Colt .45 Ruger Loads in a Colt .45 Model 25?

johnnyflake

johnnyflake

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I have been trying to track down some information about my question but I have not been able to come up with anything so far.

I am wondering if a Model 25 .45 Colt Mountain Gun can handle what are referred to as .45 Colt Ruger Loads.

I know they say not to use them in the variety of SAA replicas out there but nothing is ever mentioned about the S&W Colt .45 Handguns.

What are your thoughts?
 
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You might want to read John Linebaugh's article on the 25-5. Google is your friend... matter of fact, I think a link to that article has been previously posted in another thread. It might be simpler to search for it on this forum.
 
I have done 21 grains of 2400 behind a 255 grain cast bullet. As a matter of fact I fired a 100 of them through a model 28 cylinder reamed to 45 colt and installed in a 1937 Brazilian. No ill effects. The cylinder will take it. It is actually about the same or a bit less pressure as 21 grains of 2400 behind a 240 in 44 mag due to the bigger case. The cylinder walls are .037 thinner than a model 29 and of course would fail at a pressure lower than a 29. But the frames are getting the same amount of pressure and the frames are exactly the same. If you shoot hot 44 loads in a S&W you will get end shake just like hot loads in a 45 colt.

But, my standard is 19 grains of 2400. Because I am shooting a big heavy bullet why do I need a little extra velocity? The change in trajectory over 100 yards is very minimal. I can't believe a deer or elk would know the difference if hit with a 255 grain .452 at 1100fps over a 2400gr .429 bullet at 1300. Power is fine accuracy is final.

I agree with John Linebaugh

I think the S&W 45 colts get a poor shake. While their frame isn't as massive as a Ruger, they are still way better guns than the factory loads for because the factory 45 have to consider some real old 45s.

Why beat your gun up for a few fps, 44 mag or 45 colt?
 
Doubless said:
You might want to read John Linebaugh's article on the 25-5. Google is your friend... matter of fact, I think a link to that article has been previously posted in another thread. It might be simpler to search for it on this forum.
Click to expand...

I will have to search that article out. It did not come up in the searches I tried. Thanks for the heads-up!

BTW, I do not plan on beating up my beloved Model 25 mountain Gun but I know dam well that it can handle more than factory .45 Colt Loads.
 
If memory serves, the gist of the Linebaugh article was that one doesn't need all that velocity; that a 255 at ~1100 fps would take out just about anything on the face of the earth with the exception of the big bears, and would shoot through five feet of elk. And he had seen it do just that!

No need to beat up a fine revolver; keep it somewhere around 1100-1150 and enjoy that MG!
 
The cylinder might take it OK, but a steady diet is going to stretch the frame. My "newer" M25 mountain gun (with lock) is one of the most accurate 45 Colt revolvers I have.
 
I'm with the boys above...I keep my loads under 25,000 psi (Quickload software is great for this) and have a very accurate and powerful revolver that is not recoil intensive. My MG likes a load of 16.8 grains of 2400 and a 255 grain LSWC...very accurate.
 
Warmer than SAAMI , yes. What most of us consider "Ruger only" loads , no . Of course read the fine print of what a particular source quotes for pressure.

Pre-merger , Accurate Arms limited "RugerL loads to same pressure as their loads for .45acp+P , IIRC 21,500 . This actually would work well in a M25 . Speer for many years assigned 25K for "Ruger" loads. The Starting loads from their "Ruger only" loads would be of intrest for M25 and guns of similar strength.
 
Biggfoot44 said:
Pre-merger , Accurate Arms limited "RugerL loads to same pressure as their loads for .45acp+P , IIRC 21,500 .
Click to expand...

Actually .45 ACP +P is 23,000 PSI. Standard .45 ACP is 21,000 PSI. John Linebaugh runs Ruger only .45 Colt loads to 32,000 PSI.
 
