I recently acquired a 25-5 .45 Colt and was wondering what ammo can be safely shot in it, I have seen +P Ammo that said not to shoot in this gun. Why is it different than the same gun in .44 Mag.To big of a gun to shoot those wimpy old loads, I was hoping to shoot some loads approaching the .41 or .44 Mag.

A lot of it has to do with the limitations of the case. The .45 Colt is rated at 14,000 psi (Ruger load 25,000 psi) so you will never be able to shoot loads at the .44 mag and .41 Mag (36,000 psi). That said, you don't need to. The .45 Colt is great at the pressures it was designed for.

Thanks for the reply and I am glad you are happy with the standard round however I turned down a 25-2 1955 because I didn't want to shot that anemic a round in an N Frame. So why did I buy it? Great deal NIB w/wood presentation box and blue and 6" barrel and here in Cali. nice or hell any N Frames are not plentiful and shrinking. I was wondering if anyone has shot any of the +P Loads and knows if they are safe to shoot. I have seen 720 M/E to .44 Mag energies. I guess the cylinder might be a tiny bit thinner but aren't the frames made all the same or do they make the mag frames different? Worst case scenario I sell it and keep looking for a 29 6"-6 1/2".

Like I said, It probably has more to do with the case strength then the gun itself. The .44 Magnum case was designed to handle the higher pressures. I can't answer as to whether the 25 can handle the "Ruger only" pressures but I'm sure someone here can.

Another fact to consider is that a S&W has its cylinder stop cuts directly adjacent to the chamber, resulting in quite a thin section at that point. I have seen and heard of Smiths in .45 Colt whose chambers developed a dimple at that spot, and read of kabooms where it was postulated that the rupture initiated at the cyl. stop cut. If you want a magnum, sell the .45 and buy a .44 or .41. The .45 Colt is a thumper in its 19th Century loadings, so why try to make it something it's not?

Larry

The .45 case is just enough bigger than the .44 case that boring the N-frame cylinder to .45 makes the walls too thin for magnum loads. But don't sell the .45 Colt short. Elmer Keith often stated that if the .44 Mag didn't exist he could be quite happy with the standard factory load in .45 Colt. It is no slouch, and a handloader can soup them up just a bit in the 25 with no danger, if he feels the need. But for Magnum-level loads, stick to guns like the Ruger Blackhawk and Redhawk.

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Pisgah

Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5

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Watch & Pray

NEURON;
Here is the best information available regarding your question:

Linebaugh's Custom Sixguns - Heavyweight Bullets

NOTE: Most of this information is on the Ruger large frame single actions and Red Hawks. However, the last two paragraphs cover the Smith in detail.

John is THE man regarding the heavily loaded .45 Colt. He regularly carries a Smith 25.5 and has pressure tested his loads. Reloading properly and keeping the pressure levels at a max of 25,000 psi will keep your Smith working well for your lifetime.

I do not have a Smith in .45 Colt (several in .44 Magnum). I have 10,000+ full loads through my Model 29 (8 3/8" barrel) and it is still as tight as the day I bought it. I decided that bullets in the 300 gr level should see limited use in my Smith's.

If I had a Smith in .45 Colt I would limit my use of the 25,000 psi loads to hunting and sight in. Just simply use lighter loads for general use. That way you will have the best of both worlds - a very satisfactory handgun for big game (I wouldn't hesitate to use it on Elk, as a for instance) and a nice long life for the handgun.

By the way, the original .45 Colt Black Powder load was developed for the Cavalry and would shoot through a horse at 100 yards. That is with a 260 gr bullet at 900+ fps. So, that is NOT exactly a "wimpy" load.

I have Ruger large frame single actions in .45 Colt. My choice of bullet for general use is the Mihec correct copy of the RCBS .45-270-SAA bullet (home cast from my alloy is 285 grs solid and 270 grs hollow point).

To get the best of any of these handgun loads you really need to consider casting your own bullets and reloading.

Just a thought or two...

