Thoughts on +P brass for 45 ACP in +P loadings

[JagerDog]

I know Starline makes +P brass with a bit thicker web. Remington also makes +P labeled brass. I think IR Hornady does too.

What's your experience/knowledge?

[pacrat]

No experience with Starline cases myself.

Being a bit anal retentive.

When makers first started making +P pistol ammo. I made it a point to weigh a butt load of different makers cases.

I found no appreciable difference in weight between +P and regular cases. Other than a SD easily explained by manufacturing variations. Same as is common in Non +P cases.

JM2c

[mjmagee67]

+P Starline brass in the same brass as normal brass just a different headstamp. I says it on their website somewhere.

[JagerDog]

+P Starline brass in the same brass as normal brass just a different headstamp. I says it on their website somewhere.

They say that on 38 special (and maybe more). 45 ACP they say it's a thicker web and case near the head, containing ~ 2 less grains of water capacity.

[Eljay]

Starline makes great brass. If they feel it necessary to beef up the case in some calibers I'd take the hint, especially since they have a lot of calibers where it really is just a different headstamp.

[JagerDog]

Starline makes great brass. If they feel it necessary to beef up the case in some calibers I'd take the hint, especially since they have a lot of calibers where it really is just a different headstamp.

That's kinda my thought as well. But then no reloading manual I've read indicates a non-standard case. Hence my question.

I like to put my overpressure stuff in nickle, just to identify it as such (paramount for my "Ruger" 45 Colt loads). Been hell trying to find +p nickle cases. Starline doesn't sell them direct (and I don't need a drum of them).

[stilly]

You load like me. My hot stuff gets nickelback...

It just looks better shooting nickel cases if they kaboom on you...

[Carcassonne]

I know Starline makes +P brass with a bit thicker web. Remington also makes +P labeled brass. I think IR Hornady does too.

What's your experience/knowledge?

I have used standard 45ACP brass for +P loads, and never had a problem.



.

[sghart]

I like Starline brass, very good stuff.

I shoot a ton of 45 ACP +P loads and I never worry about looking for +P brass. I use standard brass with no problems.

My favorite +P load is a 160 gr bullet with enough A#5 to do 1100 fps in my 1911. I have fired the same brass over and over.

Best of luck.

[hcbravesfan]

4 SGHart

Last comment from SGhart reply, I was wondering what type of 45ACP you were shooting to get 1100 FPS out of it safely. I am considering buying a Ruger SR1911 6711 which would be the 4.25 inch lightweight, 29 oz. for EDC. I owned a Colt .45 ACP Defender until the Police relieved my of it. Pretty crooked I must say. I changed my Drivers license to Mississippi where I have a second house (50 miles south) because my FFL dealer was there. They cancelled my Hand Gun Permit in Tennessee without giving me any notice. Tennessee even sent a letter of apology to show to the prosecutor and they dropped the charges but due to my lame lawyer they kept my Defender, all 1350 dollars worth, Crimson traces, trigger work and all. Probably one of the best confiscations they had ever made. Mind you my permit was cancelled, not revoked ! Anyway I never had any teouble short of a limp wrist stovepipe out of that pistol but being a 3" I'm thinking of replacing it with the 4.25 for the extra velocity the 1.25 brings seeing how the projectiles are engineered to expand best at a higher velocity than a 3" brings to the table. I have read here that Starline's +P is identical other than the stamping, I do not find that to be true, it even states that they hold about 3 grains of water less do to the increased strength. I know you can really measure a difference if 100FPS is added to a Gold Dot and also a XTP. I have to stay with a 1911 for my best interest since I have carried one since and before the ARMY, I was a Cobra Mechanic and when I crewed a Huey I found it a lot easier to wield around when not behind the door gun. I'm so used to them I thin it best to stay with what I know blindfolded for safety reasons and if it had a problem I probably could fix it in the pitch dark. I've read quite a bit on the latest 1911's but am open for suggestions. I just hope you see this since it has been some time since you made your last comment. Johnny- The Snake Doctor

[rg1]

I've read that it's always recommended to use ONLY new brass for +P loads and not to reload again at +P levels?

[TomReloaded]

Even +p 45acp is pretty low pressure. It's not beating up the brass at all. You can likely load it until you lose it.

[pacrat]

hcbravesfan, asked,

Last comment from SGhart reply, I was wondering what type of 45ACP you were shooting to get 1100 FPS out of it safely.

He is loading 160 grain bullets. Not hard to safely spit them out of a 5" 1911 at 1,100 fps.

I get 950/75 fps using cast 190 gr SWC with no pressure signs at all.

[stilly]

No experience with Starline cases myself.

Being a bit anal retentive.

When makers first started making +P pistol ammo. I made it a point to weigh a butt load of different makers cases.

I found no appreciable difference in weight between +P and regular cases. Other than a SD easily explained by manufacturing variations. Same as is common in Non +P cases.

JM2c

Kinda makes you wonder if they tested and said- HEY! This stuff is ALSO good for +P+ loads! HELL! Let's MARKET THEM LIKE THAT NOW! MEanwhile, all +P++P+++P+ loads have ALWAYS been able to be handled by the same brass...

Yeah, marketing ploy... Heh. But I am always a skeptic.

As for brass- BAH MEH! I can prolly get 1400+ FPS out of my 150gr pills if I really wanted to. Using regular brass too. Just look for the fastest powder, and chrono it up slowly... CFE PISTOL I bet. Unless I wanted to get a sabot load.

[Aidenpeacemaker]

45 super

I use 45 super brass for my hot stuff.. same dimensions as 45 acp. Just more support in the web.