460 Rowland XD Springfield

[38 WCF]

Just read the article over on REALGUNS.COM about the 460 Rowland in a Springfield XD. Sounds like the bees knees in an auto loader. Anyone have any other experience with this cartridge.?
I may have to get me one. ;D

[the priest]

The ctg and conversions have been out for a while in the 1911 format. JT has at least one article on the subject and clark custom is, I believe, the man behind the ctg and conversion.

First I've heard of a conversion on an XD.

[Markbo]

I got a Wilson conversion that was featured in an issue of Gun Reports Magazine. Had it fitted to a Kimber Stainless Target upper on a Caspian stainless lower.

Here are a couple of pics:



As you can see, there have been a few modifications. This gun was built specifically in mind for hog hunting, thus the Tru Glow sight and light rail. I have shot it using a Bushnell Trophy red/greed dot scope with good results. I made my own holster to hold it all... and it is a handful.

The round itself is a little persnickety to load. Using .45 ACP dies they have to be adjusted juuuuust right. But the load is as advertised. Hell for stout and very accurate. I think every 1911 fan - or XD fan - needs to have one. ;D

ETA: Sorry about the big pic size... I can't see how to make it smaller or do a thumbnail.

[38 WCF]

Well I went and did it !. I called Wild West guns and purchased the complete pistol and a properly fitted .460 Rowland barrel. I had them perform a trigger job on the pistol as well. Bought some brass from Clark custom guns, a set of LEE 45 acp dies and a box of Hornady 230 XTP bullets. I will post a report in a few weeks when I get it all put together.

[flyfisher66048]

I'd be interested in hearing how it works out. I've got an xd in the safe not doing much. What powder are you going to use for those XTPs?

[38 WCF]

Mini Report:
The gun with the 460 Rowland barrel in place is awesomely powerfull.
Unfortunately, I am having a problem with "nosedive" jams. It seems that this is not unheard of with the Springfield XD in 45 acp. When the fired case is ejected it slams into the top cartridge in the magazine and sometimes this pushes the bullet of that cartridge downward in the magazine causing a jam. For some reason this has only happened so far with bullets weighing 200 grains or more. Limited shooting so far has shown that the Nosler 185 gr. Sporting bullet does not have this problem. I will continue to search for a reliable bullet and maybe the Nosler is it.
I am disapointed that so far the heavy 230 gr. bullets are not working. Not a feeding problem but an ejection cycle problem. I am going to try extra power magazine springs and see it that helps.
More report later.

[groo]

Groo here
Check to see if the springs in the mag are put on correctly.
The 1911 had some problems in this way and found that the spring was turned around and
not pushing up on the front of the follower..
Mag springs are a good idea on any hard kicker ,,also consider a recoil buffer or heaver
spring in the slide..
You will need more spring than you might think as an XD has no hammer spring to overcome.