Loading the Dan Wesson PM7 45 ACP

[raisedin99]

Recently bought a used Dan Wesson PM7 45 ACP Ser SVN002xx. To my knowledge there have been no modifications made to this 98% gun.

I’ve been reloading revolver and rifle for about 50 years ( that really makes me sound old doesn’t it ) and have never had the occasion to load for the .45 ACP so I am very ignorant on the feeding of this fine pistol.

With the wealth of knowledge here, can someone help me out ? Should I load round nose or swc ? Perhaps someone could share a favorite load or give me the whys an why nots of one bullet style over the other.

Thanks,
raisedin99

 

[m657]

Each recipe has those who support them due to their experience & performance they received.

I've loaded with a wide variety of recipes for 1911s, and have generally gotten much better performance from the old standard cast 230gr RN, or the 230 FMJ. Depending on a lot of variables, but most often my favorite load for 1911 and the Mighty S&W 625, is the rather light load of 5.1gr HP38 under the above slugs.

I just was range testing a bunch of recipes in my DW CBOB, and was pleased that it shot 'minute of plum' at 30' with nearly every recipe on hand. It is my most accurate 1911 despite the shorter barrel.

It did put the FMJ 230s into a smaller group than the cast, but the 1/2 dozen powder combinations didn't make all that much difference in what was on the paper target.

I'm not down on other boolits, but have had more trouble with the 185 & SWC anything than they were worth. I've had good result with 220-230 gr truncated flat point FMJ too. I wrote a rather wordy post here a few days ago about finding finally, a nice 200gr load one of my 1911s would shoot point of impact=point of aim at 30'. It was a nice exercise in using some reloading experience to solve a problem.

Hope this helps give you some ideas.

 

[Lopez]

My DW PM7-45 is fed a steady diet of 200g lead SWC bullets over 4.0 grains of bullseye. Its a nice, shoot all day, load that is extremely accurate in my pistol. I have never had a jam with 200 grain SWC in this particular gun.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I'm also using a CBOB and it will feed an empty case, so far I've used 230g ball and cast TC, both over 5.3g W231 with great success.

Your Pointman should do whatever you ask of it - with style!

 

[raisedin99]

gentlemen,

thanks for the info, I'll pick up some bullets and see what I can come up with.

As for feeding an empty case, i was overly surprised when I tried and found that it would feed as often as I tried.


regards,
raisedin99

 

[Skip Sackett]

gentlemen,

thanks for the info, I'll pick up some bullets and see what I can come up with.

As for feeding an empty case, i was overly surprised when I tried and found that it would feed as often as I tried.


regards,
raisedin99

Good, now all someone has to do to test your skills on a clearing a malfunction in the firearm is put an empty case in the magazine and viola, you have a chance to show your stuff!