625 classic in 45 Colt will chamber 454 Casull

[stang289]

I am the owner of a very nice 625 classic in 45 Colt, but I have noticed the chambers are cut long enough to accept 454 Casull ammo. I'm not stupid enough to try and fire the 454s in it as I know what would most likely happen. But why do the chambers allow this or is my revolver faulty?

 

[CH4]

Hmmm
Interesting. Curious to see other's comments and experiences.

 

[Snapping Twig]

My 25-7 does as well.

I keep the Casull in a red box and I NEVER take them to the range together.

 

[Paul105]

I am the owner of a very nice 625 classic in 45 Colt, but I have noticed the chambers are cut long enough to accept 454 Casull ammo. I'm not stupid enough to try and fire the 454s in it as I know what would most likely happen. But why do the chambers allow this or is my revolver faulty?

My guess -- oversize throats and heavily crimped ammunition. I think you would be surprised at how many lesser chambered revolvers will chamber the next longer one - as you stated above, DOES NOT MAKE IT OR TO FIRE THE LONGER ROUND.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[stang289]

My guess -- oversize throats and heavily crimped ammunition. I think you would be surprised at how many lesser chambered revolvers will chamber the next longer one - as you stated above, DOES NOT MAKE IT OR TO FIRE THE LONGER ROUND.

FWIW,

Paul

Unfortunately that's not the case as it will chamber fired 454 cases just fine.

 

[G. Freeman]

Your observation is a know fact with the m25. Fortune cookie 45lc has discussed this in his YouTube channel. Keep those 454 casull ammo as far as possible to prevent a mixup.

 

[colt_saa]

I am the owner of a very nice 625 classic in 45 Colt, but I have noticed the chambers are cut long enough to accept 454 Casull ammo. I'm not stupid enough to try and fire the 454s in it as I know what would most likely happen. But why do the chambers allow this or is my revolver faulty?

I own a few Casull 454 revolvers and I own many Model 25/625 revolvers.

It would NEVER ever occur to me to try and see if my Model 25/625s could chamber a 454 Casull round

Since I would never pull the trigger even if it fit in there, why should I bother to try it?

It would be like trying to stuff 357 Magnums into each of my 38 Special revolvers

I just don't get it

Why is it nice/important to know if the wrong cartridge would fit in the revolver ?

 

[Dale53]

Why is it nice/important to know if the wrong cartridge would fit in the revolver ?

Perhaps a good warning to people that just because you can chamber a round does NOT mean you should try to fire a .454 Casull in a .45 Colt cylinder. It could be like having a bomb go off in your hand....

FWIW
Dale53

 

[colt_saa]

Perhaps a good warning to people that just because you can chamber a round does NOT mean you should try to fire a .454 Casull in a .45 Colt cylinder. It could be like having a bomb go off in your hand....

FWIW
Dale53

Dale,
I understand why folks should not fire a cartridge that their firearm is not chambered for

What I do not understand is why someone would even try to see if it fits

In more than 40 years of shooting, it has never occurred to me to see if I could stuff the wrong cartridge into a firearm

I would like to understand what is the desire or need to even try this?

 

[Lou_the_welder]

None of my guns are chambered for 38 shorts - yet. All of my 357's and 9mm' s fire them.
Again. A cartridge not chambered for. But can be used. And in the hands of a "proper" reloader/experimenter. Can be useful as such.
Yes. 454 in a 45 may be careless. But one shouldn't so harshly criticize 'one's ' curiosity. And knowing how potent the cartridges are, understanding and asking questions. I think its quite alright to ask. And dont criticize too harshly.

 

[texmex]

There are so many variations among different brands of 45 Colt ammunition (case length, bullet shape, crimp, etc.) it is not surprising that the chambers are bored into the cylinder to allow for anything to fit. The 454 case was made longer just so this would not happen, but that quite a few years ago and I guess S&W didn't get the memo. There is always the factor of "these are the specs for this revolver and this is the way we have always done it and that is how we will keep doing it". I can imagine that someone years ago called S&W up and complained that they bought a box of some brand of 45 Colt and it would not fit in their revolver so customer service tells production to MAKE SURE THE CHAMBERS LET EVERYTHING FIT. 454 probably didn't exist when that happened. I'm sure there are some Single Action Army revolvers out there that will chamber a 454 or maybe a 1909 S&W or Colt that will. Firing a 454 in one of these will turn it into a parts diagram instantly. Thank you for pointing this out so others will be aware of this potential accident waiting to happen. As others have stated, I would not have even thought of trying a 454 in a 25 or 625. Someone should try this with a 460 Cartridge. Maybe it is long enough to not fit (I hope). Then I can tell my wife that I had to trade my 454 in on a 460 for safety considerations. You have given us another reason to always wear eye protection, check everything and take nothing for granted, take every precaution when shooting

 

[Snapping Twig]

In answer to why someone would even try it, let me explain...

