I shoot weekly at a outdoor range just for pleasure at 25-50 yards with mostly a .45 1911 with hand loads for that and several S&W revolvers. I just bought a beautiful M25-2 1955 In .45 acp and need to know if any problems using the same loads built for a 5 inch barrel in a 6.5 inch barrel.
Thanks…

You won't know for sure until you try them. I use the same load in several different guns and they shoot well enough for my tastes.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

The rifling in the Model 25-2 is cut to the same specifications as the Army asked for in 1917. In other words, shallow rifling cut for FMJ at hardball velocities. Fortunately, Target shooters were able to find lead loads for both S&W revolvers and Colt selfloaders. I like bullets .001-.002 over throat diameter and a hardball dose of powder. Others have their favorite recipes.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

What are your projectiles sized to ? .452" ?

I feed my Model 25s and 625s the same H&G 68 SWC, sized to .452", over Winchester 231

Odds are your hand loads will work just fine as well.

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"Acta non verba"

Mic your chamber mouths and size to match is one piece of advice. Back when, S&W and Colt were slow to constrict .45 chamber mouths to bore diameter which is why the .44 special ran away with the store for accuracy.
A .452" bullet tends to cant when passing through a .455" chamber mouth. this is why commercial lead loads always (used to) use hollow-base bullets that could expand to fill the chamber mouth, then be constricted down into the bore.

I'll echo what Bill Lear said. I have a S&W model 25-2 6.5" that wasn't very accurate with bullets sized to .452 . Then I got some pin gauges and measured the chambers. They all measured .454. Now that I size my bullets to match the chamber size, the accuracy is way better. Of course if your accuracy is great with .452 bullets, there's probably no need to measure, just shoot 'em.

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What could possibly go wrong?

Model 25's including pre models in either 45acp or 45 Colt up to the dash 5's are known to have throats on the large side , I've seen as much as .456" .

I have shot 45 Auto competitively for many years, beginning in the Army.
Tried everything over the years.
Settled on the Zero or Nosler 185 grain competition JHP over VV N310.
Match winning load for me in many guns from S&W 625 1911s to CZs and Glocks.
My experience, YMMV

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I hope it doesn't pull bullets like my 625-8 does. I have a remedy for that but it requires a different bullet and crimp than I use in my 1911.

Otherwise, let the good times roll.

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That's just somebody talkin.

My 25-2 throats are .453-.455 IIRC. Leading and inaccuracy weren’t good, but FMJ or plated bullets shoot well. (I don’t cast my own boolits).

Chip

A consideration for sure. Leading also happens when the barrel bore is slightly larger than the bullet. I had that experience with a Sig P-220 leading with .452 dia. bullets. They really needed to be .453". Not interested in keeping different bullets for a 45 so down the road it went.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Thanks to all for your replies. My cast bullets I use are .452 RN and SWC both from Missouri bullets which depending on the charge chronograph in the 700-830 fps range with a 5” barrel. I’m concerned about a charge that isn’t a problem with a 5”Barrel sticking in a 6.5” barrel! I did that with a 158 gn rnfp round that stuck in a 6” m1905 that wasn’t a issue in one of my 4” guns.

Load them like hardball and no problem.

I load the Lyman 452423 or the SAECO 453 over 5.1 grains of Bullseye. Very close to the original Hardball except the Lyman is a SWC and 453 is a full wadcutter.

Both hit to similar sights but the SAECO is my favorite and my edc.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Back in "The Day" (1960-1970) I used a 200 grain LSWC with 3.5 grains Bullseye. (S&W M25-2 4/5/8" barrel and a Colt Gold Cup)

I would enjoy seeing an image of that S&W Model 25-2!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

ME TOO..........Same bullet/load for my self shuckers and the ones that go round and round. My 230 gr cast bullet pushed by 5.2 grs of WW#231.

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S&W Accumulator

I had the 6.5" barrel cut back to 4 5/8" and carried it as a service revolver. It went away many years ago to help pay medical bills.

I understand. I rebuilt a Model 28-2 into a 4”, 45 ACP and carried it on duty. Not for long and for good reasons. I was long out before the Model 22-4 was reintroduced, in my opinion, the ideal Police revolver. Lately, I ended up with a DAO, Model 25-2 with a 4 1/4” barrel. It is slick!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Before mentioned Police Officer and Gunsmith Jack Coley's opinion was the ideal Police Service Revolver would be a five shot heavy barrel Model 10 in .45acp.

I have seen a 5 shot 44 S&W Special on a K frame. Not sure if there would be enough extra for a 45 ACP version. But, I want one!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.