[blaster]

you will like the .45 Super. I upgraded my old AMT Hardballer to fire the .45 Super. it puts the old cartridge into the 21st Century!

 

[blaster]

What weight and type of recoil spring are you running? If, you don't mind me asking.

Wolff 22# on a full length guide rod.

 

[blaster]

mine is the adj. sight model and they don't hold up to the .45 Super recoil. right now, I have them glued in place with Silicone. in addition to the 22# recoil spring & full length guide rod I have installed a flat bottom firing pin stop, Ed Brown match barrel & heavy duty firing pin, Wilson hammer & strut, hammer pin, heavy duty sear and pin.
I experimented with nuclear loads and finally settled on a few that were still hot but showed no pressure signs. using Unique and Long Shot powders. they push a 230 gr. powder coated bullet around 1166 fps.-694 ft. lbs. and a 200 gr XTP 1181 fps. - 619 ft. lbs.
since my .45 Officers Model sports a Wilson barrel w/a fully supported chamber, 24# recoil spring and a flat bottom firing pin stop, I worked up some "light " Super loads that push a 200gr. LSWC bullet at 1014 fps - 457 ft. lbs. and a 230 gr. powder coated swc at 964 fps. - 475 ft. lbs. out of its 3" barrel. these same loads go around 80 fps. faster out of the 5" barrel.

 

[blaster]

I shot my .45 Super this afternoon. it shot great but only went 10 rounds and the rear sight roll pin broke. the silicone held the sight just enough that I didn't lose it. went home and put another roll pin in but I need to find a better way. I wish I had a milling machine.

 

[blaster]

I bought my Hardballer in 1981 or 2. it has been fed a diet of max loaded reloads all its life and because back then I only had a few guns, got shot a LOT! no problems with the frame or slide but several years ago, I did split the factory barrel. hence the Ed Brown match bbl. the propriety rear sight has always been a pain in the ass. other than that, I like it a lot. I have since gone to the dark side of double action, high capacity pistols and the ole Hardballer became a safe queen. converting it to shoot .45 Super is my attempt to breathe new life in an old friend. but I have to admit as soon as I see LEO trade in S&W M&P .45 pistols for sale at a decent price again, I'm buying one. all they need is a heavier recoil spring to shoot the .45 Super.