S&W's in "45"

[Stainz]

I have a 625- 6 and a 625-7 - both 4" .45 Colt Mountain Guns - and a 4" 625JM in .45 ACP. Everyone has seen them - big ho hum. Sure, the .45 Colt chambers will also load .45 Schofield, while the 625JM will also chamber moonclipped .45 GAPs and loose .45 Auto Rims. But... what about a revolver that will chamber all - okay, all but the .45 Auto Rims - and more.... and it's a stretched N frame - actually, a Z-frame. Yeah - a Governor!

Yeah, not as classy as a 1917... but, it is pretty utilitarian - and, at <30 oz - easily toted in a decent holster. Also, what better way to get rid of that mix of .45 ammo - and 2.5" .410's?

Stainz

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I have a 4" M25-5, then picked up a 25-13 Mountain Gun in 45 Colt. I had several Rugers SAs in that chambering and thought it would be nice to have a DA. Then I found a 5.5" Redhawk that will take 45 Colts loaded with heavyweight bullets over 37Kpsi+ and not mind doing so in the least.

I also have a 4" 625-8 in 45 ACP that is one of the more accurate revolvers I own, especially with 185 or 200gr LSWCs over WSF. Also fun to use with 45ARs loaded to 45 Colt blackpowder equivalent levels. I kind of like that one.

The S&Ws 45 Colts have been fun to shoot but I find myself using the 25-13 MG more often, or the 625-8 for a range/target gun.

And, now that I have the big Redhawk for a serious load level hunting gun as well as other 45 Colt options, I've been thinking about selling or trading the 4" Model 25-5. I just don't use it that much anymore.

 

[NE450No2]

Stainz

Over the years the wife and I have had great succdess killing small game, furred and birds, with 44 Mag shotshells, first ones I loaded with the Speer yellow plastic capsules, and later with the Speer factory shotshells, I am curious to hear how you like the Governor, when shooting .410 shotshells.

Also how well does it shoot with 45 ACP ammo?

That just might be the best "survival" revolver around.

 

[NE450No2]

One thing in this thread that did suprise me, was the guys that have and shoot 1911's and found no need for a 45 ACP S&W revolver, yet had S&W's in 45 Colt.
This seems strange to me as the reason I got a S&W revolver in 45 ACP is so it would shoot the same ammo as my 1911...

Why the 45 Colt instead???

If You do not want a 45 ACP revolver, why not go to the 44 Mag. It will do anything the 45 Colt S&W can do, and if necessary you can go to full power 44 Mag loads...

Also in the N frames, the ACP's can be loaded to the same power levels as the 45 Colt S&W.

Not to Hijack my own thread, I will start another on the "power" of the S&W 45's...

 

[mes227]

So here is my question, IF you do not shoot 45 Colt Single Action Army's, and you are not a 1911 shooter in 45 ACP, which S&W in "45" would you pick, and why???

I like the platform and those two calibers so much I picked up one of each:
625 Mountain Gun (Colt)
625 JM (acp)
325 NG (acp)
Governor (both plus .410)
.460 XVR (Colt, .454Casull & .460Mag)

And just to round out the pack:
1911PD

 

[mes227]

One thing in this thread that did suprise me, was the guys that have and shoot 1911's and found no need for a 45 ACP S&W revolver, yet had S&W's in 45 Colt.
This seems strange to me as the reason I got a S&W revolver in 45 ACP is so it would shoot the same ammo as my 1911...

Why the 45 Colt instead???

If You do not want a 45 ACP revolver, why not go to the 44 Mag. It will do anything the 45 Colt S&W can do, and if necessary you can go to full power 44 Mag loads...

Also in the N frames, the ACP's can be loaded to the same power levels as the 45 Colt S&W.

Well, I can think of several reasons (I have both the 625 & 629):
--The .45 Colt is a much more manageable round than the .44 Mag at standard loads (much lower chamber pressures) with much more stopping power than a .44 Spcl at similar felt recoil
--The highest load ratings for the Colt exceed even the .44 Mag +p and yet remains easier to control
--For similar bullet weight and velocity the .45 Colt has superior stopping power due the larger diameter bullet (.429" v. .452" to .454")
--It's a great ctg for hand loading as it offers a wider range of experimentation, in part due to the large casing volume; you can load it with black powder if you're so inclined and it will accept a much larger bullet because of the room in the casing.

While the .44 Mag is unquestionably a great ctg, the .45 Colt is one of the most versatile and under rated handgun loads around.

 

[NE450No2]

Question, what is the top load you guys shoot in your 45 Colt S&W with a 255gr Cast bullet?

 

[Allen-frame]

I collect and shoot Smiths in 45 caliber.
This is the primary focus of my collection.

All in 45 A.C.P.

All in 45 Colt ,

I own 2 or 3 in 44 Special ,and 2 629s in 44 Magnum.

But with the 45s I have I have little use for the 44s. Go figure.

I believe it is just personal preference.
Also, there were fewer overall made in 45 Colt so it makes the finding
and collecting more of a challenge.


Regards
Allen Frame

 

[GCF]

Question, what is the top load you guys shoot in your 45 Colt S&W with a 255gr Cast bullet?

I load a Keith 265LSWC / 12bhn (ordered from Black River @ 0.454" - & sized to 0.452", over 8.5 Unique - for use in my 625-6MG .45 Colt.

I suppose the gun would take a hotter load, but I see no reason in my part of the country. Plenty of power, easy to shoot, & quite accurate.

For some additional perspective, you might go to John Linebaugh's site, & read up. Here is a bit of it, posted at Handloads.Com:
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

 

[NE450No2]

GCF

Thanks for your reply. I am very familar with John Linebaughs writings, and his work.

