Ya, 2" center to center is about right. Then add 1/2" for the big holes. Some tinkering and some of them will do better
25-5 45 colt oversized cylinder chambers
- Thread starter drcwks
- Start date
LOL My lightest 45-70 bullets are 405gr and I don't think there would be much room for any powder once seated deep enough to chamber.
One thing is I do not believe you can use bullets much over .454 as anything else would make the case to large to chamber.
I also know some 45 colt chambers are a bit tighter than others. I have 2 45 colt reamers both with .452 pilots and one has a body about .0005 larger than the other.
I actually bought a mold from NOE that works well sized to .457. It's a 175 grain wadcutter listed at .460 diameter. I have no idea what the intended cartridge is but it works in this application. I was afraid it wouldn't chamber with the large bullet but it works without issue other than having to buy a new mold, new sizing die for the bullets and a new larger expander die. Last range outing I was able to get 3 out of 6 rounds touching at 25 yards.
Walter Rego
Member
My .45 Cal. Model 1950 Pre-Model 26 in .45 ACP was made in 1956 and has .455" throats. So it was made after S&W changed the manufacturing specs that 6string talks about above in post #21.
I also have a US Firearms Manufacturing Co. Single Action in .45 Colt that I ordered with the optional .45 ACP cylinder. The throats of both cylinders measure a tight .451". Chambering factory .45 Colt loads with lead bullets requires a good push with my thumb to get them to seat all the way. I haven't handloaded for it yet but will make sure to use bullets that are on the small side for diameter. Surprisingly, with the .45 ACP cylinder installed and shooting factory hardball, the gun will cut cloverleafs at 7 yards.
The long jump through the throats to the forcing cone as the .45 ACP cylinder is the same length as the .45 Colt cylinder don't seem to matter. I'll assume it is because the other factors like the bore/cylinder alignment must be spot on.
I also have a US Firearms Manufacturing Co. Single Action in .45 Colt that I ordered with the optional .45 ACP cylinder. The throats of both cylinders measure a tight .451". Chambering factory .45 Colt loads with lead bullets requires a good push with my thumb to get them to seat all the way. I haven't handloaded for it yet but will make sure to use bullets that are on the small side for diameter. Surprisingly, with the .45 ACP cylinder installed and shooting factory hardball, the gun will cut cloverleafs at 7 yards.
The long jump through the throats to the forcing cone as the .45 ACP cylinder is the same length as the .45 Colt cylinder don't seem to matter. I'll assume it is because the other factors like the bore/cylinder alignment must be spot on.
I believe the 45 colt is pretty much a hand loader cartridge anyway. You can find factory ammo, but most of it is pretty anemic, expensive and of limited in choices
All mine except my TL have .452 throats, but it I had a large throat gun, and didn't want to mess with it I would just shoot the largest bullets I could chamber. Not only will they fit the throats better, but because they fit the chambers tighter they will start out being closer to centered in a big throat.
While I do not magnumize my loads there is no reason a modern S&W will not handle the same pressures in 45 colt as it will in 45 acp
All mine except my TL have .452 throats, but it I had a large throat gun, and didn't want to mess with it I would just shoot the largest bullets I could chamber. Not only will they fit the throats better, but because they fit the chambers tighter they will start out being closer to centered in a big throat.
While I do not magnumize my loads there is no reason a modern S&W will not handle the same pressures in 45 colt as it will in 45 acp
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Of course, 29-2s all have "oversized throats". Finding "big" .45 bullets is actually easier than "big" .44 bullets. Both revolver chamberings can shoot well if you cater to their individual quirks. If you only shoot at 25 yards or less, it's likely no big deal, regardless.
1970's vintage Winchester .45 Colt ammo used swaged hollow base 0.456" bullets. I still have some of the Winchester bullets sold for reloading purposes. Very accurate out of the "big throat" revolvers. The ammo changed before the revolvers. Conflicting .45 cartridges with different bullets sizes. The ACP finally influenced the Colt bullet size.
You do not need to buy a set of pin gauges to accurately measure your throats. A soft lead 50 cal muzzle loader ball tapped into the throat and a set of decent calibers will give you the correct measurement.
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Yeah, but when I did that the gun store got mad. Pin gauges they don't mind.
