25-5, 4", 45 Colt, and wide cylinder throats?

[saltydog452]

I am not a machinist and do not have great tools.

My recent buy is a 25-5 45 Colt.

As best that I can measure with consistent results from the dial micrometer, the cylinder exit leading into the forcing cone are a tad large.

I recall reading Internet Gospel that stated that S&W QC standards could, on occasion, be just as lax as Colt 'specially regarding the cylinders chambered for 45 Colt.

With this in mind, was there some serial number range that the 25-5s cylinder throats were passed through with overly large throats?

This one is N827xxx.

My repeated)dial caliper measurements per cylinder hole bounce around from .453-.454 +/- .0005.

Your thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks,

salty

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Welcome to the forum!

Salty-

There has been a lot posted here about this issue, a lot of it by me.

The 25's were plagued by overly large throats from the beginning of the 25-5 series, and it's been on and off throghout the 25-2's history until the serial sytem change came along in 1983.
Any 25-5 with the ABC 1234 serial system will have the correct throats. Before that time most had oversized throats in them.

A lot of guys here have N serial numbered guns that are running between .456" -.458". A few have them with the N prefix serial numbers that have correct thorats, but those are the exceptions to the rule. The same thing is true with 25-2's.

In 1983 when S&W switched to non pinned barrels and non recessed cylinders, they at least gave us something positive with the tighter throat tolerances.

Your gun is actually a lot closer to being correct than a lot of them. Any non pinned 25-5 will have correct throats in it, since they coinicide with the serial # system change.

If you are a handloader, just buy as large a sized bullet as you can. The lead bullets made by Remington, and Winchester run .455" and .456" respectively, and are made from fairly soft lead with a shallow hollow base, so they slug up to fill the throats well. These bullets are sold through Cabela's and other outlet dealers in bulk packaging most of the time for fairly reasonable prices. If you cast, a bullet that is running about 10 BHN for normal loads will help out here a lot too.

 

[saltydog452]

Got it. I think.

Stamps on the rear face of the cylinder reads ' 5' between the holes of two cylinders and '9' of the next two.

The ctg rims are not protected as in a recessed cylinder.

Serial # has a N prefix and the numbers are 827xxx.

I don't get your reference to ABC 123?

Does this number indicate a pre- or post- 1983 date?...when?

Thanks,

salty

EDIT re 'pinned barrel'..

The barrel is pinned but the cylinder holes are not recessed.

tnx,

sd

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

The 25-5 had an N prefix serial number from its beginning, but in 1983, S&W switched all the N framed from an N prefix to the three letter, four number serial system (ABC 1234)
!983 is also when S&W dropped the pinned and recessed features, though only magnums and rimfires have ever been recessed. 25's were never recessed.

 

[WILDPIG]

Excellent help, Gun 4 Fun. I appreciate your answers, too, as I just acquired a 6" 25-5 with the ABC1234 serial number.

Now, I am looking to buy smaller grips/stocks that fit a "normal" hand and work up loads for about 250 gr jacketed and lead running in the 1,000 fps range. Thinking about HS-6 or 2400 to start...

WILDPIG

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Wildpig-

With a good cast lead bullet 12.5 grains of HS-6 will get you there with a 250 grainer, and 18.5 grains of 2400 will get you right around 1100. Jacketed will run around 50-100 fps slower than lead of the same weight.

 

[robctwo]

Ahrends retro combat on a 25-13 Mountain Gun for my small hands works well.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Gun 4 Fun pretty much nailed it. You may want to run some cast or swaged .452 dia. bullet's through it, ya never know, sometimes even with oversized throats some guns shoot well with an under sized bullet although most dont. With a jacketed .452 dia. bullet most shoot fair. I use the Remington 250gr .455 RNL for a coulple of big un's I have with good results, they have a flakey external whole bullet lube that will crud up your seating die in short order, I wipe off the nose and base of each one prior to seating, slow to be sure but it helps with the cruddy die syndrome.

 

[MrEarl]

Montana Bullets sells diameters up to .454 in .001 increments, and in two hardnesses (BHN 15 and 22.) Pretty spendy, but good bullets.

Leadheads (https://secure25.securewebsession.com/proshootpro.com/order.htm) lists .452-.454 but you can't specify diameter.

I wish the manufacturers would hold better tolerances. If a barrel can be bored to .452, then a chamber mouth can, too.

 

[WILDPIG]

Wildpig-

With a good cast lead bullet 12.5 grains of HS-6 will get you there with a 250 grainer, and 18.5 grains of 2400 will get you right around 1100. Jacketed will run around 50-100 fps slower than lead of the same weight.

Thanks, Gun 4 Fun. I think I will work up to your suggestions. I picked up some 250gr. XTPs and look to pick up some lead soon.

WILDPIG

 

[WILDPIG]

robctwo,

Great minds must think alike. I was looking at Ahrends but in the Retro Target.

Vulcan Bob and Mr. Earl,

Thanks for your help. My throats seem tight. A .452 jacketed bullets pushes through with pretty good hand push.

WILDPIG

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Thanks, Gun 4 Fun. I think I will work up to your suggestions. I picked up some 250gr. XTPs and look to pick up some lead soon.

WILDPIG

Wildpig-
I should have mentioned that the 18.5 grain load is running close to the top end of the practical safety zone of the 25, so when using jacketed bullets, be careful when approaching that charge weight, since jacketed bullets will create higher pressures than lead with an equal charge of the same powder.

It should still be safe in your gun, but just pay attention. I have used it with no problem at all, but it's always wise to err on the side of caution.

 

[WILDPIG]

Yup. I will work up from lower weights. Thanks, again.

WILDPIG