OAL

[Johnny McCrae]

I just picked up a Rock Island Armory 1911 and ordered a set of Lee Dies. I have some 180 grain .45 RNFP lead bullets I want to use up. I'll be using Trail Boss powder and IMR's website calls for an OAL of 1.140" with Trail Boss and a 180 grain bullet. Seating my 180 grain bullets to the crimp groove will give me a 1.140" OAL. This website http://www.handloads.com/articles/cartridge.htm shows a maximum OAL of 1.275". Never had a semi-auto pistol till now, only single actions. How sensitive to OAL are 1911's? Could these 180 grain RNFP bullets give me any problems? Any suggestions as to a bullet to use?

Any suggestions and tips on reloading .45 ACP cartridges will be greatly appreciated.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Johnny,

I'm new to 1911's myself and can't claim to be an expert.  However, a much more experienced friend, told me to adjust seating depth and the amount of taper crimp until the loaded cartridge dropped easily into the chamber.  That has worked well for me, as my Springfield 1911 has been completely trouble free and accurate with cartridges so loaded.  I use 5 gr of Unique (or 16.5 grains of FFFg black) with a 200 grain RNFP bullet.

[Johnny McCrae]

I tried a batch of 180 grain RNFP bullets with 3.5 grains of Trail Boss seated to an OAL of 1.140". These did not eject well and I had some jamming. I then tried two batches of 230 grain RN bullets with 3.5 and 3.9 grains of Trail Boss seated to an OAL of 1.200". Both batches worked just fine. I'll stick with the 230 grain RN bullets and 3.7 grains of Trail Boss.

Never had anything but single actions before. I sure had fun!

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[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  I'll have to give that a try Johnny, still waiting for my dies and brass to come in, I can't remember of any time when it was this hard to get components together to load ammo, I hope with the next administration things will improve.


         tEN wOLVES 

[Border Ruffian]

One of the best cartridge gages for the M1911, is the Ruger 45 ACP cylinder from a Blackhawk.  It has tighter cambers than an M1911, so if my handoads drop into the cylinder freely, they'll fit an m1911 no problem.   

[Johnny McCrae]

Border Ruffian,
Thank you for your post. I know absolutely nothing about semi-automatic pistols so any information is greatly appreciated. All my experience so far has been with single actions.

So far I've put over 400 rounds of 230 grain RN bullets with 3.7 grains of Trail Boss seated to an OAL of 1.200" through my 1911 with no problems. While I use the above for target shooting, does anyone have any recommendations for a cartridge to be used for home defense?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Border Ruffian,
Thank you for your post. I know absolutely nothing about semi-automatic pistols so any information is greatly appreciated. All my experience so far has been with single actions.

So far I've put over 400 rounds of 230 grain RN bullets with 3.7 grains of Trail Boss seated to an OAL of 1.200" through my 1911 with no problems. While I use the above for target shooting, does anyone have any recommendations for a cartridge to be used for home defense?


   

    Johnny, I use JHP in 230 gr., this is the best defense bullet you can use in home or for defense in general, most the top manufactures market this round, it gives you the best of both, expansion without the worry of shooting through a perp. and the knock down power of the 230 gr. bullet. IMHO, I use Hollow Points in all my defense guns.

         tEN wOLVES 

[Johnny McCrae]

Thanks TW, any certain manufacturer that you would recommend?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Thanks TW, any certain manufacturer that you would recommend?

  Cor-bon Self Defense 45 acp +P 230 GR. JHP BXof 20

 Winchester Supreme Elite 230 gr.JHP BX of 20

Federal Premium Personal Defense 230 gr. Hydra-Shok BX of 20

Hornady TAP personal Defense 230 gr. +P JHP  BX of 20

    These are just a few of what is out there, I've had good results with the ones I have just printed out, I will be shooting only 230 gr. bullets in my 1911, and therefore I want the same weight in my defensive bullets, IMHO, this helps keep you on target at home and the range.

           tEN wOLVES 

[Johnny McCrae]

TW, Many thanks for this information.

[Pecos Clyde]

Border Ruffian,
Thank you for your post. I know absolutely nothing about semi-automatic pistols so any information is greatly appreciated. All my experience so far has been with single actions.

So far I've put over 400 rounds of 230 grain RN bullets with 3.7 grains of Trail Boss seated to an OAL of 1.200" through my 1911 with no problems. While I use the above for target shooting, does anyone have any recommendations for a cartridge to be used for home defense?

You might find the information listed on this website of interest.  While I do not think the info is the "end all" in making a ammo choice it allows you to see some fairly relavant information.

http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=18&Weight=All


PC

[Johnny McCrae]

Howdy Pecos,

Many thanks for posting this.

[litl rooster]

I had pretty good luck getting 230 grain cast lead ball from Grand Master Bullets in Colorado, when I couldn't get the Blue lube bullets here locally. I have noticed he has several weights in a .452" for your shooting pleasures.  1.20" seems to be the length both mine and my wifes 1911's prefer.


GMB was fairly priced and shipped out quick and also will do phone orders

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

I had pretty good luck getting 230 grain cast lead ball from Grand Master Bullets in Colorado, when I couldn't get the Blue lube bullets here locally. I have noticed he has several weights in a .452" for your shooting pleasures.  1.20" seems to be the length both mine and my wifes 1911's prefer.


GMB was fairly priced and shipped out quick and also will do phone orders

     Howdy Rooster, just checked out there web site, looks like they're closed for now, here is what they posted.
 
     Notice:
Due to fire, we experienced a total loss of our personal dwelling.

Due to these circumstances, We are NOT taking any orders for a short period.

We hope to be back on our feet as soon as possible - please check back often.
If you have any questions or want to be notified when we are up again - email us grandmasterbullets@yahoo.com

Thank you for your kind thoughts and patience.
Jim Gowdy

[litl rooster]

that had to be pretty recently, I had got an order from him within the past month. I hope things turn around for him

thanks for reporting this