I have been taking a hard look at buying a model 25 in 45 Colt. I have been studying them a good bit, and it seems that guys like the 25-5 and 25-7.

I was going to buy one of the new 6" models. I would prefer a 6" barrel.

The revolver will be used for deer and ground hog hunting. With shots limited to about 100 yards.

I am looking for a companion to my 45 Colt Low Wall. The load in my Low Wall is 20.0 grains of 2400 under an RCBS 255 Keith style that I cast. Is that load too stout for the Model 25?? It will get shot alot.

Is there a good reason that I should look for and buy an older 25-5 or 25-7?? Or should the current production Model 25 be just as good?? Tom.

Hi:
I am not a hunter, but a 6" revolver in .45colt caliber for deer/hog at 100 yards is ify??

Not at all. The old .45 Colt is a real killer, even with the rather anemic factory loads. It'll punch clean through a deer at 100 yards with alomost any decent 250-260 grain swc at 900 fps or more.

Head0001-

I own both guns you mentioned. I like the polished blued guns, and fluted cylinders, but the 25-7 is just about as good as it gets in .45 Colt from S&W.

That load is a stout one, and I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of them. It won't blow the gun, but it will accelerate wear noticeably. Back off to 18.5 grains under the original Keith 255-265 grain Lyman 454424 and you'll still get 1,000 fps at pressure levels well within the 25's comfort zone. I got 1050 fps from that load across my Oehler 35P from my 4" 25-5. My bullets weigh 265 grains as sized and lubed. it is a very good shooting load too. Use standard primers.

I use WLP primers for my 45 Colt Low Wall load. And the Low Wall also shot well with 18.5 grains of 2400. So dropping that load back is no big deal. So I can shoot both firearms with the same load. I thought 20.0 was a little stout for the revolver.

I was not sure how to answer the other fellow when he said the 45 Colt was not a capable 100 yard cartridge. I really do not see any problem with that distance at all. I have been easily doing it with other revolver cartridges, and a whole lot farther than that in my Low wall. Tom.

You will get lots of hits on this thread I believe. Guys love the .45 Colt, and S&W 25/625's, and I am guessing you'll get lots of load suggestions. I didn't suggest any others since you asked specifically about the 2400 load. I have had a fair amount of experience shooting the load I listed above through several different .45 Colts, and it has always been a good shooting load, and is running right at 23,000 psi which is well within the 25's capability with no troubles. The 25 in .45 ACP is listed as safe with +P loads which are SAAMI spec at 23,000 psi.

The reason I like 2400 is because I get good case fill. I shoot alot of single shot rifles and case fill is very important in those rifles, so I extend that to my revolver cartridges. I also like the case fill because it stops me from doing a double charge. I am very safe with my reloads, but it is still possible to make a mistake. And with the heavier charge a double charge will spill over the case mouth.

I like 2400 in the 45 Colt. although I find I have to apply a heavy crimp to get good clean burn-especially out of a rifle.

I have also used H-110 for these loads. And it works good also. I just have a couple of small kegs of 2400-and you know how that goes. Plus I use 2400 for all my 44 magnum loads. Tom.

A .452" 265 gr Keith style SWC @ 1000 fps will ABSOLUTELY go through not ONE but TWO deer. Don't ask how I know. LOL.

I've got one of the 5" 25-7's and it's one of my most accurate revolvers. Also have one of the PC 625 6" Lt Wt Hunters, the 6" SS, ported model. The .45 colt is a real Sleeper as a hunting ctg. And seems to be universally accurate as well.

I'd forget a new gun...look for a 25-7 or 25-9.

Also be aware that SOME of the older 25-5's had accuracy issues due to oversized cyl throats. Do a search, thats been written about many times.

FN in MT

Frank, you're right! I have posted about the throat issue more times than I can recall. Anyone can do a search of my posts and find tons of good info about them.

I was told by a few other guys that the cylinder oversizing issue was solved on the 25-5. Now you have me wondering??

Why would the 25-5 bring a premium if the cylinder was over sized??

I guess I need to do a little more research??

And what is wrong with the current version?? Tom.

Tom, most of us don't want a gun with the lock or the mim parts. The throat issue was solved in the 25-5 when S&W started using the 3 letter, 4 number serial system about 1982. That means with the start of the non pinned barrel.

Good information, thank you. Tom.