Springer 1911 Questions

DSARGE · Post by **DSARGE** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:41 pm

This is a dumb question, but is .45 ACP and .45 Auto the same? I know there is a .45 GAP for glocks, but is .45 Auto designed for my 1911 GI .45? I shot regular ball ammo last week on our first date, and they fed like a dream. I bought some Federal Premium 45 Auto 230 gr Hydra-Shok JHP for carry. I loaded her up today, and was having trouble chambering. They seemed to "stick" on the feeding ramp. I cycled a mag through, and they chamber with "minimum" problem, but not like the FMJ's. You couldn'y "ride" the slide--you had to lock it to the rear, and use the release to get the rounds to chamber. I just want to make sure I am using the right stuff, and I want something I can depend on. Oh, and did I mention----I LOVE MY .45!!!!

AV8R · Post by **AV8R** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:56 pm

The .45 ACP and .45 Auto mean the same thing: ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. The JHPs are made of a softer lead alloy, so that they expand more reliably given the low velocity. But that, and their shape, give them a tendency to "hang up" on the feedramp, especially if it is a little rough, and the gun is new. Usually, the gun will feed a lot better after shooting a few hundred rounds to smooth everything up. Most 1911s need a "break in" period, so don't get discouraged yet. Shoot ball ammo and have fun for a while.

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:19 pm

And to add further confusion, there is .45 Auto Rim, which is to the same specs as .45 ACP, except it is a rimmed cartridge. This cartridge exists for revolvers that fire .45 ACP; having a rimmed cartridge means you can use it without moon clips.

Kevin

G.C.Montgomery · Post by **G.C.Montgomery** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:04 pm

DSARGE wrote:This is a dumb question, but is .45 ACP and .45 Auto the same? I know there is a .45 GAP for glocks, but is .45 Auto designed for my 1911 GI .45? I shot regular ball ammo last week on our first date, and they fed like a dream. I bought some Federal Premium 45 Auto 230 gr Hydra-Shok JHP for carry. I loaded her up today, and was having trouble chambering. They seemed to "stick" on the feeding ramp. I cycled a mag through, and they chamber with "minimum" problem, but not like the FMJ's. You couldn'y "ride" the slide--you had to lock it to the rear, and use the release to get the rounds to chamber. I just want to make sure I am using the right stuff, and I want something I can depend on. Oh, and did I mention----I LOVE MY .45!!!!

A couple points...

1) Every 1911 is a little different and one JHP design might feed as if the gun were chewing nuts while another JHP glides in like butter. As other mentioned...Do shoot the gun a lot and try again. But don't be afraid to try some other brands. FWIW, I think there are better rounds available than Hydrashok.

2) No school that I've ever attended recommends "riding" the slide with any auto-loading pistol. A sizeable number of problems I've seen with 1911's in particular were induced by shooters "helping" the gun by riding the slide into battery. In general, the gun is designed/timed to feed under the force of the recoil spring alone. Rack the slide to the rear and let it go.

3) Without trying to take money out of a gunsmith's mouth, you might consider simply trying a different magazine with the chosen ammunition if the gun won't feed normally. I once had an Ultra-Compact Springfield that initially would not feed HydraShok. I switched to CMC magazines and never had a problem again until I sold the gun. Today I use Wilson's but there are several other good choices available.

AV8R · Post by **AV8R** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:59 pm

The above are good suggestions. The Springfield magazines supplied with the gun, probably made by Metalform, are of the "parallel lip" variety, which delay release of the round and will allow the first few rounds to "nosedive" into the feedramp, making feeding with HPs more difficult. "Timed release" magazines, like Wilson 47Ds, have shorter, tapered lips, release the round earlier, and do not nosedive as badly. The top round sits a little higher ( 40 thousandths or so) in these mags, which helps too. These and similar mags can help with the HP feeding issue. I still think that shooting and maybe different ammo, as suggested, will be all you need, though.

In rare cases, polishing the feedramp a little may help if all else fails. The reason I'm mentioning this is to encourage you not to let some gunsmith do it. When the procedure is done on a 1911, it's usually done too much, which can lead to other problems.

NcongruNt · Post by **NcongruNt** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:51 pm

You might take a look at Hornady XTP ammo. The bullets have a narrower profile at the tip, and this helped with the feeding ramp issues I was having in my pistol. They also have very polished brass, which helps keep the cases from dragging on the magazine lips and turning the nose of the round down as it feeds.