Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Gunsmith advice: Shooting a .45 Super in a .45 ACP +P rated Pistol?

Hi gentlemen,

The 45 Super, developed in 1988 by Dean Grennell, another well known gun writer, is dimentionally identical to both the 45ACP (21K PSI) and the 45ACP +P (23K PSI), but it was created with a stronger case that can handle the higher pressures of about 28K to 39K PSI: See Wiki Link on .45 Super

I am wondering if there would be and ill effects if i shot .45 Super out of a new 1911 pistol or a tough Glock or S&W M&P .45??

Added Rationale: These new modern handguns were already designed to shoot at max pressures that a .357 sig, and .40 are in the 40k-44k pressure range and the .45 super is only sitting at 28k-39k range and the .45 acp is sitting at 21k. So will the gun handle it with a recoil spring and striker spring change?


If I were to send you a gun, what modifications and costs would be involved to get it right?
Appreciate your opinions!

P.S. I'd only want to shoot the .45 Super occassionally and maybe for the odd pig or deer, the rest of the time it would be .45 ACP +P ammo.

My thought is that if you want a magnum, then buy a magnum.

i can think of 5 things to stop me form doing this and all are hooked to my palm!! thanks but NO thanks Clint

I agree. Logic suggests that Super ammo in a firearm not rated for its use is not a smart thing to do. Injuring a bystander while following such a practice would be very expensive.

John,
I have used it in my SW 625 with no ill effects and Glock and HK both have stated their gun will handle the pressure but wear will be accelerated. I have only seen one 1911 that was set up for it and it would not function regular .45acp without swaping springs when you swapped ammo.

John, there are some gunsmiths that specialize in turning the normal 45 into a Super.

I put a 28lb spring in my Kimber and developed +P loads for the 185g and 200g. I did start to see some dings in my slide from shooting those hot loads.

185g Gold Dot and Nosler at 1200 and 200g Speer HP at 1100 were extremely accurate.

I would shoot these loads in tight chambers only.

http://www.realguns.com/archives/020.htm
http://www.realguns.com/archives/021.htm
http://www.realguns.com/archives/022.htm

I was inspired by Joe's three part series on how to convert a 1911 to 45 super for $8, so in May 2000 I converted a 20 ounce patriot pistol form 45acp to 460 Roland loads with 45acp brass.

The manual on the pistol said no +P but the factory supported me and gave me lots of parts. The pistol was designed by Nehemia Sirkis. I don't think he was around when they were helping me.

0) 45 acp....................... 185 gr 7.6 gr AA#5 jams w/stock Patriot spring
1) 45 acp........................185 gr 10.2 gr AA#5 1100 fps 18,000psi
2) 45 acp +P...................185 gr 10.8 gr AA#5 1200 fps 21,700 psi jams w/ 42 pound triple recoil spring
3) 45 Super.....................185 gr 12.4 gr AA#5 1312 fps 28,000 cup
4) 460 Rowland............... 185 gr 14.5 gr AA#5 1500 fps 38,800 cup

I've just never understood the desire to magnumize a .45 ACP.

Get a good .44 and have fun!