45 Auto IDPA load

[1moa@500]

I was just invited to join some friends at a local match this weekend. i went home to find that I did not have any 45 ammo. I went to the local store and purchased dies brass and bullets. I noticed that the bullets that I purchased were 200grn swc. I looked at some loading data and made a 100 rds to try out thurs at the local range. The load is ww brass cci300 primer 5grns ww231 oal 1.245. I cycled 20 or so rounds through the gun and they feed fine. My question is the load mentioned close to what I will need for these matches? Will the swcs feed as well as the rn bullets that I normally shoot? Will I need to change recoil springs for the lighter loads? Thanks in advance JSWIII P.S. the gun I am using this load for is a old kimber stainless

 

[loadedround]

In my opinion that is a good load to shoot in your match. I don't shoot IPSC but I do load that exact load for my 45 ACP shooting. I shoot two Colt Gold Cups and both pistols eat up those SWC's. Your pistol may or may not handle SWC bullets unless your feed ramp was modified and polished for them. However I had an old GI 1911 unmodified pistol that would eat them for breaskfast reguarly. You may just have to try them for functioning to be sure. Your factory spring is fine, don't change to a lighter one. Good shooting!

 

[1moa@500]

thanks for your reply I guess I will find out in a few hours when I go to the range

 

[Jim Watson]

If you wish to shoot IDPA in CDP* your ammunition must make power factor 165,000, a 200 grain bullet at 825+ fps. I doubt 5.0 grains of Win 231 will do it. I don't think the club will care for a new shooter, but if you stay with it, you should follow the rules. Can you arrange for the use of a chronograph to test loads with?

If those SWCs do not feed,fire, and function reliably, buy some roundnose for the match. There is nothing more frustrating than a gun that does not work. It can be downright dangerous with so much else to think about for a new match shooter.

*CDP: Custom Defensive Pistol, the natural division within IDPA for a 1911 pattern .45 ACP.

 

[1moa@500]

I went to the local range tonight and had a blast. I shot better than I ever had and came home with a ton of brass. The load worked well except when i put a fresh mag in with the slide open. If I loaded the mag and worked the slide all was well and the load was very accurate. It did bother me thaat when I had to drop the slide from the locked position that it would not close easily. As for the power factor I just read the rule book and I guess I need to ad velocity or bullet weight. I too believe that following the rules is important to maintain ones character. Thanks for the heads up. JSWIII

 

[xsquidgator]

I think there's a good chance you'll make pf.

Using a PACT chrony, I get 797 fps using 5.0 grains W231 under a 230LRN and an OAL of 1.265". 5.4 grains (my preferred load) gets me up to about 850 fps. I haven't chrony'd anything other than 230 grain bullets so I couldn't say for sure how your 200 grain SWCs would do.

But if 5.0 grains W231 gets a 230 grain lead bullet up to 800 fps, I think there's a good chance your 200 grain bullets (13% less weight) are >= 825 fps with the same charge of W231. (You are shooting LSWCs?)