The frame on your mountain gun is the same as the frame on a 629. The cylinder contains the side pressure and the frame back pressure. The frame of either will stretch with too much energy. I think energy is a better indicator of what happens to the frame. A 240 gr 44 mag to 1400 fps is 1045ftlbs. A 255gr 45 Colt at 1300 is only 957ftlbs. That's the energy that the case head is pressed back against the recoil shield as the bullet is pushed down the barrel or longitudinal force on the frame.

The pressure needed to move a 255 gr 45 to 1300 fps is around 30,000 cup 2400 less with H4227 and under 25,000 cup with H110

AA 44 mag 240 gr to 1400 takes about 36,000cup.

A S&W 25 or 625 shooting 255 gr bullets at 1200 (815ftlbs) should do fine especially with H110 instead of 2400. When I have used up all my 2400 that is to powder I may go to and jack up my velocity a bit while keeping my pressures the same. I believe my 3 S&W 45 colts could handle 1300 fps loads, but why? With a 50 yd zero it will drop about 1.5 inches more at 1100 than at 1300. Not that much and a 255 gr. 452 bullet at 1100fps will still plow through lots of bone and tissue.
 
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Until I got my custom SBH in 454, the 45 Colt was my favorite (although I have several 44 mags). If you want more than the 44, go to a OM (larger frame) Ruger. WHY accelerate wear and push the limits when a safe alternative is out there?
 
Some great information here regarding pressures etc.

I truly enjoy my 45 Colt loads in my Smiths with a big
lead bullet and a case full of trail boss.
I will load lead with Unique and still stay relatively mild.
it is just how my old bones enjoy shooting big guns these days.

My friend and I will load the 250 gr. XTP to 1000 f.p.s.
but no more.

I do not handgun hunt. And prize my Smiths in 45,
I will not do anything to accelerate the wear on them
besides normal use.

Regards

Allen
 
I have a 25-9 and those loads are not useful in that revolver. I don't use those in my Blackhawk either. I have no need to deal with the heavy recoil for any purpose in my part of the country. If I had to worry about big carvivores thinking I look like a meal, I would look more at .454, .460 or 500 if a handgun had to be it for some reason. I like 250gr. SWC's at around 900fps for general use.
 
steelslaver said:
The frame on your mountain gun is the same as the frame on a 629. The cylinder contains the side pressure and the frame back pressure. The frame of either will stretch with too much energy. I think energy is a better indicator of what happens to the frame. A 240 gr 44 mag to 1400 fps is 1045ftlbs. A 255gr 45 Colt at 1300 is only 957ftlbs. That's the energy that the case head is pressed back against the recoil shield as the bullet is pushed down the barrel or longitudinal force on the frame.

The pressure needed to move a 255 gr 45 to 1300 fps is around 30,000 cup 2400 less with H4227 and under 25,000 cup with H110

AA 44 mag 240 gr to 1400 takes about 36,000cup.

A S&W 25 or 625 shooting 255 gr bullets at 1200 (815ftlbs) should do fine especially with H110 instead of 2400. When I have used up all my 2400 that is to powder I may go to and jack up my velocity a bit while keeping my pressures the same. I believe my 3 S&W 45 colts could handle 1300 fps loads, but why? With a 50 yd zero it will drop about 1.5 inches more at 1100 than at 1300. Not that much and a 255 gr. 452 bullet at 1100fps will still plow through lots of bone and tissue.
Click to expand...

This is an excellent analysis and something a lot of people don't think about. Velocity and the weight of the projectile are critical factors to consider. Something Mr. Newton understood. The faster you move a given projectile the more stress it will put on the gun, regardless of where the pressure of the load sits with regard to SAAMI specs.

The current craze of super high speed shotgun loads is nutty to me, at least with regard to lead. Aside from good ballistic science showing that it makes negligible difference downrange, it's unnecessarily tough on both the shooter and the gun.
 
Not in my model 25! Standard pressure .45 Colt loads are more fun anyway. If you must, get a Ruger.
 
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