L10 .45 Or .40

[Dusty]

I was wondering if a .45 can be competitive against the .40 in L10? What is the max range in the COF?

[Loves2Shoot]

L10 = 10 rounds in the mags.

So they are equally competitive, to 40. is cheaper to load.

[JFD]

+1 to .45 being more expensive than .40.

I shot a lot of lead bullets when I was shooting L-10 with a .45. My wife has the gun now and I'm loading plated for matches so she doesn't have to deal with the smoke. She still practices with lead to keep the costs down.

Shoot whichever you prefer. Back when I was more of a speed shoot specialist, I could trounce a bunch of Limited and Open shooters with my SS .45, so I don't believe it will hold you back at all.

[38superman]

I have shot three different 45's in lim 10.

The first was a single stack 1911, the second was a Para P14.45 double stack, the third was an Edge 2011.

I settled on the Edge because it has the same grip / weight / balance as my limited gun.

This makes it easier for me to move from one division to the other without having to adjust to the feel of a different gun.

The double stack is also much easier to speed load that the single stack.

I have also shot my 40 SV limited gun in lim 10 as a backup when the Edge wasn't running quite right.

Even thought the ammo is more costly, I prefer the 45.

My 45 Edge shoots softer and flatter than my 40.

This is because the lower chamber pressure of the 45 allows me to use faster powders and heavier bullets than the 40.

As for the max range in the COF you may be required to engage targets out to about 40 yds. from time to time

There is no meaningful difference in those cartridges at that range.

Tls

[XRe]

The double stack is also much easier to speed load that the single stack.

Wimp.

[Sam]

Dusty, most of the difference is in our perception.

It is a very good habit to keep a practice journal. I have them going back to 2001. What I discovered by tracking my practice sessions is that my SS.45 times began to equal and eclipse my .40 double-stack times with similar hit factors. At first I deceived myself by believing that this was an anomaly, because I had heard so many people say this or that on the subject. What I learned through observation was, that for many shooters, the larger mag well opening is indeed a benefit and that for me the benefit had expired like an old insurance policy. I think it is very much like shooting your fellow quail hunter with a 28 gauge. Only the more practiced quail hunters do it that way.

The single-stack takes a good deal more attention directed on the mag well to hit satisfactory reloads. Since good shooting is really about carefully directed focus of attention, I enjoy shooting the SS a little more than the wide guns. I used to miss reloads and even hurl magazines throught the air at times. (ask Ron Ankeny ) But, after learning the dicipline required to hit a skinny mag well every time, I haven't launched one in a couple of years. Regardless of the choice you make, remember to start tracking your progess in a note book and stay open to the learning at all times.

Sorry, forgot to mention: The SS.45 is the way John Wayne would go. But the .40 is less expensive, especially with all the surplus police brass for sale.

Edited March 5, 2006 by Sam

[ChuckS]

I was wondering if a .45 can be competitive against the .40 in L10? What is the max range in the COF?

Yup Click Click

[38superman]

The double stack is also much easier to speed load that the single stack.

Wimp.

Hey, we have a special division now for you real men with skinny guns.

Knock yourselves out.

T

Edited March 5, 2006 by tlshores

[Zerwas]

Hello Tony how've u been?

I tell ya I'm thinking about shooting my skinny gun this year, but being from the northland we need the extra thickness to get us thru the rough winters....although this one has been a joke.

Take care my friend.

[38superman]

Hi Steven,

I'm fine.

I look forward to shooting with you again, hopefully sometime soon and someplace warm.

I decided to shoot Lim10 this year, at least until nationals.

As you can see I have to fend off the "Skinny Guns Rule" crowd when I decide to cheat and show up with my 45 Edge.

Sorry for the thread drift Mr. Moderator.

Yes Dusty the 45 can be competitive in about any division other that open.

You would be at distinct disadvantage in Limited due to mag capacity, and in production due to power factor.

However 45's are prevalent in L10 and Single Stack and it is also the cartridge of choice in revolver.

T

Edited March 5, 2006 by tlshores

[XRe]

As you can see I have to fend off the "Skinny Guns Rule" crowd when I decide to cheat and show up with my 45 Edge.

Wimp

Actually, I have a commitment to myself to get my M card in L-10 before I go play SS (cause I have to play as an M there anyway) - and I've gotta dump about $350 on mags and leather to go play, too, so...

In reality, .45 is probably still competitive in Limited, but you gotta be sharp on your reloads... Obviously, .40 is the prevalent choice, there...

[38superman]

I agree that the 45 can be competive in Limited if you're sharp on your strategy and quick with your reloads.

My 40 mags usually hit the ground with a couple of rounds still in them anyway.

I always plan my reloads to allow for a makeup shot or two if needed.

Now that the SS division is in place, it will be interesting to see where we go with L10.

It was concieved as "Limited Lite" to account for magazine restictions that were enacted with the Brady bill and are still in effect in some states.

The other divisions have types of guns that dominate because they are the best solution to the way the rules are set up.

L10 has always been sort of a catch all where equipment was concerned.

