Could a man obtain a 25 in 45 colt and load up to 44mag pressures on occasion , and if so would the gun stay together?

I'm not talking a steady diet just once in while loads that are above black powder pressures and velocity which the round was originally designed around .

I have reloaded for well over 40 yrs and I do understand the principles involved with working up a load .

Thanks , Kirk

an interesting read
Big Bore Revolver | Cody | John Linebaugh Custom Sixguns

As an example.. 800x with 230gr in 45colt.. 13,200, 800x with 240gr in 44mag..39,600..not something recommended.

If we need to use my 25-5 to find the answer, then we will never know.

I suspect the gun wouldn’t fly apart, but I don’t know.

I’m not curious enough to find out with MY gun.

I don’t need the excitement.

I regularly shoot mine ( I have several) with round in the same pressuree range as 45acp+P A 255gr lead around 1150fps (depending on barrel) with 19gr of 2400 or 24 of 4227.

Not 44 mag pressure, but very effective. Thw 25-5 and latter are not weak junk

Nor my 25-5 either.


God bless,
Birdgun

I wouldn’t work hot loads thru a 25, I’d save that for the Rugers

If you're willing to do the research, look at a variety of load manuals, preferably those that have both cast and jacketed data for the .45 Colt. There you'll find the best answers.

Also, you might look at Ken Waters PET LOADS book.

The Model 25-5 will handle loads up into the +P range, but don't try to make a magnum out of it. In the past, I've played a bit with heavy loads. But considering that a standard velocity .45 Colt will go completely through a Whitetail Deer, why bother? These days I stick to standard velocity loads.

Here's an excellent article by John Linebaugh on these guns.
Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5

Thank you guys. That was the kind of info I was looking for.

And posting pics like that will not help my savings!


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Thanks I'm sure that a255 at anything over a1000 would scratch my itch and then some!


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Kirk,

There's a lot of room between the old black powder pressure level and a .44 Magnum's pressure level without having to go all the way up to the .44 Magnum's pressure level. Since the other Model 25 (Model 25-2 in .45 ACP) is rated for .45 ACP +P ammo at 23,000 psi, there is absolutely no reason you can't go there with your .45 Colt. Going from 14k psi to 23k psi should scratch your itch. Some loads for 250 - 270gr lead bullets I can personally recommend are: 13gr of HS-6, 18gr of 2400, and 22gr of 4227.

Don

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Super hot loads in 44 Magnum and and 45 Colt are why God made Rugers.

This argument about not using Ruger only loads in 25-5's because they supposedly can not handle the pressure comes up every so often. The 45 Colt SAAMI pressure is 14000 psi. The 25-2's in 45 ACP handle the 45 ACP +P rounds at 21000 psi. Many 25-2s have been converted to use 45 Super rounds which are 28000 psi. Also to consider are the many Model 25's converted to handle the 460 Rowland which generates 40,000 psi.

Constantly using heavy loads will take it's toll on any weapon. Some will show signs of wear sooner than others. The Ruger tier 2 loads I would think using 45 Colt loads in the 20000 - 27000 psi range every so often wouldn't be a problem in a 25-5.

I guess I'm cornfused. Why would you want to do it? OK, say it works. Will it fail the next time? Or, what if it fails the first time? You have just ruined a fine gun.

When I want more power, I buy a bigger gun. But that's just me.

Alliant load data shows a load using a 255 gr cast bullet moving over 1000 fps using Blue Dot powder and that load does not exceed SAAMI pressure of 14K psi . The barrel length was 5.5" in their test. I have used that load a lot in my 25-5 , 4" barrel . It has plenty of power for most needs , unless hunting rhino's . It's a fun caliber for hand loading , have fun - be safe . Regards, Paul

I agree. I have never loaded 45 Colt, but have had 3- 44mags, and handloaded all of them. I have also read may articles on turning a 45 Colt into a 44 mag. I have also read where the Ruger is more capable handling this form of mechanical assassination.

