625 JM loads

[Boxer rox]

I'm having some issues with my new 625. I have a thread about it in the new revolver area. Basically the forcing cone is rough. I'm getting leading with coated lead and pretty bad fouling even with jacketed rounds.

I picked up a Sierra manual yesterday at Cabela's. It has a section for 45 acp revolver loads. I thought that was pretty cool. It got me to thinking about my problem. Could I be loading too light for it? I am loading 225 gn lrn and 200 swc both coated with hi Tek coating. I also load 230 fmj from Rocky Mountain reloading. I use Bullseye powder for all my 45 loads. And none of them are overly warm.

If anyone has any experience or advice on loading for this revolver I sure would appreciate your opinion. I really like the gun but it's really fighting me and I want to cover all the bases before I send it back to them. I'm not getting any lead to speak of in the cylinder or barrel, just the forcing cone.

Thanks in advance

 

[ken158]

Your loads are not relevant to a forcing cone problem. Bullseye is a pretty fast powder for a .45 - try Unique or 231. Your selection of bullets are fine.

 

[rockquarry]

If your leading is only in the forcing cone area only, you may be using a bullet that's too large; it gets swaged smaller as it enters the forcing cone and causes leading. Or, the forcing cone may not be as smooth as it should be. I suppose there could also be mechanical problems like cylinder alignment with bore, etc. Hard to diagnose long distance, but I'd bet on an oversized bullet. If the bullet can be pushed through the cylinder throats with only slight resistance, bullet diameter should be okay.

Nothing wrong with Bullseye powder and cast or jacketed bullets in the .45 ACP.

 

[CW3Mike]

5 grains of Bullseye under a 230 grain RN bullet works for me. YMMV

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

For 185, 200, & 230 lead RN or SWC try 5.5 grains of WW231 and WLP primers. I've used this load for around 40 years and been pretty happy with it.Cycles 1911's, Sig 220's, Star PD's and a host of others. It does beautiful things in both my 625 of '89 and my Brazilian Contract 1917!

Ivan

 

[bigggbbruce]

My 625-3 runs clean no leading. BE, HP38, Unique, 800x whatever I choose per published data. But my forcing cone is fine.

 

[growr]

6 grains of Unique and a 230 grain bullet, either cast or FMJ has worked for me since 1985

Randy

 

[Lou_NC]

Why don't you ream the forcing cone to clean it up? As gunsmith jobs go, it's fairly simple, and DIY if you're even modestly mechanically inclined. Brownells has the tools, and the cost will probably be less than $100.

Lou

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you are leading only the forcing cone changing loads and powders won't fix it. It's obvious the fine is the prioblem. It needs to be addressed by a professional or you if you are capable. Smooth out the fine and I think you will be fine.

 

[dmy]

I've used Bullseye, HP-38 / W231, BE-86 and Tight Group with Missouri and Bayou coated and Extreme and Berry's plated bullets without any leading. Mostly load on the light side, but have shot some near max. Bullseye is the most sooty, but the others burn pretty clean. I don't think it is the powder or bullets.

 

[mikld]

In my experience with lead bullets in revolvers the bullet should be the same diameter as the cylinder throats. Any larger and the throat swages the bullet as it passes and often results in lead "spray" on the cylinder face and the frame/forcing cone. Anything smaller barrel leading is likely. Measure the diameter of your bullets, and measure the cylinder throats (for me "drop through", "push through" and "snug or loose" are not measurements). Bullet hardness is also an issue. The revolvers I cast for show very little/no leading, even up to magnum velocities, with a BHN of 10-12, but the bullets fit the guns.

For an answer to just about any cast bullet question ever asked look here; Cast Boolits and a very good text; Cast bullet reference on lead alloy's, min / max pressure, lube, shrinkage,