.45 Super and/or .460 Rowland in a S&W 625 ???

[Pizza Bob]

I made a very limited number of gap moon clips. There was a buzz at first because they were a shorter length. Never materialized into anything.

I was under the impression that .45 GAP had essentially the same head/extractor groove dimensions as .45 ACP. Someone please enlighten me as to the difference and the need for special moons. Thanks.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Naptown_Gaijin]

You should call S&W for accurate manufacturer advice.

I understand that S&W won't venture out on the liability limb and state in writing that you can put .45 Supers in their .45 ACP revolvers..... guess they're worried about getting sued by a rogue handloader.

 

[Naptown_Gaijin]

I shoot 45 Super power handloads out of my 4", 31 oz, Sc framed 325TR, either in 45 Super or 45 Auto Rim S-L brass, with no problems. Same for my 4" 625-8 Performance Center & my 2-3/4" M325NG.

Shooting 460 Rowland is a bridge too far for me in a S&W 45ACP revolver.

However I did ream a Ss cylinder for it to shoot my 45WSM (click for more info) which gives near 45 Colt powder capacity (just 18.9% less -vs- 35.4% less for a 45ACP) & allows the comfortable loading of 270gr L-SWC bullets loaded to 45 Super pressures in it while still being able to shoot 45ACP & 45ARs.

If you need more than 750me out of your M625 buy a certified magnum revolver.

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45 Super, 185gr JHP
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Thanks for the good info Bluedot37!! BTW, did you fly Tweets in the USAF?

 

[DRankin]

Perhaps, the .44 might penetrate a little better for big bears or something but we don't have any where I live.

Bears? We got bears..............

A few feet from my back door.....




I keep this stuff accessible and ready.......

 

[larondo]

I understand that S&W won't venture out on the liability limb and state in writing that you can put .45 Supers in their .45 ACP revolvers..... guess they're worried about getting sued by a rogue handloader.

Of course.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

While this tread started off talking about shooting these cartridges in a revolver it's had talk of them in semi-auto pistols also.

Potentially big differences, beyond the obvious type of actions.

I just wanted to make one point, a caution if you will, that all modern S&W N-frame cylinders are of the same diameter (~1.710" wide) though their lengths vary by model/caliber.

Since the .45 is the largest caliber N-frame its chambers uses the most available metal & being six-shots the cylinder lock notches are directly over the chambers which gives them the thinnest amount of metal thickness at the notch to support chamber pressure. An obvious weak point that pistols don't have.

My S&W 45ACP revolvers range from .026"-.030" thickness at the notch.

My S&W 44 MAG revolvers range from .039"-.041" thickness at the notch, which is a good 33% or more thicker.

The 44 MAG is a 36K psi max SAAMI cartridge with more metal at the weakest point.

The 460 Roland is a 40K psi cartridge with less metal at the weakest point in a 45ACP cylinder. Less metal more pressure.

The caution in pistol barrels is whether they are fully supported, at the case's base/web area, or whether they are unsupported which makes them susceptible to case rupture, at that same point, when subjected to higher pressures.

My Colt 1911 Series 70's barrel (unsupported) can't handle the same power level of 45 Super loads, in S-L brass, that my S&W M4586's barrel (fully supported) can without bulging.

Just a heads-up on the differences, if you weren't already aware of them.

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