mm, 40/10, and 45 ACP. I follow that with a light taper crimp. I don't know what the OAL length(s) might be.

 

[wquiles]

Gotcha - thanks

 

[Brad]

Looked at a bunch of mags at Scheels today. Every one I saw for sale was a straight lip early release magazine.

 

[Pistolero]

Yep. Like I said, just about all are parallel lips and early release these days. Colt and Metalform
are two that stick with the hybrid design, and they are both quality mags. And I think Metalform
makes most or all Colt factory 1911 mags these days.

Darned few folks even know that there ARE different kinds of feed lip designs for 1911s, probably
including 2/3 or more of the current magazine makers.

Bill

 

[Ian]

I run the coated Lee TC bullet at 1.208" because two of my .45s won't take one any longer than 1.210" even sized to .4513". Because of the abnormally deep seating, I have to reduce the powder charge by about 10% vs other 230-grain bullets that run 1.265" or 1.270" OAL.

 

[wquiles]

I run the coated Lee TC bullet at 1.208" because two of my .45s won't take one any longer than 1.210" even sized to .4513". Because of the abnormally deep seating, I have to reduce the powder charge by about 10% vs other 230-grain bullets that run 1.265" or 1.270" OAL.

That is a common problem with the larger/heavier boolits, not only in the 1911 but also the Glock. I sent my barrel to this guy (DougGuy) and he extended the throat/freebore just enough to feed these larger boolits:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?29606-DougGuy

I also sent him (different project) my 44Mag cylinder and he perfectly matched all 6 throats as well. He does great work, and has a fast turn-around.

Will

 

[Brad]

Doug did my 1911 and CZ 75B barrels. Fast and good don’t often go together but Doug meets the criteria.

 

[358156 hp]

Time for the LBT 230 LFN pic again! My "go to" bullet.

 

[Brad]

That is an awesome looking bullet Bob. Should feed well and hit hard.

 

[Ian]

Looks like the BD 45 bullet, WFN hamma'.

The reason I don't throat my guns to fit my ammo is that .45 ACP is combat ammo and it needs to fit any pistol out there. All of the plastic fantastics that have no throats will feed and chamber my .45 load just fine.

 

[Pistolero]

Hmmm. My only plastic fantastic is my S&W M&P 45. It digests my normal H&G 68 ammo just fine.
I had a load set up that was used for many decades in IPSC competition, mostly with Colts. When I
got my first Dan Wesson 1911, that ammo would NOT QUITE work. I had to seat the bullets about
0.025 deeper. That is my new standard and it works in a wide range of 1911s and the one S&W M&P45 and
several S&W revolvers, and one Ruger revolver.

I agree with the 'common ammo' theme, Ian. My H&G 68 standard .45 ACP load has to function
through all of them, IMO.

And that is a good looking bullet, 358156HP.

Bill

 

[CZ93X62]

Yes--that casting does look very BD-45-ish. I still have a couple tall coffee cans full of these castings I made several years ago from a borrowed mould. They have fed in all of my 45 ACP pistols, but did not feed at all in bro-in-law's Series 70 Gold Cup using Colt OEM magazines or parallel-lip aftermarket critters. FWIW.

 

[358156 hp]

LBTs LFN is reputed to even feed in cranky Series 70s as well. I also have the usual suspects, H&G 68, Lyman 452460, 452374, etc. I really need to shoot the 1911s more, I'm turning into such a wuss...

 

[Pistolero]

The .45 ACP is a manly cartridge.

 

[Ian]

Fit up a threaded barrel and screw on a Liberty Mystic to make the 1911 twice as much fun and virtually eliminate recoil.

 

[Pistolero]

I have a TiRant45 in paperwork, and a DW 5" Vigil with threaded bbl from factory and a drop in threaded
bbl for S&W M&P45. Just waiting.

Bill

 

[wquiles]

I took some pictures of my 1911 mags - I don't think I have a single GI style one.

These are the two factory mags on my Series 80 Commander:

Two old Chip M. 10-rounders:

And some other ones, my oldest mags, some have a polymer guide which I know "I" did change, but it was 20+ years ago, and I don't remember why:

The one without the polymer guide:

I guess if I look at the photos posted earlier, these are pretty much the "parallel" type?

Will