625 for sure, now what caliber?

[scooter123]

Texas, I don't see any need to be concerned bout the recoil of the 45LC as long as you stay with a load that conforms to it's original specification. That loading will have ballistics that are basically a duplicate of the 45 ACP. BTW, it's my impression that the 45 ACP as issued by the US military was an intentional duplicate of the ballistics of the 45LC because the Army had good experience with that older loading. With the mass of a 625 that means it will shoot only a bit stiffer that 38 spl. in the lighter K frames.

Where you'll have to exercise some caution is with some of the non standard loadings. Buffalo Bore lists a +P 45 LC "Heavy" that pushes a 325 grain bullet to 1325 FPS from a 7.5 inch barrel. Frankly, I don't know how that is even remotely possible from a +P variant of a cartridge that is specified to operate at 14,000 CUP. I suspect that particular load is probably running over 28,000 PSI, which means it's a big bore Magnum and doesn't conform to a true +P specification. In an N frame cylinder bored out to size for a 45 caliber I'm not confident it's a safe load to use. I'll also note that Buffalo Bore specifically states this load is only safe in LARGE frame Rugers and similar revolvers, it's not safe to use in smaller frames.

 

[Ziptar]

I just sold my 45 ACP auto. I like the round but really didn't care for the pistol. I've decided to buy a 625 because I like to shoot revolvers a lot more than autos. I might add that I also reload and I might want to do some IPSC shooting down the road.

The decision now at hand is caliber. I'm totally unfamilar with the 45 Colt caliber and the cost of reloading it. It seems that all of the componets are more expensive. I see people selling 45 ACP fired brass for 5 cents everywhere. 45 Colt fired brass seems non-existant. Also there seems to be many used 45 ACP guns out there and very few 45 Colts.

Is there any advantage to reduced recoil from a 625 and 45 Colt?

Are there any advantages to the 45 Colt caliber? Seems to me it's a resurrected caliber for Cowboy shooters and not much else.

I'm leaning toward 45 ACP unless someone can change my mind. Moon clips and all.

Thanks

Jim

I'm not going to tell you which one to get.

I can help you out the .45 Colt reloading costs and I can tell you that the .45 Colt is good for a whole lot more than Cowboy Shootin'.

.45 Colt Brass exists a plenty from Starline at a good price with Free shipping: Starline Brass - Maker of America's Finest Handgun Brass. Buying them by the thousand:
.45 ACP $0.15 each shipped
.45 Colt $0.17 each shipped

Theres lots of used brass for sale on gun broker but, people pay more for it than they can get it new from Starline for. Why? I have no idea.

I've traded for, picked up at the range, or bought used when I find a deal, many hundreds of used .45 Colt Cases and they do just fine. I've had a handful split but some of my brass is going on many as 12 reloads now. Out of ~2500 cases I'm not sweating a handful of splits.

As for the reloading costs, I cast my own bullets. The bullet is the most expensive part of loaded ammo. I get me lead free from the berm at my club and I am not including the cost of my casting and reloading equipment and brass because its all now paid for itself at least twice.

For my middle of the road loads which uses a 255gr Cast RNFP bullet:

A Winchester WLP primer costs me $0.037 and 8.5 grains of Unique costs me $0.0012 and figure 2 sticks of lube per 1000 bullets cost me $3.30.

That puts my current reloading cost is $0.05 a round, or $52.88 per thousand.

If I was buying 1000 250gr cast bullets from a local source they would run $110.00 per 1000. That would push the reloaded round cost to $0.16 a round or $159.58 per thousand.

By comparison a box of CCI Blazer or Ultramax Cowboy runs $35 a box of 50. Winchester SuperX 255gr Lead RF box of 20 runs $18-$19. The SuperX is the equivalent of my middle of the read loads.

As for versatility, I can load every thing from 140gr round ball "cat sneeze" loads to 350gr "thumpers" that get up in to .45-70 territory.

You wouldn't use thumpers in your 625 though, in a Ruger or a rifle then OK.

For the S&W model 25/625 a nice load would be the 270-SAA (Keith type bullet) over 10gr of Unique. That will give you a ~285 gr bullet @ 1,050 fps with ~20,000 psi.

 

[Sprefix]

My vote is for a .45 Colt and cut it for moon clips. The .45 Colt is incredibly versatile. (Nice input Ziptar!!) The ACP is a venerable defensive caliber also. A re-loader will definitely make out best with the .45 Colt proposition. I shoot 255 grainers at @ 750fps to 340 grainers at @ 1250fps in .45 Colt. My 625-6 Mountain Gun is a gun that will be near the very bottom of my list of getting rid of. My lowly opinion is an ACP belongs in a semi-auto. No offense to the many wheelgun ACP shooters out there. Not a thing in the world wrong with them, just not my cup of Jo. Shoot safely and in good health.

 

[Ziptar]

I forgot to meniton that .45 Colt speed loaders can be had here.

www.bobmacs.com/variantcatalog.htm

 

[jdh]

Find one in 45 Colt and have a 45 ACP cyl fitted then you done have to choose.

 

[Doug M.]

I would be inclined to the 45ACP. I had a 625-6 until it was stolen; easily the best made revolver I had ever handled. The main reason for me is logistics; I am trying to reduce the # of calibers I have to feed. The 45 Colt is a fine and flexible round, but for me does nothing that the ACP would not do. In addition, to really take the LC to its potential requires taking it to places an N frame should not have to tolerate.
You can buy or load a ton of ACP and be able to use it in both autopistols or the revolver, or buy/load some interesting loads in AR brass and be good to go for any purpose anywhere in the US except dangerous game in Alaska.