Model19man
Member
I have had and still have several S&W revolvers chambered for 45 Colt cartridge. Any revolver that you own will be ammunition sensitive. Your revolver will shoot with certain ammunition better than other ammunition.
The SAAMI specification for 45 Colt changed around 1990. Any revolver made before that time was made for .454" diameter bullets. Any revolver made after the change was made for .451" bullets - the industry changed the standard so that both 45 ACP and 45 Colt would have the same diameter projectiles.
Your revolver was made a decade before the change so it needs larger diameter bullets.
The SAAMI specification for 45 Colt changed around 1990. Any revolver made before that time was made for .454" diameter bullets. Any revolver made after the change was made for .451" bullets - the industry changed the standard so that both 45 ACP and 45 Colt would have the same diameter projectiles.
Your revolver was made a decade before the change so it needs larger diameter bullets.
A lot of what to do and how to do it wisdom has been presented here---along with what to me is a new term: "practical accuracy". I decided that term translates to "close enough". There was a time when I was happy with "close enough". That was a looooooooooong time back!!
It was a looooooooooooooong time back when I started handloading. I did it to save money. It worked.
Then I got the fever. It took awhile, but I got it bad enough to not care about saving money---only to care about accuracy----ULTIMATE ACCURACY!! Step One: Get one of those Ransom Rests--so much for saving money I thought, but that was before I even knew how much they cost. They cost less than pretty much any gun in your stash---then and for damn sure now. And the best thing about them is they don't lie. They show you what works, and what doesn't. And they also show you how REALLY GOOD your guns are----without you holding onto them. That can be embarrassing--and opens up whole new areas requiring improvement.
Peace of mind requires some decisions. You started off with all this business because you're a gun nut---you like guns---either because of what they are, or because of what you can do with them. Sometimes, with some folks, it's both. If/when it's both, you have to decide which is most important---simply having them, or using them. When it turns out to be both, you're pretty much doomed---but happy!
Most folks pick one or the other. I turned out to be one of those most folks, and chose simply having them---mostly because the quest for ultimate accuracy had become more like work than fun. The results were more than satisfying, but achieving those results had become, as I said, more like work than fun---and besides that, there was a new baby on the way---and what was the lunatic fringe ammunition developer's room was about to be the new baby's room---either that, or get a bigger house.
Of course, now we have a bigger house---and no babies, and more room and more time than we know what to do with, but it's too late to start over.
Ralph Tremaine
It was a looooooooooooooong time back when I started handloading. I did it to save money. It worked.
Then I got the fever. It took awhile, but I got it bad enough to not care about saving money---only to care about accuracy----ULTIMATE ACCURACY!! Step One: Get one of those Ransom Rests--so much for saving money I thought, but that was before I even knew how much they cost. They cost less than pretty much any gun in your stash---then and for damn sure now. And the best thing about them is they don't lie. They show you what works, and what doesn't. And they also show you how REALLY GOOD your guns are----without you holding onto them. That can be embarrassing--and opens up whole new areas requiring improvement.
Peace of mind requires some decisions. You started off with all this business because you're a gun nut---you like guns---either because of what they are, or because of what you can do with them. Sometimes, with some folks, it's both. If/when it's both, you have to decide which is most important---simply having them, or using them. When it turns out to be both, you're pretty much doomed---but happy!
Most folks pick one or the other. I turned out to be one of those most folks, and chose simply having them---mostly because the quest for ultimate accuracy had become more like work than fun. The results were more than satisfying, but achieving those results had become, as I said, more like work than fun---and besides that, there was a new baby on the way---and what was the lunatic fringe ammunition developer's room was about to be the new baby's room---either that, or get a bigger house.
Of course, now we have a bigger house---and no babies, and more room and more time than we know what to do with, but it's too late to start over.
Ralph Tremaine
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I remember reading on the forums something about the N frame 45 Colt issues, but then watched a video from Hickock45 and he acknowledged it on the early models but said by the 25-5 was good to go. I have also heard this many times. I own a 25-5 and it shoots 45 colt perfect. No issues with factory ammo at all.
1911-10MM
Member
Model 25-5
Serial N825XXX 1981 early
.452 SIZED
I paid 1070 for this beauty back in 2018
I searched for several years before I found one in this condition
within my budget.
