The .45 Super is a powerful smokeless powdercenter fire metallic firearmcartridge developed in 1988 by Dean Grennell, a well-known writer in the firearms field as well as managing editor of Gun World magazine.[2][3] It is dimensionally similar to the .45 ACP round but has a thicker case wall and is loaded to higher pressures, which offers an average 300 feet per second (91 m/s) improvement in muzzle velocity over the .45 ACP.[4] The cartridge was co-developed by Tom Fergerson and Ace Hindman.[5]
In 1988, a Gun World article detailed Grennell's efforts to update the .45 ACP for the 21st century, a difficult endeavor due to the inherent design limitations of the veteran round.[6] Introduced in the early 20th century, the .45 ACP has a relatively large case capacity which was dictated by the relatively low pressure powders in use at the time of its development; as a result, it operates in the modest range of 19,900–22,000 copper units of pressure (CUP). In contrast, current day cartridges using modern nitrocellulose powders generating higher pressure can produce CUP in the 28,000–39,000 range.[6] As it was originally designed for lower pressures, the .45 ACP case has relatively thin walls and weak case head and web specifications; it cannot reliably contain increased pressures. The layout of most M1911 pistols' chambers presents yet another challenge in that the case head is not fully supported in the cartridge feed ramp area;[2] pushing the envelope in this critical area with too much pressure risks a catastrophic failure, resulting in a case bursting in the chamber.[6] To rule out such a dangerous possibility, Grennell chose to use brass formed from the stronger and more modern .451 Detonics,[1] shortened to the overall length of the .45 ACP design.[2] Support for the case head was also addressed by adopting a new chamber and barrel design which supports the base area of the case.[6] Other areas of the model 1911 pistol design were also strengthened, including the addition of a heavier recoil spring and a strengthened firing pin redesigned to prevent primer material from flowing into the firing pin channel under high chamber pressures.[2]
Manufacturers such as Heckler & Koch GmbH currently offer pistols rated to fire .45 Super "out of the box".[6] The Smith & Wesson Model 4506 and other models in the third generation 4500 series leave the factory with springs for the .45ACP, but feature full support for the .45 Super load when upgraded with a stronger spring. Although they will chamber, the firing of .45 Super rounds in non-rated standard .45 ACP automatics is not recommended, as doing so risks a case failure in the unsupported chamber and at the very least batters the slide and almost certainly shortens the life of the pistol.[6][7]
.450 SMCEdit
The .450 SMC is a .45 ACP wildcat cartridge for use in robust .45 ACP firearms that uses a modified .308 Winchester case with a small rifle primer adapted for use in modern .45 ACP firearms. Only 1911 pistols or heavier firearms with upgraded heavier springs are recommended. A small rifle primer .308 Winchester case is first cut down then resized to .45 ACP specifications, then primed with a small rifle primer as opposed to using the lower pressure pistol primer. Using the higher pressure small rifle primer with .308 Winchester brass designed to withstand higher pressure rifle charges gives this .45 ACP wildcat a safe and substantial power increase to the standard .45 ACP. It supports higher pressure due to the use of a parent case originally designed for rifle charges.
BallisticsEdit
A number of bullet weight and velocity combinations are offered in .45 Super, including a 185-grain (12.0 g) bullet propelled at 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s), a 200-grain (13 g) at 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s) and a 230-grain (15 g) at 1,100 ft/s (340 m/s).[3][7] as well as other weights and velocities provided by Super Express cartridges and Buffalo Bore, such as 255-grain (16.5 g) at 1,050 ft/s (320 m/s).
Current statusEdit
Sedalia, Missouri–based Starline Brass company eventually began marketing factory-manufactured brass cases for the chambering, taking the round out of the obscure wildcat cartridge realm. In addition, Ace Custom .45's Inc. of Cleveland, Texas, trademarked the .45 Super name in 1994 and used to market factory .45 Super pistols, as well as gunsmith adaptations of .45 ACP pistols, and .45 ACP conversion kits. Ace Custom .45's Inc has since gone out of business and their website is down.[8] Texas Ammunition, Underwood Ammo,[9] and Buffalo Bore[10] offer factory loaded ammunition, which is marketed by Ace Custom and others.[3][6] The Dan Wesson .460 Rowland will also chamber a .45 Super.
