45 ACP in a steel match

[anachronism]

I've recently returned to local competition after a lengthy hiatus. I'm shooting pin matches to start with as I rebuild the necessary skills to be competitive. Now I've been invited to a steel match. My only real problem is that my 45 ACP loads are much too powerful for this game, and buying a new pistol is out of the question for me at the time. So I'm thinking of respringing my Colt limited gun and shooting softer loads for now. The only real problem is that I've never tried to get LESS power from a 45, my quests have always led me in the opposite direction. Could somebody please suggest a spring rate, and maybe some loading data? I'm looking at (probably) 200 grain cast bullets, I don't have a mould yet but that's not an issue, I'll buy whichever ones necessary.

[CocoBolo]

I've recently returned to local competition after a lengthy hiatus. I'm shooting pin matches to start with as I rebuild the necessary skills to be competitive. Now I've been invited to a steel match. My only real problem is that my 45 ACP loads are much too powerful for this game, and buying a new pistol is out of the question for me at the time. So I'm thinking of respringing my Colt limited gun and shooting softer loads for now. The only real problem is that I've never tried to get LESS power from a 45, my quests have always led me in the opposite direction. Could somebody please suggest a spring rate, and maybe some loading data? I'm looking at (probably) 200 grain cast bullets, I don't have a mould yet but that's not an issue, I'll buy whichever ones necessary.

I shot some 140pf loads thru my 45 SS, using 4.5gr of N320 with a Precison 200gr SWC at 1.260. I ran a 12# spring for these. My normal USPSA 168pf load is 4.3gr of Clays same bullet OAL at 168pf, but don't try Clays on lighter loads (14# recoil). WST at 4.7 gr is about 168 pf, and that powder can shoot reduced loads I have gone as low as 3.8 gr and they ignite and shoot but its a mouse fart. The trouble with real weak loads it you can't tell if you made the hit on the close targets as the muzzle blast keeps you from hearing the hit. With a 168pf load the steel wags on the post like a dogs hind leg so you can see that and hear the dink. Steel can be humbling, you need to put your accuracy hat on, shooting only as fast as you can hit them, blazing thru is how you crash and burn, it is however a lot of fun. Normally 5 runs and one is a throw away.

[kevinj308]

I've not shot steel with it but was just playing around with Trailboss powder. At 3.5 gr, 230gr LRN, 1.25 OAL in my 5" SS I got 635fps, pf 146. Only shot 20 or so rounds but used my normal recoil spring of 16#. Functioned fine and was accurate but you could take a nap waiting for the slide to cycle. Would definitely reduce the spring weight if I was gonna run it in a match. Trailboss has worked pretty well for me in other download applications too, you might wanna look into it. Welcome back to shooting!

Kevin

[chirpy]

I have some 152 gr.lead SWC .45 cal. bullets that I use for light loads. I think I got them from PENN Bullets. You might be able to find some locally. As far as a load goes that depends on your setup. You would need to experiment to make sure what functions (might need to respring). I know a lot of Bullseye shooters in this area use a similar bullet with WW 231 and Bullseye (what else) but I use WST.

Good Luck and stay safe,

Richard

[entropic]

230gr with clays or s1000 will be really soft with a 12# spring. The slide will move very slow though.

[Shawn Knight]

I have wanted to try these in my revolver for steel. Not sure how they would work in an Auto though. You would definitely have to use a much lighter recoil spring. A 12-14lb would work.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046144900

This bullet may not feed correctly.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046553796

[Booty]

I have wanted to try these in my revolver for steel. Not sure how they would work in an Auto though. You would definitely have to use a much lighter recoil spring. A 12-14lb would work.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046144900

This bullet may not feed correctly.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046553796

You don't have to lighten up your loads for shooting at Steel Matches. We run our regular loads at the matches we go to. No problems at all.

Booty

[Shawn Knight]

I have wanted to try these in my revolver for steel. Not sure how they would work in an Auto though. You would definitely have to use a much lighter recoil spring. A 12-14lb would work.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046144900

This bullet may not feed correctly.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046553796

You don't have to lighten up your loads for shooting at Steel Matches. We run our regular loads at the matches we go to. No problems at all.

Booty

you do no not have too but it certainly wouldn't hurt!

[twodownzero]

I have wanted to try these in my revolver for steel. Not sure how they would work in an Auto though. You would definitely have to use a much lighter recoil spring. A 12-14lb would work.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046144900

This bullet may not feed correctly.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2046553796

You don't have to lighten up your loads for shooting at Steel Matches. We run our regular loads at the matches we go to. No problems at all.

Booty

+1

Last steel match I shot, I got 9th place out of 40 shooters, using my .45 caliber Kimber single stack with major ammo.

Just shoot whatever is reliable in your gun. If you want to back your load off a little bit, so be it...but it won't matter that much.

[anachronism]

I'm mostly concerned about calming down the recoil a bit so I can have a better chance against the pea shooters, er... 38 Supers.

[RussB]

I'm mostly concerned about calming down the recoil a bit so I can have a better chance against the pea shooters, er... 38 Supers.

Skill trumps caliber every time

I like a 200 LSWC over 3.8 of Clays for a nice light 45 ACP load