EDIT: NEED HELP - Shooting 45 Super, what do I need?

[ss30378]

Yeah they are loaded a wee bit hot. The setup most people run for hot super loads is essentially a 460 rowland setup but with a standard acp chamber. All my loads are in acp brass but this is my only acp gun so there's no issue of mixing loads up for different guns. 800x has been the best powder for the powerhouse stuff, for standard super level loads I like power pistol as its given me the best accuracy. The glock is a good platform for these setups and they seem to be able to handle heavy loads without loosening up. Should you begin to play around with the glock and want to use a wide range of bullets you can find the old LE only 13rd mags you can load out to 1.3" length with some bullets which can help when pushing things. My barrel has been throated to accept my wfn cast bullets. The 315gr WFN bullets I use have a .400" meplat and the feed very loaded to 1.275". I usually get a few odd looks when they see what almost look like full wadcutters in acp brass.

[dougader]

I've loaded the Beartooth 255 grain WFNGC bullet to 1177 fps. Yes, intense. Nice knowing that's available, but I was originally shooting for 1,000 fps so my current load averages 1033 fps with the 6", 4-port barrel from Lone Wolf and a 22# recoil spring.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Using a 2-port LWD barrel in my Gen 4 G21. Last week I used a 22 lbs spring and was having jams on the hotter loads on 2nd to last shot. The slide seemed to be coming back too fast with FTF tilting last two rounds up. Went to a 24 lbs spring this week. Now the slide is coming back so fast in all .45 Super loads that the magazine gets ejected down and out with the gun and never chambers a round! Is the spring too heavy? Too light? Not sure which way to go now.

[dougader]

Rather than go up to a 24# spring I added Wolff extra power magazine springs. Some guys put two springs in each magazine although it lowers your mag capacity by 1-2 rounds.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

That makes sense. Get the next round to move up faster and in proper alignment with the chamber. I will try this. Do I need to choose a power level, like with a recoil spring weight?

[dougader]

I keep my 265's around 1000 fps, 200 gr Speer "flying ashtray" around 1200 fps, and the Zero 230 fmj at 1100 fps.

The guys on GockTalk have it down to better than I do. Check out their threads on 45 Super.

I ran the faster stuff at first, but in the end I decided to keep it more sedate. I use the heat treated 45 Super brass from Starline. I've seen people use plain Jane 45 auto brass, but also have seen their brass get blown out faster, too, sometimes with little to no warning. IIRC, the 45 +P brass has less case capacity, while 45 Super brass is "similar" to 45 auto brass.

www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/45-Super-Brass/

45 Super* is the same externally as the 45 Auto, but has a thicker web, denser grain structure in the metal, and special heat treat process that enhances the durability of the case. Similar internal capacity as the 45 Auto. Some 45 Super load data was published by Triton Cartridge before they went out of business. *Loads to be shot ONLY in guns modified professionally to handle extreme pressures of this cartridge. DO NOT SHOOT IN STANDARD 45 AUTO!

www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/45-Auto-P-Brass/

The 45 Auto+P is a strengthened version of the 45 Auto with the same external dimensions. A thicker web and heavier sidewall at base strengthens the case in potentially unsupported areas. This case has approximately 2 grains less internal water capacity than the standard 45 Auto.

[BRASF0311]

Hey Quick Draw,

Here you go- www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iYtSIsDPdk

The 1911 offers a more balanced set up than a striker fired pistol with a heavy recoil spring.

As mentioned, Starline makes a stronger case than standard 45acp cases to handle the Super loads. So your Springfield RO will be fine once it has been properly set up.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

I've got the .45 Super brass. I like my Range Officer in standard form. My RIA 1911 has been converted to .460 Rowland. I am sticking with my G21 for the .45 Super conversion. Oddly enough, on the .460 Rowland website, not only do they sell the heavier duty mag springs, they sell Glock Magazine shims as they have had the exact problem o had with the magazine dropping out.

