This last weekend was an expensive one. I bought 4 new handguns..3 were S&Ws. The one I am asking about is the Model 625 Mountain Gun. It is a 4 incher and unfortunately has a Hillary hole lock. It is a gun I bought to carry as a backup or packing out gun while elk hunting. We have many grizz in the area and they are not in hibernation even now. I know all the pussy cat loads for the 45 Colt. But wondering how hot I can go with the Mountain gun..No guys..I don't want to make it a magnum..just hot nuff for a bear gun so don't go getting your backs all up(lol)... I have plenty of cast lead 452 424 Big flat nose SWCs and other bullets including Hornady 250 XTPs. Do y'all have any pet loads I can use. I truly like this handgun. Hadda go shoot it today.. Shoots pretty good. Even for me. The other guns I bought included a S&W M&P in 40 and a model 60 3 inch with adjustable sights 38 spec. Momma really likes it..but it is gonna be MINE....maybe
Need a bit of advice on the 45 Colt
- Thread starter Skeet 028
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
The only using N frame I have that starts with "4" is a M24-3. Like Stand Watie's rock candy in "Outlaw Josey Wales", it's mostly for looking at.
Many years ago I bobbed an old model Ruger flattop .44 to 4 5/8" for just in case. Ruger .45 Colts will probably put out just as much power safely. Elmer wrote about a guy dropping a grizzly up in BC eons ago with a Colt SAA .45.
I suspect lots of folks will be along cautioning you about running that 625 TOO hard.
Many years ago I bobbed an old model Ruger flattop .44 to 4 5/8" for just in case. Ruger .45 Colts will probably put out just as much power safely. Elmer wrote about a guy dropping a grizzly up in BC eons ago with a Colt SAA .45.
I suspect lots of folks will be along cautioning you about running that 625 TOO hard.
My favorite .45 Colt is my 625-6 Mtn. gun. A 300 grain at 1100fps(lead) is serious load but not upper end for the gun. That is also a favorite load. 255's at an even thou are better penetrators than one might think. Best luck.......
fredj338
Member
I woud say that is an upper end load for any 4" N frame 45colt. It's also not really needed. Not much is stopping a 250-270gr LSWC @ 1000fps, certainly within safe pressures for the N frames. Midrange Ruger only loads, using 2400 is where I would look.
Last edited:
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
For large bears I think I would use a hard cast bullet instead of a jacketed HP bullet.
My favorite 255gr LSWC ,45 Colt load using HS-6 is over current published limits on the Hodgdon site but I can get an honest 900 fps from a 5.5" barrel.
If you want some useful load data there was a workup dome by Brian Pearce in Handloader #291, the August 2014 edition. He worked up a lot of data for a lot of different powders and I really like the HS-6 load he produced.
My favorite 255gr LSWC ,45 Colt load using HS-6 is over current published limits on the Hodgdon site but I can get an honest 900 fps from a 5.5" barrel.
If you want some useful load data there was a workup dome by Brian Pearce in Handloader #291, the August 2014 edition. He worked up a lot of data for a lot of different powders and I really like the HS-6 load he produced.
S&W 45 Colt loads
I don't know what dash model your MG is but since you mentioned the ILS it must be fairly new. There's several articles & lots of opinions on what's safe. Using John Linebaugh's logic (article link below) I see no reason why the M25/625 in 45 Colt's can't be loaded to what their brother in 45 ACP are loaded to, 21K (std) & 23K psi (+P) vs the 45 Colt 14K psi. A lot of people shoot 45 Super in their M25/625s, without issue, & they supposedly run about 25-28K psi, depending on what numbers you can find.
The cylinder stop bolt notch thickness is the weak point but it's still 67% as thick as in my M29/629s. The 44Mag is 40Kcup/36Kpsi max. 67% of that's 27Kcup/24Kpsi. My 325NG & 25-13 notches measure the same thickness & I shoot 45 Super in the 325NG.
Most Ruger only reloading data doesn't list the pressure & like is often encountered, it's hard to compare one to the other. Generally speaking, starting Ruger only data is likely the max for the Smiths but some start conservative & others hotter, so...
Handloader #275 had an article for reloading the 5-1/2" bbl. Lipsey Ruger New Model Blackhawk (.357 frame) 45 Colt up to 23K psi. They ran Speer 250gr JHP with 18.5gr/2400 thru it at 1014fps. I've run 19.0gr/2400 with the Hornady 250gr XTP & it's snappy. 20.0gr/2400 with 250gr LSWC.
Do your homework & make your call.
Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5
.
I don't know what dash model your MG is but since you mentioned the ILS it must be fairly new. There's several articles & lots of opinions on what's safe. Using John Linebaugh's logic (article link below) I see no reason why the M25/625 in 45 Colt's can't be loaded to what their brother in 45 ACP are loaded to, 21K (std) & 23K psi (+P) vs the 45 Colt 14K psi. A lot of people shoot 45 Super in their M25/625s, without issue, & they supposedly run about 25-28K psi, depending on what numbers you can find.
The cylinder stop bolt notch thickness is the weak point but it's still 67% as thick as in my M29/629s. The 44Mag is 40Kcup/36Kpsi max. 67% of that's 27Kcup/24Kpsi. My 325NG & 25-13 notches measure the same thickness & I shoot 45 Super in the 325NG.