Shoot center!
Dale53

THANKS FOR POSTING THE LINK TO LINEBAUGH'S EXTREMELY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE WORK, Dale. IMHO, IF THE OP WANTED TO SHOOT .45 COLT TO EXTREME PRESSURES OR VELOCITIES, HE SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A RUGER IN .454 CASULL. THAT WAY, HE COULD DO WHATEVER HE WANTED TO DO….
THE MODEL 25 IN .45 COLT IS A FINE REVOLVER FOR IT'S INTENDED PURPOSE AND WILL LAST A LIFETIME SHOOTING FACTORY AMMO OR HANDLOADS WITHIN SAAMI SPECS. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING MORE, MOVE UP TO THE .44 MAGNUM. I HAVE A MOUNTAIN GUN IN .45 COLT, WHICH IS VERY ACCURATE AND PLEASANT TO SHOOT, WITH RELOADS BREWED UP BY MY LGS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF BOXES OF FACTORY AMMO, WHICH IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE COST OF THE RELOADS, SO I WON'T SHOOT IT UNLESS I USE IT ON A HUNT. I ALSO HAVE A 629 MOUNTAIN GUN, WHICH I SHOOT IN THE SAME MANNER, DUE TO THE COST OF FACTORY AMMO. ITS TOO LATE IN THE GAME FOR ME TO GET INTO RELOADING……..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

You can load some very effective ammo for the Colt and stay within the 14,000 PSI standard pressure limit. My standard pressure load of a 270gr Kieth over 8.0gr of Power Pistol is in the mid 900 fps range and I don't really think that there is anything in the lower 48 that it could not handle. Check out Brian Pearce's articles in Handloader for some good insights and data.

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Stay safe people!

Read the above quoted article...it tells you all you need to know about loading for the Model 25. I keep my loads to 23,000 psi or below in my various 25/625 revolvers.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

That is a dam good load. I have one in the same category, that puts a cast 255gn SWC out at 950fps, using 9.0gn of Unique. I have a 4" - 25-13 and with that round, I know I could take down anything, that lives in the lower 48.

Not true. The case is plenty strong. A long, long time ago, the case was of balloon head construction, but since WW2, the construction is solid head just like the .44 Magnum. The limitation with the .45 Colt is always the firearm that it is being fired in. In the case of the S&W 25-5, that is sub-25k psi. The 25-2 (same revolver in .45 ACP) is safe with .45 ACP +P ammo which is rated at 23k psi. I shoot my S&W 25-5 with such loads all the time. Perfectly safe.

Don

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NRA Cert. Reloading Instructor

I stand corrected.

I agree with Dale in recommending John L, as he speaks with extreme knowledge of powerful cartridges and carries a 45 Colt.

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Tommy

Thanks for all of the great information everyone, looks like I am going to have to handload to enjoy this. I am selling my 629 Classic 5", not needed after the 500 I picked the other day.

Modern 45 Colt brass (Starline, Hornady, etc.) are plenty strong. No limitation within reason. I've loaded mine to near 454 Casull starting levels (28gr/H110 under HDY 300gr XTP-Mag) for use in my 454, or 460, & never had a bulge or even a crack/split from them.

20grs/2400 & a 250gr LSWC are a healthy combination in the M25 45 Colt.

The 25/625 cylinder bolt notch is the weak point. It's only .026" thick verses .039" in the 29/629, while a 57/657 is .048" thick at the thinnest point.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

I load mine close to 25000psi for all 3of my S&W 45 colts s
Someday I am going to take a 455 cylinder I have in the parts pile and make a frame like fixture and see how much 2400 it takes to blow it up.

Today's modern .45Colt brass is every bit as strong as .44 Magnum brass. I have been loading ,and SHOOTING .45 Colt loads IN MY RUGERS, that are just as "hot", and some loads are even "hotter", than my .44 mags, and I have yet to have to discard any of my brass. Been doing this for several years now. But I must say, I will NEVER shoot these hot loads in my S&W25-5. I would not shoot these hot loads in ANY S&W gun......that would truly destroy these S&Ws.

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Not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

One of the reasons I load my own is to custom make a round that I like
the second reason is cost savings the local GS is getting about 45.00 for 50 Mag tech cowboys , I usually shoot about 100 rounds a visit so it could really be a pretty expensive outing , I go to the range about 2 to 4 times a week.

Clark Customs does a 460 Rowland conversion for $100 for your 625 revolver.

Revolver Services from Clark Custom Guns, Inc. - Satisfaction GUARANTEED!

This is merely deepening the chamber to fit a slightly longer cartridge case.

The Rowland loads upwards of 40Kpsi.

This is proof of the cylinder strength.

I won't do it, but it is done ... legally.

I settle for 45Supers at 28Kpsi.

The Colt chamber is a couple thousandths larger but 'might' be plenty safe at +P+ loadings.

Batts

I don't hand load and found what I believe is a good strong round for my 25-5 4". Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure Heavy .45 Colt, 255 gr. Keith, advertised at 1000 FPS. It creates real jolt compared to the soft push of other ammo I've tried such as Freedom Munitions topped with a 255 gr. jacketed FP.

The BBSP 255gn round is a super round. Within 20 yards, that round, will drop anything that lives in the lower 48!