Yes - I have a pre-26 with 6.5" barrel. Mine likes jacketed ammo and shoots like a guided missile, at least it did for me until my Parkinson's started affecting my shooting. Recoil is not bad using 230 grain ball ammo.
Pre 26 model 1950 Finally-range results
- Thread starter Jebus35745
- Start date
Yes - I have a pre-26 with 6.5" barrel. Mine likes jacketed ammo and shoots like a guided missile, at least it did for me until my Parkinson's started affecting my shooting. Recoil is not bad using 230 grain ball ammo.
Better than buying via online auction and being outbid by $50-100!
Or, duking it out $50 to $100 a bid...."Just one more!"
Haha, fortunately I don't drink enough to get into that foolishness!
Seriously, Larry, that's one nice 1950 target .45!
The old ones I've personally seen generally have cylinder throats .001-.002" over bore diameter. Perfect for cast bullet accuracy!
These guns were built specifically for 2700 Bullseye match shooting.
They pose some unique challenges for accuracy-minded handloaders, but there's a few tricks to get the most out of them. This, and the 1955 target .45 are the only target revolvers made by S&W that have a sharp headspacing shoulder in each chamber, rather than the more funnel-like shoulder as used with rimmed cartridges!
Here's some of my tricks:
-Besides measuring the cylinder throats, measure the chamber depths (from cylinder breech to the sharp shoulder for casemouth headspacing) and add that to the headspacing gap between the firing pin bushing and the breechface of the cylinder. That's your maximum case length. Your brass needs to be close to that by a few thousandths of an inch. The more consistent, the better.
-Often, 45 auto rim brass is a little too short. Check and sort! You definitely don't want an excessive gap between the casemouth and that sharp shoulder in the chamber. Your accuracy will suffer when the bullet gets shaved!
-If you use (half) moon clips, flatten them out and thin them by lapping them with sandpaper laying on a dead flat surface. Those clips are for ejecting the brass. If used for headspacing, accuracy will suffer, especially if they are not perfectly flat.
If you do use ACP, and don't mind plucking out each empty one by one, so long as your case length matches the chamber/headspacing you'll get fine accuracy w/o the clips.
-Another approach with brass for best accuracy is to use trimmed-down 45 Colt brass. You trim it to within a couple thousandths less than the headspacing figure determined in the first step.
The loaded ammo with this brass headspaces off of the casemouth not the rim!!! In fact, you will notice an odd looking gap between the rim and the cylinder breech. That's OK! The rim is for ejection only.
If you're using cast bullets specifically sized to your cylinder throats, this method will get the driving band perfectly centered with the cylinder throats. With a SWC, you may need to give them a little press to fully seat them in the chamber. There is zero gap between the casemouth and the headspacing shoulder in the chamber.
With a good, quality target load you will be amazed at the accuracy!!
With sloppy handloading technique, be warned that my methods might give you problems. Oversized, crooked, or canted bullets won't shoot accurately and may cause the casehead to bind on the recoil shield. If your sizing die is undersized to where there is a bulge in your loaded ammo equal to where the bullet base is, you may experience problems. Also, lead shavings around the casemouth from sloppy bullet seating and/or crimping will definitely cause trouble.
I think this is what led to S&W opening up their cylinder throats and deepening the chamber cuts on the later 25-2. They probably got tired of inattentive handloaders complaining about malfunctions with their finely fitted target revolvers when the real problem was their ammo.
These are great guns that can shoot amazingly well.
Enjoy!!
The old ones I've personally seen generally have cylinder throats .001-.002" over bore diameter. Perfect for cast bullet accuracy!
These guns were built specifically for 2700 Bullseye match shooting.
They pose some unique challenges for accuracy-minded handloaders, but there's a few tricks to get the most out of them. This, and the 1955 target .45 are the only target revolvers made by S&W that have a sharp headspacing shoulder in each chamber, rather than the more funnel-like shoulder as used with rimmed cartridges!
Here's some of my tricks:
-Besides measuring the cylinder throats, measure the chamber depths (from cylinder breech to the sharp shoulder for casemouth headspacing) and add that to the headspacing gap between the firing pin bushing and the breechface of the cylinder. That's your maximum case length. Your brass needs to be close to that by a few thousandths of an inch. The more consistent, the better.
-Often, 45 auto rim brass is a little too short. Check and sort! You definitely don't want an excessive gap between the casemouth and that sharp shoulder in the chamber. Your accuracy will suffer when the bullet gets shaved!
