45 Colt bullets/powder for M25-7

[fdover]

Just acquired a model 25-7 45 Colt. I have reloaded all of the pistol calibers for years but not 45 Colt. I would appreciate any help and advice you may have. Thanks. Fred

 

[Muley Gil]

My go to load, since getting my first .45 Colt revolver in 1973, is a Keith style semi wadcutter of about 250 gr. over 7.5 to 10.0 gr. of Unique, depending on usage. For the S&W .45 Colt, I would go with the same bullet over 8.5 gr. of Unique.

 

[smithra_66]

Just acquired a model 25-7 45 Colt. I have reloaded all of the pistol calibers for years but not 45 Colt. I would appreciate any help and advice you may have. Thanks. Fred

You'll find that there's nothing special about it...it's very easy.

That only strange caveat I've ever found with it is that if I'm going to reload it on my Dillon SDB, the tiny rim must not fit perfectly into the shell plate, and it has a tendency to slip out during heavy sizing. A tiny amount of case lube solves the problem.

I'd also stick with bulky powders like Trail Boss or Unique if you are going with small charges.

If you're going full power, 2400, 296, etc. are great.

It's also a great black powder round if you ever get ahold of an SAA or clone.

 

[StakeOut]

Luckily the cylinder throats are properly sized in the 25-7 and thereafter.
Most bullets that work well in 45acp will work well loaded as 45Colt.
I used mostly Trail Boss from Cabela's under 200gr LSWC,230grLRD and 250gr LSWC.
Reloading Data Center | Hodgdon

 

[STORMINORMAN]

One of my most favorite 45 (.452") caliber bullets is the MBC 200gr hard cast (18 Brinell) RNFP Hi-Tek coated: their IPD #4-XD. There is a ton of load data for similar bullets on the Hodgdons site: they do have a cannellure but you can pretty much use any OAL you might choose. Should be no problem with your 25-7 and its long cylinder.

Shoot them at the range (850+ fps?) or at critters, both two or four-legged (1000 fps!) as needs be...

These can be used in 45acp as well. Again, a ton of load data and powders.

Cheers!

 

[BW460]

250 / 255 grain RNFP over either 8.5 grains Unique or 9.0 grains Power Pistol.

 

[The Norseman]

Mild

My go to reload is: 250gr Lead Round Nose Flat
Point bullet/6.0grs Alliant Red Dot powder/CCI
LP/Win,R-P,Star cases/Lee FCD - Medium crimp/
860fps?

 

[serger]

I do 10 grains of Unique and Lee 255 grain powder
coated bullets sized to .452" The guns are lasers.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My 25-7, 25-5 and all the others here run om my cast 255 gr. swc pushed by 8.5 grs of Unique. After 1000's through handguns and rifles I see no need to change.

 

[Wireman134]

7.2gr. Red Dot/Promo, 8gr. W231, 9gr. Unique/Universal, 13gr. HS6/W540 14gr. Blue Dot. All nice proven mid range loads with 250-260gr. boolits at 900-1,100 fps

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My 45 Colt plinking load: Mixed brass, WLP, a 200 or 220-230 RNFP and 6.7 WW231. Around 45 ACP power, very accurate, not finicky if you change bullet design! I've been able to hit 3" steel targets at 25 yards very time I needed to with my 5.5" Vaqueros and 3" targets at 50 yards with the Marlin Cowboy and that was being pushed by the clock!

Ivan

 

[BigMuddy]

Every load I could suggest has been mentioned, so I'll just congratulate you on acquiring possibly the best 45 revolver S&W ever produced. Mine is fantastic!!!

Dan

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use a 250/255gr LRN or LSWC bullet cor my 45 Colt loads.

I use to use a lot of W231/HP-38 for those loads but I have changed over to HS-6, I like the results better. If you use HS-6 it performed better with a magnum primer over a standard primer. There are many good powders for use loading the 45 Colt.

Which powders do you have available to you? If you tell us what you have we can give our opinion on which one is probably the better choice from what you have.

 

[bananaman]

My best load with my 25-7 turned out to be 8.5 Unique under a Nosler 250. Cast bullets worked equally well.

You are teasing me with that pic! Bob

 

[CH4]

8.5 to 9.0 grains of unique under any 250/255 grain bullet. I shoot these in my 625-6 MG and Ruger BH.

 

[Drm50]

I shoot 250gr RnFp cast and 237gr WC. Both loaded with Unique. The only trouble I have run into was with Speer lead bullets. Normally pour my own but bought several boxes cheap. They were Kieth Style with the powdered lube. Shooting with mild load of Unique they were worst bullets I have ever shot. The amount of leading was material for a cartoon. These loads only running 800fps. Gun is 25-5, 83/8".

 

[ironhead7544]

Handloader Magazine #275 has a great article about the 45 Colt load data.

I would use only standard pressure ammo in your revolver.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

One of my most favorite 45 (.452") caliber bullets is the MBC 200gr hard cast (18 Brinell) RNFP Hi-Tek coated: their IPD #4-XD. There is a ton of load data for similar bullets on the Hodgdons site: they do have a cannellure but you can pretty much use any OAL you might choose. Should be no problem with your 25-7 and its long cylinder.

Shoot them at the range (850+ fps?) or at critters, both two or four-legged (1000 fps!) as needs be...

These can be used in 45acp as well. Again, a ton of load data and powders.

Cheers!

Missouri also makes a 250 grain Keith style bullet. I like these with unique or 4227.

 

[steelslaver]

While I wouldn't go with full blow Ruger only loads a S&W 45 colt will take more than 14,000 psi.

A standard 45 acp is 21,000 psi and +P 23,000 psi and the acp models handle those fine

The chamber and cylinder dia on a acp and Colt are the same, the colt is deeper and when I talked about it to an actual engineer who deals with pressure vessels and piping he said there is no reason on green earth the colt would not take the same pressures.

With 2400 I go with 18.5 gr behind a 25ogr lead SWC
Now I have a bunch of 4227 and use 23 of it

I used to use 9.5 of Unique till i got 16# of Green Dot and have used 7 gr of that and velocities are a bit lower than 9.5 of unique
The GD is better for 32s and 357 sized

Hardly "magnum loads"

But then a .452 255gr slug going 1000-1100 don't need a bunch of speed .and I believe anything well hit with that vs a 1400fps 24 .429 will be equally dead.

Plus the 100 yd drop isn't that much more and past 150 either one becomes a rainbow.

 

[GypsmJim]

I do 10 grains of Unique and Lee 255 grain powder
coated bullets sized to .452" The guns are lasers.

Unique all the way. No need for discussion.

However, I load 6.0 grains in 255's for best accuracy. 10 grains is approaching a max load, and is probably only suitable for a Ruger-Only load, certainly not for a S&W.

Are you target shooting, or out for bear?