super, powerful, smokeless, powder, center, fire, metallic, firearm, cartridge, developed, 1988, dean, grennell, well, known, writer, firearms, field, well, managing, editor, world, magazine, dimensionally, similar, round, thicker, case, wall, loaded, higher, . The 45 Super is a powerful smokeless powder center fire metallic firearm cartridge developed in 1988 by Dean Grennell a well known writer in the firearms field as well as managing editor of Gun World magazine 2 3 It is dimensionally similar to the 45 ACP round but has a thicker case wall and is loaded to higher pressures which offers an average 300 feet per second 91 m s improvement in muzzle velocity over the 45 ACP 4 The cartridge was co developed by Tom Fergerson and Ace Hindman 5 45 SuperTypePistolPlace of originUnited StatesProduction historyDesignerDean GrennellDesigned1988Produced1988 presentSpecificationsParent case 451 Detonics Magnum 1 Case typeRimless straightBullet diameter 451 in 11 5 mm Neck diameter 473 in 12 0 mm Base diameter 476 in 12 1 mm Rim diameter 480 in 12 2 mm Rim thickness 049 in 1 2 mm Case length 898 in 22 8 mm Overall length1 275 in 32 4 mm Primer typeLarge pistolMaximum pressure28 000 psi 190 MPa Ballistic performanceBullet mass type Velocity Energy185 gr 12 g JHP 1 300 ft s 400 m s 694 ft lbf 941 J 200 gr 13 g JHP 1 200 ft s 370 m s 639 ft lbf 866 J 230 gr 15 g FMJ 1 100 ft s 340 m s 618 ft lbf 838 J Test barrel length 5 inches 130 mm Source s MidwayUSA Contents 1 Development history 2 450 SMC 3 Ballistics 4 Current status 5 Applicable firearms 6 See also 7 ReferencesDevelopment history EditIn 1988 a Gun World article detailed Grennell s efforts to update the 45 ACP for the 21st century a difficult endeavor due to the inherent design limitations of the veteran round 6 Introduced in the early 20th century the 45 ACP has a relatively large case capacity which was dictated by the relatively low pressure powders in use at the time of its development as a result it operates in the modest range of 19 900 22 000 copper units of pressure CUP In contrast current day cartridges using modern nitrocellulose powders generating higher pressure can produce CUP in the 28 000 39 000 range 6 As it was originally designed for lower pressures the 45 ACP case has relatively thin walls and weak case head and web specifications it cannot reliably contain increased pressures The layout of most M1911 pistols chambers presents yet another challenge in that the case head is not fully supported in the cartridge feed ramp area 2 pushing the envelope in this critical area with too much pressure risks a catastrophic failure resulting in a case bursting in the chamber 6 To rule out such a dangerous possibility Grennell chose to use brass formed from the stronger and more modern 451 Detonics 1 shortened to the overall length of the 45 ACP design 2 Support for the case head was also addressed by adopting a new chamber and barrel design which supports the base area of the case 6 Other areas of the model 1911 pistol design were also strengthened including the addition of a heavier recoil spring and a strengthened firing pin redesigned to prevent primer material from flowing into the firing pin channel under high chamber pressures 2 Manufacturers such as Heckler amp Koch GmbH currently offer pistols rated to fire 45 Super out of the box 6 The Smith amp Wesson Model 4506 and other models in the third generation 4500 series leave the factory with springs for the 45ACP but feature full support for the 45 Super load when upgraded with a stronger spring Although they will chamber the firing of 45 Super rounds in non rated standard 45 ACP automatics is not recommended as doing so risks a case failure in the unsupported chamber and at the very least batters the slide and almost certainly shortens the life of the pistol 6 7 450 SMC EditThe 450 SMC is a 45 ACP wildcat cartridge for use in robust 45 ACP firearms that uses a modified 308 Winchester case with a small rifle primer adapted for use in modern 45 ACP firearms Only 1911 pistols or heavier firearms with upgraded heavier springs are recommended A small rifle primer 308 Winchester case is first cut down then resized to 45 ACP specifications then primed with a small rifle primer as opposed to using the lower pressure pistol primer Using the higher pressure small rifle primer with 308 Winchester brass designed to withstand higher pressure rifle charges gives this 45 ACP wildcat a safe and substantial power increase to the standard 45 ACP It supports higher pressure due to the use of a parent case originally designed for rifle charges Ballistics EditA number of bullet weight and velocity combinations are offered in 45 Super including a 185 grain 12 0 g bullet propelled at 1 300 ft s 400 m s a 200 grain 13 g at 1 200 ft s 370 m s and a 230 grain 15 g at 1 100 ft s 340 m s 3 7 as well as other weights and velocities provided by Super Express cartridges and Buffalo Bore such as 255 grain 16 5 g at 1 050 ft s 320 m s Current status EditSedalia Missouri based Starline Brass company eventually began marketing factory manufactured brass cases for the chambering taking the round out of the obscure wildcat cartridge realm In addition Ace Custom 45 s Inc of Cleveland Texas trademarked the 45 Super name in 1994 and used to market factory 45 Super pistols as well as gunsmith adaptations of 45 ACP pistols and 45 ACP conversion kits Ace Custom 45 s Inc has since gone out of business and their website is down 8 Texas Ammunition Underwood Ammo 9 and Buffalo Bore 10 offer factory loaded ammunition which is marketed by Ace Custom and others 3 6 The Dan Wesson 460 Rowland will also chamber a 45 Super Applicable firearms EditHeckler amp Koch Mark 23 amp USP 45 Glock 21 Smith amp Wesson Model 4506 Springfield Armory 1911 V 16 LongslideSee also EditList of handgun cartridges 44 Magnum 45 GAP 475 Wildey Magnum 10 mm caliber 11 mm caliber Table of handgun and rifle cartridgesReferences Edit a b Short History of the 451 Detonics Magnum Z3BigDaddy August 5 2012 Archived from the original on June 23 2015 Retrieved June 23 2015 a b c d 1911 Hot Rods Handguns Magazine website Accessed March 11 2008 a b c Versatility and Power The 45Super Concept Archived February 17 2008 at the Wayback Machine Ace Custom 45s website Accessed March 11 2008 45 Super Everything Development Company website Accessed March 11 2008 Cengage Learning a b c d e f g 45 Automatic Notpurfect website Accessed February 25 2008 a b Starline Product Information amp Descriptions Archived April 24 2008 at the Wayback Machine Starline Brass website Accessed March 11 2008 Acecustom45s com www acecustom45s com Retrieved September 21 2015 45 Super Underwood Ammo Pistol Ammunition Self Defense Ammo www underwoodammo com Archived from the original on June 7 2015 Retrieved September 21 2015 Buffalo Bore 45 Super Ammo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 45 Super amp oldid 1174121360, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
