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

[Beemer-mark]

Some good analysis here. I have a custom Ruger BH, a MG and some SAA and some SAA clones. I've loaded the BH hot just for the heck of it and it ain't pleasant. One thing that most reloaders don't think about is that there is a lot of variability in reloading. No matter how careful or precise you are it's possible to get a load that is a lot hotter than what you think it is. So when you start pushing 45 colt to 44 mag levels (which I think a Ruger can take) what happens when the load is maybe 10~30% hotter than you think.

I love the Taffin & Linebaugh articles. I have and love Taffin's books. But I think they both have blown up a few guns in their lifetimes.

 

[David R]

Year, 1990. I stopped in a gun shop on my way to somewhere else. In the case was a S&W 45 colt revolver. Matt black solid cylinder, Laser engraved "Model of 1989". I bought it. Before I took it home, I measured the top strap and other parts of a model 29 frame to see if they were the same.

I had intentions of hunting with this gun. Took it home and loaded regular 45 colt and some hot ones. I put a clamp on scope mount on it.

The first time I fired one of those hot loads practicing, I took out one lens of my glasses and cut my nose with the scope.

I used that gun for a couple years to hunt. I did not fire any more of those nose hot loads, just carried them in the gun to hunt. I never shot a deer with that gun. I still have the box of hot loads and probably always will.

Now I have a Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 mag for deer hunting and use the model 25 as a comfortable shooter with 900 fps bullets only. The scope has been off since that first two years. I like that gun much better with no scope. I also shoot Hunters Silhouette and use it as my iron sight gun.

Looking at the cylinder where the stop goes in, its awfully thin there.

Its still as tight as new and I have fired that gun a LOT. Not even a box of 50 of those HOT ones.

Enjoy your gun no matter how you use it. Please be safe, and smarter than I was.

David

 

[Yorkie Man]

I use 10.0 grains of HS-6 with the Lyman 250 SWC out of my 4" 25-5 and I chronographed it at 1000 fps. The recoil is not too bad. I have a 2' long box in my garage that is filled with sand with an old bullet proof vest in the back that I use to test loads before I load up any quantity. The only bullets that ever make it close to the vest are the 45 colt and auto loads at 750-800 fps. The 1000 fps 45 colt loads come to rest against the vest so in my opinion you don't need much more than that for general purposes. I like to shoot the 750 fps loads simply because they are easier on me and i don't need the extra power to target practice with.

Mike

 

[steelslaver]

While I don't believe a lot of velocity is needed I do like mine hotter than factory. A factory 45 Colt is around 14,000psi, and 850fps. That's a waste in a S&W colt. The factory 45 ACP is around 21,000psi and a 45 ACP +P around 23,000psi. The frames of the S&W ACP and Colts are the same, the cylinders have the same diameter holes. Explain to me why the ACP is fine at 23,000 and the Colt isn't. The frames are the same as the 44 mags and they take more energy than either. I fail to see a problem with running a S&W 45 Colt in the low 20s. If you don't take advantage of that big case why not just run an ACP with mild loads? I am not knocking those who only run factory pressures for recoil reasons. But, I believe that these guns have more to offer if you want it, I just wouldn't go to the top Ruger loadings more like the bottom of their loadings.
Once my 2400 is gone, If I can get 8# of H110 I will go to around 1200fps and have the same pressures. All my 45s have been cut to run 45acps as well as colts. I mostly fire ACPs. (45 shorts LOL) The Colts rounds I fire are with hunting in mind. I don't change the sights as I want more range with the Colts and the difference isn't that much anyway and I have learned what it is.

If you are using modern brass, trimming, sizing bullets, properly adjusting dies, and have a measure that throws very consistent why would you get some loads that are 10-30% over? a 23,000psi colt load would be 25,300-29,600psi. A 45ACP load would be more apt to cause problems because of its smaller case. Same result with a 36000psi 44 mag would be 39,600 to 46,800. If you can't load a warm colt you best not be loading any 45 ACPs or 44 mags.

 

[992B]

I have been experimenting with an early 25-5 4" trying to improve accuracy. It didn't match my Ruger SA's, my opinion. So far the most accurate load tried is a 200gr RNFP being pushed by 9.0 Unique and ignited by Remington large pistol primers. Bullet diameter is .453-.454. The heavier cast bullets with lighter charges give so-so accuracy in my gun.

 

[steelslaver]

I have been experimenting with an early 25-5 4" trying to improve accuracy. It didn't match my Ruger SA's, my opinion. So far the most accurate load tried is a 200gr RNFP being pushed by 9.0 Unique and ignited by Remington large pistol primers. Bullet diameter is .453-.454. The heavier cast bullets with lighter charges give so-so accuracy in my gun.

Have you checked your cylinder. I have heard some early ones were over .456. All my guns now run reamed out 44 mag cylinders so I could get what I wanted, but 2 started life as ACPs and one was originally a 629. so all mine have .452 chamber throats. I had to refit the barrels so they all had the forcing cones recut too.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Opps , my bad on recall of the specific PSI number from first of fat Accurate Manuals , but primary point was the linkage to .45acp pressures.

There are multiple factors in determining suitable pressure ranges. We could go full angles on pinhead with pressure curves and acceleration rates , but for rule of thumb for developing endshake , and battering of internal parts , I mentally think in terms of G Forces , and will further mentally equate more directly with momemtum than kinetic energy.

As noted in that regard, a M25 would be substantally similar to a M29 . BUT , in my interpetation , that's not the limiting factor with a M25 , it's the bolt notch.

Rather than speaking on a particular number , I will make a comparison to a well known class of revolver : Recent production , correctly dimentioned , modern steel SAA clones. Whatever number you assign to those , *to me* would also be good for a M25 .
While I don't have the privledge of owning a M25 , I do have havored loads at this level , and a few more directions to eventually try.

Depending on the individual gun , this will put a 250-260 to low to mid 1000's . This is a useful level of load. If the only big bore revolver I owned was one of this type , I might convince myself to work up another 75-100fps , but having both large frame Rugers , and .44's I don't feel the need.

 

[Brassaddict]

Mine went wrong

I know it a long time after post started and I probably should start another one.I'll just say I exploded mine with a handload. I will never really know what happened.The way I weigh each load leans me away from double loaded,which most people think happened.I think other issues accured.Just be safe always