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Posted: 7/27/2026 9:26:35 AM EDT
[Last Edit: compuvette][Edited]
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I've stumbled across a substantial digital collection of older Handloader magazines and have been tearing through them. Some of the information is very pertinent to today and some of it is a bit questionable. I am very much enjoying reading through them though. The experimentation of the "old days" is interesting. All the things we know now and take for granted..... Here's just a collection of interesting 45acp blurbs. One of the more shady articles was from Handloader number 37 printed in 1972. It was specifically directed at loads for 45acp that would be safe to shoot inside a home for self defense. Basically the author re-created the original 455 Webley load in 45acp. He used a Lyman 457196 305 grain hollow base RN slug designed for the 455. He sized them to .452 and loaded them over 8 grains of 2400. With a CCI magnum primer velocity was 617fps with a SD of 15. Function in a GI 1911 was solid, but he did recommend a recoil buffer..... His theory was that the velocity was low enough it wouldn't penetrate many walls. He tested with wood and wet newspaper. Got about 7 inches in pine. Item two is less interesting. Winchester used to offer a 45acp Metal Piercing Super-X load that pushed a 230 grain FMJ to 945 fps. By the early 70's it was discontinued. The load duplication in Handloader #29 from 1971 was 7 grains of Unique under a 230 grain FMJ for 950 fps. This same article lists a 200 grain SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique for a "max SWC combat load". Wonder if that's where Jeff Cooper got it from...... The 950 fps from a 230 grain FMJ would be pretty easy with Silhouette and not even be +P. Item three is a load from the Hi-Per company. I'm assuming they are either purchased or long out of business by now. They used to load a "full power" 185 grain jacketed SWC. All the other 185's at that time were bullseye target loads. This one clocked in at 1000 fps from a 5". No load duplication on this one, but they did test it in Handloader #72 from 1978. Again, a chip shot with Silhouette or something else more modern. Just figured you guys would find it interesting. Also, lots of mention of Super Vel in various 45, 357, and 38 articles. Handloader #26 specifically does load workup to re-create the Super Vel 38 Special load as well as other hot 38's. Super Vel even helps them with pressure testing. Really good article. |
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