Need Advice - Model 25 - which 45LC cast bullet?

I have two loads that I use in 25-5s. I have 83/8” & 6” non pinned and 6” pinned.
Cast at 20:1 lead / Tin, that is pretty soft.
(1) 250 / 255 gr RnFp, original type bullet, 9.0 grains Unique. V 875 FPS
(2) 237gr Lyman Button Nose WC, 12.0gr Win 630, V 750fps. (Win 630 is obsolete but I got a lot of it, cheap )
All sized to 454”. Size will depend on individual gun.
I’ve tried several Kieth Style bullets, including RCBS 270gr. For all around use in my opinion the old original type RNFP bullet is hard to beat. I don’t like to shoot hot and heavy loads in DA revolvers. I would shoot nothing larger than a deer.
 
oldvette said:
I plan to acquire a Model 25-5 or newer in the near future. I assume this will have the .451 barrel, and I was wondering which bullet I should work with?

My primary interest is target shooting using "reasonable" loads. I am not interested in comparing the Model 25 experience with my Model 29!

Right now, I cast 230 grain Lee bullets for my 1911 ACP using a 2-cavity mold. I have since started to use the 6 cavity TL Lee molds for my other caliber castings - what a time saver! I would most likely buy the 6-cavity TL452-xxx mold for the bullet I select for the Model 25-X, perhaps to include a new 230 6 hole mold if that's the best bullet.

What kind of advice can I get from this group?

Thanks in advance.

Jack
Click to expand...


Jack,

Define “Target shooting”? Are you talking tin cans and paper plates? Or are you talking competitive Bullseye competitions? It makes a huge difference.

Others have commented on the large throats some of the Model 25-5s had. Since you plan to cast your own, that really does not matter. Choose an appropriate mold and size for your throats. (An appropriate mold might not be from Lee as they do not readily cut molds to the diameter you specify.)

If you are a hunter or paper plate shooter, I would suggest a 255-260 grain bullet and the charge of Unique mentioned above. I used the Lee 255 SWC bullet and Unique to harvest quite a few white tailed deer when I was hunting.

If a lighter bullet is preferred, the Lyman 452423, or copy of it, is another good one. My mold drops them at .454 and 235 grains. These work great in my 45 ACP revolvers but I have not tried them in my Model 25-5.

Feeling nostalgic, the 260 grain RNFP is a good one and offered by many mold makers.

I can not comment on the light weight bullets, I have not used them.

Check out the offerings from Accurate, NOE, Mihec and other semi custom makers. They are perfection and not that much more in cost.

Kevin
 
The two Lee bullet moulds I was referring to in my post(post #16) :
Lee 452-200-RF ( #90234 / 90697)
Lee 452-252-SWC ( #90356 / no 6-cavity)
Are both conventional lubricated bullets with a crimping groove and not tumble lube design .
I'm not a big fan of tumble lubrication designed bullets ...

The custom moulds are really nice , I'm partial to NOE moulds , I'm a tightwad and hate to spend money but the NOE moulds are worth every penny... treat yourself to a nice NOE 4 cavity .
I like 3 cavity NOE's because at 72 my hand strength isn't great but the 4 cavity is a good value .
Gary
 
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StrawHat said:
Jack,

Define “Target shooting”? Are you talking tin cans and paper plates? Or are you talking competitive Bullseye competitions? It makes a huge difference.
Click to expand...

I certainly am learning about lots of accumulated knowledge from this thread. I am glad I asked for the experiences of others before making my decisions and potentially jumping the gun (pun intended).

I am most interested in paper bullseye shooting using an NRA-type scoring target. I guess that would point to competition shooting, rather than plinking. I zero all my adjustable sight guns at the 6-o'clock position as best I can from rest, then off-hand. I adjust the aim points accordingly for the non-adjustable models such as the Model 10. I particularly enjoy shooting my Model 52 using the 2.7 Bullseye load under the Lee 148 TL wadcutter.

