Pressure limits in M1917 and M1909

[Shawn Agne]

Just was wondering what are the pressure limits on the 1909 and 1917 colts. Not wanting to hot rod my ammo its just -40 wind chill here and I'm bored and while cleaning mine got me wondering.

[Johnny P]

The .45 Colt ammunition is loaded to a max of 17,000 psi, and the .45 ACP to 21,000 psi.

[Shawn Agne]

SAMI Limit is 14,000psi for the .45 Colt. So the older ammo was loaded above that then?

[Johnny P]

You didn't specify SAAMI specifications, as the CUP measurement was closer to 17,000. I am not interested in the hottest thing I can shoot in the .45 Colt, and load most of mine in the 725 fps category.

[Shawn Agne]

Johnny, neither am I interested in the hottest round. Was just wondering as I was reading about various factory defense loads and not that I would shoot them in either of them was just wondering what they were rated at. I shoot 34gr of FFg in mine with a 250gr Lyman bullet, extremely accurate and VERY fun to shoot.

[Johnny P]

SAAMI pressures are not the pressure limits, but safe loadings for that caliber. The pressure limits would probably approach almost twice SAAMI specs depending on the gun they were shot in.

[joem]

I have several 1917's and I load on the light side. I see no need to load to the max on a old gun (1919 vintage) as I'm not sure I could replace it. I chrono my loads @ 650 to 675 FPS for these older guns.