In the original 45 ACP in bear country thread I stated that I had tried some of those 255 grain Buffalo Bore rounds in my 5 inch Kimber. The only thing that had been changed was a 20 pound recoil spring had been installed verses a standard 16 pound spring. Spent brass was thrown approximately 20 feet and dented sort of badly. I felt that was to much power for the way the pistol was set up.

A 25 pound mainspring {hammer spring] was installed and also an EGW firing pin stop to try to cut down on slide velocity at this power level to better protect the pistol. This afternoon late everything was finished so I rushed out to give it a try before dark. I fired 3 shots of my regular load 200 grain cast SWC at probably 900 FPS and everything worked normal. Three of the Buffalo Bore 255 grain cast at a stated 960 FPS also worked normal with the undented brass being thrown probably 12 15 feet. I am going to call this experiment a success and this will be my bear country hiking load!

Regards Keith
Semper Fi

Keith1

I would suggest you also do the following test.
Shoot your "normal" 45 ACP loads holding the 1911 very loosely, and see if it functions.

You want to make sure your 1911 will function set up for you more powerful loads with standard 45 ACP loads if shot loosely, as might happen in a self defensive situation for one reason or another.

N E 450,
I popped of several more rounds today both standard and heavy to make sure that the pistol functioned OK set up the way it was and everything seemed fine. Then brought it home and changed to the standard recoil spring because I want be in bear country until later this spring. The pistol is usually shot most days as it is taken on my daily walks and I didn't want to keep that 20 pound spring installed for regular stuff.

Regards, Keith

Keith 1

Sounds like a good plan to me.

I tried this Buffalo Bore load in my 70 Series Gold Cup yesterday and the Colt handled the high pressure ammo even better than the Kimber. This combination will be my hiking companion while hiking where there is a possibility of encountering bears.

Regards, Keith

Keith

I used a Colt Gold Cup for several years as a work gun, and carried it in the field as well.

The one thing you need to watch for is the breakage of the pin that holds the rearsight in place. On many Gold Cups it was a roll pin.

That will definately shear with hot loads. I replaced mine with a solid hardened steel pin and it lasted until I later had a low melted style Bomar sight installed.

A Gold Cup makes a nice 1911, for sure.

Also let me add that there is nothing wrong with the Eliasion rear sight on a Gold Cup if you have a solid pin holding it on.

I just changed to the Bomar as that is what my other 1911's have and am used to it.

N E 450,
I replaced that pin back in the 1970s. It failed on me also.

Regards, Keith

I got my Gold Cup back in the early 1970's also.

It was the easiest way back then to get a 1911 with adjustable sights.
The two other main choices were to have a S&W refolver sight installed, or have a target sight fitted like a Kenwood or a Bomar.
The problem with the target sights that low mounting had not been thought up yet, so the rear and front sight had to be mounted fairly high and did not fit the holsters of the day.

Also it was a little spendy to mount the rear and a new front sight, as refinishing the slide was usually necessary, as a front sight staked in only, not soldered, would usually eventually fly off.
And you had to send the slide off and be without your gun...

The front and the Eliasion rear sight on the Gold Cup, were mounted low and fit in the holsters.

The Gold Cup also had a wider trigger and trigger overtravel stop and usually a retty good trigger for service use right out of the box.

The Gold Cup was a great choice when you consider all the options it came out of the box with.