.45 acp - not your grandad's ammo anymore

[GunnyGene]

Just passing along some interesting numbers I ran across this morning. Since I have this evil black Ruger Carbine in .45acp I was impressed with the numbers presented in this recent performance review. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning my Henry.

The % increase of MV and ME over pistol published numbers are astounding! As usual YMMV applies, but it seems pretty solid.

Screen capture of data from below video:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxdM2seCDII

[North Country Gal]

Agree, pretty impressive. Some of those +P loads in the carbine are in 357 mag range as far as ME. Personally, I'm thrilled see the old cartridge hanging in there as far as popularity. I think the recent move to 45 auto carbines has helped, there.

[fortyshooter]

And 45 ACP works just as well in the Hi Point carbine too!

[BigAl52]

Just passing along some interesting numbers I ran across this morning. Since I have this evil black Ruger Carbine in .45acp I was impressed with the numbers presented in this recent performance review. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning my Henry.

The % increase of MV and ME over pistol published numbers are astounding! As usual YMMV applies, but it seems pretty solid.

Screen capture of data from below video:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxdM2seCDII

How do you like that evil Ruger Gene? Love my Ruger PC in 40 and Id like to have an LC.

[GunnyGene]

Just passing along some interesting numbers I ran across this morning. Since I have this evil black Ruger Carbine in .45acp I was impressed with the numbers presented in this recent performance review. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning my Henry.

The % increase of MV and ME over pistol published numbers are astounding! As usual YMMV applies, but it seems pretty solid.

Screen capture of data from below video:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxdM2seCDII

How do you like that evil Ruger Gene? Love my Ruger PC in 40 and Id like to have an LC.

I like it quite a lot. Other than the fully loaded (26 rnds) weight (pushing 10lbs) it's fun and accurate, and recoil is negligible to me -YMMV. Decent trigger. Haven't had any functional issues with about 200rnds of various ammo thru it so far, so I'm happy with the reliability of it. I put a Magpul bipod on it a couple days ago, but haven't shot it since then. I do wish he'd run the numbers with Hornady Critical Duty (my favorite hot load) 220grn+P, but it is what it is. The CD would likely be well over 1200 fps MV with 800+ ftlbs energy and more reliable/better expansion than you'd get from a 5" pistol especially at longer ranges.

I'd say it's worth your money to get one if you don't mind the follow-on costs for accessories and ammo which it just begs for.

[BigAl52]

Thanks Gene Ill need to wait a while to get one as I just bought a 686 so extra gun money is not there.

[GunnyGene]

I had put a linear compensator on this rifle a few weeks ago, but it just didn't seem to do much other than looking cool. With the +P ammo, recoil was still pretty stout. So I've got a more traditional muzzle brake on order that should be here in a week/10days.

[GunnyGene]

Got the new brake from Grizzlygunworks installed this morning and tried it out with Armscor 230gr FMJ, Hornady 220gr +P Critical Duty, and Underwood 255gr +P HCFN (coated). I've shot all of these during the break in period with the bare barrel, so stuck with them for comparison purposes.

All shots fired from the bench with a bipod.

Results:
Not much different with the Armscor range ammo with the brake on, except seemed to be a little help with muzzle rise. The other ammo felt like a little lighter recoil than the Armsco, and the muzzle rise appeared non-existent, or close to it. So I'd judge the brake lived up to it's advertising as regards +P ammo.

[5shot]

I took mine for its first range trip today and noticed the 230 gr. full power loads did have a little bit of thump on the back end. I wonder what the numbers would be on that 255 gr. load? Guessing that would take the humble ACP out of a 16" barrel to a whole different level.

[GunnyGene]

I took mine for its first range trip today and noticed the 230 gr. full power loads did have a little bit of thump on the back end. I wonder what the numbers would be on that 255 gr. load? Guessing that would take the humble ACP out of a 16" barrel to a whole different level.

From Underwood
Pistol:
230gr +P: Muzzle Velocity (fps):1000 Muzzle Energy (ft. lbs):511
255gr +P : Muzzle Velocity (fps):925 Muzzle Energy (ft. lbs): 485

From the Youtube test posted earlier:
Carbine:
230gr +P: Muzzle Velocity (fps):1178 Muzzle Energy (ft. lbs):709 18% increase in MV, 39% in ME

Applyng the same % increases to the 255gr+P we get:

255gr +P : Muzzle Velocity (fps):1091 Muzzle Energy (ft. lbs):674

Which is expected, since the velocity of the expelled projectile plus gases has more effect than the weight of the projectile itself. It would still be a substantial effect on recoil over common 230gr range ammo however.

Without chrono numbers from a particular gun however this is all a rough approximation. I can tell you that the 220 gr +P Hornady Critical Duty felt like a slightly sharper recoil both in the bare barrel, and with the brake, as compared to the UA 255gr +P. Purely subjective of course. What's really important is what this all means for external and terminal ballistic performance, and there's many other factors that come into play for that, including projectile design and the target itself, which I won't go into now.

Anyway, have fun and enjoy experimenting with your own ammo/accessories.

[BigAl52]

Hey Gene
Does Ruger say anything about the use of the CCI Blazer ammo in the 45? Im referring to the alum case just to clarify that statement. Wouldnt want to lead any of our teachers astray

[DsGrouse]

Just passing along some interesting numbers I ran across this morning. Since I have this evil black Ruger Carbine in .45acp I was impressed with the numbers presented in this recent performance review. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning my Henry.

The % increase of MV and ME over pistol published numbers are astounding! As usual YMMV applies, but it seems pretty solid.

Screen capture of data from below video:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxdM2seCDII

Interestingly, I've found most pistols cartridges do well up to about eight to ten inches when using factory ammo. Many of my SBR's are at 8 inches.

My BNT GHM45 is 6.88" and it has a noticable improvement over a 4" handgun.

[DsGrouse]

Hey Gene
Does Ruger say anything about the use of the CCI Blazer ammo in the 45? Im referring to the alum case just to clarify that statement. Wouldnt want to lead any of our teachers astray

Not for ruger specifically, but do not use it in any Kriss Vector. My 40sw vector will rip the case head off.

[GunnyGene]

Hey Gene
Does Ruger say anything about the use of the CCI Blazer ammo in the 45? Im referring to the alum case just to clarify that statement. Wouldnt want to lead any of our teachers astray

Not for ruger specifically, but do not use it in any Kriss Vector. My 40sw vector will rip the case head off.

I've heard that issue with aluminum from other folks several times in the past few years. I've never used any aluminum case in anything so don't have any first hand knowledge. Ruger user manual says DON'T, but there is that 10% out there that never reads the user manual for anything.