HP in 1911

[bambam8d1]

I've heard of some people talking about 1911s and how some tend to be a bit touchy with hollow points.. I recently bought a SA 1911 and put several hundred rounds of FMJ through it at the range but havent had a chance to run any HP through it yet. Mainly due to the fact its pretty hard to come by right now and I would prefer to use the rounds i do have for HD and not to blow at the range... Anyone familiar to this theory as well?

[Synergy]

Depending on the gun, it may need some tuning for feeding HP ammo. My RI GI, which was mil spec for 230g ball, needed some sanding and polishing. I did my self with a Dremel. It now eats anything I feed it. 185-230g SWC, HP, Ball, etc...

I would not load a mag of HP and count on that in a HD situation till it was range tested. Since my HP ammo is Win Ranger SXT +P, I like to run through a mag every range trip to make sure its still functions properly and keep my skill up on the added recoil since my range ammo I roll my self and its a lot lighter than factory.

[sholling]

Older 1911s were engineered to feed JHP. More modern configuration have been re-engineered to feed JHP. But like any pistol it may feed some JHP designs better than others.

Basically what you want to do is the same thing you do with any semiautomatic pistol. First break it in thoroughly with 300-500rds of FMJ. Then pick a round that you'd like to use for defense and try 50rds through the pistol. If it feeds the first 50 flawlessly I'll buy another 100-200 and test them. If it feeds those flawlessly then that will be my self defense round for that pistol. If your first choice doesn't feed well try another. No it's not cheap but you want to know that it's not going to jam in the middle of a gunfight. This is exactly the same procedure you use with any pistol.

What I would not do is start taking power tools to your pistol. It's very easy to thoroughly screw up the feedramp to the point it won't feed anything and you have a ruined frame. If you decide yours needs work then have it looked at by a pro. Preferably at the factory. If that isn't an option then find a very experienced smith that specializes in 1911s. Those are few and far between.

[powaybob]

So far my SA GI 1911 eats any HP or FMJ (or plated) I feed it. But it sure does not like SWC.

[MasterYong]

My Kimber's instruction manual says that using hollow points will void the warranty

It's one of my HD guns, but I just put FMJs in it. It's a .45 I figure it has enough mass and it's an UCII so with a 3" barrel I think the velocity would be much lower than FMJs out of a 5" barrel.

I haven't even tried to feed it HPs.

[evidens83]

Just bought some HPs but yet to test it on my 1911. Currently filled with FMJs at the moment just like MasterYong. I will test them eventually but in no rush because its not my main HD pistol anyways.

[retired]

I have shot Winchester Ranger SXT ammo thru my SA Milspec with a TRP barrel and have never had a problem and it had an unknown round count when I bought it.

I recently had the opportunity to shoot sholling's S&W Performance Center 1911 and used the same ammo thru it without a problem

Thanks again sholling for letting my shoot that gun along with your others. The Smith is a sweet gun.

[ojisan]

Many HP and LSWC loads are shorter than ball ammo, leading to feeding problems.
Feed ramp polishing, proper extractor adjustment and fitting, and adjustment of the magazine's feed lips may be needed to get 100% function.

Super light target loads may require even more mag lip adjustment and a softer recoil spring.

[bambam8d1]

Thanks for all the info guys... yeah I put several hundred rounds of FMJ through it flawlessly... Went with my brother who brought his Colt Commander and he shot 100 rds had a FTF 4 times... so to get a little off topic... would it be a totally bad idea to run FMJ in this as my primary HD weapon? I know it runs through great but have just always been under the impression to use HP for HD..

[theneko]

There are many variables that wopuld determine the type of wound and level of incapacitation a round will cause, but in general, YES you want to use JHP ammo for self defense. It is designed to cause a more serious wound that should stop the fight sooner than a FMJ.

[Buck'emDown78]

Since there are literally hundreds of different kinds of HP ammo for a 1911, go with the stuff elite units trust their lives with. Even though its a little more expensive, you'll never have a problem with anything from Hornady or Black Hills. That's the premium stuff all sniper, SWAT, and tactical units use when carry 1911's a their sidearm.

Also retired is right, Winchester Ranger SXT is some really premium stuff for 1911s. FBI SWAT and HRT all use Ranger SXT for their custom Springfield Armory 1911s.

[MasterYong]

Since there are literally hundreds of different kinds of HP ammo for a 1911, go with the stuff elite units trust their lives with. Even though its a little more expensive, you'll never have a problem with anything from Hornady or Black Hills. That's the premium stuff all sniper, SWAT, and tactical units use when carry 1911's a their sidearm.

Also retired is right, Winchester Ranger SXT is some really premium stuff for 1911s. FBI SWAT and HRT all use Ranger SXT for their custom Springfield Armory 1911s.

FBI switched to PDX-1. Maybe not for the 1911s?

[Meka]

I shoot hollow points through my Kimbers, Springfields, Les Baers and Wilson's on a regular basis.
Never had a problem.