45 ACPWheel Gun Love It Or Leave It

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Some different primers seem to have a lot harder case especially Winchester. Somewhere in this forum is a reference to a chart showing the different hardness of primers.

Winchester primers are pretty soft. CCIs are very hard.

 

[luangtom]

One of my biggest firearms regrets is getting rid of my 325PD. I kick myself each and every time I see one now. Whadda fool I was....traded it on a black-plastic wonder. Damn, that was dumb.........

 

[brick]

Use 45AR ammo and you don't have to worry about pencils or dowel rods to eject your brass.

 

[Dale53]

My most shot centerfire handguns are a pair of 625's (a 5" 625-6 Model of 1989 and a 4" 625-8 Jerry Miculek Special). Here is the 5":

Here is the 4":

Here is why I especially like these revolvers - standing at 25 yards with the 625-8:

I cast my own bullets and reload - my standard target load is the Mihec version of the #68 H&G 200 gr SWC ahead of 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent (currently Titegroup). My heavy load is an NOE version of the Lyman 454424 (a 250 gr Keith SWC) ahead of 7.0 grs of Unique for a chronographed velocity of 900+ fps. This is a dandy field load:

A terrific varmint or self defense load is the 200 gr Mihec hollow point (from a brass Cramer style mould). This can be safely driven to 1000+fps and will expand to about .80 caliber:

I use the new Rimz Model 25 rigid carbon/polymer full moon clips for most uses with .45 ACP. My favorite case for the range is Starline .45 Auto Rim cases. I also have the tools and use steel full moon clips for serious work.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Maximumbob54]

Dale53,

Those are some outstanding looking loads there.

 

[mwtdvm]

my 325pd is my bedside gun. Has Crimson Trace laser grips. Have a 25-2 that is too nice to shoot so I picked up a shooter several months ago. Then there's the 625's in the safe....
My big hands fit the N frame grips(stocks, whatever)

I guess I like them.

 

[Dale53]

Maximumbob54;
Thanks for the kind words. As the pictures show, this is a MOST versatile revolver (the 25 or 625 series). I prefer the "6" or "8" series because they have the correct cylinder throat dimensions and shoot extremely well. The early Model 25's and the 1917's and Model 22 often had very large throats causing many problems with cast bullets. Any revolver that I own MUST work well with cast bullets...

Dale53

 

[MajorHal]

great write-ups and photos, I enjoyed this thread very much! I know I really enjoy my model 25-2 (M689XXX) 6 inch barrel!

 

[quinn]

I started with a Brazilian that I got from another forum member...looked like it had been drug cross country behind a jeep...but boy could she shoot! That caused me to acquire a 25-2 and then a a US 1917. Love the moon clips as I'm a fumble finger with speed loaders. Now I'm looking for an affordable 625 so I can add a scope.

 

[Warren Sear]

Dumb and dumber

One of my biggest firearms regrets is getting rid of my 325PD. I kick myself each and every time I see one now. Whadda fool I was....traded it on a black-plastic wonder. Damn, that was dumb.........

Sadly, we have all been there...

 

[sodacan]

Two of my favorite revolvers are My S&W model 1917 and my Colt 1917, both .45acp. Both can be shot with or w/o moonclips. Both made in 1918. Very accurate and extremely well made. Really cool to shoot a piece of history.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have a 3", and a 5". They are both excellent shooters.

 

[Bat Guano]

Mine is a Ruger 4 5/8" NM BKH Convertible. Light and handy and a very good shooter. I have 100 new Starline AR cases, so I may get a S&W yet. If a Springfield Armory Commemorative Mountain Gun ever turns up I may just jump on it. (I refuse to own ugly guns.)

 

[snowman.45]

I'm very fond of my 4" 625. I've got some Buffalo Bore 255 gr. hard cast AR @ 1000 fps. that make dandy mountain loads. I need to get some more AR brass so I can try to develop an equivalent.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I bought this 625-8 PC a couple of years ago. I didn't like the feel of the red, white and blue laminated grips it came with so I replaced them with these.

It's very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. I reload 45 Auto Rim, so no moon clips needed!

 

[STCM(SW)]

Better yet is to have one that shoots .45 Colt, .45 ACP/ .45 AR....

With the .45 ACP cylinder it shoots great!

 

[bamabiker]

45 ACP Wheel Gun Love It Or Leave It
I guess I'll love it.

I love the 3" one so much I bought a second one.

 

[DFrame]

I must join the chorus. I have two and wouldn't trade either of them for anything. Too much adoo made of moon clips. They're not that big a deal. I load them at home and unload them in my reloading room with a tool made for the purpose. Neither chore is difficult or time consuming.

 

[fedoff]

I also have just purchased a 25-2 and I can't wait to shoot it. Always love the 45 acp. My first 45 was in the Marines and my second 45 was a S&W 4506. This was my service weapon for the first 15 years on the department. I still have it and have also purchsed a Kimber Ultra CDP II, both are excellent shooters.

 

[gunfan]

I always loved the original 1917 S&W revolver with the rear-end of the cylinder milled off to accommodate the .45 AR cartridge. The ol' .45 ACP is a wonderful round. Loaded to it's maximum potential, it can "stomp someone into a mud hole and stomp him dry."

Scott