625 vs 45 LC Mnt Gun?

Neal/CO · Jul 23, 2010

I am in the alarm business here in Denver and have decided it is not safe anymore to drive around town late at night unarmed! I also am a very serious walleye fisherman who fishs alot by myself, way into the late night in areas with lots of mountain lions, black bears and tons of coyotes and loose dogs. Yeah I know! Not smart

I have decided to get a 325 Night Guard for a host of reasons! I really like the idea of using premium hollow points while in town working and then popping in a moon clip with 230 hardball while up in the canyon fishing.

Here is my question? I would also like to purchase some day a 4" wheel gun to use as my camp and trail gun. Black bears are the largest predators we have here! So I really like the idea of the 45 LC Mnt. Gun. But would it be more simple and wise to get a 625 and carry the same ammo as for the 325? I could also load it with Buffalo Bore 45 Rim ammo that is basically the same round as the BB 45 LC 255 gr soft cast bullet?

I am not going to be able to afford a dozen revolvers to do specfic duties. So I am trying to design a system that will be very versitle for me. Thanks in advance!

rdykmans · Jul 23, 2010

I just picked up a 22-4 which is pretty much the equiv. of a 45 Mtn gun as far as the frame/barrel goes. I've loaded up some 230 grain hardcast in the auto cases and it seems to handle higher loads just fine. I don't think you're ever going to get as much stopping power as you can .45 LC loads but I find it very accurate and fun to shoot. Good in a holster as well with it's fixed sights.

Mod27 · Jul 23, 2010

I just bought a 625-9 45 LC MG. Get it out of 10-day Cal. jail tomorrow.

When I was registering it I noticed that 5 full moon clips were included in the box.

I assume that these are for using 45 ACP ammo in it as well as 45 LC.

gwalchmai · Jul 23, 2010

Mod27 said:
I just bought a 625-9 45 LC MG. Get it out of 10-day Cal. jail tomorrow.

When I was registering it I noticed that 5 full moon clips were included in the box.

I assume that these are for using 45 ACP ammo in it as well as 45 LC.

The 625MG won't work with moonclips unless it's been modified, which it may have been. It should be obvious if it has been. I have a 625-9 MG and it will not accommodate moonclips. If you reload for the .45LC you can easily duplicate any .45ACP load, and if you don't reload for it you need real deep pockets. And may I have your brass?

I've toyed with the idea of having my MG cut but since I have a 625 in .45ACP and reload .45LC I don't really have the need. In any case, you will certainly enjoy your new revo.

Mod27 · Jul 23, 2010

gwalchmai said:
The 625MG won't work with moonclips unless it's been modified, which it may have been. It should be obvious if it has been. I have a 625-9 MG and it will not accommodate moonclips. If you reload for the .45LC you can easily duplicate any .45ACP load, and if you don't reload for it you need real deep pockets. And may I have your brass?

I've toyed with the idea of having my MG cut but since I have a 625 in .45ACP and reload .45LC I don't really have the need. In any case, you will certainly enjoy your new revo.

Well then, I am stymied. The only thing that I did when inspecting this NIB MG was place the full moon clips over the ejector star and close the cylinder which went without a hitch.

"Modified", meaning what, exactly?

Are you saying that I bought a factory NIB gun that was "modified" by someone to accept 45 ACP?

One of us is wrong and I hope it ain't me. This is a brand new gun, and it is IN FACT a NIB revolver complete with the one-round fired empty casing in brown envelope.

The five full moon clips were sealed in a plastic envelope included with the package.

The manufacture date for this gun was July 2009. Maybe they made late issue models to accomodate moon clips?

colt_saa · Jul 23, 2010

It is possible that you purchased a Mountain Gun that was chambered in 45ACP instead of 45 LC. Over the years both chambering were offered in Blue or Stainless.

Neal/CO · Jul 23, 2010

A 45 LC Mnt. Gun that is also able to shoot 45 ACP would really be nice!!!!! I hope that is what you have!

Could NIB mean they had taken it to a gunsmith for the conversion and then never fired it

Is that even possible with a LC?

Mod27 · Jul 23, 2010

colt_saa said:
It is possible that you purchased a Mountain Gun that was chambered in 45ACP instead of 45 LC. Over the years both chambering were offered in Blue or Stainless.

