Competitive Caliber for IPSC Major - Reduced load 45 acp or 9mm Major

M

Markit

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My first real post here other than the intro post.

I have a bit of a dilema and was hoping to get some advice from more experienced IPSC competitors.

I have been shooting since I was 4 years old (now 48) and currently shoot around 300 rounds per week at the range.

That being said I am no expert, but I am a better than average shot with a pistol. I have quite a bit of reloading experience in 45 acp, 9mm and 357 mag / 38 spcl.

I am interested in shooting in the Alberta IPSC league competitively.

I currently have a 1911 single stack in 45 acp that I recently modified. I have had this one for over 20 years. Some of the mods are: Comp, CMore, gas pedal, lightened slide, trigger job, ambi, lowered and ported ejection port, etc... It shoots very accurately but still has quite a bit of muzzle flip, even with reduced loads and bullet weights and playing around with different recoil springs.

After watching the 2013 Alberta IPSC match last weekend I noticed very few people shooting 45 acp, I think there may have only been two that I saw.

Would it be worthwhile for me to play around with reduced loads for the 45 that barely keep me in major or should I bin that idea and just build up a decent 9mm and reload for major?

I have no experience loading for .357 sig, 38 super or 40 cal and would prefer to stay with calibers I am familiar with.

If anyone has been down this road before and can offer some words of wisdom or direction that would be much appreciated.

Marc
 
Lose the comp and optic and get a properly fitted barrel/bushing and shoot the .45 in Classic Division. Learn to control the "flip" with a proper grip/stance and you should be fine.

A single stack 1911 in Open isn't going to be very competitive and I shudder to think what it would cost to covert it to 9mm major.

Once you get a season of Classic under your belt, then decide if you want to move to a different division or shoot a .40 in Classic (as it is a much more competitive caliber).
 
first off no you don't want to try and shot major close to the floor factor. i always advise people to carry 10 points over. I run my super at a 175 power factor so i don't have to worry about making major whiter i am shooting IPSC, 160 PF or USPSA 165 PF.

Next are you loading a fast powder or a slow powder? you want to use a light bullet, like 180/185 with a slow powder like HS6 or N350.
 
Way back in the nineties I shot a 45 single stack in open division.I used 155 gr SWC bullets with 231 powder and it worked OK,but was never very competitive with it.Open guns with comps need lots of pressure to work well,and the 45 just doesnt have it.Once I finally afforded a 38 super I realised at what a disadvantage I was.However,if youve spent all the money already on the 45,just shoot it for a season or so to get in the game,you wont really be competitive with the other open shooters,but will have fun and be introduced to the game,after that you can decide what route to go.

I ultimately converted that old open 45 into a nice 5 inch open sighted gun.
 
Thanks for the info all.

I have a few slides and barrels for the 45 so converting it back to shoot it in Classic would likely take only a few minutes.

I have been playing with 185 gr hbrn with win 231. Totally agree that the comp is just a weight at the end of the barrel with these loads.

Got some thinking to do.
 
as you mentioned, not very many shooters use .45acp. that being said, I shoot .45 and aside from chasing your brass it won't really put you at any disadvantage in classic or standard. shoot what you"ve got for a season and go from there. I have been strictly using 230 TMJ for the past 2 years and make 175 PF with 4.9 gr bullseye.
 
I'd say you may wanna get a better look at the style of shooting each Division commands and then compare them with your likes, equipment and personal physical condition.
Eye sight, swiftness in motion and steady hands may play big deal.
 
Run what you brung for a season. If it turns out ipsc is for you, you will want to buy something in .40 for standard (if you are like most people that is) probably a 2011 which is the standard pistol in that division at most matches i've shot at. 9mm major I've only see used in open guns, if you want to get into open once again the standard seems to be a 2011 set up to your liking. Not saying you can't use something else but that seems to be what most experienced people end up getting into (pro's notwithstanding who shoot whatever they are given and could probably destroy 99.9% of us with a hipoint and 4 mags)
.
 
What you have may not be ideal platform for IPSC open but you have it so you may as well run it.

IPSC is like every other recreational activity. Lots of people express an interest. Some folks take the black badge. Fewer still will show up to club matches. And very very few will develop their skill set to the level that choosing major nine will have a great effect on their score.

The only real drawback of shooting 45 ACP as a beginner is the ammo is more expensive. I shot one for 3 years starting out. I wasted time scrounging brass when I should have been helping my squad more.
 
When 45 was used more in open the power factor was 170 for major, so the comps were designed to work at a higher power factor.
Last open 45 I watched the guy was using 155 grain lead.
Light bullet, drive it fast, I imagine a powder that creates a large gas column- I don't believe listed 45acp powders will allow the comp to work well.
Not sure of the powder he used but I got a round off the range floor in error and it found it's way into my ammo; it really kicked when I touched it off- way more than a factory 230 grain...
At any rate his gun worked very well.
 
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