-If you use (half) moon clips, flatten them out and thin them by lapping them with sandpaper laying on a dead flat surface. Those clips are for ejecting the brass. If used for headspacing, accuracy will suffer, especially if they are not perfectly flat.
If you do use ACP, and don't mind plucking out each empty one by one, so long as your case length matches the chamber/headspacing you'll get fine accuracy w/o the clips.
-Another approach with brass for best accuracy is to use trimmed-down 45 Colt brass. You trim it to within a couple thousandths less than the headspacing figure determined in the first step.
The loaded ammo with this brass headspaces off of the casemouth not the rim!!! In fact, you will notice an odd looking gap between the rim and the cylinder breech. That's OK! The rim is for ejection only.
If you're using cast bullets specifically sized to your cylinder throats, this method will get the driving band perfectly centered with the cylinder throats. With a SWC, you may need to give them a little press to fully seat them in the chamber. There is zero gap between the casemouth and the headspacing shoulder in the chamber.
With a good, quality target load you will be amazed at the accuracy!!
With sloppy handloading technique, be warned that my methods might give you problems. Oversized, crooked, or canted bullets won't shoot accurately and may cause the casehead to bind on the recoil shield. If your sizing die is undersized to where there is a bulge in your loaded ammo equal to where the bullet base is, you may experience problems. Also, lead shavings around the casemouth from sloppy bullet seating and/or crimping will definitely cause trouble.
I think this is what led to S&W opening up their cylinder throats and deepening the chamber cuts on the later 25-2. They probably got tired of inattentive handloaders complaining about malfunctions with their finely fitted target revolvers when the real problem was their ammo.
These are great guns that can shoot amazingly well.
Enjoy!!
OP
The gun shot good today with 200 gr SWC and 5.0 gr of 231. Eliminate the 4 flinch shots and actually a good target for me at 50ft offhand. Happy with the results.
The 200 gr lead RN with 5 gr 231 keyholed 10 out of 15. Any idea why?? Will reduce to 4 gr of 231 for less recoil.
Also shot a newly acquired T/C octagon contender barrel in 9mm, Larry
The 200 gr lead RN with 5 gr 231 keyholed 10 out of 15. Any idea why?? Will reduce to 4 gr of 231 for less recoil.
Also shot a newly acquired T/C octagon contender barrel in 9mm, Larry
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StrawHat
Member
StrawHat
Member
Keyholing can be attributed to many things. I have found that a short bearing surface throws the balance out of whack. Is it a pointy or blunt round nose?
Kevin
Kevin
OP
The bad thing is I bought and kept only 200 gr Round Nose because they fed into the .45 revolvers nicely with clips. Have maybe 500 of the 200 gr SWC's and will have to save them for the pre 26. The 625's handle the RN great. The RN also feed and shoot good in the 1911's I have. Larry
StrawHat
Member
Which SWC bullets did you get? There are many suppliers and most have some form of the 200 grain SWC. Many, but not all, Are copies of the H&G 68 bullet.
Kevin
Kevin
Model19man
Member
Maybe try some different bullets. Those are not working right. What diameter are they?
Walter Rego
Member
6string my Model 1950 .45 Target "Pre-Model 26" which dates to 1956 has cylinder throats that measure .455". Accuracy is OK but could probably be improved. I'll try your suggestions.
Interestingly enough, I also have a USFA Single Action .45 in .45 Colt that came with a factory optional spare cylinder in .45 ACP. The throats in that cylinder measure a tight .451". I have not tried any cast bullets, just factory 230 gr. hardball but at 7 yards it cuts cloverleafs. The limiting factor is the traditional crude fixed sights. I was quite surprised given the long jump through the throats to the forcing cone as of course the cylinder is of .45 Colt length but it shows what precise manufacturing and careful fitting can accomplish in that 150 year old single action design.
Interestingly enough, I also have a USFA Single Action .45 in .45 Colt that came with a factory optional spare cylinder in .45 ACP. The throats in that cylinder measure a tight .451". I have not tried any cast bullets, just factory 230 gr. hardball but at 7 yards it cuts cloverleafs. The limiting factor is the traditional crude fixed sights. I was quite surprised given the long jump through the throats to the forcing cone as of course the cylinder is of .45 Colt length but it shows what precise manufacturing and careful fitting can accomplish in that 150 year old single action design.
StrawHat
Member
Larry,
For decades S&W used the rifling specified by the Army for the Model 1917. At some point in the production of the Model 625, they changed to the traditional 5 groove rifling. This may be why your Model 625 prefers the RN bullet.
Kevin
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