Thoughts on the 45 SUPER-460 Rowland?

He had a very expensive store bought and installed conversion. The case web blew, gasses came back along the slide rails to pepper his face which was protected by his shooting glasses. Gases also went down the mag well and destroyed the top two cartridges spilling out the powder and bullets. We cleaned up the gun and mag, Alcorn’s pants too. All was well, no lasting damage.

With an auto loader there are many things to consider. The chamber has to support the case web. It also has to stay locked until pressures are down. We “built” a Glock 21 with custom chamber on a conventional rifled barrel. Besides re-chambering the chamber throat was modified with a 1/2” freebore. Much like Weatherby rifles. The bullet travels forward to about .45 Schofield length before rifling is engaged and pressures are truly realized. That’s a big deal. Downstream I also went from a 17-18# recoil spring to a 26# heavy duty. Lastly on the end of the threaded barrel I used a special “chamber” muzzle brake to slow slide opening and jarring recoil effects. My friend (using a 1911 platform) decided on the same mods except he used a special three spring, special calibrated, captured recoil spring system. His 200 gr. Jacketed bullets reached 1400 fps. I was using special gas checked cast bullets to achieve the same. I did shoot 250’s and even 300 gr. at 1200 fps. But I’d not want to do it too much. All wear is greatly advanced with the heightened performance. I was able to duplicate the same level of performance with a 6” custom barreled Glock 20 in 10mm using custom cast loads in conventional rifling as well. Up to 230 gr. anyway.

In short. It’s a good way to blow your nose off. Even with a well designed “factory” kit. Some designs can let the sear go without being fully in battery. I chose the Glock as it has a whole munch less parts than the 1911. No link, pin, bushing, etc. The .45 Super loads with a little forethought would be a better place to start, IMO. Or just go straight to 10mm. BTW, semi-autos need semi-auto shaped bullets to perform best, I’ve found.

Had it for many years. I can easily get an XTP out to 1330fps with 12 gr Longshot. It beats the heck out of the gun and I’ve broken an ejector, extractor and the hold open nub on the slide stop.

I’ve shot a merino sheep with it at HHC a few years ago and it was a hammer. However, based on the recoil I suspect the gun really takes a beating. So I’ve decided to treat the whole thing differently .

Since it’s set up for Rowland and I already have component (cases), I’m going to use it as a hot 45super. 26lb recoil spring and a comp does wonders. I’m using 10gr of Longshot with a 230grxtp for 1190fps. It’s a soft bullet though and expends rapidly as it’s designed for SD.

For hunting, I’ve switched to the 250grxtp over 9.5gr of Longshot for 1150fps and good accuracy. I’ve not shot anything lighter.

Hope this helps!

I have done a fair bit of hunting with them. Starline brass makes both 45 super and Rowland brass I talked to Starline about the brass and found out the only difference is the length of the case. Both are the same otherwise. The brass is much stronger than 45 ACP brass. The only reason the Rowland brass is longer is so it can’t be shot out of a gin set up for 45acp. There is no advantage to the Rowland brass extra length because the bullet can’t be seated out farther do to overall cartridge length being limited to magazine’s. I shoot 185gr Nosler competition bullets because they can handle the extra velocity and perform wonderfully on tough game like 200 lbs hogs. I run them at 1400 fps with Longshot. Sprinco can make a recoil system for you based on the bullet weight and velocity and gun you use. Gary build’s 45 Super’s on request!

I do, however, like the 45 (in +p flavor), and 45 Super. Plenty of performance and load data out there, it's not "boutique-ish" like one has to go-to for the 10mm to get up and go. My backwoods load is a 250gr +P in a 5" 1911. Runs 950fps.