Alternatives to Hardball

[jondar]

I have a 1911, U.S. Property that seems to like nothing but 230 grain RN FMJ or LRN.
It shoots them flawlessly. No failure to fire or feed. I have tried hollow points which "resemble"the hardball bullet but fail to feed. Badly. The gunsmith said he could work it over to where it would feed hollow points and even wadcutters but he recommended I leave it original. Does anyone know of a commercially loaded soft point or hollow point that will feed in these old Colts?

 

[The Bushmaster]

Have you tried Remington !85 grain HPs...These are bulk bullets and can be gotten at www.midwayusa.com

 

[Hypnogator]

You might try Cor-Bon PowrBalls or Federal EFMJs. Both are supposed to feed in "hardball only" guns.

 

[Sunray]

Your feed ramp needs chamfering. Mind you, given the current price of the pistol, I'd leave the original barrel alone. You could have another barrel fitted and chamfer the feed ramp though. Taper crimp only.
The vintage .45 I had worked just fine with cast 230 grain RN and 4.5 grains of Bullseye, as I recall. Had to sell it long ago to pay a lawyer. My butt hurts from kicking myself.

 

[StrikeEagle]

The gunsmith said he could work it over to where it would feed hollow points and even wadcutters but he recommended I leave it original.

I really agree here... I'd SHOOT it, but sure wouldn't alter it. I also agree with the poster who suggested fitting a new barrel and adjusting that one, if needed.

Though I kinda think if I had a pistol exactly like yours, I'd just enjoy it for a hardball shooter... as JMB had in mind.

Congratulations on owning a pistol like that. I'd really love to have its twin.

StrikeEagle

ps any history to this gun that you know about?

 

[HSMITH]

Assuming the old gun is in good operating condition: if you use the right magazines, and you use a round of hardball to set your seating die and crimp you would be surprised what that old gun will feed.

 

[jondar]

Many thanks. These are alternatives I hadn't considered.

Bushmaster & Hypnogator - I will look for the bullets and cartridges you suggest.

Sunray - Also hadn't considered a seperate barrell. I'm amazed the gunsmith didn't recommend it. I may be loading a little heavy on the 230 gr LRN. I load 5.2 gr. Bullseye. Don't know where I got that loading. Think it may have come from an old American Rifleman magazine. I had loaded way down to try to get away from that hammer bite and started having jams up over the breech so went to this load.

Strike Eagle - The only reason I thought about the soft point/hollow point was in using it for home protection or carrying. These old Colts are really just too heavy for a carry gun. Anyway my state has no carry law. Lawmakers just make felons out of honest people.

 

[jondar]

HSmith - Sounds like it's worth a try. The pistol works fine. What magazine would you recommend? Jon

 

[ATAShooter]

Another cheap easy thing you can do to get it to feed better, ( if you are on a poor man's budget like me ) Go to Lowe's and get this teflon stuff. Clean your feed ramp, and inside of mag lips, to clean steel with gun scrubber or something like that, take a Qtip and sparingly apply this to the feed ramp, inside of mag lips, and top of mag follower ( you can actually see this stuff, it isn't invisible ). Trick is to make sure you shake product well before you apply, and let it dry for 2 hrs without touching or messing with it, and it will penetrate the grain of the steel for a " slicker than a minnow's tool " finish. I have had REALLY good luck with this stuff and I use it on my 1911 feed ramp, slide grooves, ect.... I think you will be impressed with this stuff. Best part, it sets up dry with no grease.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Since you handload anyway, try the H&G #68 style bullet. This bullet was originally designed for the hardball guns. If you set up your roundnose seating die to the proper depth and then use it to seat the semi-wadcutter bullet, the profile will be correct for feeding through your gun.

I had an original 1911A1 Remington, made in 1945, in about 90% condition until last year, when I sold it. Now the money's gone and so is the gun. I've been kicking myself ever since. That gun would feed empty cases.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[StrikeEagle]

HSmith - Sounds like it's worth a try. The pistol works fine. What magazine would you recommend?

I warmly and heartily suggest these:

http://www.gunsprings.com/SemiAuto/ColtNF.html#magazine

These are the specs that are preferred by many/most of the most advanced and knowledgeable 1911 folks here favor.

1) Wolf Spring upgrade
2) Flat, dimpled follower as per JMB's design
3) Metalform body (they make Colt's mags, I'm pretty sure)
4) 7-Round... again, as JMB designed

Beware of latterday 'trick mags' where suddenly some guy decides that he's got a way to wedge an extra round in there... or some 'clever' new follower that escaped the attention of Browning and the US Ordnance Dept.

You'll be pleased.

StrikeEagle

 

[jondar]

I've already come up with one possible fault. More than one poster said to be sure that the seater die was set to OAL of the hardball ctg. It is, and have had no problem with the LRN 230's. BUT in checking the oal of the hollow points I tried to feed, they are a full 1/16" shorter than the hardball. I bought these at a gunshow, they are obviously reloads, and I have just been shooting them in a Webley. This afternoon, if I can get thru the snow in the driveway, I'll go to Lowe's and get some Teflon and treat the ramp and magazine as recommended by ATAShooter.

Reloader Fred - What does the H&G stand for and any idea on where to find them?

Jon

 

[HSMITH]

John, disregard the OAL of the hollowpoints as far as comparisons go. Seat them with your die set for hardball at 1.250". Monitor your OAL after that, but don't be worried if they come out shorter than the ball.

The real key here is to get the high spots of the HP to match the high spots of the ball ammo as they feed, if they do the gun will feed. The high spots will vary quite a bit in actual location from one hollowpoint brand to another and even from one weight to another in the same brand.

The Metalform mags SE recommended are good ones. I like the McCormick Power Mags too, I have a basket of them and have zero problems.

H&G is for Hensley and Gibbs.