T / C Barrel , 45 ACP

[quicksylver]

Well my disappointment comes with the acknowledgement that my iron sighted guns just don't shoot like they used to and my favorite loads don't perform like they used to..
As a mater of fact I was looking at some of my old targets and wondering who and what gun shot the one ragged hole group on the 50 ' bulls eye target marked "Ruger 45 Colt - 255 /454190/7.5 Unique"...I still have that Ruger and those reloads but it don't shoot like that with me behind it now...

But life is still good...every once and a while I manage to surprise myself ....onward my feiends..!!!

Ben that contender has all the best parts of both the 1911 and a revolver..integral chamber/barrel like the 1911 and a long barrel like a revolver..makes me want to put glass on my Model 29 with a 8 3/8" barrel..oooh'''another project..

 

[Ian]

makes me want to put glass on my Model 29 with a 8 3/8" barrel..oooh'''another project..

Do it, you won't be sorry. 19.2-6 grains of 2400 behind a plain-based 429421 sparked with a Federal 150 is minute of soda can bottom @100 yards.

 

[quicksylver]

Ian Suggested glass and base ?....please remember this is rocket science to me...Dan

 

[Pistolero]

Have to agree, or at least close to, with Ian. When working up my best loads for hunting with 6"
629 Powerport, settled on 20 gr 2400, RCBS version of 429421, got 2" at 50 yds a number of times,
but even rested with a scope, the grip and rest issues are not something that I have, even now,
entirely worked out. Also, was not using Fed primers, or going down the 0.4-0.8 that Ian is
suggesting. Probably worth trying my Serbian 429421, some of the magic voodoo lubes and the
Fed primers to see if it would be more consistent. Of course, it took a warthog at 75 yds with
no problems.....but we are talking about "capability" not necessary a real hunting need.

Bill

 

[Ian]

Dan, I'll have to look to see what I ended up using, did a lot of research and changed it out at least once for one reason or another. I used an Ultra-dot optic with zero magnification, intended for hunting. If you shoot paper get a scope, Burris makes good, affordable pistol scopes but any magnification at arm's length takes a lot of getting used to.

Bill, I ran the load up and down and found a sweet spot with an Ideal radius-groove HP mould that runs about 238 grains with a blank pin and 230 with an HP spud. My alloy was 16:1 and in plain-based form it doesn't like bumping near 20 grains of powder. I don't like bumping 20 grains, either, in fact 19.6 with the HP is about all I can stand for repetitive shooting from the bench, even with a 10" barrel and heavy optic. This is a 29-3 and it WILL jump time with hot loads. I shot some of Brad's 287-grainers weekend before last and if I push really hard in the web of my hand I can still feel the deep bruise. If I go to Tulsa next year I'll be in the market for some proper cocobolo N-frame stocks and will send these Hogues to the 30-gallon art bin.

 

[Brother_Love]

Loosing my ability to shoot open sights has been one of my really irritating things about getting older. Good thing that optics have advanced some much to help this old geezer.

The worst part of getting old is frequent doctor visits, surgery and loosing so many of our contemporaries

 

[Pistolero]

Ian - strongly recommend the S&W X frame grip, a rubber thing with a special pad
built in. Looks like a normal Pachmeyer but is not. Only available from S&W AFAIK.
I am not bothered by any loads in the 629, even the Mtn Gun version, but the 329
with heavy loads finally exceeded my recoil tolerance in my hand. That particular grip
is noticably better than the regular Pachmeyer rubber for hard recoiling guns. And yes,
the X frame grip fits the N frame. If you want some "fun", the 329 is the ticket. For me
it is only a tool, shot only enough to verify POI before a backpacking trip into griz
country. Much easier to carry, and with a real load of adrenaline, can shoot it. Even
had my wife shoot a cylinder full, just in case she has to unscrew a griz from me
some time. She said it was no fun but could be done in an emergency. All I asked
for.

Bill

 

[Ben]

Dan,

makes me want to put glass on my Model 29 with a 8 3/8" barrel..oooh'''another project..

Life is short.
Some day, you'll wish you had done it.

Ben

 

[Ben]

I took my T/C , 45 ACP to the range today.
After zeroing the pistol, I fired 8 rounds at 35 yards. ( I was in a bit of a hurry to get home this afternoon or I'd have fired the pistol more )
The load was the Lee Clone of the H&G # 68 at 200 grs. ( .452 " ) with 4.5 B'Eye.
I have no idea whether this is good or not ?
That aiming square is 1" X 1 ".

Looking forward to testing more loads.

Ben

 

[KeithB]

Your Contender, absent the glass, reminds me of many the single shot target and dueling pistols of earlier eras. The large caliber non-magnum chambering and barrel length add to that aspect. Not down on glass, its an extremely practical addition. Were I fortunate enough to own one I'd probably do something similar. I always thought that single shot weapons helped focus the mind on the here-and-now.

If I shot a group that size with any handgun I'd be tickled pink. Good going.

 

[Ben]

Thanks for that nice compliment.
Most everyone is saying that I need to find a way to shoot this same group at 50 yards......

Challenges

 

[Brad]

Need to? No. Would I be very interested in the results? Absolutely.

Nothing wrong with that group at all Ben.

 

[Ben]

I only fired one particular load today.
Seems that it is very early to draw ( or jump to ) a lot of conclusions on the accuracy potential of this rig just yet. Still pretty early in the game.

Ben

 

[quicksylver]

Ah ..Ben ...yoy can do it..remember the 80 yd group with the 30-30 barrel...

 

[Ben]

I figure it can be done.
Can I do it ? ........The jury is still out on that one.

Ben

 

[Ian]

Oh that's terrible. You should sell that thing, it will never shoot.

 

[Ben]

Ian,

You're right.
Pretty shabby isn't it ?

Ben

 

[gman]

I bet it’s pleasure to shoot. I love the acp in my Blackhawk convertible.

 

[Pistolero]

Hmmm. First try gets equal to the best 1911 group I can shoot!

Heck of a start. Gonna get better, no doubt. What was LOA? I'd try 1.275, if your throat
will take it. Most older 1911s will take 1.260 with no trouble, although much longer than
that can lead to magazine issues.
Since you have no magazine issues, no problem. But the move to more
of match chambers in the last couple of decades has forced me to standardize on 1.250
to be sure ammo will work in all guns.
Short bearing length on this bullet, so need as short a jump to the rifling as you can get
to keep it straight. All depends on the chamber that they created. Current 1911 seem to have
near zero throats.

Bill

 

[Ben]

What was LOA? I'd try 1.275, if your throat

I just keep seating deeper until I feel a bit of resistance when my T/C locks up.
When I extract a live round using this method, I can see the front of the drive band imprinting into the rifling.

Ben