Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45 ACP +P

Damn men, was bored today, work week done, garden planted, hay rings full, went out to the shop and built a spare load for my Les Baer 45 ACP.

7.0 grs Longshot under a 230 gr Gold Dot in a R-P hull lit with WLP primers, and a col set at 1.240" ran 963 fps av. velocity in the 5" barrel and shot ragged holes at 15 yards with the side of my wrist resting on a sandbag, loads fed like glass and brass was in a neat pile about 10' off my right shoulder.

I'm no handgunner and don't shoot them much, just thought I'd pass this along in case someone needs a good accurate full power SD load, I was shocked at the groups.

I would happily shoot a deer or pig with this load out to 25 or 30 yards.

Gunner

Sounds like you hit a good lick there Gunner. Where did you find that load?

Go up a few tenths to a full 1,000 FPS. Accuracy will still be there.

Yeah Sarge, it's a dandy, went to the Hodgdons website and saw their top load for 230 gr FMJ's was 6.8 grains Longshot, noticed how low the pressure was, so just rounded it up to 7 grains even and went to the chrono, damn, 963, okay, loaded 5 rounds at 7 grains and checked for consistency, extreme spread was a bit over 20 fps, I'll take that in a handgun.

JWP, man I hate to chance it, a half a snuff can sized ragged hole dead over the bull sure is nice, I did have my 'Smith put all new springs in that gun awhile back, iirc it has a 18# recoil spring.

Edit to ask, I don't have a buffer in this pistol, do you think a full 1000 fps will batter the frame?

I never ever use those buffers and I’m shooting 45 Supers out of my Les Bear and it isn’t lacking on accuracy. I shot and big rat yesterday at about 30 yards. I’m useing a Wilson Flat wire recoil spring in mine. I’m shooting 185’s at 1300 plus and 230’s at 1100 plus.

10-4 JWP, Thanks.

Forgot to mention these Gold Dots are the SB design, the hollow point opening is a bit larger, but with a much shallower hp cavity than the standard design, meaning they will still expand plenty wide enough, but have much more bullet shank left after expansion, less of a shirt button effect after expansion that the standard Gold Dots have.

So who makes a bullet mold that will drop a 250 gr LFN or SWC that will function and feed through a 45 ACP? I've been thinking the 45 is a reasonable carry gun with 250's @ 1000 fps from a 45 super. I just don't want to play the game of musical bullet molds to find many that won't function and feed vs. cutting to the chase.

Thanks

Doesn't look like it should, but works in five or 6 different .45s I've tried it in. It's a 265gr Keith plan base seated to 1.200" OAL. Nose t crimp .370" meplat .350" and .700" long (specs from http://beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm ). For reference, 6.5gr Longshot gave me 921 fps at 5 long paces and 70 deg F from 4 1/2" M&_45 and 907fps from HKUSP 4.41" Jarvis bbl and 852 fps from 3.64" Kahr CW45 (latter two at 50 deg F). Not chronoed but functioned fine in Ruger LW CMD, Kimber carry II, and full size Dan Wesson.



Also had good luck with 250gr LFGC from Montana Bullet Works (Real LBT mold according to Veral Smith) https://www.montanabulletworks.com/product/45-colt-lbt-250gr-lfn_gc/

That's a really nice looking bullet Paul, bet that thing will penetrate to next week.

Now shoot that 25 yard challenge blue started.. sounds like a great load. Im sure my 4506 would like it too.. i could probably go even hotter in that tank.. +++P

Is that a standard steel 5" 45 ACP Les Baer with just a spring change out?

Yup, that big ol 4506 may take a bit more heat, I'm thinking the 230's at an easy 950 ought to get it done.

Yes it is a Premier 1 1/2” 5” with a 20 pound Wilson flat wire recoil spring.

Les Baer Longslide, .45 ACP. As gunner stated, those Baers do shoot. 1 1/2" guarantee is not a joke.

I thought my Gold Cup and custom 1911's were accurate until I traded for this one. Shoots like a rifle.

DF

Damn! Nice pistol DF, my LB is ridiculously accurate too, you break a good trigger, the shot will be there, I never get tired of seeing that.

Why not 50-60 yards?

LOL, it's in my first post, "I don't shoot 'em much" I would have to be certain to place a good ethical shot on them.

Judging by the one ragged hole you would place an ethical shot no problem.

You can do it, gunner...

DF