I'm starting to get discouraged I looked for weeks trying to find some Unique to try and finally a buddy gave me a 1/2 pound to work up some loads with.
So I went to the range today to check the new loads out 8.5grs Unique, 255 gr RNFP, brand new Starline brass. Got the sight problem worked out but the groups were still 4 inches plus off a rest at 15 yards which is not acceptable. I had taken my 24-3 along also to check the sights and it shot a ragged hole at the same distance. Maybe it's time to try a different bullet what I'm using is Oregon Trails.

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SWHF #595

Isn't a 27-7 a .357?

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S&W Accumulator

Sorry my bad 25-7 .45 lc.

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SWHF #595

Are the groups 4” high or 4” wide? Both can be caused by not enough powder, which describes 8.5 grains of unique. I had the same issue with the same gun. I settled on max charge of CFE Pistol for 255gr and used the same charge under 270 implying higher pressure. Mind you max charge is 13,000psi for SAA guns. The latter is now the go to load.

You arent the only person disappointed by 8.5gr of Unique in 45 Colt.
Good N frame Unique 250gr 45 Colt
load

Almost forgot, Im using Rim Rock 255 RNFP and 270 Keith SAA bullets. They work well it seems.

I started with 9.4grs of AA#5 which is a pretty potent load and had just about the same results. Numerous members here recommended Unique so scrounged around and found some, well that didn't work at least with the bullets I'm using. I think I'll try some GT bullets like I shoot in the .44s in this .45LC to see what happens. If that solves the problem I'll melt down the Oregon Trails and turn them into something else, like fishing weights..

P. S. 4 inches wide, at first they were high and wide with the AA#5 but I changed sights and that solved the high problem.

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SWHF #595

Which rear sight did you got with?

The 24-3 had a Bowen Rough country and it always shot a bit low, so I switched the Bowen for the standard S&W on the 25-7.
The 24-3 now hits dead center at 15 yards and the 25-7 is all around the center at the same distance.

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SWHF #595

I may have mentioned in your previous post looking for a load, 6.7 WW231, WLP primer any brass and any cast bullet. I use it with 200, 220, 230. & 240 RNFP, and it was fantastic with an ACP bullet cast 185 SWC/HP!

Ivan

Well I ordered some bullets from GT bullets this morning and will see if they work any better then the Oregon Trails. I ordered some 250gr Keith style SWC and 255gr RNFP. The 250gr SWC is super accurate in my 24-3. By comparison the GT Bullets are a much softer alloy then the Oregon Trails.

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SWHF #595

Not sure what diameter you used and ordered. If i remember correctly the Rim Rock bullets I order that worked well in my 25-7 were .452”. If you are having issues with accuracy at .452”, maybe bump up a bit? I think both GT and Rim Rock are pretty economical sources if you need to go to .453“ & .454” to achieve good accuracy.

I've had several of the 25-5s, 25-7s, Rugers and other guns in 45 Colt and have been shooting and preloading since 1973 and have to admit that for me, the 45 Colt is not as inherently accurate as some other pistol calibers and is probably why they were never popular in Bullseye or most other handgun accuracy completion.
I've had my best luck with Hornady jacketed bullets in a 1950 Target that is converted to 45 Colt.

Yes GT does offer up to .454, what I'm using now is .452 and the ones I just ordered are .452 also. I only ordered 100 each of the 250gr and 255gr so if they don't work out I can always move up to .454.

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SWHF #595

I'm not looking for accuracy like my 24-3 has which is phenomenally good but I'd like to get at least a 2 inch group off a rest at 15 yards.

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SWHF #595

The lead bullets should fit the cylinder throats , a cast lead .452" bullet fired in a revolver with .454" cylinder throats can cause large groups .
Check the Throat dia. , forcing cone dia. and barrel dia.
If one of them is larger than the other , additional steps must be taken with cast bullets to make them shoot .

How does it do , accuracy wise , with jacketed bullets ?
Usually a revolver with large throats or tight forcing cone will do fairly OK with jacketed bullets ... the cast lead bullets are the troublesome ones .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

The issues you are describing are classic signs of a thread choke. My 25-7 does not have it, but a 25-5 I owned did. I fire lapped the barrel of that -5 and it became a very good shooter. Every 25-7 I’ve seen has had proper chamber throats at .452. If the gun has a thread choke larger bullets won’t help.

Dan

I checked the throat's when I first got the gun they are all .452.
I haven't tried any jacketed bullets so I can't answer that question.

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SWHF #595

OK.. educate me what the heck is a "thread choke"? The only handgun I ever had with a choke was a contender that had a choke to stabilize a shot load.

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SWHF #595

The threaded shank of the barrel that screws into the frame can compress laterally when torqued in place which can cause an ever so slight constriction of bore diameter at that location in the barrel. It would cause the same issue and chamber throats that are too small. I don’t believe it is a very common problem from what Ive seen on this site. I have not personally encountered it, to the best of my knowledge.

Thanks, so uncommon that I'd never heard the term before but do understand the concept.

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SWHF #595

I'm sitting here in my shop cleaning up the 25-7 and reminding myself why I stopped using Unique years ago, this stuff is almost as dirty as Black Powder.

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SWHF #595

My 25-7's run well with 10gr of Unique. I know it's a "+P" load for
Smiths. I also use 10.3gr of Herco. Primers are either CCI 300's
or Federal 150's. For my guns,the sweet spot seems to be right
around 1000 fps. If I get at or below 900 fps the groups open up.
Don't know why.

FWIW, I just cast 83 pounds of the Lee 452-255-RF bullets.They
are hard enough I can shoot them dry (I think). If I can get by
without powder coating them I'll be very happy.If not ,I'll
coat them. Got 4 lb of Eastwood's Ford lite Blue inbound. This
melt will use 1/4lb. I size them to .452' but my mold throws them
at .453" so for what I do (pop cans at 25 yards) dosen't need it.

Attached Images

cast1 (2).jpg (108.4 KB, 20 views)

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never get out of the boat

Sending a PM

That's good !
Next check the forcing cone dia. and next
Check the barrel ...
Be sure and look/feel for a tight spot where the barrel screws into the frame ... that tight spot can size the bullet down and then you have an undersized bullet rattling down the bore and that gives poor accuracy .
Good Luck tracking down the problem . This is the kind of stuff that gives you headaches and grey hair !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Going to slug the barrel tomorrow to see if it tightens down in the barrel area.
Do you know what the specs are on the forcing cone?
All I have is grey hair but I am starting to develop a head ache..

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SWHF #595

Great looking bullets.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I slugged the barrel this morning and there does seem to be a restriction at the juncture of the frame. I ordered a lapping kit and when I get that taken care of I'll post up a new range report.

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SWHF #595

One question for those that have fire lapped a revolver. I understand the procedure well enough but will this process effect the throats also? The throats are actually slightly under ..452, a .452 bullet won't fall through the cylinder.

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SWHF #595