S&W 25-5 Reloading question,and Range Report

[SoCal1911]

Hello- I have a S&W Model 25-5 Blue with 6 inch non-pinned barrel. Have checked the throats, all .452 Dia.
I have plenty of 200Gr SWC Hardcast which I have for my 45ACPs, and have been thinking I could reload some 45LC and shoot these as mild target loads out of my Smith. What do you guys think? Any issues?

**Range Report posted below.

Thanks in advance!
SoCal1911
Tom

 

[JBTJ]

Every gun is different. Only one way to find out.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

It's worth a try. Make some work-up loads using different powders to see what combo works best in it.

The lightest 45ACP bullets I use in my 45 Colt loads are 225 & 230gr & they do great.
.

 

[USSR]

Hello- I have a S&W Model 25-5 Blue with 6 inch non-pinned barrel. Have checked the throats, all .452 Dia.
I have plenty of 200Gr SWC Hardcast which I have for my 45ACPs, and have been thinking I could reload some 45LC and shoot these as mild target loads out of my Smith. What do you guys think? Any issues?

Thanks in advance!
SoCal1911
Tom

Tom,

No problem. What powder will you be using?

Don

 

[brick]

I use 7.4 grains of W231 with my 200 grain LRNFP projectiles. It works fine for me.

 

[4barrel]

In a flat base hard cast 200 grain-- 6.5 of Unique is a good pleasant target load. You are lucky to have .452 throats in a LC.

 

[StakeOut]

I've used all of the below with the Trail Boss being my favorite for paper target shooting.Unique is my second choice.

8.0gr~ 9.5gr of Unique under a 200gr LSWC bullet

8.0gr of BE86 under a 200gr LSWC

5.5gr~6.5gr of Trail Boss under a 200gr LSWC

 

[scattershot]

Works great. No issues when I tried it. If I had to pick one all-around bullet for .45ACP and .45 Colt, that would be it.

 

[Bakebfr480]

Try 8 grs. of Unique!

 

[SoCal1911]

Thanks guys. I will start with #231 powder. Will let you know the results, but will be a few weeks until I will be able to get to the range.

 

[StakeOut]

In all my years of reloading pistol,rifle and shotgun I've never used any of the Winchester powders.

I started out with Hercules Bullseye and Unique on Star Machines and later added Red Dot.

During the past few years I've added Titegroup and Trail Boss and now load 5 calibers on a Lee Classic 4 hole turret press.

I would have invested in a Lee Load Master had they had a shell plate for 45 Auto Rim but Lee wanted $180 to make 1 x 45AR shell plate and $30 for each additional one.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Winchester Super Field gets the most work out on my bench for my 357 magnum , 41 magnum , 44 magnum and 45 Colt . I use a lot of Winchester Super Target for 38spl , 45 acp. I too started out yrs ago with the powder trinity of Bullseye , Unique and 2400 . I still have them in my inventory , but the Winchester powders are what I use most these days .

 

[SoCal1911]

Looking up my loading history for the 45 LC, I had good results with Red Dot, and skip the #231 powder. Since I have a small amount left, I decided to load them up with 6.5 grains with the 200Gr SWC .452 Dia. Estimated to be about 875 fps. May get to the range Sunday to try these out.

 

[zeke]

Another fan of 7.5 gns hp-38 under a 200 lrnp for about 850 fps from 4 5/8 barrel. However lighter bullets have a significant change in 25 yd POI from the heavier ones commonly used in 45 LC.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I use the same bullet for my ACP and Colt.It is a 215gr SWC Hensley and Gibbs #68.In the Colt,I use a light charge of whatever I feel like(just finished a 1# PB,will probably switch to Unique or Promo).Used to shoot Trail Boss.Anyways,I keep it around 800FPS and it chews the center of the target at 20 yds when I do my part.
Qc

 

[DwayneV]

Semi wad-cutters can be loaded backwards for revolvers. They will be boat-tail wad cutters and will cut clean holes in the target.

 

[daniel lawecki]

I use Titegroup and 200gr SWC in my 45lc same case bullet as my 1911s same powder just different powder charges. They shoot great even at 50yrds as the powder says tight groups. Never let me down I've used Clays, 231, Solo 1000 switched to Titegroup never looked back.

 

[SoCal1911]

S&W 25-5 New Load w/ Range Report

Range Report

Well 45 Colt/200Gr SWC (45ACP Bullet) .452 Dia / 6.5 Gr Red Dot /1.650 OAL (longer them SAAMI Max Specs) at 30 feet, estimated 875 FPS. shot really very good. Had some good groups, 1.000 (9 Rds not counting the one flyer) and 1.100 (5 Rds) . Very happy and shot better then the the 255GR round nose flat points. I mostly shoot 1911s, but it has been awhile since I have shot this Smith, that is going to change.

Just informed that my OAL is longer then SAAMI specs of 1.600, but they fit into the 25-5 just fine.
So use this load data at your own risk.

 

[Wise_A]

Semi wad-cutters can be loaded backwards for revolvers. They will be boat-tail wad cutters and will cut clean holes in the target.

A SWC with a clean shoulder will punch exceptionally neat holes in paper. .38s and .44s from Missouri Bullet have worked perfectly for me.

 

[jimbo728]

Thats pretty good shooting. Looks like a good load. I would be happy with that.
Looks like it would be awesome on steel plates at 33`.
Jim