38/357 & 44Spl/mag, there is a defined difference and a magnum will not fit in a Spl.

Knowing that and wondering if the same held true with 45LC (yeah, I said Long Colt) and 454, I tried it. I felt a rush of alarm when the 454 fit in my 45.

Knowing that, I was forewarned and put all my 454 ammo in a red box that NEVER came to the range when I was using the 45.

Not for a hot second did I consider firing the 454 in the 45. I was shocked to see it fit and took appropriate measures to avoid any future issues.

 

[Wrangler Rich]

My Dad found out that his Ruger in 45 Colt would fire my 41 Magnum cartridges, he just couldn't hit what he was aiming at....

 

[Buford57]

It has been well known that the cylinders often early Colt DAs in .38 Long Colt were bored straight through. Neither the .38 Spl or .357 Mag existed at that time, but both will fit and obviously neither should be fired.

I was not previously aware of this situation with the S&W .45s but appreciate the OP bringing it up. I wouldn't have thought of checking.

 

[steelslaver]

In answer to why someone would even try it, let me explain...

38/357 & 44Spl/mag, there is a defined difference and a magnum will not fit in a Spl.

Knowing that and wondering if the same held true with 45LC (yeah, I said Long Colt) and 454, I tried it. I felt a rush of alarm when the 454 fit in my 45.

Knowing that, I was forewarned and put all my 454 ammo in a red box that NEVER came to the range when I was using the 45.

Not for a hot second did I consider firing the 454 in the 45. I was shocked to see it fit and took appropriate measures to avoid any future issues.

In this case a person's curiosity gave them some information that could well prevent a real catastrophe. Knowing it is possible he is taking steps to prevent it. Curiosity can be a goo thing if kept in check by good common sense. Will a 243 case fit in one of my 6mms? No, (case is shorter, but .035 fatter just before the neck) but if they did it would be wise to keep 243 ammo away from my 6mms.

 

[Engineer1911]

A .308 Win cartridge will fit in a .270 Win caliber rifle. Case life is good for one firing. Neither shooter, rifle or bystanders at the range were harmed at the time of firing. I was at a bench three stations from the shooter. The bullet did clear the barrel.

He had ammo and two rifles on his bench at the same time. Lesson learned by all those present.

 

[cmj8591]

Of course I've tried different cartridges in chambers they weren't chambered for just to see what it looks like. 357's in 38's, 44 mags in 44 spl and others. I think it's an informative exercise and illustrates the difference between cartridges and chamberings. We all agree that you should never, ever shoot a 454 Casull in a 625. But what if you did? Would the gun vaporize everyone within a 100' radius? I don't think it would. I think the gun, and the shooter, would survive with little, if any, damage. Any volunteers?

 

[steelslaver]

No, i like my S&W 45 colts. I load some on the warm side, but not 554 warm. Many of mine were made using 44 mag cylinders I reamed to 45 colt so I doubt those will chamber a 454 and i don't have a 454 anyway. Might pick up a 460 at dome point though

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

Dale,

What I do not understand is why someone would even try to see if it fits

In more than 40 years of shooting, it has never occurred to me to see if I could stuff the wrong cartridge into a firearm

I would like to understand what is the desire or need to even try this?

Simple curiosity. Some people have it some don't.
But if you want a real world value to it... If you have something that shoots 454, you might want to know if such a risk exists. If you bring both guns to the range and someone else loads up the the 625 with 454, they could get a nasty surprise. It's good to know if that risk exists. Just common sense really. So now he knows not to bring both to the range and to be especially careful with the ammo. He wouldn't need to, if the 454 didn't fit into the 625. Good that he knows!

 

[shocker]

A .308 Win cartridge will fit in a .270 Win caliber rifle. Case life is good for one firing. Neither shooter, rifle or bystanders at the range were harmed at the time of firing. I was at a bench three stations from the shooter. The bullet did clear the barrel.

I heard the same story from a friend about a family sight in of rifles before deer season. "Dad" who would have been getting up in years chambered a 308 in a 270. Nothing bad happened on the shooter end and the bullet hit the target.