S&W E Series 1911- Anyone Run 45 Super or 460 Rowland?

[Shtf45acp]

I can't seem to find much on this subject as to running 45 super or possibly using Clark's Customs 460 Rowland kit in a E Series 1911.

I'm curious more towards the 45 Super as I have been contemplating using it in my 625 revolvers. It seems that most people change the main spring, recoil spring, firing pin stop, and possibly the firing pin spring to successfully convert a standard 1911. I was wondering if the same would apply to the E Series with it's external extractor. Some also say to upgrade to stronger magazine springs as well.

If you have ran 45 super in a E Series 1911 reliably, could you help me out in converting mine? Thanks!

 

[kingrj]

Many shoot .45 Super in the 1911 platform. A flat bottom firing pin retainer and a stronger firing pin spring and maybe a 22 pound recoil spring is about all that is required. However these mods will not counteract the full increase in slide momentum resulting from shooting the super and the gun will have to absorb the brunt. A fully supported chamber is also a nice thing to have but not totally necessary if you don't get carried away. The Rowland kit with the added comp is the way to go if you want the gun to last forever shooting super. The added mass and rerouting of the gas by the comp pretty much tames the beast. However if you only hunt with Super like I do and do not shoot thousands of rounds of it a year it is not needed. Just to be honest my Super is a 4506 and I consider it a better platform for super than the 1911 but that is just me.

 

[Shtf45acp]

Thank you for the reply!

I only will hunt with 45 Super and my 625 revolvers. In PA they never passed the semi auto handgun/rifle bill so it's still manual operated firearms with the exception of semi auto shotguns.

I just thought maybe I'd look into using 45 Super for a SD round in my 1911. Even then most of the time I carry my PC 3" 1911. From what I gather it's definitely a NO-NO shooting 45 Super from a compact 1911 officer.

 

[kingrj]

Thank you for the reply!

I only will hunt with 45 Super and my 625 revolvers. In PA they never passed the semi auto handgun/rifle bill so it's still manual operated firearms with the exception of semi auto shotguns.

I just thought maybe I'd look into using 45 Super for a SD round in my 1911. Even then most of the time I carry my PC 3" 1911. From what I gather it's definitely a NO-NO shooting 45 Super from a compact 1911 officer.

I also have an Officer's Mod and I would NOT do much Super shooting in it! The gun will NOT blow up with reasonable super loads but the beating it would get due to the lower slide mass would be substantial..As a PD round it is possible to get 185 grain HP's to well over 1200 fps which would, I believe, deter an aggressor!

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I admit, that I am too frightened too fire any ammunition that my gun was not factory designed for. Well maybe a 22 factory conversion kit. Seems like too much of a safety risk (not to mention wear). If I want to shoot another caliber, I buy a firearm chambered for that. I understand that "tinkering" is fun for many, but I don't get it. But then again, all my guns have factory grips. Thanks for the education.

 

[kingrj]

I admit, that I am too frightened too fire any ammunition that my gun was not factory designed for. Well maybe a 22 factory conversion kit. Seems like too much of a safety risk (not to mention wear). If I want to shoot another caliber, I buy a firearm chambered for that. I understand that "tinkering" is fun for many, but I don't get it. But then again, all my guns have factory grips. Thanks for the education.

Excellent observation....In my case I love to deer hunt and I also love how easily the auto pistol packs on my hip..I have hunted with handguns for many years and have taken probably over 50 deer with various pistols but the one thing I have learned is that a big bullet diameter with a flat meplat and enough weight and velocity for complete penetration is a very important thing. Just as an interesting project I tried to figure out how to get that capability in an autoloader and since I already had several .45 acp's the Super seemed to be the answer..and it was! Other than for hunting I see no reason for the Super especially in self defense where accuracy and reliability are paramount. Humans don't like to be shot with anything, especially a .45 acp! Game animals are a different story. Your observations are accurate...