.45 Colt suggestions

[LTC]

I'm new to .45 Colt and looking for advice on your recomended loads for a S&W M25-5. Yes, it has oversized throats. I presently reload 9mm, .38 Spec., .40S&W and .45acp.

I have only ever used Bullseye for all my above stated calibers, but it looks as though it is not recomended for the .45 Colt. I will also be using these reloads in a 1894 Marlin with a 24" barrel.

I'm open to all powder / bullet suggestions.

LTC

 

[Titegroups]

All depends on what you want to do with it.

 

[LTC]

Thightgroups,
Punch paper only. Looking for light accurate loads.

LTC

 

[arjay]

Unique is an old favorite.Do you have a source for bullets that fit the throats?

 

[Dragon88]

200gr cast FP over Unique for a nice plinking load.

250gr cast FP over Unique to replicate the original 250gr/40gr BP load.

Basically Unique is the way to go.

 

[Skip Sackett]

You have the possibility for some real fun with that Marlin and this old caliber, friend. It will be able to eek out all that the Ole 45 is possible of!

I too say use Unique, 8-9.5gr will get you some fun shooting loads with any bullet from 240gr to 280gr. Believe me, that Marlin will take much more than that!

In the revolver you have, softer bullets, faster powders may be the way to go. The softer bullet will be easy to get to obturate and the higher pressure of the faster powders will make more pressure, a win/win in a revolver that has bigger throats.

I would not be afraid to use Bullseye in the 45 Colt. If you go to the Alliant website, you should be able to find some loads for it.

If you can't, send me a PM and I will find some for you.

Hope this helps.

 

[winter1857]

I shoot 8 grains of 231. It burns cleaner for me than Unique. My 25-5 was cut down to 3 inches and ported by an unknown fellow before me. (It has night sights and a WONDERFUL trigger.)

It keyholes pretty badly with the .452 250 grain SWCs that are so accurate in my Ruger Bisley. However it will still keep all shots on a small paper plate at 25 yards. I want to try out some .454 cast bullets eventually.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

For those evil oversize throated revolvers I've had good luck with the Remington 250gr LRN, these are sized at .455 and are available in bulk from Midway. .454 dia bullets will work as well. I use these in one of my 25-5's and my 3rd gen Colt SAA's. My standard load is 7.5 to 8.0 grains of Unique with a standard primer, this duplicates the factory load's. For whatever reason .452 dia jacketed bullets do fairly well in oversize throated revolvers and I've been useing 8.5 grains of Power Pistol,standard primer with the Hornady 250 XTP.

 

[TwoPoundPull]

Food for thought, sent my 25-5 to S&W and they fitted a new cyl. Perfect color match, and now shoots consistant little groups......As for range duty, have had good luck with Trail Boss under 200 grain Laser Cast SWC's and RN FP for that tube fed Marlin.....Used 231 and other faster burning powders but I had "powder placement" issues and inconsistant results.....The TB fills that big case......(But it does smell strange)....And yes, Cast bullets do work well in microgroove bbl's....

 

[OFT II]

I had one with oversized throats back in the '80s. I bought a Lyman 454 mold that threw 255 grain SWCs that measured .455. It helped quite a bit. If you are interested in that mold shoot me a PM. It is a single cavity job. I have no need for it now.

 

[USSR]

With my 25-5, I cast 255 - 270gr SWC's and size them with a .455" sizer. Any powder from Bullseye to IMR4227 will work, depending upon how hard you want to push them.

Don

 

[LTC]

To all who have responded,

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will take all of them into consideration.

LTC

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I load either a 250gr LRN or 255gr LSWC in the .45 Colt. My favorite powder for the 45 Colt is W231. I also get very good ammo using HS-6 or AA#5. If you don't have W231 on hand and do have one or both of the others you cas make good ammo without buying another powder. I kile HS-6 a little better than AA#5 because it's more accurate. But when it comes down to it W231 is still my favorite as it is for most handgun calibers.

My usual load under a 250/255gr bullet is 7.2gr W231. Great load in my revolvers...

 

[amazingflapjack]

I have a similar situation, except that it is a Winchester 94 AE, and a 357 revolver (S) that I can use the same size bullets in, fortunately. I found that the rifle requires a harder lead bullet-17-18 BHN, because the increased barrel length increases the velocity significantly enough that severe leading ocurred in short order when using typical wheel weight (quenched) lead. I like midatlanticbullets.com as they have several sizes and use a 17bhn lead that is hard enough to eliminate leading under 12-1300 FPS, and still soft enough to grab the rifling well. Your rifling may be deeper, but soft lead will foul it. Figure about a 40% gain in velocity over a 6 inch revolver. I use Unique in my 25-5-and keep it pretty close to 8gr's with a 200 gr or heavier bullet. Go safely. Flapjack.

 

[mkk41]

The Smith 25 should not be subjected to any higher pressure loads. Thin cylinder walls , especially at the bolt cut say keep the loads light. I load for a Cimarron SAA , usually genuine black powder or one of the substitutes. But I also have a 25. I'm looking at Trailboss. Made for cowboy-action level loads , it's a bulky powder that fills up in that big case.

 

[Skip Sackett]

mkk41, I have to respectfully disagree. Here is why: Measure a Ruger Redhawk's cylinder diameter. Now, measure a Smith. Same, same. Bolt notches? Okay, I'll give you that. Not sure about the Ruger.

That being said, the Smith 25 -7 that I have will take whatever a M629 Classic will. I have never subjected it to those types of loads but, it will handle right up to that level and not fall apart. Wear out prematurely? Um, yeah, they will do that.

John Linebaugh says that they are designed to handle loads in the 30,000psi range. WAAAAAAYYYYYY above what your SAA will but not near what the Ruger Redhawk will either.

Brian Pearce has a GREAT article in the #246 issue of Handloader Magazine where he uses the RCBS 45-270SAA (cast to weigh 280gr) and three load levels. 14,000psi, 20,000psi and 32,000psi.

I run the 32,000psi loads in my Ruger Blackhawk and Puma rifle. That 280gr bullet out of the rifle gives me 1800fps. Good enough for anything in the lower 48!

The Smith has never, and while John shoots them in his, had that level put to it while I have owned it. Probably never will.

It won't blow up in your hand either way BUT, it will wear prematurely with heavier loads.


FWIW

 

[old tanker]

Lyman 454190 on top of 40 grains of FFFg. Same bullet and 8.5 grains of Unique if you can tolerate a little less accuracy, velocity and smoke.

 

[USSR]

The 25-5 and 25-2 are the same basic revolver in 2 different chamberings. The 25-2 is rated for use with .45 ACP+ ammo at 23k psi, so I use 23k psi as a self-imposed pressure limit for loads with my 25-5. 255gr - 270gr bullets at 1,000+fps is still a pretty impressive load.

Don

 

[JoeHatley]

I have only ever used Bullseye

I use Bullseye for all my handgun loads.

In .45 Colt I use 6.0 grains Bullseye and a 200 grain SWC plated bullet.

Nice soft shooting load that is very accurate in all my .45 colt revolvers.

BTW: In your oversized throats, try a 185 grain hollow based round nose bullet from Berry's Mfg. I think you'll be pleased with the results.

 

[robctwo]

I have shot a lot of 200 gr lswc over 5.7-6.2 Clays. Just loaded up some 6.1 Bullseye with the same bullet. Trail Boss loads nice soft loads as well.