25-5 and later .45 Colt cylinder throat size ?

[fortyshooter]

If you were looking at the older versions of this revolver which years of production had the .4515- .452 throat size to shoot cast lead bullets?
I have read anything after 1982 is good.

Have an itch to get one of these at some point and like the 4 inch barreled version best.

 

[rockquarry]

As late as you can find, especially if you're going to be shooting factory ammo, cast or jacketed.

However, the oversized throat guns work fine if you're a bullet caster or have access to bullets of varying diameters and alloys. A .454" bullet that will obturate will be accurate in a gun with oversized throats. I have an early gun that I bought new about forty years ago. It will also do well with .456" or .457" bullets and these don't have to obturate for a good fit. Use soft bullets.

 

[andy52]

This is a 25-7 I picked up at a estate sale about 4 months ago all six chambers are exactly .452.

 

[BigMuddy]

A good rule of thumb is to look for non-pinned barrels for M-25’s.

Dan

 

[fortyshooter]

This is a 25-7 I picked up at a estate sale about 4 months ago all six chambers are exactly .452.

Now the finish on that one is it a matte blue or black. Did all of the -7 models have the non fluted cylinder and matte finish.

I like the look of the classic gloss blue finish and the fluted cylinders.

 

[Doug M.]

No, that's a specific variant of which just over 2000 or so were made in 25-7 and 25-9. 5" barrel is one of the cues. Although it is not consistent with my general fiscal plans at this moment to buy any firearms, I would seriously consider a violation for that version. Only related problem is that I have no ammo for one, which would be a nasty problem to cure right now.

 

[andy52]

No, that's a specific variant of which just over 2000 or so were made in 25-7 and 25-9. 5" barrel is one of the cues. Although it is not consistent with my general fiscal plans at this moment to buy any firearms, I would seriously consider a violation for that version. Only related problem is that I have no ammo for one, which would be a nasty problem to cure right now.

That one came up in a estate sale and I just had to have it I was hoping to get it for under 1k but had to go slightly higher then that to get it. But as you said they didn't make many of that type.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My grail gun - a nice Forum member solved my problem a few years ago - the elk stocks come from bgmntmn on this Forum - I can't remember who sold me the gun:

 

[Doug M.]

I am certain I will have to pay more than is smart.

 

[StrawHat]

I will confirm that cast bullet reloads shoot well in the Model 25-5. My cast bullet reloads of a 260 grain SWC over a normal charge of Unigue accounted for several Ohio white tailed deer. Same bullet over a full case of black powder accounted for a bunch more.

Kevin

 

[fortyshooter]

That one came up in a estate sale and I just had to have it I was hoping to get it for under 1k but had to go slightly higher then that to get it. But as you said they didn't make many of that type.

That is a nice one! Were those stronger than the standard 25-5 with the non fluted cylinder and anything else special about them.

 

[Jason Demond]

If you were looking at the older versions of this revolver which years of production had the .4515- .452 throat size to shoot cast lead bullets?
I have read anything after 1982 is good.

Have an itch to get one of these at some point and like the 4 inch barreled version best.

There is no reason to fear the guns with the larger chamber throats. You can mitigate any perceived loss in accuracy by using correctly sized bullets. Which you can still buy, or manufacture yourself.

 

[ameridaddy]

I have an 8-3/8" 25-5 w/big throats, and a 6" 25-9 that measures a consistent .452" all six throats. Both have some thread choke, 25-5 has .0006" thread choke, 25-9 has .0004" thread choke.

Another advantage of my 25-9, and probably all 25-9's besides correct throats, is it has a longer, thicker, deeper cylinder stop, which has to help stave off wear and keep lock-up tight for a longer time using those big, heavy bullets.

 

[andy52]

That is a nice one! Were those stronger than the standard 25-5 with the non fluted cylinder and anything else special about them.

From what I've gathered when reloading for the 25-7 there are no recommendations for loads hotter then any other 25. So I haven't pushed my reloads into the area of a Contender or Blackhawk. I've taken it to maximum standard loads without issue and those are a handful.
I mainly bought the 25-7 because of the low production numbers and I didn't own a .45 colt.
About the only difference in the 25s is the unfluted cylinder and the mat finish, why S&W decided to make them this way is probably for sales reasons like the model 29 classic hunter models.

 

[steelslaver]

The flutes are not over a chamber so they have no effect on strength. The weakest part of the chamber is the thin outside wall especially where the cylinder stop notch is.

I load some of my 45 colts past the standards set because there are still lost of old guns around. But, not Ruger/Contender hot. A 255gr slug moving along at 1000fps is more than enough for anything I plan to shoot at and hit within say 100 yds.

I contend that if you shoot an elk, which is a fairly heavy muscular animal, 100 yds away in the same spot with 255gr .452 bullet with a MV of 1000fps and a 240 gr .429 bullet that had a MV of 1350fps. Your going to get the same results. Another 100fps or so on the 45 colt won't change much.

Trajectory
With either a 240 gr .429 or a 255 gr .452 pistol bullet your ballistic coefficient basically sucks about the same. LOL. The change in trajectory at any kind of reasonable handgun range by adding 300fps isn't enough to make any kind of difference to anyone who is proficient enough to be shooting game at that range.

Oh and if you get a big throat 45 colt you can always do like I do and have a 44 mag cylinder reamed to 45 colt.

A pinned and RECESSED 5" 45 colt 25-5

 

[bananaman]

This is a 25-7 I picked up at a estate sale about 4 months ago all six chambers are exactly .452.

Nice, on the top of my want list! Bob

 

[1911-10MM]

Hello
I got my -5 a couple of years ago, mfg. date is early 1981.
All throats sized at .452.
Guns condition is outstanding. Came with the original Target Stocks, I put the combats on.

 

[DR505]

These .45 Colts all shoot rather well at .452" - A 6" 25-9, a 4" 25-9, and a 625-7 Mountain gun:

 

[fortyshooter]

I have other .45 Colt 6 shooters for the heavy loads like a Ruger Alaskan and a Bisley Blackhawk. But just have an itch for a really nice 25-? 45 Colt with 4 inch barrel. Have an eye on a couple right now.

 

[CH4]

That one came up in a estate sale and I just had to have it I was hoping to get it for under 1k but had to go slightly higher then that to get it. But as you said they didn't make many of that type.

I found my 25-9 at gun show last December in Reno. The optimistic seller had $1600 on her; I waited until late Sunday and he gave her up for an even grand. Of the nearly 2000 25-7s and -9s, there are estimated to be much fewer of the latter; I’ve heard less than a couple hundred. There are subtle differences between the two variant’s markings and the -9 has the endurance package. She came with the factory Hogue grips but no box. Her throats all measure at .452, same as my 625-6 MG .45 Colt