Heavier loads for 25-5 in 45Colt

[Quantrill]

Just bought a used 25-5, 4inch in 45Colt caliber. Where would be a good place to find reloading info for it? I assume that since there are heavier loads listed for T-Cs, there just might be some proven heavier loads for the 25-5. Just thinking

 

[NYlakesider]

Just bought a used 25-5, 4inch in 45Colt caliber. Where would be a good place to find reloading info for it? I assume that since there are heavier loads listed for T-Cs, there just might be some proven heavier loads for the 25-5. Just thinking

I would be a little careful on heavy loads in that caliber with a Smith, not too much meat left when they bored it out that far.

I have a .45 (25-5) but when I want to shoot heavy I switch to the 44 mag, more meat in those cylinders.

 

[maxfam]

The model 29's get a different heat treatment. Only shoot standard 45 Colt ammo in your revolver or you'll be sorry.

 

[BROWNBESS]

Here's a great article from John Linebaugh on the .45 Colt focusing on the 25-5.
Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5

 

[robertrwalsh]

The Colt Anaconda in .45 was also capable of taking significantly hotter loads than the S&W. If you want a .454 magnum that is what you should have bought. It is a great gun if you feed it as intended. You don't need wimp loads, but you don't want rhino-rollers either.

 

[Snapping Twig]

900 ~ 1000fps is all that's needed.

9g Unique gets you to 900fps with a 255g cast.

 

[Art Doc]

I have never understood why so many people want to hot rod the 45 Colt.

BAD idea in a 25-5. When you bore an N frame cylinder for 45 caliber cartridges the steel under the bolt notches is a mite thin. If a standard 45 Colt won't get it done buy a Magnum revolver.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My go-to load for my 25-5 is 8.5 grs. of Unique behind a cast(.454 dia.) swc.

 

[ADP3]

Look at the cylinder from the rear. Pay attention to how thin the cylinder wall is. Notice the depth of the cylinder bolt cuts. The steel is even thinner there. Now ask yourself if you really want to shoot hot loads in your 25-5. You may get away with it for a while, but sooner or later you are going to regret it. If yo want to shoot hot .45 Colt loads get a Freedom Arms.

Best Regards,
ADP3.

 

[keithherrington]

My go-to load for my 25-5 is 8.5 grs. of Unique behind a cast(.454 dia.) swc.

Agree completely. 8.5 grains of Unique with a 255 bullet is a perfect combination, but I use the RN flat point. I find it more accurate, loads faster due to its rounded profile and kills just as quickly. 4-5" groups at 100 yards from my 625-5 is common, and when sighted in for 50 yards, drops only 6" at 100.

Keith

 

[Art Doc]

If you can find Unique which I haven't for two years.

 

[serger]

SaxonPig,

Here is a link to a powder peddler in Texas with Unique for sale:

Lohman Arms Company

FWIW, I use Unique in my 25-7 and run 10 grains of it with a 255 grain tumble lubed Lee semi-wad cutter.

Unique seems to put out velocities of 100 feet per second/grain of powder with the 255 grain lead bullet in 45 Colt.

 

[Drm50]

I go with 8.5gr Unique / 255 RNFP Ideal in all my 45 Colt DA
revolvers. I don't have Anaconda, but if I want to shoot barn
burners I go to 44mag. Even then not in my 29s, why beat up
a precision piece.

 

[sw282]

l have a SW 25-3 in 45 Colt.. My most accurate handgun and not hot loaded.. IF l want HOT HOT HOT in 45 l have a SW 460 MAG PC HUNTER... lt has all the HOT l need

 

[gen3guy]

IMHO there is nothing more fun to shoot than standard velocity .45 Colt loads. Unique is may favorite powder. Yes it is hard to find these days so I'm looking in to Titegroup and BE-86 as an alternative. I get around 825 fps with 8 grains of Unique behind a 250 grain lead FP. I bump it up to 8.5 for 250 grain JHP. I've had good luck with Accurate #7 and Blue Dot for hotter loads, which I usually only shoot out of a Marlin lever gun. I never shoot hotter loads in my 25-5. It might be able to take more than the standard loads, but I would never forgive myself if I broke that revolver.

 

[Jack Flash]

At a gunshow some years back, a man had a blown apart S&W on display on his table. The top strap had let go at the rear and was grotesquely folded up over the barrel. The cylinder had a completely blown out chamber. IIRC, the outer walls of the adjacent chambers had peeled back as well. I stopped to ask him about it.

Turns out, it was a S&W in .45 Colt. He had loaded up some Ruger-Only loads for a Ruger he had, and somehow, some way, one of these cartridges made its way into the S&W. The result was on display as a warning to all.

I know some will say he was just careless and that could not happen to them. Personally, I would rather not have cartridges around that could change one of my guns into a hand grenade.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Standard 45 Colt loads are so BORING!

There's a well documented "gray area" between boring & Ruger-only that works safely. That's where I handload my M25-13.

.

Here's a couple resources for you Quantrill:

"Reloading Lipsey's Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt +P test & loads - Handloader #275" has some good data for loads up to 23K psi.

"Cast 270gr loads for the 45 Colt +P - Handloader #246" has some 20K psi loads.

"Sixguns & Bears 45 Colt - Handloader #283" has some data for loads up to 23K psi.

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