Choosing my first .45ACP BE pistol

First topic message reminder :

Hi Folks,
I've been shooting pistols plenty in the last few years , loading for several calibers .
I'm having fun.
I want to step up to .45 ACP because I think it will give me the accuracy that I'm looking for.
Been shooting rimfire league , I'm holding my own but lets just say I'm not really liking what I see from my center fire results.
I've been using a 6" model 14 in .38sp and a M52 in that caliber , my results with 9mm were never such that I would consider pursuing Precision pistol with that round.
So here I am looking for entry level .45 ACP
Folks recommend the Springfield Armory RO as a good starting point for a custom build and give it good marks for out of box performance.
My question is , how about the Colt Gold cup. A few of the guys at my club recommend those.
The Gold Cups vary widely in price, seemingly dependent on the collectability .
I'm in no way concerned with that .
Every one knows a Colt is the icon of .45 , I get that , but if you were to choose between a SA-RO and one of the lower end Gold Cup Colts which way would you roll ?
Is the Colt that much tighter than the Springfield out of the box ? Or am I still going to go for a barrel and a bushing anyway and find myself paying for the name more than actual performance.
Just a geezer trying to get it right .

And you can just replace the guts on that one

LenV wrote:It was a lawyer thing. SA's version of a series 80. It's no big deal if it comes with the lock. There are a million mainspring housings out there looking for a new home. And trigger lock is a mis-noumer. It is really a mainspring lock.

Len

So I can just replace the component ! Great thanks for the info !

FWIW 
I shot a few hand loaded rounds through a SA GVT. Model this morning.
It had been gone over, so it had the target sights a custom barrel and a trigger job.
4 out of 5  rounds into the 10 ring of an L target at 25yds. the 5th was a 9, a nasty nine.
So I think I'm on the right track.

What is a L target?

The old “Army L target” I bet.

https://www.shootersforum.com/attachments/general-discussion/11280d1339346045-dimensions-army-l-target-b22-_-army-l-target-dimensions.pdf

Wobbley wrote:The old “Army L target” I bet.

https://www.shootersforum.com/attachments/general-discussion/11280d1339346045-dimensions-army-l-target-b22-_-army-l-target-dimensions.pdf

Thats correct.
This was what was known as a PPL (Practical Police League)
They used that target , the league was formed just after WWII.
It was started as a civil defense  project during the war.
We still shoot that target.
I usually shoot the NRA slow fire 25 yd. 
But my guy had the L target up there so , bang !

Al W. wrote:

This was what was known as a PPL (Practical Police League)

Would PPL be similar to PPC? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_pistol_competition)

Slartybartfast wrote:

Al W. wrote:

This was what was known as a PPL (Practical Police League)

Would PPL be similar to PPC? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_pistol_competition)

I don't think so.
This is a game no one plays:)

And to address the OP, there are pistols in .45 besides 1911s...

Chose to be a heretic. :p

This is a 45. Be brave, bold and show the line you have what it takes....

LenV wrote:This is a 45. Be brave, bold and show the line you have what it takes....

This. Who cares if you don't get all your shots off in timed or rapid.
You'll have thrown the entire line's scores.
Can't tell what revolver that one is, but Magnum research makes a 45/70.

There are many other .45 cal pistols available.  They do not win in NRA 2700 point competition.  The 1911 is THE platform that works.

LenV wrote:This is a 45. Be brave, bold and show the line you have what it takes....

I appreciate your enthusiasm but from years of experience shooting revolvers I know I can't perform up to my personal best with a wheel gun.
I love them but , shooting for points one handed has led me to believe that SA it the way to go and the ballistic performance of the 45 ACP tells me that there's a reason everyone is shooting 22lr for rim fire and 45 ACP for center fire. It is what it is.

Blsi2600 wrote:There are many other .45 cal pistols available.  They do not win in NRA 2700 point competition.  The 1911 is THE platform that works.

Sorry, but the 1911 is the platform that is USED.
And if you want help and resources to accurize a pistol, there's a base of gunsmiths working with the 1911 and the 1911 dominance was because of military service teams putting in time and energy to get the most out of their service pistol.
Whether there is another "worthy" pistol out there or not, seeing as the only option that is presented in BE community discussion is 1911s it is no wonder the vast majority of those that start, start with 1911s.
I'm also of the thinking that I'm not going to be winning national matches in 2700. So until my group sizes are limited by another pistol, shoot what I like. Not what I'm told I have to adapt to.

Al W. wrote:

I love them but , shooting for points one handed has led me to believe that SA it the way to go and the ballistic performance of the 45 ACP tells me that there's a reason everyone is shooting 22lr for rim fire and 45 ACP for center fire. It is what it is.

Yes, to perform well with a revolver would take a LOT of practice.
People shoot 45 in the CF stage because it's one less gun to accurize, one less to learn, and more practice time. And the loads that BE shooters use, 45 is tamer than other factory CF. And bigger holes can get higher points.
My CZ97 shooting 230gr factory ammo is tamer than my 9mm pistol quite frankly.
So if I want to start reloading or dedicate more budget to 45 ammo, shooting 45 only would be the choice.
But I'm shooting what I enjoy and what feels good. So, I'm shooting all factory ammo and shooting 3 different pistols for a 2700.

Did you know that it is perfectly legal to shoot 12 different pistols in a 2700? I enjoy shooting wheel guns and often shoot the entire match with them. My scores might drop a tad but not much. Don't get me wrong. For State or Regionals it is a 1911 for the 45 match. But the rest of the year. That's for fun. The 25-2 is my wheel gun of choice for the 45 match. You can load them a lot lighter then any 1911. 

My choice for a 1911 in 2019 would be a SA Range Officer. I totally dislike the looks of these things but they will produce Master level scores straight from the factory. This one has the original barrel and is almost stock except for a bushing, slide stop and I got rid of the locking mainspring housing. Plus I added rail and dot of course.

Len, you're always giving me ideas.........   :-)
https://www.theboxotruth.com/educational-zone-146-the-sw-model-25-2-45-acp-revolver/
If I had one of those revolvers, all his tips at the end would be very helpful.

Also, those look like larger grips on your gun than stock?

25-2 is an N frame. Everything about them bigger. Stock grips.

Len