Looking for a field load for my 625. Penetration and ability to break bone are the primary considerations.

Ballistics comparison with Buffalo Bore's 230 FMJ load is below.

255 Gr HC

Muzzle Velocity: 925 fps
Muzzle Energy: 484 ft. lbs.

230gr FMJ

Muzzle Velocity: 950 fps
Muzzle Energy: 461 ft. lbs.

Penetration for both is around 30" on both with a nice meplat on the 255gr hard cast bullet.

Always been a big fan of the Keith 255gr hard cast bullets for my plinking rounds in my 45 Colt and 454 Casull.

Also available in their 45 Auto Rim offering that is another 50 fps hotter.

Thoughts? Anyone use these?

I'm in the process of trying to duplicate that load for my 625-8.
Just set up a tool head for 45 auto rim and received 100 cases.
I plan on using powders I have on hand, Unique, Universal, and AA#7 for my first rounds over the chrono.
Unique and #7 should both get me there, not sure about Universal.

I reload for 45 Colt and 454 Casull and typically use Unique for the lighter bullets and H110 for the 325 and above bullets.

Universal is good powder too. I was using it for 9mm and 45ACP, as well as Titegroup.

May want to look at 2400, if it's available to you. Universal is very similar to Unique, so it'll load very close to the same, with similar results. Unique can get up there in velocity.

Titegroup is a bit fast to get high velocities, and not much 'wiggle room' in load data.

To the OP: if it were me, I'd go with the heavier bullets in AR cases.

The Keith / WFN type bullet will work better as a game round, compared to the round nose FMJ. I use a WFN 230 HC loaded to 975 fps in one of my heavy sprung 1911's as a wood carry load, and have taken several deer with it quick and clean.

Larry

Seems reasonable. Unique gets me there from my 3" 625 without even getting all the way up to St. Elmer's loading . . . heck, at this altitude I have a 255-gr .45 ACP handload that goes 925 fps from a 3" derringer.

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2-3 yrs back John Taffin wrote a coloum about 255 gr cast bullets in .45acp, emphasis on use in 1911's .

Certain guns would feed generic machine cast 250/55 swc. Most would feed RN/FP . These bullets at velocities in question are a known quantity from their usage in .45 Colt at overlapping vels. Prefered Powders included Unique and Power Pistol. Velocities ran from aprox 700 to mid 800's .

Pressures were within .45acp +P levels , but he believed the limiting factor was slide velocity. He reported slides forcefully slamming into frames with the warmer loads , and figured this was the proverbial " accelerated wear" in action , and recomended only sparing use of 800fps plus loads.

Should make a fine hunting load. Many years ago we used 2400 and a 250 gr SWC to make hunting loads for the 1917. Put up in 45 AR cases so a good crimp could be used.

Years ago, when S&W 645s were the new kid on the block, I used SPEER data from a ca.1980 loading manual for the .45 Auto Rim and a 250 gr. HCLSWC for Florida hogs. Feeding was 100% and penetration was awesome.