No, the left side of the barrel says "45 Colt CTG." And the dealer had me chamber a full cylinder of 45 LC snap caps as part of his safety familiarization of the gun. The empty shell casing from the factory is a 45 LC hull.
It is a 45 LC chambered 625-9 MG. It obviously came from the factory with the moon clips.

As I said, maybe the very late models of this gun were factory made to accomodate the 45 ACP CTG.

I'd like to hear from someone who knows for sure what the story is here. Otherwise I'll know more tomorrow when I pick up the gun from my FFL.

This is the exact gun that I bought and also from whom I bought it;

http://www.gunsamerica.com/90506498...er/S_W_45_Colt_625_9_Stainless_4_inch_NIB.htm

A10 · Jul 23, 2010

To the original question, I carry my MG with the Buffalo Bore 300 grain loads, it's pretty stiff recoil but from what I understand will go straight through a bear if needed. Speaking to the 625-9 fqactory original for Colt and ACP, where do I get one? I've seen adverts for trimming the cylinder/ejector to accept ACP, but would rather have a factory job

Mod27 · Jul 23, 2010

Neal/CO said:
A 45 LC Mnt. Gun that is also able to shoot 45 ACP would really be nice!!!!! I hope that is what you have!

Could NIB mean they had taken it to a gunsmith for the conversion and then never fired it Is that even possible with a LC?[/

Click to expand...

QUOTE]

NO!

Mod27 · Jul 23, 2010

A10 said:
To the original question, I carry my MG with the Buffalo Bore 300 grain loads, it's pretty stiff recoil but from what I understand will go straight through a bear if needed.

Speaking to the 625-9 fqactory original for Colt and ACP, where do I get one? I've seen adverts for trimming the cylinder/ejector to accept ACP, but would rather have a factory job

Click to expand...

Really!!?? Here ya go;;

GunsAmerica - S&W .45 Colt 625-9 Stainless 4 inch NIB - Smith & Wesson Revolvers > Full Frame Revolver - Guns For Sale & Gun Auctions B"H

Muley Gil · Jul 23, 2010

Well, this has been an interesting thread.

I no longer own a .45 Colt Mountain Gun, but I do have a Colt New Service in .45 Colt. I opened the cylinder and a full moonclip fit over the ejector star, as I thought it would.

BUT, I also dropped in a full moonclip loaded with .45 ACPs and the cylinder closed and would rotate!!!! Now, there was virtually no space between the rear of the cartridge and the breech (didn't have access to my feeler gauges), but it appears that it would fire and cycle.

I may have to try that tomorrow out the back door.

Terry T · Jul 23, 2010

I'm guessing that the kid on the packing line got confused or was thinking about his girl friend and just slipped in the moon clips in the wrong box. I'll gladly take them off of your hands.
Terry T

Mod27 · Jul 23, 2010

Muley Gil said:
Well, this has been an interesting thread.

I no longer own a .45 Colt Mountain Gun, but I do have a Colt New Service in .45 Colt. I opened the cylinder and a full moonclip fit over the ejector star, as I thought it would.

BUT, I also dropped in a full moonclip loaded with .45 ACPs and the cylinder closed and would rotate!!!! Now, there was virtually no space between the rear of the cartridge and the breech (didn't have access to my feeler gauges), but it appears that it would fire and cycle.

I may have to try that tomorrow out the back door.

Good luck to you with that! I am somewhat disappointed that no one could definitively answer the question that I posed.

I can only assume that at least the late model MG's in 45 Colt were made to also accept 45 ACP ctg's. Otherwise, why else would they include the FM clips with a gun chambered for 45 LC from the factory?

A mistake?

I'll see what the manual reads when I pick up the gun tomorrow.

gwalchmai · Jul 23, 2010

Mod27 said:
Well then, I am stymied. The only thing that I did when inspecting this NIB MG was place the full moon clips over the ejector star and close the cylinder which went without a hitch.

"Modified", meaning what, exactly?

Were there .45ACP cartridges in the moonclip? They add considerable thickness at the rim. In fact, the moonclip is about as thick as the .45 Colt rim. Then the .45ACP rim rides on top of that, so it doubles the headspace needed if the cylinder isn't recessed.

Have a look at Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com. They have several pics and a video of the conversion. Does your cylinder look like this?

Usually if the .45 Colt can headspace correctly there's not enough room for a loaded moonclip to fit between the cylinder and recoil shield, so the cylinder has to be machined as in the pic.