The division is wide open and almost any gun you can name (short of a full blown race gun) can compete under L10 rules.

A lot of folks thought that L10 should morph into SS but now that SS has it's own banner,

should L10 remain as is, or evolve into something with a little more structure?

Tls

Edited March 6, 2006 by tlshores

[Ron Ankeny]

Dusty:

There are several forum members who do very well in L10 with a Single Stack .45. Sam won Area One with a single stack .45 and he didn't hurl any magazines through the air. However, he did hurl the tip of his extractor a couple of feet.

On a serious note, Ron Avery won L10 at the Nationals with a .45 single stack as did Rob Leatham. At the club level, there are countless shooters winning with .45 single stacks every month from coast to coast.

[38superman]

Allow me to point out that Dusty never mentioned anything about a singe stack in his original post.

He only asked about the merits of a 45 vs 40 in L10 and the range at which we engage targets.

The rest of us injected the single stack vs. whatever debate.

Dusty, back to your original question.

The 45 has been around for almost 100 years.

Many cartridges have come and gone in that time.

There is a reason for that.

The 45 may not be ideal for every circumstance but it is almost always competitive.

I think we are all in agreement on that.

Tls

Edited March 6, 2006 by tlshores

[XRe]

One further thought - .45 is generally a lot more forgiving to reload. Don't know if you're new to reloading or not, etc. .40's cheaper on the factory ammo end of things, of course. If loading jacketed, you're going to spend the same money on either, basically...

BUT... there's a lot more margin for error in a .45. If you're loading heavy bullets and fast powder in .40, make sure you know what you're doing

If you're shooting at long range, the .40 may have a slight advantage in terms of trajectory - but like anything else, your .45 will have a known trajectory and correction at that range, too, and you just have to learn it.

[Dusty]

I have been reloading for several years. I have shot C.A.S. competitivley for a couple of years, but was thinking about giving USPSA a try. Just wondering what the winning set-up was for L10 and single stack. Was thinking of going with a Springfield or Kimber. Would the stock loaded trophy match be good enough to win with?

[Middle Man]

I have been reloading for several years. I have shot C.A.S. competitivley for a couple of years, but was thinking about giving USPSA a try. Just wondering what the winning set-up was for L10 and single stack. Was thinking of going with a Springfield or Kimber. Would the stock loaded trophy match be good enough to win with?

Either a Kimber or a Springfield Loaded would do quite well as stock or with very few alterations.

Here are a couple of threads with photos of my Kimber (and others).

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...ck+single+stack

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...93entry308093

Edited March 6, 2006 by Middle Man

[Loves2Shoot]

I have been reloading for several years. I have shot C.A.S. competitivley for a couple of years, but was thinking about giving USPSA a try. Just wondering what the winning set-up was for L10 and single stack. Was thinking of going with a Springfield or Kimber. Would the stock loaded trophy match be good enough to win with?

Depends on who's driving it. That is much more important than the pistol. Most modern 1911's are capable of winning, even the vanilla no frills ones, as long as it runs, the rest is in the preperation of the driver.

[Crusher]

Would the stock loaded trophy match be good enough to win with?

Like L2S says "It ain't the piano, it's the PLAYER"

Anyone try racing a Stienway yet? Darn thins will corner like a Ferrari with those composite urathane wheels

[Dusty]

Not to open up a can of worms here, but I was browsing around one of our local gunshops today that was run by an "expert" He claims that none of the Springfields where any good out of the box. He says that if you buy a TRP or a loaded trophy match it would take alot of work to get it to run with the Kimbers. Any one else had that experience?

[Crusher]

local gunshops today that was run by an "expert"

Isn't that an oximoron? A gunshop expert?

The TRP is Springfields top of the line hand fitted as is the Trophy match, your best bet is to find a local match and talk with as many of the regulars as possible.

[Loves2Shoot]

Not to open up a can of worms here, but I was browsing around one of our local gunshops today that was run by an "expert" He claims that none of the Springfields where any good out of the box. He says that if you buy a TRP or a loaded trophy match it would take alot of work to get it to run with the Kimbers. Any one else had that experience?

Don't drink the Koolaid.

[Sam]

Dusty, a wise man once told me to beware the "expert". He reasoned that an "ex" is a has-been and a "spurt" is just a drip under pressure.

The Springfields are excellent pistols.

[SteveZ]

says that if you buy a TRP or a loaded trophy match it would take alot of work to get it to run with the Kimbers.

Well unfortunately...this is a true statement. See, you have to take a file and file the hook off the extractor on the Springfield so it won't extract properly....just like the external extractors on the Kimber don't extract properly. Once you do that...it will run JUST like a Kimber.

[XRe]

My take, after a little research, and experience? Don't trust much of anything in a 1911 w/ an external extractor. The Sig - maybe. The others... not for me. Personally, I have an STI Trojan in .40 for L-10, et al. SV makes a single stack, as well. Those two would also be good choices. Older Kimber. New SA. Sig looks nice, too. S&W, maybe??