[cmillard]

Jul 19, 2017 12:34:42 GMT -5 ss30378 said:

There's a huge thread in the glocktalk reloading forum on 45 super with lots of load data that may interest you. If you plan to stick with close to normal 45 super loads (IE: 185g@1300fps or 230g@1100fps) Just the recoil spring will be sufficient. You can load super level loads in regular 45 brass since you have the LW barrel btw just dont get them mixed up and placed into a 45 with less case support. Should you want to go beyond standard 45 super loads your best bet will be grabbing a threaded barrel and using a compensator. The 21 slide is pretty light and much above standard super loads slide speed becomes to great and misfeeds begin.

My personal g21 longslide uses a LW slide and 6.6" threaded barrel, large 5 port steel custom comp, and a 24lb spring. The end result is 185gr xtp's at over 1700fps up to 315gr WFN cast bullets at over 1200fps. Pretty substantial from an autoloader.

I am not doubting you at all, but I might doubt your chronograph on that 185 at over 1700 fps. my clark custom .460 Rowland 6.5" barrel probably couldn't even do that, and I wont try either.

[AxeHandle]

Dang! Spend some money on some sights for that Glock! FWIW when the case fails on your Glock it will eat the frame. We double charged a few. The Steel 1911s recoiled hard and the brass was marked but did not fail. Same stuff in a Glock blew out the bottom of the case and destroyed the frame. Barrel and slide were fine but not the frame.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

I know the risks of using the Glock. I bought a fully supported chamber for additional support of the case. However, if I damage my Glock I'll take the responsibility. Glocks are cheaper to replace that Springfield Range Officers.

[AxeHandle]

The case failure that killed the Glock frame would have done no more than blow out the grip panels and magazine of a 1911. Glock returned the gun to as new and shipped it back for $105. That said, the 1911 platform was never meant for this high pressure hokey pokey stuff. Within reason the Glock, before case failure, is much stronger. That plastic just can't stand hot high pressure gas.

[ss30378]

Jul 25, 2017 9:48:21 GMT -5 cmillard said:

Jul 19, 2017 12:34:42 GMT -5 ss30378 said:

There's a huge thread in the glocktalk reloading forum on 45 super with lots of load data that may interest you. If you plan to stick with close to normal 45 super loads (IE: 185g@1300fps or 230g@1100fps) Just the recoil spring will be sufficient. You can load super level loads in regular 45 brass since you have the LW barrel btw just dont get them mixed up and placed into a 45 with less case support. Should you want to go beyond standard 45 super loads your best bet will be grabbing a threaded barrel and using a compensator. The 21 slide is pretty light and much above standard super loads slide speed becomes to great and misfeeds begin.

My personal g21 longslide uses a LW slide and 6.6" threaded barrel, large 5 port steel custom comp, and a 24lb spring. The end result is 185gr xtp's at over 1700fps up to 315gr WFN cast bullets at over 1200fps. Pretty substantial from an autoloader.

I am not doubting you at all, but I might doubt your chronograph on that 185 at over 1700 fps. my clark custom .460 Rowland 6.5" barrel probably couldn't even do that, and I wont try either.

At Rowland pressures (40k psi) you won't make 1700fps even in a 6.5" tube. My loads are a bit above Rowland load data.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Okay, ready to try again. I have three guide rods with different springs (#20, #22, & #24), a threaded barrel with a compensator, 2 magazines with extra power Wolff springs and .460 Rowland shims... My Glock 21 should be ready for .45 super.

And since you fellas suggested it, I added a full length guide rod, #24 recoil spring, and an extra power firing pin spring to my Springfield RO 1911. Should be enough spring. I have #22 & #20 too, but since that gun has no comp, I think the #24 will likely be the way to go.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Jul 30, 2017 22:17:44 GMT -5 ss30378 said:

Jul 25, 2017 9:48:21 GMT -5 cmillard said:

I am not doubting you at all, but I might doubt your chronograph on that 185 at over 1700 fps. my clark custom .460 Rowland 6.5" barrel probably couldn't even do that, and I wont try either.

At Rowland pressures (40k psi) you won't make 1700fps even in a 6.5" tube. My loads are a bit above Rowland load data.

Last week I chronographed 5 rounds of .460 Rowland I loaded that got close. They were 200 grain XTPs in new brass out of a 5 inch barrel with the Cobra Compensater and the tougher buffer. Averaged 1,659 FPS, with one round clocking in at 1,707 fps.

However, I will totally grant that my chronograph could have been reading wrong. Those velocities seemed high to me.