Are you saying that I bought a factory NIB gun that was "modified" by someone to accept 45 ACP?

No.

One of us is wrong and I hope it ain't me. This is a brand new gun, and it is IN FACT a NIB revolver complete with the one-round fired empty casing in brown envelope.

The five full moon clips were sealed in a plastic envelope included with the package.

The manufacture date for this gun was July 2009. Maybe they made late issue models to accomodate moon clips?

I think an empty moonclip will fit, but not a loaded one. I'll check tomorrow on my MG.

ETA: Just tried a moonclip in my 625MG. As noted it works fine with an empty clip, but cannot close the cylinder with a loaded moonclip in it. That makes sense.

gwalchmai · Jul 24, 2010

Muley Gil said:
Well, this has been an interesting thread.

I no longer own a .45 Colt Mountain Gun, but I do have a Colt New Service in .45 Colt. I opened the cylinder and a full moonclip fit over the ejector star, as I thought it would.

BUT, I also dropped in a full moonclip loaded with .45 ACPs and the cylinder closed and would rotate!!!! Now, there was virtually no space between the rear of the cartridge and the breech (didn't have access to my feeler gauges), but it appears that it would fire and cycle.

I may have to try that tomorrow out the back door.

I think New Services had more space. I fired one once in .45 Colt that the owner said would take moonclips and it was not machined. He said his grandfather carried it in WWI and his father carried it in WWII. We didn't have any moonclips to try, though.

gwalchmai · Jul 24, 2010

Every time I read one of these threads I get the urge to send off my cylinder and get it machined.

Another wrinkle - you can't use AutoRim cartridges in moonclips for the same reason. The rims on the AR are as thick as the moonclip + the ACP rim. Add another clip width and it's too thick to fit.

Dale53 · Jul 24, 2010

Neal/CO;
I shoot a 454424 250 gr Keith SWC in my 625's (both in .45 ACP) using .45 Auto Rim cases with 7.0 grs of Unique. This gives me 900+ fps in my 5" auto rim. This basically gives the same ballistics as the factory .45 Colt cartridge but with a much more effectively shaped bullet.

If you do choose the .45 Colt Mountain Gun, it will do a good job, also when properly loaded. Keep in mind that the Smith Mountain Gun cannot stand the "Ruger Only" loads. Just keep the loads at SAAMI levels in the Smith and you'll be just fine. You might want to google John Linebaugh's articles. His wife hunts with a Smith in .45 Colt and has taken several deer and antelope with it (using a 255 gr Keith at 900 fps - about what I get with my .45 Auto Rim). John says that load will shoot through a deer or antelope lengthwise at 100 yards.

FWIW
Dale53

Neal/CO · Jul 24, 2010

Dale53 said:
Neal/CO;
I shoot a 454424 250 gr Keith SWC in my 625's (both in .45 ACP) using .45 Auto Rim cases with 7.0 grs of Unique. This gives me 900+ fps in my 5" auto rim. This basically gives the same ballistics as the factory .45 Colt cartridge but with a much more effectively shaped bullet.

If you do choose the .45 Colt Mountain Gun, it will do a good job, also when properly loaded. Keep in mind that the Smith Mountain Gun cannot stand the "Ruger Only" loads. Just keep the loads at SAAMI levels in the Smith and you'll be just fine. You might want to google John Linebaugh's articles. His wife hunts with a Smith in .45 Colt and has taken several deer and antelope with it (using a 255 gr Keith at 900 fps - about what I get with my .45 Auto Rim). John says that load will shoot through a deer or antelope lengthwise at 100 yards.

FWIW
Dale53

Thanks! That is very informative!!! I am still very green, but trying to learn as much as I can. This is a great site!!!!!!!!

I can't really see a need for anything bigger than the 255 gr load here in Colorado. I understand why someone living and playing amongst brown bears would opt for something bigger.

robctwo · Jul 24, 2010

I recently bought the 25-13 .45 Colt Mountain Gun. I've run some pretty stout 255 gr SWC through it, 250 gr lrnfp, and 200 gr swc. All work well. I have not run some of the 300 gr loads I shoot through my Ruger Blackhawk, and probably won't. I think the 255 gr at 950-1,000 fps will do me fine in the woods.

625 vs 45 LC Mnt Gun?

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