Hey guys. Saw the post about the .45 ACP target loads, and that made me think about the hunting loads.

I'll be shooting a Springfield Stainless TRP, and have had the thought run across my mind to do some hunting with it, if possible. Nothing larger than deer most likely, and nothing past 20 or 30 yards.

Well, nothing larger than deer unless the load you recommend could handle bear or elk -- that's the only other large game I hunt, and I hunt them all during the same season. My primary will be the 460 smith and wesson, but if the chance should present itself at close range, I think taking big game with a 1911 would be the highlight of my handgun hunting thus far.

Is it possible?

Here’s the way you might want to think about it. The ole Single Action Army in 45 Colt using the ole balloon head case would send at 260 grain chunk of lead downrange at approximately 960fps. That particular cartridge setup killed anything and everything that walked in North America for a good while.

So, if the ole SAA put meat on the table back then and people today use the “modern” 45 Colt with 250 grain bullets at 900 to 1,000fps with better bullets to do the same – you can surely use a 45 ACP with the same bullet and get the exact same results.

We have a nice array of bonded hollow points and the 230 grain Gold Dot or Golden Saber comes to mind – they will perform well on deer size game, as will cast bullets. You can go heavier for thicker skinned game such as elk or bear to include the brown. There are better choices out there for sure but the 45 ACP will get the job done if you place the bullet where it belongs, just like the 45 Colt.

230 grain bonded bullets from a 5” barrel using 8.0 grains of N350 will cruise right at 983fps using a 20# recoil spring with a buffer, +P starline cases and WLP primers. That’s some muscle right there but if you feel the need for more, than you can go with the wide meplat 265 grain from Beartooth with 8.0 grains of N350 for 1,004fps with a 22# recoil spring and buffer.

The Starline +P case is stout but when I mess with 265 grain bullets I use Starline Super brass, as it gives me more confidence – The +P brass is used by Buffalo Bore, so that’s probably plenty, but Super just gives you a lot more strength in the case. If you want to push a little more, I’d recommend maybe beefing the 1911 up a little more but 1,000fps with a 265 grain cast is big medicine, no matter what platform it’s fired from.

For those that have a modified 1911 to handle higher pressures – the 265 grain gas checked cast with 8.5 grains of N350 will get you 1,061fps and 9.0 grains will be at the bottom of the bullet – I haven’t chronographed that load but I would think it would still be pushing hard and should go well over 1,100fps.

WOW that was a lot of info!!! Thanks! That brings up another question. If I put in a #20 or #22 spring, will it still cycle "normal" loads for range shooting and also self defense type stuff? Also, what is the buffer you mentioned with the heavier springs?

Man, after reading that post, ya got me excited about hunting with the 1911. This sounds funny to even think this in my brain, but the 1911 might become my primary this year, and the 460 my backup!!! HAHA!!!

Here’s a little info on the buffer http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Shok-Buff-Recoil-Buffers-1911-Package-of-6/productinfo/2B

I use an 18.5# Wolff variable recoil spring with a buffer for “normal” loads up to the 983fps 230 grain loads but I only shoot a clip or two every now and then just to keep my hand in the game with the high velocity loads and the 18.5# recoil spring works fine for that. When I go to the range to practice with 50 to 100 rounds of the hot stuff, I’ll switch over to the 20# Wolff recoil spring with the same buffer. 22#’s is for the 265 grain brutes, as they throw the cases 20 feet using the 20# spring.

I don’t know the recoil spring rate on your 1911 but I’d guess it’s either 16# or 18#’s. the 20# spring might function for your target loads but your slide will take more punishment than it needs to, so I wouldn’t run the heavy springs for “normal shooting”. I have a Baer PII and 18.5# recoil spring works fine for me using mouse fart loads with 185 and 200 grain bullets and handles the higher velocity 230 loads OK, but you don’t want to run a steady diet of those loads with the 18.5# recoil spring.

Here’s what these loads look like next to each other.

"230 grain bonded bullets from a 5” barrel using 8.0 grains of N350 will cruise right at 983fps using a 20# recoil spring with a buffer"

This TRP is my pride and joy of all the guns I own. My 460 is my hunting pride and joy, but this TRP is even more special to me. I DO NOT want to damage this baby at all. Here is what I don't understand...

To me, if I change a recoil spring to a heavier spring, that means it will give more support during the recoil. However, when recoil is complete, that also means it is going to slam the slide forward at a faster rate than what the gun is possibly made for. I mean, I can't imagine that the gun could handle that kind of an increase in force for very long without some deforming taking place. Maybe I'm off on my thinking here, but it concerns me. The buffer link you posted talks about protecting the frame during recoil, but what about the slide slamming forward? To me, that is where more damage would occur.

Am I just absolutely missing something here?? Thanks for the help.

Well, the buffer helps because the slide is traveling with greater than 20# of force during firing. When going back into battery the slide is slowed some by friction, some by weight of parts, and some by pushing a new round into the chamber. A heaver spring may put a very small amount of wear on the gun but not that much. My .02.

AH!!!! That makes sense!!! Thanks Mike!

I use wilsons buffers in my 1911 and change them out every 500 rounds or less.Has kept my competition Para ord from wearing out.

LBT offers LFN moulds for 45 ACP (& others) in any weight you want them, within reason. Mine is 230 r, a friend ordered his at 220, and I've seen them up to 250 gr on some boards. Mine feeds well, and is quite a thumper. I use 454190 Lymans for some loads, but sibce getting the LBT mould I probably won't mess with the Lyman bullet anymore. I have no reservations about taking that bullet/load deer hunting out to around 50 yards or so, and possibly even a wee bit further.

Anytime Raptor. This is a really great forum with many very knoweledgable people. So glad I found it.

What"s the average live weight of you deer out there ?

The recoil spring pushes the slide back forward, stripping a round in the process and locking the barrel back into battery, not recoil ,recoil pushes it to the rear.Balanced springs keep the gun from beating itself to death.

Holy crap guys! I started this thread in 2012. Why was this dug up??!!

Adneycandy dug up a handful of old threads.

Yeah saw that after I posted. Oh well, some are fun to rehash anyway sometimes. Didn't mean anything bad by it, but yesterday was kind of a bad day, so maybe my brain didn't catch my fingers before I started typing.

Sorry for being an idiot. I've brought up old threads as well. Nothing wrong with it at all, unless someone is doing it just to get the minimum post count so they can list in the classifieds. That gets old.