Aren’t 45 colts loaded lite because of the old pre 1900 black powder guns. Factory’s can’t risk a high pressure load in a black powder single action. I’ve heard the same thing applies to the 30-06. A lot of lever action 30-06 rifles still in use. I’m talking 1895 Winchester’s.
Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t think a 45 Colt is a 44 Magnum. But I think hand loaders can improve on factory ammo.

Problem is the bolt stop notches are cut directly over each chamber. This leaves much less material in the chamber wall at that point. When you bore a 45 caliber hole in the N frame cylinder it doesn't leave a whole lot of material so the weak point is even thinner than it is with a 44 caliber.

Why do you need magnum 45 loads? Why not get a 44 Magnum if you want such load levels? But you go right ahead and load 44 Magnum pressure loads in your 25-5. Your gun. Your fingers.

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The cylinder stop notches are in exactly the same place on a 45 acp as on a 45 colt and are exactly the same depth. Explain to me why a 45 acp S&W will handle 23k PSI and a 45 colt S&W can't.

44 mag pressures? NO. But, pressure well above the anemic 14K pressure factory ammo is held to by the fact that there are a lot of old colts around. If you hold your loads to about 23,000psi a model 25 45 colt will last LONGER than a 44 mag firing 35,000psi loads. The 45 colt cylinder will keep on ticking as will the 44 mag cylinder, but the 45 colt is not beating its frame up nearly as bad as the 44 mag. Explain to me why a 45 colt frame firing 255 gr at 1150 is taking more punishment than a 44 mag frame at firing 240gr at 1400.

No one has ever explained the 45 acp/ 45 colt thing or the 45 colt 44 mag deal to me. They just say, because I think, the reloading manual etc etc. No one has ever came with any kind of engineering reason a S&W 45 colt can't handle 23,000 psi round and a 45acp can or why its frame won't take it and the same frame in 44 mag will. But, I do know my guns have all done it many many times.

Everyone saying get a 44 mag. While I got some. 3 of them I replace the barrels with 45 barrels and reamed the cylinder to 45 colt so I had a better gun. Less recoil, bigger bullet, last longer, and every bit as effective if not more so.

It's a good thing you nay sayers didn't hang around with Elmer Keith or Dick Casull.

We passed on a 25 decades ago and prayers were answered with the 460 S&W..... with a full grip frame... hear that Ruger.
Bought a Blackhawk Convertible back then.... great bullet puller for overly eager 45ACP loads.

Our 4” 629 lives in the Rockies, as of this weekend, and I’ll wax up the old Head skis and bring them a 460 this winter..... parental responsibilities never end.

Should have bought the 25 as well.

One of my first S&Ws was a used 6" Model 25-5. I have shot a variety of "stout" loads in this gun before I discovered this forum. Now my insides turn to jelly when I think about shooting loads like mine in that 25-5. I love how the automatic nay-sayers jump from factory Colt ammo to 44 Magnum as if there's no in-between.

Just sayin'.

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SWCA 1821

Elmer Keith blew up a .45 colt while trying to hot rod it and then stopped trying to hot rod .45 colts, moving on to the .44 special.
Dick Casull didn't use an M25 to develop the .454.

You missed the point of the post. Both Elmer Keith and Dick Casull did not let naysayers stop them from developing two super charged cartridges. Both Keith and Casull blew up several revolvers in their quest for more performance.

If Keith had solid head 45 Colt cases we'd probably have a 45 Magnum instead of a 44 Magnum. Casull experimented with mixing three different rate burning powders in the same cartridge to get the performance he was looking for. They took risks in their endeavor to create new high performance cartridges.

There are those who take risks and make things happen, and there are those who play it safe and accept the status quo. Keith and Casull made things happen.

I really appreciate this thread and this forum thanks men for the help and replies.!

Kirk


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