With the exception of war-time era 1911's (up til WWII that is) that had soft slides, any 1911 can handle +p as long as they are in servicable condition. There are some that will advocate slightly stronger recoil springs, and perhaps a buffer for practice rounds, but that's about it..... (a 5" standard recoil is 16 pounds use an 18.5 for +p, Commander is 18, use a 20, and an Officers is 20, use a 22 is the standard advise......)


Dan

 

What happens if I increase the spring rate on the gun, and then shoot normal pressure loads?

 

Where might I locate a comprehensive, authoritative source for guidance on this matter?

have you read your manual??
If no specific mention...
call the manufacture to get it straight from the horses mouth


..L.T.A.

 

In .45 ACP caliber "+P" is nothing but marketing. Use of "+P" loads is only going to accelerate wear and tear on your gun and give you more muzzle lift and flash. My advice is to not waste your money on +P ammo. Any standard .45 ACP load will do the job if you place it properly. If you don't, then +P isn't going to help you.

 

I shot 230 gr. loads at 925 fps in competition for nearly 10 years, with absolutely no detrimental effects on the pistol whatsoever. The only thing I ever replaced was the recoil spring every couple of years, and one firing pin when the tip broke off during a match.

If the gun is properly set up and maintained, as anybody with half an ounce of brains should do anyway, +P will not hurt it one bit. As for the muzzle jump and flash, that is what practice is for and you can reload with a bunch of different powders that control the flash. An alloy framed .45 may shoot loose a bit quicker, but for the average non-competition shooter that isn't going to be a big deal.

 

Hornady typically loads light. At least, that's what I've seen from online chrono readings. They don't seem to reach their printed numbers on the box. I wouldn't worry about +P loads from Hornady.

 

I'm using a 18.5lb Wilson recoil spring on my old springfield 1911 and it handles hot Underwood ammo to light TulAmmo.
-
With the old recoil spring (bought used so I have no idea how old the springs were) Federal brass was flying a consistent 5 yards away. With the new Wilson spring kit in with the 18.5lb recoil spring brass seems much closer...about half that distance.

And Tula is loaded light and only ejects 3 to 4 feet. But the stronger spring combined with shooting Tula makes for very fast accurate follow up shots

 

I go with an 18.5 pound or 20 pound spring in my 1911s, and they run all the ammo I feed them just fine. Only issue i've had so far has been running stock ball in a .460 Rowland gun with a compensator.

 

Like has been posted - RTFM or call the manufacturer. Handguns rated for +P will mention it.

I am of the opinion that +P ammo is a marketing gimmck for those unable to afford the caliber handgun they really want. Got a .38? want more power? Get a .357. 9mm not enough oomph? get a .40. If that's too weak there is the 10mm. And if you want to make nice big holes, the .45ACP does mighty fine and dandy in standard loadings. For those who feel the need to carry a howitzer, there are the impractical .500's etc.

 

I think there is more to marketing with the +P. Sometimes for various reasons someone cannot carry a larger cailber that they would like to. Everyone has their own specific reasons why they carry what they carry caliber wise.

As long as the firearm the +P's are being carried in is rated for such then I see the +P's providing greater velocities and therefore the possibility of greater expansion of a HP.

I normally carry a 45acp but when I don't becasue of different concealability issues I then carry a small 9mm. Being that I am carrying a smaller caliber than the 45acp, I utilize +P's in my 9mm. I feel it gives me a little bit more oomph than a standard pressure 9mm round.

To each their own.

 

I normally carry a .380 for the small size convenience and do not feel unprotected - given the practical realities of SD shooting I hope my aim will be sure and my follow-upshots accurate. Beyond that if I must defend myself with a pistol I will still wish it were a shotgun or rifle instead.

If folks want to use +P by all means they should use it. I would not practice with more than a magazine or cylinder full now and then just for the cost factor.

 

Randy, I agree with your comments. I shoot a magazine, maybe two of my self-defense +P about once a month while at the range. The rest of my range time is with cheaper FMJ at standard pressures. I do that for three reasons......1) I want to make sure my self-defense round is cycling properly, 2) I don't want to continally put the pressure on my firearm of running hundereds of rounds of +P through it, and 3) even if I wanted to shoot more of the +P at the range, it doesn't make sense from a cost standpoint.

 

Cost is only an issue if all you shoot is factory ammo. I seldom shoot anything but reloads. I have a couple boxes of standard ball ammo as a last ditch fallback, but that's it. An extra grain or two of powder is a penny at most. As for wear and tear on the gun, +P is only 23,000 psi give or take. As handgun rounds go, that's pretty mild. 9mm and .40 run higher than that, but you don't hear anybody worrying about wear and tear with either of them.

Truth be told, it isn't the pressure people are complaining about, its the recoil. If you don't practice enough with the heavier loads, you don't get used to it, and you have problems hitting with it. There are plenty of benefits to pushing a 230 gr. like the XTP faster.

 

JMB fan 45 says Where might I locate a comprehensive, authoritative source for guidance on this matter?
I, too, would like such a Source

Hopefully higher chamber pressures in themselves are not important. Barrels don't burst or bulge on these things, do they? Brass holds together doesn't it?

The higher speed at which the action operates means higher stress on some parts, which must mean faster wear on something or other.
Being a newbie geezer (metallurgist) where 1911's are concerned I'd like to know what to expect.

Reason I have +P? It was AVAILABLE. Really would prefer standard 230 grains stuff, but . . . availability.

 

I recently emptied my carry mags out my Classic Custom Kimber with a 14# spring.
All 24 rounds of +P Winchester Ranger 230 gr JHP fed, fired and ejected just fine.

 

I honesty I agree with most all the posts on this topic, but in the back of my mind is the belief that it almost doesn't matter what ammo I am carrying as long as:

1. I can hit where I am aiming.
2. It feeds and fires without jamming until I run out of ammo or enthusiastic BG.

I suspect that folks who have actual field experience would agree that two to the chest and one to the head removes the enthusiasm from most assailants.

 

I supsect that folks who have actual field experience would agree that hitting two to the chest and one to the head is not as easy as it sounds.