Gold Cup for Service Pistol

I have an old Gold Cup. I like shooting it, and I shoot it alright. I've also got it in my head that I should only shoot lead through it. I'm afraid if I shoot jacketed it'll "wear the barrel".

Am I being ridiculous? Should I suck it up, load some 185 JHP's, and use it for EIC matches? Or should I buy a polymer gun, spend some cash, and start reloading 9mm?

Dave

Yes they wear more but not horrible, even top shooters will probably put 15-20k of jacketed rounds before rebarreling. Then when you wear it out you can buy a better barrel.

Yes absolutely, you are being ridiculous.

GC and jacketed ammo.....go for it. Won’t hurt a thing. The lightened slide will let you shoot mild loads no problem! Gun is good enough stock to take care of business (only 30 rds).
Jon

Just keep an extra rear sight pin handy.  I broke two in my Gold Cup over the years.  Using it for Leg matches did not help, even with a heavier recoil spring, of course, that was back when we had to shoot hardball.  Mine was an early Series 70 with the lightened slide.  Some of the later Series 70 guns do not have the lightened slide; our club pistol director has one with a std slide.

My 1963 Gold Cup shot a nice round Ransom group 7 shots 1 5/8" with Winchester factory JSWC.  I got a couple legs with it too.

Mine has the lightened slide (1971). I'll start working up a load! I use WST, thinking of starting at 4.7 and working my way down. Should I start lower? I already have an extra pin!

Thanks guys!

Dave

I've used that bullet with 4.5 of Bullseye which is equivalent to your 4.7 WST load.  Should work really well.

Unless you like the recoil, I would consider starting lower with the loads. A lot depends on the springs and the fit. My load with a Series 70 with a 14lb spring is 4.3-4.4 of BE and an out of production Remington 185 JSWC. Ten shots in the Ransom rest with that load was 1.95" at 50 yards,  4.5. was still ok  with around 2.25" but 4.6 of BE opened up appreciably (3.5 inches). The results were repeatable.