1911 .45 preferred bullet & weight

[Enfield47]

I use 230 gr RN from Xtreme and 4.5 gr of 700x. They feed reliably in my P14/45 so I see no need to change. I've gotten the bullets while they were on sale with free or reduced shipping.

[pacrat]

I use a Lee 6 cavity to drop a 195 grain quite hard SWC. Lubed and sized with an old Lachmiller using Lyman Alox. I load then HOT with 700x. My load is proven safe in my 3-1911s. But to hot to feel comfortable sharing data. Hovers just below the 1,000 fps mark.

JM2c

[Michael in California]

Well it looks like opinions are all over the board. I kind of expected that sincethere are many good choices in .45. 9mm is a bit easier to decide as there are less choices. I don't know what I'll do yet.

[Xtracrispy]

Get the 200gr xtremes, you know you want to.

[nahpungnome]

I settled on 230gr xtreme. Works great for me. I might try 200gr one day just to try it out. But definitely no more FP, they jammed in all of my .45 ACP pistols.

[Dutch Henry]

230 grain plated Xtreme bullets. Works great.

[mjmagee67]

230gr Bayou Bullets coated lead over 5.0gr BE cheap and accurate. Best bang for the buck.

[AeroEngi]

For general target shooting, I like 5.0 gr of Bullseye behind a 230 gr Hornady XTP or 230 gr Xtreme plated RN.

[___M|9||___]

Go 200gr xtreme with 4.3 BE saves you overall with cost and with powder. OAL 1.250

[stilly]

I think OP needs to decide for themselves what they want to do.

For ME, PC pills in lighter weights for faster velocity, for slower velocity of course turn to heavier pills.

230gr is about as heavy as I will go out of a 1911 or ANY .45 for that matter. I just got the 160gr 2 cavity mold ordered and on its way to me though so who knows.

I like to shoot for distance too and I like to take 50+ yard shots with my 1911s so I like a faster bullet for that, I am looking forward to the 160 gr that I can turn out, BUT...

For OP the choice might just be as simple as 200gr for plinking or business, and 230gr for plinking or business. do the math, velocity, FPE and see what hurts more.

For plinking, use Xtreme plated rounds 200 or 230 round nose pills. For business, use the same ones or buy some FMJ/HP to load up. Really though it should all be good. Just a matter of preference and what works. All kinds of choices you can make here.

[RR.44]

I agree with Stilly the Extreme 230gr RN and Hps are what works well

[M1NM]

Go with lead SWC if they feed in your gun. You won't get the speed high enough to worry about leading.

['ol shooter]

Xtreme 230 and 200's for plinking. Defensive rounds Zero 230 JHP's.

[area51]

I settled on 230gr xtreme. Works great for me. I might try 200gr one day just to try it out. But definitely no more FP, they jammed in all of my .45 ACP pistols.

Really??? Both 185 and 200 fp do great on all my 45s

[Full Clip]

Go with lead SWC if they feed in your gun. You won't get the speed high enough to worry about leading.

+1 Yep!