255gr SWC SR1911

[Skalkaho Slim]

Finally got around to trying these things out. Me likey!!!

Rim Rock Bullets 255gr SWC (.452", but they also size 'em to .451" in you want them to. I stuck with .452" as I use 'em in 45 Colt as well).
Mixed brass, Federal, Independence, Winchester, Starline.
WLP primers.
5.2gr of Unique.

Shot off hand at 20 yards. I only loaded 10 and this was my first string of five. I was pleased as punch, so shot the other five at old pop cans.

Group is 2" (OK, 2.130" if you wanna get picky. ).

Sure wish I had a crono as I can only guess that they're around 800-850fps. Buddy of mine is gonna let me borrow his, so I can see what they're actually doing.

Could not tell any difference in recoil between these and factory 230gr ball fodder. Maybe someone who is in touch with his inner zen could, but not me.

All fed real slick. I didn't change out any components. I believe the factory SR spring is 18#, but not certain. After shooting them and not noticing any difference from my standard 230 load, I just don't see a need to change anything. Maybe someone knows something I don't. If I want to get them up around 900-1000fps, then probably. But I think I'd top out at 900. Anything faster than that in a 1911 is a case of diminishing returns IMHO.

The hole in the bullseye is from a stick used to hold the plate up (I think, it was there when I found it on the ground). Don't pay any attention to it. You can see the grease rings from the five rounds shot.

 

[Ruber]

That's one of my favorites. I had planned on working up to about 930 fps but actually stopped around 870. The groups were really nice and it fed very reliably.

Now, I was working up loads for my SW1911, I was getting a big difference between guns with my Colt actually getting about 30 fps more out of the same load with the same spring configuration. But my SW is a field gun, more reliable and accurate than the Colt, so 870 is where it sits for me.

The one setup tweak that really did work for me was a new firing pin stop with a sharper bottom edge, other than that I was keeping springs at 18 too.

FYI: at 5.2 gr, I was getting about 820 out of my SW, but the standard deviations were really high. They closed down around 5.5 gr.

I toyed around with 45 Super, 460 Rowland and now 400 Corbon and have got to say I really think those 255 gr LSWCs with unique in a 1911 are a real go-to field load.

Work up slow, be careful, take lots of notes, and most of all, have fun!

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

My next loadings will be working up to 5.5.

I'd bet a dollar to a dog turd that that's where I'll want to be.

If it bucks more, I'll give the flat FPS a try.

 

[tek4260]

From what I have read over on the 1911 forum, most people like the flat bottom stops. The only thing bad anyone ever says about them is that they make the cocking effort go way up. I had asked about ill effects from using them like maybe undue stress on the hammer pin or the like and no one has ever had issue that I can tell. The recoil is different with it in and the pistol has a different feel, but I don't know enough about 1911's to describe it.

What OAL you able to get to chamber?

Also, here are some pictures of my boolits on 1911forum

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378852

The Lee has to be loaded short due the the throat on my Springfield, which sucks. I was really wanting to stretch a few out. Oh well, those SWC's will work better on game I think!

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

My OAL is running at 1.161". I was hoping something closer to 1.18 or 1.19, but oh well.

That was one of the many threads I read in my research. Some nice fella sent it to me a bit ago.

Beartooth has a 255gr LRNFP that has quite the meplat. Think it runs right about .360". I loves me a nice wide meplat!

I may get one of those FPS's just to try. I'm real curious about them as that was what the original 1911 utilized.

 

[dougader]

I have that Beartooth rnfp bullet. You're right, it does have a wide meplat.

I found I had to seat the BT rnfp deeper than their 265 gr WFNGC. IIRC the COL on the 265 WFN is 1.186" and I really like it. It feeds well in my G21sf.

 

[dennie]

Slim, thanx for this post. I went to look up a load I tried a few years ago, and it was almost the same as yours. Vance 255LSWC/5.1 Unique/1.220" OAL. I only loaded a few for my 4" Kimber, but they worked great. Gotta get some more bullets and experiment a little more.
dennie

 

[tek4260]

Maybe this isn't as far out on a limb as we think it is

Of course using a fast powder like Unique scares me. Big gains in small increments, and big pressure jumps.... a loose neck and a boolit setback when chambering..... Might need to find some of those metal plates that go under the grips in case a case head blows. :shock:

Reguardless though, I won't be loading any 230's as long as I have a 255-280 SWC or Lee to load.

 

[PO2Hammer]

850 fps with a 255 SWC sounds like good, solid power to me.
This thread has got me real exited about the SR 1911, I hope to have one in the next couple weeks and I have over a thousand SWC's waiting to go.

Nice pic, great shooting!

 

[cworetired]

Buckeye, are you using the standard or the premium bullets from Rim Rock. I will want to give them a try. Thanks

 

[WESHOOT2]

Both W231 and Unique act very progressively under heavy bullets in the 45 ACP case.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

Buckeye, are you using the standard or the premium bullets from Rim Rock. I will want to give them a try. Thanks

I'm using the standard. The only time I've use premiums is with the really heavies and pushing them pretty hard.

Saying that, I haven't used any of the hard bullets in quite some time as I feel the standard works just fine.

 

[7p's]

You might want to consider Beartooth's 265 grain cast - I don't care for the gas check but it loads and feeds with no problems - at least in my 2 Baers that is. Using 8.0 grains of VV N350 you can push the 265 grain to 1,004 fps with the high being 1016fps and the low going 998fps with a 7 SD and an 18 ES. Going up to 8.5 grains you'll zip along at 1,061fps. Used 45 ACP Super cases but that's just overkill on my part. Used a 20# recoil spring and the cases flew 15 feet, so 24#'s might be a little better to tame the slide.