Springs is it. You can even load .45 Super in standard ACP brass, but it's true that Super stamped brass is thicker and better suited. The .450SMC is a different case requiring a different barrel.

I think the Super is cool because you DON'T need a barrel, just springs. I load .38 Special VERY heavy and some don't because it could go into a firearm not suited for it. Such is the same with .45 Colt "Ruger" loads and the .45 Super. If you can keep you $h!t straight(I know you can), it's a pretty stout little cartridge.

P.S. I do think that maybe this is a situation where the GI H.O.S.S. system and other examples actually come into play and actually help. .45 Super is pretty impressive. I looked into it quite a bit and in the end, I don't personally have a use for it.

 

And also GI's M2 that uses 45acp barrel. Dont forget M2 is also a stand alone beef up 1911 that uses GI made magazines.

 

Along with springs a FBPS is a good idea to help slow the slide down. When I was talking about using my 1911 for 45 Super with my smith he advised me a 25lb mainspring and 22 recoil spring should be all I needed.

 

In a 1911 use a 24# recoil spring, flat bottom stop, XP firing pin spring and 25# hammer spring. If your brass isn't launching too far you can lower your hammer spring. I shot a lot of 45 Super when it first came out.

I saw a guy take an off the shelf Kimber and shoot 10 rounds of 45 super through it and it peened the recoil seat so bad we had to hammer the slide off. LOL

 

HK USP 45 shoots both!

 

Or, one of these can easily handle the 45 Super. The only thing you need to adjust is your sights.

Just giving you an option.

Kevin

 

Edit already answered

 

i use 45super in the woods in my 1911's and HK's. I dont know that Id try it in a p220 with an aluminum frame. I wouldnt try it in a g21 Either. Heard a couple stories about them blowing up. My guess would be the g21 doesnt have a fully supported chamber.

in the case of my 1911 i swap the recoil spring to a heavier one.

hk actually rates their 45's for use with super, with some disclaimer about rate if wear/maintenance.

Do you need to change springs with the HK? I was surprised to see that my USP would take Super ammo, but I've never actually fired any.

Some of the load data and chrono results I've seen are almost scary and some of it looks like it's barely .45+P. I suppose you can say that about any ammo, really.

 

edit glitch

 

I shoot Buffalo Bore super from a 4506 from time to time. Hard to beat for a woods pistol

 

I have a Springfield V16 Long Slide I bought new which was made for the 45 Super. It came with two different springs. I shoot Buffalo Bore 45 Super 255g hardcast. I get 1100 fps from my 6" barrel. It's a great woods gun.

 

 

Yes that's a great cartridge also!

 

Wouldn't worry much about wear and tear, it's always brought up every time the 45 super is discussed. Most shooters aren't feeding their guns a steady diet of super. I have a couple of 10mm and 45s, only use super in my Para 1911 with a stronger recoil spring. 45 Super ammo has never been a problem to find on line.
Price for quality stuff vs 10mm isn't much difference (Underwood & Buffalo Bore) Not sure who's wearing guns out??? I've been trying, with no success. If it does happen guess I have a good reason to purchase a new one.
Love my 45s and my 10s. 10mm may expand but a 45 won't shrink.

 

The beautiful thing about all of this is that if you handload, your .45 Super or whatever cartridge will be less expensive than Tula .45acp to load and shoot. Same bullet, same primer, just a bit more powder. If you have cases for whichever cartridge, you're loading a much heavier load for fractions of a penny difference in price. That's hard to argue with if you need the power and Underwood makes some hot ammo, but $1+per round is a bit much when all the components they use are available.

I have spent years duplicating Buffalo Bore loads with the same Rim Rock cast bullets they use. The same performance at something like 80-90% savings. Not everyone wants to or has the time to reload, but this is one case where it would pay off. I agree that most people probably aren't feeding their gun .45 Super all day every day, but I'm sure that some shoot more of it than others, like anything else.

Honestly, factory loadings outside of Underwood make the .45 Super look like an absolute handloader's cartridge.

 

I found a Springfield V16 a few years ago and since I have 10's never considered loading it to anything more than standard ACP loads but if I did goose it up, the V16 would be the one I'd do it with.

 

I found a Springfield V16 a few years ago and since I have 10's never considered loading it to anything more than standard ACP loads but if I did goose it up, the V16 would be the one I'd do it with.

View attachment 1424140

I have 2 V16's and shoot standard acp, +P and Super in both. No problems.

 

Rowland would be a great option in a CZ97 or my 4506 or one of the other overbuilt .45 pistols. Ruger P-series, etc.
Take a gun that is way too robust for .45 ACP and make it a dedicated Rowland gun. I don't even change springs when I shoot Griz out of my 4506, but I would for Rowland.

 

To those shooting 45 super: Do you generally keep it sprung for 45 acp, 45 super, or do you have a spring weight you've found that will cycle both reliably? I am looking to fire 45 super occasionally but primarily training with 45 acp. The thought of changing springs to swap between the two on the range to keep acp running reliably sounds like a pain if it isn't necessary. For context this is in an all-steel 1911. Specifically an Alchemy.

 

In my 4506, I use an 18 pound spring for super, and a 16 for ACP, but I have fired super from it with the 16 pound in, and it did not seem to be beating me or the gun up too bad.
The 4506 is a little more robust than a 1911 in my view, and maybe a better host for full time super

 

Mike at 1911parts.com suggested a variable powered spring for a Springfield V16 (45 Super) so I could use one spring for 45APC or 45 Super. I finished the pistol last month and although I primarily shoot 45APC, it work great for either. I have only shot a few 45 Super thus far but they were hot Atomic loads (I believe) and they were a pleasure to shoot. i rebuilt the pistol for extreme duty with all Tool steel or milled parts (no MIM) and the build is a 6” and ported. This has become my favorite 1911 to shoot as the recoil is pleasant and the gun is very accurate. I expect a Ransom Rest delivery today so I can quantify the accuracy.

Wolff 20 Pound Recoil – Firing Pin Spring Set (Var) – Government – Thunder Mountain Custom

 

 

Wouldn’t all that porting reduce velocity to standard 45 acp loads?

 

I dUnno but it gets a lot more attention at the range than my Gold Cup ever did