Novice pistol shooter need avice

jmichelin84

jmichelin84

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Hello all, I have a Brand new 45 ACP 1911 pistol, and im looking to cook up some loads that I can work upto full powers.
I have a chronic injury, but I want to learn to shoot my pistol, any loads for a lighter bullet, lower powder 45 ACP round? Im thinking wad cutters that are lighter maybe around 90 to 140 grain bullets, if i can find them in canada
 
You need a min amount of power to reliably work the slide. That min power is still more than 9mm when it comes to felt recoil.

Reducing bullet weight requires more powder to reliability work the gun.
 
My advice:

<http://www.bullseyelondon.com/gsg-1911-22-conversion-kit-black-gsg0001a.html>

<https://www.firearmsoutletcanada.com/gsg-1911-22-conversion-kit.html>

<https://www.wanstallsonline.com/gsg-1911-22lr-conversion-kit-black.html>
 
Sell it. Get a 9mm. They come in 1911 style if that's what you require.

22 conversion kit is also an option, but they don't really allow you to work up to anything substantial.
 
3.6 grains of bullseye under 200 grain LSWC is the load you are looking for.
Of course always follow published data. This load is load is below minimum in some modern manuals. It was taken from an old lyman manual, can't remember which edition. Very soft shooting.

Cheers
 
All good advice here, if your injury causes you to develop a flinch using factory ammo, you may want to heed the advice about going with a 9mm. I have arthritis and my right hand was injured some years ago, I had to switch to single action with revolvers, and my 1911 .45 acp had the trigger pull reduced to 3.2 lbs with added Pachmayr rubber grips, I have been able to continue shooting the .45 but could not obtain my IPSC Black Badge and it's pretty pointless trying to compete in competition with a .45 anymore. Good luck, hope you find a good solution.
 
Ubermeier said:
3.6 grains of bullseye under 200 grain LSWC is the load you are looking for....
Click to expand...

That sounds pretty light and if it works in the OP's pistol, would be a workable solution. I suspect that if he does too light, he might have to use a lighter recoil spring.

My 49th Ed. Lyman Reloading Manual shows 3.5 gr. of Bullseye as min. with one of their cast bullets (they have 2), for 645 fps. Alternately, 4.0 of W231/HP38 for just under 700 fps., or 5.0 Unique at 670 fps. Those are pretty leisurely loads and should be soft shooting if they cycle in his gun. It may depend on the bullet, too- how much bearing surface it has.
 
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josquin said:
That sounds pretty light and if it works in the OP's pistol, would be a workable solution. I suspect that if he does too light, he might have to use a lighter recoil spring.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of getting a lighter spring, for now I'll focus on the ammo, but I'm going to keep trying to use the factory ammo, but needs to find some hahahah
 
Depending on what type of 1911 you have, you may need to throat and polish the feedramp to feed LSWCs properly.

The W231 and 200gr LSWC combination is a good one. I used it years ago in a Sig P220. I’m thinking 3.3gr? But don’t quote me on it. It was 20 years ago!
 
jmichelin84 said:
I was thinking of getting a lighter spring, for now I'll focus on the ammo, but I'm going to keep trying to use the factory ammo, but needs to find some hahahah
Click to expand...

Oops, I just updated my post above. Any factory ammo will be pricey, and you will have very few options, especially as to power level. Most of it will be 230 gr. "ball", such as American Eagle, and that will be a full-power load with the accompanying recoil. I load 5.6 gr. of W231 over 200 gr. cast or Berry's plated for my STI Apartan and Ruger SR45, and bought a box of AE to use as a factory "standard" as I was having some feeding/jamming issues in the Ruger, and the recoil was noticeably greater, although not uncomfortable.

Reloading is the only way to go, esp. for .45 ACP. A bit of an investment up front but it will save you in the long run. Get yourself a Lee Classic Turret press and dies and a good source of cast or plated bullets. Henry at Budget Shooter Supply is great to deal with but given that you're in NL, the shipping may be high.
 
Here in Goose Bay area of central Labrador it's upto 59 to 60 per 20 rounds of federal....
The canpar shipping is cheaper than the mark up haha
I have the Sig Sauer Spartan 1911 full size 45 ACP pistol
 
josquin said:
Oops, I just updated my post above. Any factory ammo will be pricey, and you will have very few options, especially as to power level. Most of it will be 230 gr. "ball", such as American Eagle, and that will be a full-power load with the accompanying recoil. I load 5.6 gr. of W231 over 200 gr. cast or Berry's plated for my STI Apartan and Ruger SR45, and bought a box of AE to use as a factory "standard" as I was having some feeding/jamming issues in the Ruger, and the recoil was noticeably greater, although not uncomfortable.

Reloading is the only way to go, esp. for .45 ACP. A bit of an investment up front but it will save you in the long run. Get yourself a Lee Classic Turret press and dies and a good source of cast or plated bullets. Henry at Budget Shooter Supply is great to deal with but given that you're in NL, the shipping may be high.
Click to expand...

Yup I deal with Henry alot, x-reload is closer but not so good prices.
I have a Lee breech lock press, just need the dies and few bits n pieces for the reloading bit, but the powder, primers and pills will be a little while, I have some brass here I bought off a fellow Gunner, with spares if anyone wants some, I can get a count later, I think it was 500 or 1K I bought and chose some I wanted, I'd trade for the projectiles lol
 
jmichelin84 said:
Here in Goose Bay area of central Labrador it's upto 59 to 60 per 20 rounds of federal....
The canpar shipping is cheaper than the mark up haha
I have the Sig Sauer Spartan 1911 full size 45 ACP pistol
Click to expand...

1) OUCH!!!!!!! No more encouragement needed re: reloading, then.

2) Nice pistol :)
 
I had a SIG TTT. It doesn’t like dirty powder. Was shooting factory reloads from CRS with a clean gun and i had to push the slide into battery after 50 rounds.

Never tried LSWCs thru it though as I don’t reload anymore. And, yeah, like josquin said, at those prices, you have no choice but to reload!!! Hope you come onto a good loading!
 
200 grain lead semi-wad cutter bullets for target, light plinking & fun can be econimically powdered by fast burning powders.
Bullseye, WST, WW231, RedDot, Clays, ClayDot, 700X all make the 45acp sing.

Look for 175 grain, 185 & 190 grain bullets too as they are also suitable.
Consider reloading your own, & even better: make/cast your own!
 
Ubermeier said:
3.6 grains of bullseye under 200 grain LSWC is the load you are looking for.
Of course always follow published data. This load is load is below minimum in some modern manuals. It was taken from an old lyman manual, can't remember which edition. Very soft shooting.

Cheers
Click to expand...

If this load does not cycle the action in your gun, get a lighter recoil spring.
 
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