I'm fixing to look for a cast WC load for 25-2 acp. Have been
shooting hard ball, and cast 230 RN out of acp cases. Gun shoots
fair but sure it will do better with WCs. I have gotten a bunch of
new 45AR cases and want to come up with a bullseye load. Would
appreciate any favorite bullets/ loads from those who shoot 25-2s

Would suggest you find the size of your cylinder bores if you haven't done so. I like my 25-2 loads at or just above that measurement in a relatively soft 230 grain LRNFP over Unique.

You might look at a Lyman cast bullet handbook; many such loads for ACP and Auto Rim, probably some with powders you already have on hand.

3.5 - 5.0 grs. Bullseye with a 200 gr. cast SWC works well for many. I prefer 5.0 gr. and a 200 gr. SAECO #069 copy of the Hensley & Gibbs #68 sized to .452".

Myself and other Bullseye shooters use 4.3 - 4.5 grains of TiteGroup with lead 185gr or 200gr bullets. Magnus and Zero are the go to bullets for lead shooters in Bullseye. WST is also a good powder as is Bullseye, but cleaner burning than BE.

mine has 0.455 throats and with any factory ammo groups less good than my Silver Pigeon.

I don't size my own but found the following to be very accurate:

Dardas 0.454 200 gr SWC w 4.7 gr W231 in 45 AR cases
his 0.454 185 gr SWC seems to also work very well at 5.4 gr W231, I have to make some more of those to figure which is better but so far amazing.

Key here is to open the case wide enough not to damage the bullet when seating, seat in the first step and then not overcrimp in the second step. Make sure the bullet stays in the same shape you got it in. Crimping cast bullets will deform them a lot if not careful and accuracy out the window.

Dardas is a great guy, super knowledgable and helpful.

4 grains of Bullseye and Elmer's 45 ar bullet is a tackdriver in my 25-2.

4.0 bullseye with a 200 grain SWC or 4.0 of Red Dot and a 200 grain SWC will shoot one hole all day in my 1955/45.

200 grain LSWC with 4.5 grains Bullseye

I owned three 25-2s in the 80s. I benched all day with different target loads. Back then I was shooting 98s and lots of 100s with one hand at a 25 yard bullseye target.The ugly gun of the three shot the best. I only used 185 and 200 swcs. 4.5 of 231 was the overall winner followed by 4.3 of bullseye with 200 grain bullets. With the newer powders I like American Select and E3 better. The 185 bullet shot good but got edged out a few .001. I still have the targets some where. These bullets were beveled base and over time I have switched to flat base with better results. I do not have a 25 at the time but have several 1911s that shoot the same load. This is one of my favorite target loads. The bullet in the middle top was used for this test. A lead 230 RN bullet works good without changing powder weight. To me I cant tell the recoil difference between Bullseye and E3 from 4 grains to 5 grains in 45 acp so I stick to a middle of the road for target loads. No need to beat your gun up.

Attached Images

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I'd love to get a hold of some Keith AR bullets. Where do you get them from or do you make your own? Thanks

Depending on the quality of your cast bullets, my tested favorite was 4.3 gr 231 with a 200 gr cast bullet (H&G 68 mold). Back when I was capable of shooting tight groups this one did it. But, also check your cylinder throats. My 25-2 has .455 throats and I get better groups from 230 hardball than with SWC cast.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

4.0 gr Red Dot under a good cast SWC(mine is a RCBS copy of H&G68 that comes out at 215gr) tears out the 10ring at 20 meters in an almost boring repetition!
Qc

Although nothing quite like the nice target photo above, back about 10-15 years ago I could get a decent group with many powders running 200 or 230 cast RN at 725fps....out of 625-8 5";
same load worked very well in a number of 1911s I favored;

these days still possible if ya got enough time to wait around a bit....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I was shooting my 25 with cast lead 255's and 225's in .452 for bowling pins. They did fine at the distance we were shooting pins, but at 25 yds they were pretty ho-hum. Then I tried some of the 200 grain SWC's I use in the my 1911's and the difference was night and day. Groups became almost one hole at 15 yards. I was using the 5.5 grains of W231/HP-38 I load for the 1911's. I was pretty impressed.