+p

With the caveat that SA will advise you that the guns should never be loaded beyond SAAMI specs, exactly as I do, the answer is yes and yes.

There are two possible failure modes. One is that a barrel obstruction will cause the chamber pressure to rise precipitately and blow up the chamber portion of the barrel because it is much thinner than the rifled portion. The other is that excessive headspace will allow the round to back out of the chamber exposing an excessive amount of cartridge at ignition, resulting in a blowout near the base of the case. In 45 acp this is a much more energetic failure than the corresponding failure of a 9mm, being proportional in available energy to case volume (a factor nearly 2 to 1).

Assuming that the throat on your chamber has not been cut beyond spec, and that headspace is also within spec, and your brass is shiny and new, full case charges of any but the fastest powders are not likely to create catastrophic results. I have often loaded 6 grains of Bullseye under a 200gr roundnose bullet - A nearly full case of fast powder.

As for the general strength of the SA frame and slide, they are among the small number recommended for the 460 Rowland conversion, which is little more than a slightly lengthened 45ACP case loaded to 40,000 psi.

Folks who load pistols to unsafe levels work up carefully, and watch for bulged cases and a sensation of "knocking" when the slide comes back, indicating the need for a heavier spring. This is a deadly art that should not be attempted by new reloaders, or those unwilling to lose fingers in the pursuit of knowledge.

 

Yes. And yes, you are OCD in exactly the same way as my friend John. He asks the same question 3 times too, fortunately these days I'm long on patience, thanks to excellent psychiatric medication

 

Sorry, I am forced to use the precise terminology for fear of getting into language wars, which I have no stomach for. I am actually not an expert, I am a journeyman of sorts, since I only just began accepting pay for my gunsmithing work at the princely rate of $10/hour. About what I think my labor is worth.

 

I found my way here by accident after getting tossed out of another forum for saying that gunbroker.com was a den and a breeding ground for thieves and liars. Apparently that struck too close to the bone to be let pass.

You will find that all the argument that happens here is pure sham. We just try to have a good time between trips to the range. I think that what makes this forum different is that everybody here just loves to shoot, and cares more about shooting guns than petting and polishing "safe queens".

Forum regulars will be thinking I must have struck my head on a bullet press, but the truth is, I've been watching Deadwood, and the ridiculous way that the characters all speak has got caught in my fingers.

 

Under pressure from ammo makers, SAAMI allowed for +P for 9mm, 45acp, and 38 Special. All these rounds are over 100 years old, and can be chambered in guns that are old and fragile. SAAMI states that +P ammo is only marginally safe in those guns. The pressure levels for +P are typically only about 10% over standard.

+P+ is generally understood to refer to maximum (sub-proof) loads in standard cases. The designation arose as modern guns made with properly heat-treated quality steel became more common. Commercial +P+ ammunition is 30%-40% over standard pressure (A "blue pill", or "proof load" being 50% over pressure). All SA guns are able to withstand +P+ pressures, though SA would never condone it.

Due to our litigious nature, the manufacturers of truly battleship tough guns (Ruger Redhawk and Blackhawk, BFR, Freedom Arms) state, for example, that their 45LC revolvers should not be loaded above the SAAMI limit of 14,000psi - But they are commonly loaded to 30,000 psi! The 44 magnum models of those guns can be loaded with any combination of lead and powder that can be stuffed into a cartridge without reaching dangerous pressure (Assuming the chambers and bore are scrupulously clean and undamaged, and your brass is new and not mistreated). These guns will all fail by jamming up before any metal starts flying.

 

Kimber and Sig, through the implementation of infinitely many small cost-cutting measures, have become unknown quantities about whose guns little can be said with confidence.

SA chambers are typically somewhat oversized. This is intentional and is done to insure reliable feeding when the gun is dirty.

Nearly all modern 1911's have oversized chambers. You can see the evidence (on 45 acp brass) of this in the form of a shiny silvery residue on the sides of your spent brass. This is evidence of vaporised lead blowing back past what is supposed to be the seal between the chamber and brass. Loads in the 20,000 psi range will seal correctly and will be found to be vastly more accurate than lower (normal) pressure rounds that exhibit lead erosion.

 

Grip safety rattle is normal.

 

You can fire thousands of them and the gun will not loosen up.

 

Today's +P is like standard loads form the 1970's and 1980's....only weaker.