Colt #05870A1 National Match Gold Cup

[atomicgale]

Merry Christmas Grinches!

One of Santa's Elves let slip there's a Colt Gold Cup in my neighborhood.

Questions:
1. What is rating (#) of reduced recoil spring that comes stock?
2. Anyone have good load data:
2a. Full power spring
2b. Reduced recoil spring?

Looking for opinions on projectile, powder & charge, known chronometer data, et cetera.

I'll follow up on this post with my buddy's load data from his original JOHN GILES 1911 . . . for the contribution to the knowledge of the sport!

Cheers!

[Jon Eulette]

I'm not aware that the NM pistols came with a lighter recoil spring. They have lightened slides which can handle a heavier spring. Majority of the NM pistols do not lock up very tight so they come out of battery fairly easy. For 25 yds you can probably use 3.5gr of BE with either 185/200 gr lswc and a 12# recoil spring. You will have to judge whether or not the slide is battering the frame at all during recoil. A Giles built pistol will have better lock up than your NM and what it likes may be different than what your NM likes. It's always trial and error with recoil springs because not all pistols are created equal. 45 ACP is a forgiving cartridge for accuracy and any load that functions the pistol will easily hold X-ring at 25 yds if the pistol is capable of it. 50 yds is another story.

Have Fun!

Jon

[atomicgale]

Official answer from Colt customer support:

Colt Gold Cup NM will come with two recoil springs:
1. a #16 spring in the pistol
2. a #13 lighter spring, noted with a dark green mark on the spring

[GOVTMODEL]

Merry Christmas Grinches!

Looking for opinions on projectile, powder & charge, known chronometer data, et cetera

Cheers!

200 grain LSWC over 4.0 grains of Bullseye

185 Grain JSWC Over 4.5 grains of Bullseye or 4.8 grains of WST

Both work well for me.

[Misny]

Merry Christmas Grinches!

Looking for opinions on projectile, powder & charge, known chronometer data, et cetera

Cheers!

200 grain LSWC over 4.0 grains of Bullseye

185 Grain JSWC Over 4.5 grains of Bullseye or 4.8 grains of WST

Both work well for me.

GOVTMODEL, You and I have hit a winning combination. Here's what I got one time with a chronograph:

Clark Custom Colt Heavy Slide Gov’t Mdl.
.45 ACP Reload, Star 185 gr. SWCHP swagged,
4.0 Bullseye, Win. LP primer 750fps, 759

.45 ACP Reload, Nosler 185 gr. JHP,
4.5 gr. Bullseye, Win. LP primer 828fps, 829

[Fotomaniac]

Is it an older model? Either way they usually came with a 16# and a 13# spring as mentioned before. I have had great luck and accuracy with LSWC Zeros over 4.0 Bullseye up to 25 yards, 13# spring. If it is an older model with a lightened slide (you will be able to see the extractor when looking under the slide.) then I would not recommend anything hot like 230 ball ammo. Keep the loads light. YMMV