.45 ACP Dual Purpose Loading: A Look at Loads for Carbine and Pistol Use

[Talyn]

The .45 ACP is a low pressure cartridge. Muzzle flash is limited and standard loads do not stress the firearm. Accuracy is often good to excellent. A modest charge of fast burning powder is all that is needed. Cartridge cases will last for many loadings.

The .45 ACP doesn’t gain much velocity in a 16 inch barrel. Most of the cartridge’s powder energy burns in a 5 inch 1911 barrel. The carbine may exhibit a gain of 50 fps. The .45 ACP doesn’t become a speed demon in a carbine. The advantage of the carbine is all about easy handling and accuracy. A person who has a difficult time with the pistol will excel with a long gun.

The recreational value is high. With practice a .45 ACP carbine is a great home defense and ranch gun for moderate range use.

.45 ACP Dual Purpose Loading: A Look at Loads for Carbine and Pistol Use - Midsouth Shot Report

Handloading has many directions and goals. Not to mention joys! Some like to set down and carefully load a few rifle cartridges in the hope they exhibit a tight group at 200 yards. They weigh each charge and use custom seating dies. Others wish to load a maximum effort .44 Magnum revolver load...

midsouthshotreport.com

 

[RedGoat]

I've always liked the "cowboy concept" of having both a handgun and a carbine/rifle which utilize the same ammo. For "all around" use like plinking, pest control, home defense, etc. it's a nice setup. I've never really thought too much about combining a semi-auto pistol with a more "modern" carbine utilizing the same semi-auto pistol cartridge, but evidently it is fairly popular.