During my search the 6" versions were out there but the 4" were
difficult to find. I prefer the look and balance of the 4".
Serial N825XXX 1981 early
.452 SIZED
I paid 1070 for this beauty back in 2018
I searched for several years before I found one in this condition
within my budget.
During my search the 6" versions were out there but the 4" were
difficult to find. I prefer the look and balance of the 4".
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Wow that's a nice revolver.
I agree on 4" barrels.
For some reason I just like them better.
Most all of my 45 colt ammo goes into Italian replicas of resent manufacture and they all take 452 bullets.
So I can normalize on that bullet size and load.
I do have nice m31 or m32, I forget, 32long that has that bore constriction issue and I need one more fire lapping session to get that lapped out.
However I have lusted after a m25 for some time.
I did purchase a m29 4" and loaded some 8 gr of unique load.
It has sticky chambers and I need to polish those out.
Somehow I permanently lost the lock parts. Ooopsy.
But it can be loaded to 45Colt recoil levels which I way prefer over 44 mag, hence the 8grs of unique load.
Ohh and, I have a kimber 10mm 1911 and a Dan Wesson 10mm 1911.
But both are rather boring without modern capacity like my other 10mms, the M&P 10mm, Sig xten, Springer xdme, Tanfoglio stock 3 and pf45 large Glock type.
I agree on 4" barrels.
For some reason I just like them better.
Most all of my 45 colt ammo goes into Italian replicas of resent manufacture and they all take 452 bullets.
So I can normalize on that bullet size and load.
I do have nice m31 or m32, I forget, 32long that has that bore constriction issue and I need one more fire lapping session to get that lapped out.
However I have lusted after a m25 for some time.
I did purchase a m29 4" and loaded some 8 gr of unique load.
It has sticky chambers and I need to polish those out.
Somehow I permanently lost the lock parts. Ooopsy.
But it can be loaded to 45Colt recoil levels which I way prefer over 44 mag, hence the 8grs of unique load.
Ohh and, I have a kimber 10mm 1911 and a Dan Wesson 10mm 1911.
But both are rather boring without modern capacity like my other 10mms, the M&P 10mm, Sig xten, Springer xdme, Tanfoglio stock 3 and pf45 large Glock type.
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I purchased a nice 4", pinned 25-5 off of GB a few years ago. When it arrived, I shot it and couldn't hardly hit the target at 25 yards. The largest pin gauge I had was .459" and it fell thru the cylinder. Really wanted a 4" 45, but have no use for one that doesn't shoot
What would you consider good accuracy-----from a Ransom rest?
This has naught to do with .45's---but with .38 Special Wadcutters from a 1950's K-38.
Way back when---I was a lunatic fringe handloader---in search of ultimate accuracy. I'm confident I found it-----with a Ransom rest.
That combination of gun and rest produced ragged one hole groups at 25 yards---call it an inch. Same church and pew, but at 50 yards did the same thing---just a bit larger---maybe an inch and a half.
Long after the rest was gone, and still not with .45's, two different .44 Magnums (Ruger Blackhawk & S&W---6.5" and 8 3/8" respectively) with reduced loads (18.5 grains of 2400 and a 205 grains SWC with a gas check) went into 4" at 100 yards (Seated/two hand hold/with a rest).
Will these guns shoot better than we can? You bet your booties they will!!
Ralph Tremaine
This has naught to do with .45's---but with .38 Special Wadcutters from a 1950's K-38.
Way back when---I was a lunatic fringe handloader---in search of ultimate accuracy. I'm confident I found it-----with a Ransom rest.
That combination of gun and rest produced ragged one hole groups at 25 yards---call it an inch. Same church and pew, but at 50 yards did the same thing---just a bit larger---maybe an inch and a half.
Long after the rest was gone, and still not with .45's, two different .44 Magnums (Ruger Blackhawk & S&W---6.5" and 8 3/8" respectively) with reduced loads (18.5 grains of 2400 and a 205 grains SWC with a gas check) went into 4" at 100 yards (Seated/two hand hold/with a rest).
Will these guns shoot better than we can? You bet your booties they will!!
Ralph Tremaine
