.45 acp ammo for a 3" barrel?

[Archie]

Some 5 rd avgs out of RIA CS 3.5" barrel. Surprised me.

WWB 230fmj...797fps
WWB 230jhp...851
Rem 230GS.....811
Rem 185GS+P.1059
Fed 230HS......858

Seems to me the massive velocity loss isn't as massive as commonly thought. While reading this thread I thought I should go chronograph some of the ammo to see, but I don't have any short barreled .45 ACP pistols. (Well, a Commander, but that's not so short, after all.) Ain't real data grand?

Thanks for taking care of it, Forestranger.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[forestranger]

Seems to me the massive velocity loss isn't as massive as commonly thought. While reading this thread I thought I should go chronograph some of the ammo to see, but I don't have any short barreled .45 ACP pistols. (Well, a Commander, but that's not so short, after all.) Ain't real data grand?

Thanks for taking care of it, Forestranger.

Some of same ammo out of Colt Commander:
WWB230jhp...863fps
Rem230jhp.....800
Rem185GS+P..1100
Fed230HS......870

86F on day RIA was chrono'd but forgot to record temp on Commander test?

[Masarusan]

Thanks for all the good information! I have an AMT Backup (.45ACP) for my summer carry and actually had not put a lot of thought into the load that I carry in it!

[rsilvers]

The biggest problem you may have is reliability with the short barrel. Standard 230 loads are probably going to be in the 650-700 fps range, +P's will offer no real advantage with the short Barrel. Speer makes a "short barrel" load loaded with the gold dot bullet, that may be your best option if it feeds reliably.

Detail Page for Part # 23966

Velocity listed is for a 5" barrel, you will probably lose 150-200 fps with the 3" barrel.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .45 Auto Results

"Standard 230 loads are probably going to be in the 650-700 fps range"

787 fps for a 3"

" +P's will offer no real advantage with the short Barrel"

Short barrels are exactly when you do want +P - as they restore the lost velocity.

"Velocity listed is for a 5" barrel, you will probably lose 150-200 fps with the 3" barrel."

141 fps is lost going from a 5 inch to a 3 inch for the Federal ammunition.

[R040607]

I posted this link in a similar thread last week, but since its relevant, I'll post it again. Although the test medium is soft, so the penetration measurements are flawed, the velocity recordings are correct. The article confirms some of the info given by other members above.

Please tell me what your thoughts are on it.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2...sting.html?m=1

[chrisw670]

Interesting results from a short barrelled 45. Not as much velocity reduction as I would have expected and pretty good overall penetration on both test.

Gold dot 230 gr. .45 ACP SHORT BARREL TEST: 230 gr Speer Gold Dot - YouTube

Federal HST 230 gr. +P .45 ACP SHORT BARREL TEST: 230 gr +P Federal HST - YouTube

[R040607]

Great videos.
Man I love the .45ACP!

[zwv1951]

Recently chronographed some loads to determine the velocity loss between a 5" barrel and the 3.25" barrel on my XDS.. Here's the results

I went out today with my chrono, my XDS .45 [3" barrel], my 1911 .45 [5" barrel] , one box of 200gn LSWC/ 5.2gns W231, and one box of 230gn LRN 5.2gns W231... Same bullet and same powder load for each gun... Here's the lowdown...

[XDS] 3" barrel
String #1 200gn LSWC 761 756 768 796 736 763avg ES 60
String #2 230gn LRN 723 767 761 772 726 749avg ES 49

[1911] 5" barrel
String#1 200gn LSWC 834 842 787 848 832 828avg ES 61
String#2 230gn LRN 796 792 831 820 802 808avg ES 39

These reloads were all thrown with a RCBS Uni Flow Powder measure so there will always be a slight variance in speed. Seems to me the 3" barrel is not losing as much as you might think......Seems to be around 65fps drop in velocity... I'm new on this board but a long time cc.. Thanks for all the good info
Zen

[Kutz]

I have shot literally every thing in my New Agent & everything works great, even my soft Bullseye LSWC reloads. My carry ammo is Hornady Critical Dfense,no fails ever.

[Bstock87]

Winchester makes the SXZ which is sort like the .40 flat point as far as bullet shape. Lots of guys use them in their 1911's for training and defense since they feed like ball ammo.

[chrisw670]

Recently chronographed some loads to determine the velocity loss between a 5" barrel and the 3.25" barrel on my XDS.. Here's the results

I went out today with my chrono, my XDS .45 [3" barrel], my 1911 .45 [5" barrel] , one box of 200gn LSWC/ 5.2gns W231, and one box of 230gn LRN 5.2gns W231... Same bullet and same powder load for each gun... Here's the lowdown...

[XDS] 3" barrel
String #1 200gn LSWC 761 756 768 796 736 763avg ES 60
String #2 230gn LRN 723 767 761 772 726 749avg ES 49

[1911] 5" barrel
String#1 200gn LSWC 834 842 787 848 832 828avg ES 61
String#2 230gn LRN 796 792 831 820 802 808avg ES 39

These reloads were all thrown with a RCBS Uni Flow Powder measure so there will always be a slight variance in speed. Seems to me the 3" barrel is not losing as much as you might think......Seems to be around 65fps drop in velocity... I'm new on this board but a long time cc.. Thanks for all the good info
Zen

+P loads seem to lose a higher percentage of velocity when shot out of shorter barrels but the net gains are still good in comparison to standard pressure loads.