45 super

[SDGlock23]

I'd definitely like to see published load data or pressure measurements for that load. Under 1,200 fps with a 230 is about the hottest thing I've seen floating around the internet, and just in looking at other cartridges (albeit with larger cases), I see pressures around 37-38,000psi to get close to that velocity with a 250 gr 45 cal bullet. It seems then you'd be well over 50% over any rule-of-thumb pressure for 45 Super (nominally 28,000 psi ?). In any case not what I'd consider to be what 45 Super should do.

If anyone is actually measuring 45 Super pressures, it would be nice data to see. It just seems bogus to say a cartridge is capable of something when no one knows what pressure it takes to get that performance, and no one has taken the time to develop a recommended standard for it.

This isn't unique to 45 Super by any means, and wouldn't go away just because of a recommended standard. Many folks seem to want 10mm to also be the thermonuclear powerhouse that legend and lore have it to be, when it just isn't. As a result, ridiculous loads abound everywhere it seems, with folks arguing over whether their blown primers and ballooned case heads are due to overloading or bad barrels or slide speeds--and the only data to be had is charge weights, coming in at 15% over published maximums. No guts, no glory I guess.

Oh yeah I would guess that a 250gr @ 1300 fps is pretty close to the 35-40K PSI range at least. I have heard the Super is rated to 28K but there isn't any difference in strength between it and the 40K rated 460 Rowland (at least using Starline brass), so my best guess is that the Super is highly under-rated today at 28K and was likely measured some years back using whatever brand brass that wasn't as strong, a regular .45 ACP case could handle 28K, and more really as some have loaded ACP brass to 460R pressure in the right setup, so the .45 Super is tough enough for sure.

I agree that you see this a lot with the 10mm (loading over specs), and I've been guilty of loading it hot also, too hot really. However, the only mass published .45 Super data is literally less than a .45 ACP +P. But I think most of what is done with the 10mm is an effort to justify their choice of 10mm over the .40, because really there isn't a "huge" difference between the two, but they won't accept that and continue to think it's 300-400 fps faster. Oh sure the 10mm is faster, but just how much faster if you stick to the 37.5K PSI rating? The answer is not much. Even though I do think the .40 is at least as strong as the 357 Sig (40K PSI) and both structurally stronger than the 10mm, I have no issue that the 10mm is faster than the .40 S&W because it burns more powder. However if you use the same bullet, same powder, same barrel length and same pressure, there just isn't much difference, albeit around or less than 100 fps.

 

[Pointshoot]

I researched this years ago and ran 45 Super with a Sprinco recoil reduction unit on a Dan Wesson 1911. (I still have both the pistol and the Sprinco.) IIRC there was a small company out of Texas that specialized in that round and offered loaded ammo for a reasonable price. They later went out of business. I never got around to handloading it myself.
The 45 Super was fine, but later I just went with 10mm in a 1911 chambered for it and in several Glocks.