Most Ruger only reloading data doesn't list the pressure & like is often encountered, it's hard to compare one to the other. Generally speaking, starting Ruger only data is likely the max for the Smiths but some start conservative & others hotter, so...
Handloader #275 had an article for reloading the 5-1/2" bbl. Lipsey Ruger New Model Blackhawk (.357 frame) 45 Colt up to 23K psi. They ran Speer 250gr JHP with 18.5gr/2400 thru it at 1014fps. I've run 19.0gr/2400 with the Hornady 250gr XTP & it's snappy. 20.0gr/2400 with 250gr LSWC.
Do your homework & make your call.
Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5
.
Last edited:
Should have stated model..625-9. I was looking for a 4 inch 57 in 41..but figured the 45 would work also. Don't want to hot rod this gun.... just make a safe protection from bear load. I bought a large lot of different caliber pistol bullets yesterday and haven't looked at all of them..Hardly any yet to be honest...but have many molds for the 45 so could make my own. My friend got a 15 lb keg of 2400 in the lot of stuff we bought from an estate so I can get a few pounds of it. Otherwise I have most of the useful powders for the Colt.... or others for that point. I'm hoping there is a 45 CAL heavy mold witha gas check in the molds I got from this estate. I got a good 41 mag 250 Gr GC mold for certain. Thanks for the replies. My wife has a 45 Ruger single action and she likes the powder puff loads.
That 452424 should do the job. If it were me rather than look at heavy loads I would look at repeatable recoil that might allow you a second quick shot. 950-1000 fps that bullet will penetrate a long ways even on hardened muscle.
johnnyflake
Member
A 255gr hard cast SWC, at an honest 950/1000, will definitely do the job.
You should work your way up to it, and test how it works for you, but 9.0gn Unique will put you right there.
You should work your way up to it, and test how it works for you, but 9.0gn Unique will put you right there.
I agree with jonnyflake. I run 9.5 grains of Unique over the 250 grain Tumble lube Lee SWC's. It runs fine in the 25-7 and 25-13 Ram I have.
Go to Handloads.com and look up the 45 Colt round. here are lots of loads that run in the 900 to 1000 fps loadings. You don't need any more than that and with a Smith I wouldn't go any hotter.
Go to Handloads.com and look up the 45 Colt round. here are lots of loads that run in the 900 to 1000 fps loadings. You don't need any more than that and with a Smith I wouldn't go any hotter.
m657
Member
re: "I was looking for a 4 inch 57 in 41..but..."
....but ~I~ got it....
and that model makes a phenomenally accurate big bore Mtn gun....perhaps the best of my little herd of N-frames.
....but ~I~ got it....
and that model makes a phenomenally accurate big bore Mtn gun....perhaps the best of my little herd of N-frames.
I would give serious consideration to the RCBS 45-270 SAA bullet. Here is a excellent article for you with lots of load data for what your asking about. I hope you find it useful.
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL 246partial.pdf
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL 246partial.pdf
fredj338
Member
This is my fav heavy bullet for the 45colt, very accurate. I have a rcbs mold w/ one cav HP with diff pins to make diff style HP for diff vel levels or size animals for that matter. Cast solid & on the soft side (10bhn) for 1000fps, it weighs 285gr. No gas check needed. I run these in a 4 5/8" RBH, but the vel shown are easily done in a M625-4".
Last edited:
There's an old saying about using a 44mag or hot 45Colt with respect to brown bear.....
"Make sure to file off the front site so it won't hurt when the bear shoves it where the sun don't shine"
While I should have bought a model 25 a few decades ago I bought a Blackhawk convertible instead.
My next handgun purchase will be a Smith in 500 or an Alaskan in 454.
Will shoot and load for it and give it to my boy if he moves to brown bear territory.
"Make sure to file off the front site so it won't hurt when the bear shoves it where the sun don't shine"
While I should have bought a model 25 a few decades ago I bought a Blackhawk convertible instead.
My next handgun purchase will be a Smith in 500 or an Alaskan in 454.
Will shoot and load for it and give it to my boy if he moves to brown bear territory.
johnnyflake
Member
That saying was meant for people that can't hit what their shooting at! Plenty of black and brown bear have been dropped dead, with the .44 Mag and hot .45 Colt loads.
roundgunner
US Veteran
The hottest load I put in my mountain gun is 9.1 Unique with a 255 rnfp lee. Comes out about 950 and I doubt it is putting extra wear on gun.
USSR
Member
The Model 25 is rated for 23k psi loads, which equates to up to 1100fps with the right powder. Use your cast lead 452424 SWC's and: 18.0gr of 2400; 22.0gr of 4227; or 13.0gr of HS-6. Any of these loads will put you slightly over 1,000fps with your 4" Model 625. I use these loads for deer hunting with my 25-5.
Don
Don
Bruce in WV
Member
You might want to look at the 45 Colt LEVERevolution. It looks like a decent candidate. Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 45 Colt :: 45 Colt 225 gr FTX® LEVERevolution®
USSR
Member
The problem with the Hornady 45 Colt LEVERevolution ammo is, because of the elongated bullets they shorten their cases. If you go to reload this brass, they are not long enough to go high enough into the seating die to take a crimp.
Don
Don
