1911 Long Range Loading (200m)

[pokute]

Pokute - Could you explain and/or elaborate the Merit Optical attachment? Better yet, post a picture. I too have been limited by poor eyesight. I had a special pair of shooting glasses made last fall. My left eye lens (dominant) was corrected so the sights of my pistols are very clear and my right eye lens was set at my prescription for distance. This is similar to the first attempts at making bi-focal contacts lenses except we did it in regular eye glasses. You don't have to tilt your head back to get a clear view of the sights. Works very well for me but always looking for improvement.

Yes, using the Merit on your left lens will vastly improve your shooting experience. You will be able to see the target CLEARLY at the same time as the front sight. The Merit is held on by a suction cup, but mine has held up well in spite of shooting with it every weekend for two years. Never falls off. I usually use it with the iris closed down to the minimum size.

Merit Optical Attachment Suction Cup

The only thing that works better is Knobloch glasses, for about $300+

 

[pokute]

I haven't done this in about 25 years but while I was still on active duty I could take a 1911A1 [the Army's or mine] and hit a 1/2 gal.milk jug at 100 yards almost all day with military ball ammo. The trick was simple,make a vertical mark in the forward edge of the ejection port that lined up with the front sight. Then put the actual front sight on the bottom[six o'clock hold]of the jug and put your ejection port mark in the rear sight notch and squeeze them off.

It took me a bit of time to figure out what you were doing with the mark in the ejection port. That's a very interesting trick. I'm going to try it with a G.I. gun that a friend has.

 

[noylj]

I hope you have gone up on the weight of the recoil spring, otherwise you could be battering the gun pretty well. I would also think that you would want a much slower powder, say Power Pistol to Longshot.
If I wanted to shoot at 200m with a 1911, I would use a 10mm Auto.
Have fun and stay safe.

 

[David R]

The best I could ever get out of my 45 auto with a wilsons barrel is 7" at 100 yards off hand. This was using a 452460 cast 200 swc with 5.0 bullseye.

Great shooting on your part.

David

 

[pokute]

I hope you have gone up on the weight of the recoil spring, otherwise you could be battering the gun pretty well. I would also think that you would want a much slower powder, say Power Pistol to Longshot.
If I wanted to shoot at 200m with a 1911, I would use a 10mm Auto.
Have fun and stay safe.

I've tried other powders. Bullseye wins for the 45ACP. It's the only cartridge I run Bullseye in. Keep in mind that the point is to get the pressure high enough to seal the case as early as possible. I don't do stuff to my guns or my loads without having a good reason, I promise. I was a chemist and metallurgist in a previous life. I have fun and stay safe. I even prove the thumb safety on my target guns. Sometimes you get tempted to just click on and set the gun down, and it's nice to KNOW that it wont follow.

I am using a 21lb mainspring and 18lb recoil spring in both guns. I tried every combination of spring until I found the combo that produced the smoothest recoil and 110% function with the 5.0 BE 200 SWC load. The Springer has about 6000 rounds through it and looks new inside and outside, and the Colt has about 2000 rounds through it and except for some slight bluing wear at the front barrel lockup surfaces, it's perfect. I think that shok-bufs are a lifesaver for folks that want to keep their 1911's tight. I worked all the battering points out of both guns during the first 1000 rounds.

As pretty as the Colt is, if I were going to build a third gun, I'd start with a Springer SS Loaded Target. Frankly, the Colt was not finished well internally and required a lot of very stressful filing and stoning (Damn that Royal Blue) to make it run true. You can't see it, but the grip and safety tangs have been massaged to get the grip on the Springer (which started life as a Mil-Spec) high and tight.

The Colt GCNM has a (factory - It's one of the GCNM design tweaks) subtly reshaped trigger guard to get the grip as high as possible.

I agree about the 10mm - Though I might go for 460 Rowland if it's for real. As I mentioned, I think 44 is really the way to go for longrange handgunning - You can't miss seeing where the bullet lands! I *once* got a tight group on the 150m turkey with a 44. Didn't know it until I wandered out to see if I hit it.
You can turn a cheap Ruger SBH into a longrange target pistol with a half day of filing and stoning and by replacing the sight notch with the 0.090 notch for the Ruger long barrelled models.

I got ejected from the local *rifle* range for having the balls to belly up to the line with a pistol. The RO had a fit. Guess I'll never get the chance to try to pull an Elmer Keith.

 

[smokey04]

pokute,that "cheap trick" just helps you center the front sight in the rear notch without going back and forth. The effect is the same as centering the front sight in the rear sight notch. I did it by eye for a period of time until I figured out that going back and forth was O.K. but, marking the ejection port not only insured the elevation was correct but the windage was also right. After all,ammo not money, was at stake! The total deal["now that the statute of limitation has run out"]went like this. [Expert opining blah, blah, blah] Well sir, I'll make you an offer. If you will buy a box of 50 rounds [GI ball or factory equivalent] you can pace off the one hundred yards. Every time I hit the jug you pay me a quarter[or?] every time I miss the jug I will pay you a quarter[or equal to the agreed upon amount]. Put your money where your opinion is! Funny, I NEVER lost money and PLEASE,don't tell them now, I always had a 50 rd. box of FREE ammo to shoot anyway!I made some converts, made a small rep among the locals, and almost always PO'ed the losers! Take candy from a baby,yeah, but Mom, I never stole from the donation plate in church!!! Thanks for your interest in my former glory. Nick

 

[rwsmith]

I can't see anything at 200 yards (or meters). Sucks to get old.

I've NEVER been able to see anything at 200 meters.