Safe to shoot in a Model 25-5?

Dump1567

Dump1567

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I'm assuming the below Corbon ammo would be safe to shoot in a 4" 25-5? I'm thinking for self defense only, not everyday shooting.

Caliber: 45 Colt Plus P
Bullet Wt.: 200gr CORBON Self-Defense JHP
Velocity: 1100fps
Energy: 537ftlbs
Test Barrel Length: 4.0 Inches

Thanks.
 
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Sounds pretty stout but OK for occasional use. Does Cor-Bon state any restrictions on its use (e.g., "for use in Ruger Blackhawk/Redhawk/T/C Contender only")?
 
murphydog said:
Sounds pretty stout but OK for occasional use. Does Cor-Bon state any restrictions on its use (e.g., "for use in Ruger Blackhawk/Redhawk/T/C Contender only")?
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Not that I saw on their website.

I just picked-up a 25-5 and have a box of this Corbon & 2 boxes of silver tip laying around.
 
Yes, its safe, IMO. While it my be +p according to SAAMI specs, its well within the range of what a S&W N-frame can handle. SAAMI specs for the .45 Colt are ridiculously low due to ancient guns floating around. I would suspect pressures are in the standard pressure .45 ACP range. I bought a few boxes of them several years ago. I shot one box and still have another. Recoil and muzzle blast were honestly no worse than standard factory 250g LRN loads. They shot quite low out of my 25-13.
 
You should have no problem shooting that load., especially since you are using it for SD and not on a steady diet.....
 
I will go against the crowd here.

Personally I will NEVER shoot ammunition that is loaded above SAAMI specifications in a firearm that I care about and want to keep.

While the SAAMI spec for 45 Colt is weak in order to protect the older revolvers that were intended for the black powder version of this cartridge, there is no all inclusive SAAMI +P spec for this cartridge.

There is a SAAMI +P recognized specification for 45 Colt designated as Ruger Only but it generates up to 79% more pressure than the 45 Colt load. This +P specification is unsafe in a carbon steel S&W revolver chambered for 45 Colt. One of the modern 625s might handle it, but I would not want to be the person doing the experimenting.

So the cartridge that you are buying from the small boutique ammunition companies are loaded above SAAMI specifications, you just do not know how far above.

That non-SAAMI +P designation could mean a 1% increase in pressure over standard or it could mean a 50% increase in pressure over standard or more. There is no telling.

You do notice that the big ammunition companies do not offer +P in 45 Colt. That is because there is no all inclusive standard for +P in the 45 Colt cartridge

None of this is to imply that the particular cartridge you are asking about is safe or unsafe in any particular firearm. My comments are strictly in line with using non-standard ammunition in firearms that you care about.
 
To eliminate all doubt, I'd call Cor-Bon and tell them what round you are wanting to shoot and in what firearm. Go straight to the source.

As a previous poster mentioned, "+P" in 45 Colt could be anything. Could be .45 ACP standard pressure levels. And those are perfectly safe to shoot in an N-frame since they have the 25-2. Even +P .45 ACP levels would be safe, in my opinion.

Linebaugh and Brian Pearce have done a lot of testing in this area, and I believe they concur that 25k psi is safe all day long in the 25. Above that, well, proceed at your own risk.

Just looking at the data for that Cor-Bon round, I'd have to say a 200 grain bullet at 1100 fps would be EASY to achieve at less than 25k psi pressures. Especially with the proprietary blends of powder available to the ammo manufacturers.
 
Corbon is closed today, but the consensus from an Internet search is occasional use is ok. I also found this:

I was refering to what Cor-Bon calls their .45lc Magnum +p. It is a line of powerful hunting loads. For more info see CORBON - Hunting . Actually, Cor-Bon has gotten back to me and advised that I CAN shoot these loads in a 25-5 as long as it is in good shape and that I don't overdo it. Their 200 grain load is a defensive, combat load, and is no problem in the 25-5.
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I have three newer model 625's in 45 Colt and have fired Cor-Bon +P 265 and 300 grain ammo with no problem. I would not recommend shooting thousand of these hot rounds, but an occasional firing will not hurt the revolver. I called S&W and Cor-Bon and they both told me the same thing. I use the Cor-Bon as a hunting load and also to carry in the revolver when I am hiking in Wyoming for self defense.
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I agree with all that has been said. It might be time to state that Buffalo Bore and perhaps others load ammo to a much higher pressure, and while S&W revolvers can handle the above Cor-Bon load, there is truly Thompson/Ruger ammo out there and it should not be shot in S&W revolvers.
 
I asked on this forum, about their .45 Colt 225gr barnes @ 1200fps for use in my 625-6 Mountain revolver. One of the Cor Bon guys answered that it was a 25,000psi load. I shoot some BB .45 Super rnds in my 625-3s, and keep them so loaded for hd. they are 28,000psi. Hope this helps

I made a mistake, its 26,000psi. I asked this question in Ammo, and I just brought this thread to the top in Ammo.
 
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ddixie884 said:
I asked on this forum, about their .45 Colt 225gr barnes @ 1200fps for use in my 625-6 Mountain revolver. One of the Cor Bon guys answered that it was a 25,000psi load. I shoot some BB .45 Super rnds in my 625-3s, and keep them so loaded for hd. they are 28,000psi. Hope this helps

I made a mistake, its 26,000psi. I asked this question in Ammo, and I just brought this thread to the top in Ammo.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.
 
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