Post by paul105 on Nov 16, 2017 20:21:26 GMT -5
Years ago, I bought a Colt Delta Elite in a pawn shop. It was obviously a “project” gun that was poorly done. It had a chopped slide and a bull barrel/comp. Didn’t shoot to the sights, accuracy was terrible and the barrel/comp was poorly fit. Earlier this month, I took it to my gunsmith to see if he could fix it. He said he would have to fit a new barrel/slide to make it work/shoot right.
I have always been intrigued by the .460 Rowland and knew my gunsmith had assembled several. I had a 1991 A1 series 80 complete slide/barrel assembly that I bought years ago. So, I had him fit the 1991 slide to the Delta lower and install a Clark Custom Guns 460 Rowland kit.
Have done a fair amount of load work for the .45 Super (in an H&K USP .45). Mostly loads that duplicate the Buffalo Bore and Underwood offerings. There is a lot of 45 Super Data out there that is quite aggressive (bordering on and in some cases equaling .460 Rowland ballistics).
I have an 8 lb jug of Accurate #7 that I’ve been using for 45 Super load development, JT used it in his testing of the .460 R. With that said, load data for AA#7 seems to vary quite a bit for both the Super and Rowland. Powder charges I’ve seen quoted can be several grains higher than I’m using for the same velocity. Anyway, based on my experience with the .45 Super, I loaded the following bullets over 11.5gr of AA#7 in Starline 460 Rowland cases, ignited by CCI standard large pistol primers.
230gr Nosler Jacket Flat Point
230gr Sierra Jacketed Round Nose
250gr Nosler JHP
250gr Berry Plated Flat Point (these mike about .450”)
250gr Montana Bullet Works LFNGC (sized .451 by MBW)
265gr Bear Tooth Bullets hard 265gr SWC (sized .451 in Lee Push Thru Die)
Just wanted to check function, point of impact, and get a feel for potential accuracy. Didn’t want to spend a lot of time doing load development for a gun that was going to be a problem child (function or accuracy issues would be a problem for me).
I shot 50 rounds of the above without any malfunctions. Cases ejected positively, but didn’t bounce off the wall or skip/spin around on the floor. Also tried some .45 ACP, both 230 Buf Bore +P and Underwood 255gr +P functioned but ejection for the 230 Buf Bore was weak, not so the Underwood 255s. Sellier & Bellot factory 230gr standard .45 ACPs would not eject. Don’t plan on using .45 ACP in the conversion, was just curious.
Didn’t chrono any of the above today, but based on prior experience with the .45 Super, the 230s and 250s should be in the 1,050 to 1,100 fps. The 265gr chronoed 1,150 fps from the Super in a 4.4” HK USP (working load subsequently reduced for use in the Super). The Buf Bore 230 +P @ 887 fps from a 3.6” Kahr and the 255gr Underwood +P @ 950 fps from the same 3.6” Kahr (985 fps from 4.4” HK). Never chronoed the S&B factory ammo.
It was 28 deg F at the range with snow on the ground. I was in the pistol house to corral brass, but I was too lazy to fire up the wood burning stove, so temp was same as outside, but sheltered from the wind. The shooting ports are 28yds from the target board and at an odd height. Shooting from the port over my range bag as rest was a bit awkward.
Was amazed at the moderate recoil of the .460 (yeah, I know, not full horsepower stuff except for the 265gr SWC being close) and accuracy was promising. Need new sights – all ammo was about 6” high at 28 yds. Pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to dialing this baby in.
Next step is to do some load development, then decide on sights.
A couple of pictures:
Couldn’t get this one to rotate, so it’s upside down.
I’ve read JTs work on the 460 Rowland, and would be interested in anyone’s experience(s).
Paul
I have always been intrigued by the .460 Rowland and knew my gunsmith had assembled several. I had a 1991 A1 series 80 complete slide/barrel assembly that I bought years ago. So, I had him fit the 1991 slide to the Delta lower and install a Clark Custom Guns 460 Rowland kit.
Have done a fair amount of load work for the .45 Super (in an H&K USP .45). Mostly loads that duplicate the Buffalo Bore and Underwood offerings. There is a lot of 45 Super Data out there that is quite aggressive (bordering on and in some cases equaling .460 Rowland ballistics).
I have an 8 lb jug of Accurate #7 that I’ve been using for 45 Super load development, JT used it in his testing of the .460 R. With that said, load data for AA#7 seems to vary quite a bit for both the Super and Rowland. Powder charges I’ve seen quoted can be several grains higher than I’m using for the same velocity. Anyway, based on my experience with the .45 Super, I loaded the following bullets over 11.5gr of AA#7 in Starline 460 Rowland cases, ignited by CCI standard large pistol primers.
230gr Nosler Jacket Flat Point
230gr Sierra Jacketed Round Nose
250gr Nosler JHP
250gr Berry Plated Flat Point (these mike about .450”)
250gr Montana Bullet Works LFNGC (sized .451 by MBW)
265gr Bear Tooth Bullets hard 265gr SWC (sized .451 in Lee Push Thru Die)
Just wanted to check function, point of impact, and get a feel for potential accuracy. Didn’t want to spend a lot of time doing load development for a gun that was going to be a problem child (function or accuracy issues would be a problem for me).
I shot 50 rounds of the above without any malfunctions. Cases ejected positively, but didn’t bounce off the wall or skip/spin around on the floor. Also tried some .45 ACP, both 230 Buf Bore +P and Underwood 255gr +P functioned but ejection for the 230 Buf Bore was weak, not so the Underwood 255s. Sellier & Bellot factory 230gr standard .45 ACPs would not eject. Don’t plan on using .45 ACP in the conversion, was just curious.
Didn’t chrono any of the above today, but based on prior experience with the .45 Super, the 230s and 250s should be in the 1,050 to 1,100 fps. The 265gr chronoed 1,150 fps from the Super in a 4.4” HK USP (working load subsequently reduced for use in the Super). The Buf Bore 230 +P @ 887 fps from a 3.6” Kahr and the 255gr Underwood +P @ 950 fps from the same 3.6” Kahr (985 fps from 4.4” HK). Never chronoed the S&B factory ammo.
It was 28 deg F at the range with snow on the ground. I was in the pistol house to corral brass, but I was too lazy to fire up the wood burning stove, so temp was same as outside, but sheltered from the wind. The shooting ports are 28yds from the target board and at an odd height. Shooting from the port over my range bag as rest was a bit awkward.
Was amazed at the moderate recoil of the .460 (yeah, I know, not full horsepower stuff except for the 265gr SWC being close) and accuracy was promising. Need new sights – all ammo was about 6” high at 28 yds. Pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to dialing this baby in.
Next step is to do some load development, then decide on sights.
A couple of pictures:
Couldn’t get this one to rotate, so it’s upside down.
I’ve read JTs work on the 460 Rowland, and would be interested in anyone’s experience(s).
Paul
