45 ACP Pistol Versus Revolver Loads

[N5XTH]

I am in the process of getting a SW Model 625. Just curious if there is a difference between loads from a 1911 to a Revolver. I would think not, but am curious if anyone has experienced the two. I plan on shooting a 185 SWC over Bullseye.

Thanks in advance.

 

[old&slow]

Since you are in the competition section. What kind of competition are you planning?
Is there a 'power factor' requirement like USPSA ? Or enough power needed to punch a hole into a paper target at 50 foot ?

If major power factor, bullet weight x velocity = 165,000 for USPSA. I prefer a 230 gr bullet @ 750+ fps. It seems to have less felt recoil ( at least to me ) than a 185 gr @ 930 fps.

If it's paper punching ,, what ever is accurate in your gun and has enough power to get to the target..
Don't quote me , and check your reloading manual. But if I remember right a 200 gr SWC with about 3.5 grs. of bullseye was a common 1911 paper punching round many years ago.

 

[N5XTH]

Sorry I failed to mention that this was for Bullseye competitions.

 

[tomcatt51]

Just curious if there is a difference between loads from a 1911 to a Revolver.

With light bullseye type loads you probably won't load much differently but 625s have idiosyncrasies.

625-8s have undersized chambers. Brass fired in a semi-auto will frequently be too swelled just above the extractor groove to chamber even after resizing unless you use a Lee resizing die or (worst case) a Lee U (undersize) sizing die. You'll probably want to keep revolver and semi-auto brass separate. Having the chambers reamed (saami spec finish reamer) is almost a must on most 625-8s.

 

[growr]

I replicate 230 hardball and use the same ammo in any of my 1911's or my 25-2...no need to sort which is for revolver and which is for auto loaders...

I do NOT have the problem tomcatt51 mentions at all...using a set of Dillon dies in my 550.

Moon clipped .45 acp reloads drop right into my 25-2 just like it is supposed to....I shoot it in USPSA matches frequently with NO issues at all.

Randy

 

[old&slow]

Brass fired in a semi-auto will frequently be too swelled just above the extractor groove

Some of my bucket of 45 acp brass, probably dates back to Sgt. York. So, I use a Dillon 45 ACP gage to check the ammo I load in the moon clips for the 625 / 25.
It's not much fun to have the moon clip stick half way into the cylinder during a reload in the middle of a USPSA stage..

Recently I purchased a Lee Bulge Buster sizing die set-up. Running all my brass thru the Lee die on my single stage before I reload it on my progressive is a pain.. But the drop out rate is about 0 now ,, rather than about 20% - 25% ..

 

[tomcatt51]

...my 25-2...no need to sort which is for revolver and which is for auto loaders...

I do NOT have the problem tomcatt51 mentions at all...using a set of Dillon dies in my 550.

Moon clipped .45 acp reloads drop right into my 25-2 just like it is supposed to....

SO WHAT???

The OP asked about a 625. 625-8s have undersize chamber issues. 625-2s had undersize chamber issues so bad S&W actually fessed up and was replacing cylinders. Try a saami spec reamer in your 25-2. I'll bet it rattles around.

 

[Cruizer Bill]

Bullseye Loads

I shoot bullseye with revolvers all the time. I normally shoot a Model 625-6 and the gun is superbly accurate. For the 50-yard line I shoot 4.2 Bullseye and a 185 Lead SWC. 5.0 of Win 231 is also a good load, as is 4.1 of Clays.

For the 25-yard line you can cut it WAY back. Use 3.5 of Bullseye and the 185 Lead SWC or 4.0 of Win 231.

Some guns have bad cylinders, especially the old Model 25s. I have found the H&G 78 bullet shoots great in these guns. I also have a 625-2 with oversize cylinders and the HG78 on top of 4.0 Bullseye shoots into the 10-ring at 50 yards.
I can give you the name and phone number/email of a commercial source of the HG78's. They weigh 212 grains.

I have another wonderful bullet I shoot bullseye with! It is a 185 grain FULL WADCUTTER a local fellow designed and casts for us. It cuts the biggest holes you've ever seen. So big, in fact, the holes are bigger than the plastic overlays! Shoot this on top of 4.0 of Win 231 and it shoots cloverleafs at 25 yards!

BTW, the more rounds I put through my 625 the easier it is to clean and the better it shoots! I have about 50,000 rounds through my 625-6 and it shoots better now than 5 years ago and almost no leading at all any more!

 

[one eye joe]

ANY .45ACP LOAD THAT WORKED IN YOUR 1911, WILL WORK IN YOUR REVOLVER CHAMBERED IN .45ACP. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO FIND A LIGHTER LOAD THAT IS MORE ACCURATE FOR PAPER PUNCHING, AND STRETCH YOUR POWDER SUPPLY A BIT……..