Model 25-5, .45 Colt, Safe Chamber Pressures & Ammo

[SmithNut]

I've searched but cannot find a very old thread about this subject, with Terry Murbach of CorBon contributing. They made a load (believe they still do) that was rated (by them) to run ok in the M25-5 and later versions...

It's a stout load and one of my favorite loads in my M25-9, a 335 grain hard case bullet at 1050 fps. It's getting harder to find it, most places who carry it are generally out of stock.

 

[SmithNut]

Another load to look for is the Bitterroot Valley 300 grain Bear Load.
It's not as stout as the CorBon, but would work well as a general defensive/carry load. It's loaded with what appears to be a Hornady XTP bullet. I do not have any ballistic info, but have shot a fair amount of it and it is a quality round, definitely more powerful than the traditional "cowboy" loads out there.

 

[keithherrington]

My go to 45 Colt load for 625 Mountain Guns and 25-5s is a 250 grain Laser Cast RN FP over 8.5 grains of Unique and a Federal 150 Lg Pistol primer, all wrapped up in a Starline case. In my Mountain Gun it measured 945 fps at 15 ft. I have not chrono'd this load in my 25-5s. Both the 625 and my 25-5s the cylinder throats measure .453". Accuracy is superb in all 625s and 25-5s I've tried it in, far better than any SWC or Keith type bullet I've ever tried in a 45 Colt.
Keith

 

[Arisin Wind]

The 25 and 625 are much stronger than many people realize. Some have been converted to 460 Rowland which is 40,000 psi.

I've shot many 20,000 - 30,000 psi 45 Colt loads in mine and she's held up fine.

 

[Snapping Twig]

That'll be higher than standard SAAMI pressure for the 45 Colt.

9grs/Unique with a 255gr LSWC is +P.

A 270gr LSWC & 7.0grs/Unique is 13.6K PSI, per Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #4.

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All depends on the book you read. Not +P in my books.

In fact, it's the recreation of the original black powder load, the real 45 Colt.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Google " Custom Six Guns " pull down the window and find Linebaughs article on " heavy weight bullets " . The loads that he has fed his 25-5 , 4" speak well for the Smith 45 colt .
I believe what he says and also believe I just don't need to shoot my 25-5 smith that hard . I remind myself that it's a " 45 Colt " , not a " 45 magnum " . I only shoot one cast bullet , H&G 501 . It's Elmers design for the 45 colt . It gives me all I'm looking for .

 

[inspcalahan]

Thanks for the info guys. I settled for some Buffalo Bore rounds topped with 255 gr. hard cast Keith's that should leave the muzzle at around 1000 fps. I was smiling real hard at the 325 gr. HSM Bear Load but their disclaimer says "not suitable for...any S&W revolvers".

That's my normal load for my 25 as well -settled on it after a few emails with Buffalo Bore in regards to their loads. There's some good info on their site as well, about matching loads to guns.

 

[gen3guy]

First of all, congratulations! I love my 4" 25-5. It's the gun that got me hooked on the .45 Colt.

You will get comments that that revolver can handle more pressure than you think it can and that's probably true. Some will also say that the chamber walls are "too thin" to handle stout loads. I'm sitting here with my calipers in my hand and I can tell you that the difference in size between the 25 cylinder and the Blackhawk cylinder is negligible. If anything, the Ruger is a tiny bit smaller. I'm guessing that some of the warnings come from the fact that the frame on the Smith is a little less robust. Just a guess.

Having said all of that nonsense, I must tell you that I pamper my 25-5. My pet load it a 240 gr. LRN behind 8 grains of Unique (or BE_86). This gets me around 830 fps and that suits me just fine. If I want to shoot the hot stuff, I save it for my Ruger or Marlin. That's just me.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

All depends on the book you read. Not +P in my books.

Anything over 14K PSI, for the 45 Colt, in the ANSI/SAAMI standards manual, would be in unofficial "+P" territory. That's the one that matters. These are suitable for any gun produced since WWII in good condition.

Handloader #246 lists a couple loads using RCBS 270gr LSWC with 9.0 & 10.0gr/Unique at 20K PSI or below. Brian Pearce lists the M25/625's as being able to handle these.

He lists loads for the Ruger New Model Blackhawk to 32K CUP.

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Some will also say that the chamber walls are "too thin" to handle stout loads.

The actual metal thickness of the cylinder, at the notch, is .026" on my M25-13 45 Colt.

My 45ACP S&Ws, 325/625s, run .026" to .030" thick at that point. They are rated to shoot standard pressure 45ACP loads, at 21K PSI, or (+P) loads at 23K PSI. I see no reason why the 45 Colt, cylinder or frame, would be any weaker. That's what my full loads max. at in my M25-13.

John Linebaugh lists the M25s as 25K PSI revolvers though he's used higher without issue. He lists the Blackhawks as 34K PSI load revolvers.

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