Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Lightest plinking reloads that cycle a 1911

Subject pretty much sums it up. 45acp, light for caliber bullets. Obviously, every gun is different, but I'm looking for some reference points. Thanks in advance.

Too many variables between guns to give a definitive answer, but Bullseye is hard to beat for reduced loads.

Factory 185 match ammo is usually around 750-775 FPS, IIRC & you can likely get to around 700 with most "factory" configured guns.............whatever factory means today.

The mainspring, the recoil spring & the bevel or lack of, on the firing pin stop are the major contributors to how low you can go................but you really have to try loads in your gun.

The original spec for the mainspring is 23#, the recoil spring is 16# & most FPS are beveled quite a lot on the base.

If you know what your gun has, & it's at those number, then you can start somewhere below the 750'ish number with 185's.

I would start at 4.5 gr of BE & work down in 0.2 gr increments 'til you get to where you want to be.

MM

I load a “ middle of the road load” in my pistols. Recoil is a lost less than my book max loads.

Both of my relatively new Commanders with no mods function well down to 4.0 grs of Bullseye with any of the following: 178 Meister Cast swc, the Berry’s 185 Hybrid HP and the Speer 185 Gold Dot but they are a bit more accurate with 5.0-6.0 grs. 4.0 grs gave 660-700+ fps whereas 5.0-5.5 gave800-875 fps and 6.0 900-925 fps.

Assuming we're talking about a 5" gun, a 185gr FMJ over 5.1 W231/HP-38 is about as soft of a load that I could find. The weight and age of your recoil spring makes a difference though. I also load 5.3 gr, because 5.1 gr teeters on the ragged edge in my 5" and won't run my Commander or Officer models reliably.

Good luck and be sure to post back here what ended up working for you!

Assuming GI size pistols with stock recoil assemblies and OEM 16# spring-

5.0 grains of W231 with a 200 grain LSWC, 1.250" OAL and firm taper crimp. 820-840 fps. Mild recoil and 100% function in GI or Commanders. Excellent accuracy.

Same as above, 4,0 W231, 625-650 fps. 100% in GI size guns with stock springs and a great small game/pest load to about 25 yards.

I quit fooling with 185s years ago, A dedicated bullseye gun can be set up for them but the 200s provide better slide inertia and work fine in 4 1/4 to 5 inch guns sprung heavy enough for hardball or defense loads.

Want to say 4.3 W231/HP38 200 grain is very mild and reliable.

I'm not sure why someone wants to make the absolute lightest loads, but I will tell you this. When you get below a 14lb recoil spring you start running into issues of not enough spring pressure to strip rounds from a very full magazine on the return stroke.



Now, for making light loads...

Keep in mind, the number one factor in recoil is bullet weight. So if you REALLY want the lightest loads, start with 155-185 grain bullets. Then pick a very fast powder. Drop in a 14lb recoil spring, now tune the powder charge until the gun works.

Thanks for the replies. I have Universal and HP-38 on hand. I will see what I can do, but probably after the holidays.

What I like to do is load so light that I can shoot one handed left hand and hold my right hand out and catch my empties in my right hand. I don't have to bend over and overwork my back.
Try it and let me know how you like it.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A 1911 is designed to be a workhorse.... not a pussycat or a firebreathing dragon. If you want to get too far removed from the original idea, get a .22 conversion unit for it....if you want to go the other way, get a different pistol.