I would most likely select the same diameter bullet(s) available from one of the recognized commercial dealers such as Berry and Missouri. I will probably purchase a Lee mold(s) in 200, 250 or 255 grains to match that specification, rather than worrying about one of the "loose" Model 25's performing best using .454 or > diameters requiring lots of workup time. My gun club is an 80-mile round trip to make new reloads for workup testing. My initial workups would most likely use "pet" loads obtained from this forum as a startiing point.

I was not aware of the diameter differential until I started to get responses to my query. I've also learned the more classic pinned 6" Model 25's go for perhaps double the asking/selling prices using GB as a reference versus the 6-1/2" models - strange, but I am sure there is a collectable-related reasoning behind this - perhaps the attention to finish? None of my weapons are safe queens - I like to shoot 'em all!

I primarily prefer and seek out S&W firearms in new or near-new condition for my collection, but I do have some Rugers and Colts. To date, no 45 LC's in my collection. Selecting the 452 diameter bullet(s) would allow standardization with flexibility to use all ammunition - reloaded and factory ammo - in other (future) 45 LC pistols possibly from different manufacturers.

I decided it was best to settle the ammo reloading questions simultaneously while searching for the needed 550 dies, brass and best powder selections (another story, I am learning) in and during this time of limited availabilty and order waiting time for just about everything related to our hobby.

By the way, Powder Valley just received a 45 LC brass shipment after waiting since March from Starline - I was lucky and ordered 200 rounds last night. I had been checking twice daily for 4 weeks before making the unexpected hit. Fortunately, I have a stash of CCI LPP's obtained during the Clinton years' shortages, along with several lbs. of Unique. All I need are the bullets and caliber conversion kit to get moving, not including the Model 25.

I appreciate all the reponses from forum members. If there is anything else pertinent to my acquisition I should know about - firearm or reloading related, please pass it along for everyone's benefit. This certainly is an efficient way to "go to school" before making a significant purchase while using the best, and most complete information available to us.

Jack
 
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oger said:
I carry a .451 copper jacket bullet in my pocket at gun shows. If it falls through the throat I pass on the pistol.
Click to expand...

I've tried this though don't remember the outcome, but I would guess a .451" jacketed or cast bullet would fall through some, maybe many .45 ACP/ Auto Rim chamber throats and all .45 Colt chamber throats. I use .452" cast bullets because they are more accurate than .451" cast in .45 ACP/ Auto Rim and a minimum of .454" in .45 Colt.

Jacketed bullet are pretty forgiving of bullet diameter and I suspect .451" jacketed should work well in revolver chamber throats like they do in semi-autos, but I seldom shoot jacketed bullets in any handgun and can't confirm this.
 
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Well, I've had excellent results in both 45acp (revolvers and semi-automatic pistols) & 45 Colt with the MBC 200gr IPD #4 HiTech bullets. Can be loaded from mild to WILD...

CHEERS!
 
I had a beautiful 25-5 once upon a time. The size of the throats were all over the map, one being .456 or .457. Best groups I could get were by casting a .454 Keith bullet with 20:1 lead to tin. 25 yard groups at least stayed on the target. Sold it in disgust.
 
The older 25s can be a challenge! My 25-2 has large throats. With the right bullet, it can shoot better than I can hold. I've had luck with .454s with a LONG bearing surface. I was also pleasantly surprised by some coated round nose .452 230s a local caster offers. The profile of the bullets was more blunt than one normally sees, with a longer shank.
 
Model 25's & pre 25's have been known for oversize throats in both LC & ACP versions . Cast bullets size to throats . Factory swaged lead w/ conical base used to be a cheap effective solution at std of original BP performance 255gr @ 900fps . Original gov't specs had to be able to kill a horse @ 100yds IIRC . Plenty for everyday walkaround use . The Keith bullet @ 1000 is about as much as I want , IMHO get a Ruger if you want more out the old gal .
 
When I bought my 25-5 I was unaware of the poor chamber throats. There were a few at
.456/.457.
I sent it to S&W which replaced the out of spec cylinder. Unfortunately they charged me $200.00 instead of being good for their poor cylinder quality. fwiw

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
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