I have a FA in 475 L.

 

[GCF]

GCF

I have a FA in 475 L.

Must be livin' right!

 

[DevilDog72]

this is almost exactly the gun I would like to have.... only difference would be XS BigDot front sight

note: pic from DaveT's post above

 

[spad124]

I don't have a SAA in any flavor, but I do have a 1911A1.

Regardless, I've had a 25-5 for 25 years and a S&W M1917 for 5 years. I like them both. The 25-5 is a classic modern style N frame and the M1917 has a lot of history.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Honestly, I bought my 625 when they were introduced because it was the same caliber as my 645 and I had acquired a pretty decent stash of .45 ACP. As time went on I learned to really appreciate the inherent accuracy and reliability of both .45's. They will always remain in my posession then be passed along to my heirs when the time comes...

 

[Bearbait in NM]

Zombie thread alert........Well sort of, as the last few episodes of the "Walking Dead" has a good candidate for which one to choose ;^)

Craig

 

[Harrydale]

I can't add anything to the conversation but I can put in a purty picture. S&W model 22-4. 45 ACP.

 

[jimwilkes]

45 S&W

Having owned & shot many handguns in the last 40 years, including a model 27, 624, Colt New Service, 1911A1 & a Triplelock, I am down to one revolver: S&W 22-4 in nickle. Easy & fun to shoot, ammo is plentiful & it will do anything I ask it to. Looks good, also (sorry for no pics, none on hand).

 

[jjbrewst1]

I love my 625's here are a few of mine

625-4 Lew Horton

625-3

625-2

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[amazingflapjack]

A 625-8 not a JM-but one that has had the S&W master revolver treatment. It is 4 inch, and has custom grips-very accurate, and a great gun to shoot. I also still have one 25-2 and a 25-5 (not pinned) that has been cut for moon clips that I shoot Win 45 mag loaded to 45 Colt levels-lots of fun all three-love them moon clips!!

 

[whitecoyote]

Does this one Fitz.....?

S&W 1917 .45 ACP

 

[StrawHat]

...So here is my question, IF you do not shoot 45 Colt Single Action Army's, and you are not a 1911 shooter in 45 ACP, which S&W in "45" would you pick, and why???...

I got my first S&W M25 in the late 70s or early 80s. At that time I did have a couple of SAA clones in 45 long Colt but the S&W I chose was a 25-2. I was shooting competition at the time and the larger holes in the target would sometimes grant me a better score. At some point I picked up a M25-5 and liked it. However, it remains the sole 45 long Colt I have with the S&W logo on it.
Like Dave T, I was fond of the idea of a 4" skinny barreled 45 ACP S&W and could not afford one of the earlier specimens. At that time S&W had not even thought of the Mountain Series, so I sent a 4" M28-2 barrel off to be bored and rifled to .452. When it returned, I fitted a 25-2 cylinder to the M28-2 and also a new frame lug. I rounded the grip frame and had a great revolver. I carried it on duty until political pressure had me retire it in favor of the issued M19. Since then, I have acquired a M22-4 and believe it to be the ideal 45 ACP revolver for a LEO role.

So, to answer your question, I did pick the 45 ACP and have continued to do so. The ACP cartridge combines the power and diameter I need in an easily carried revolver.

Kevin

 

[The Gila Bender]

Old School .45 ACP, "Chopper":


Modern .45 Colt S&W's:
Mountain Gun 625-6


625-5 SDS

 

[wbraswell]

Let's see, my first S&W was a 25-2, and I have a 1917, a Colt 1917, a Colt Government, a Colt Commander, a 1917 Commercial, a Ruger Blackhawk .45 Convertible, heck I even have a Colt SAA chambered for .45ACP. Ahhh, remember the old Speer 200 grain flying ashtrays? Now that's a hollowpoint!

 

[Frizzman]

I shoot lots of .45 ACP. It is my favorite cartridge. I reload. I keep my brass...I am getting old and have back and knee problems...I REALLY like my 625-3. It makes a range session much more pleasant for me and I don't lose my precious/expensive brass. I have a 625-9 Mountain gun in .45 Colt and its a favorite too.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I have six 1911s in .45 ACP and two in 10mm. I do not like moon clips, so no .45 ACP revolvers.

I have a second generation 5 ½" blue Colt SAA .45 Colt, a third generation 7 ½" nickel Colt SAA engraved Nez Perce - Chief Joseph commemorative .45 Colt, a 7 ½" blue Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt, and a 7 ½" matte gray Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull/.45 Colt. So when I found a 6" blue 25-2 .45 Colt, I bought it.

My other N-frames are an 8 3/8" nickel and a 4" blue 29-2 .44 magnums.

 

[rog8732]

Interesting thread on .45 A C P / .45 Colt revolvers, thanks to the O P, NE45ONo2

If it "stays up" a while longer, I would expect to see some comments regarding the, half and full moon clip, loading devices, for the .45 A C P, which, unless I missed reading a post, has not yet been covered.

Specifically, if poster, "Richard Simmons" comes back to the thread and will do so; I wish he would elaborate about the little 3 inch 25-14 he pictured. I think that is a limited, (250 ea.) special from Horton.
For some reason I think that revolver has a "four screw" side plate ???

All the post were interesting I thought, with special mention of the well written piece by ol' gesser. Although,.... I don't know from his "handle" if he is an old goose hunter/fancier; and old "dude", or someone who guesses a lot, and is old. (nor do I need to ! )

Thanks all; I'm gonna get me a .45 A C P revolver !

 

[eTripper]

To answer the OP's question; if I reloaded, then I would definitely pic the .45 LC in a DA revolver platform. Since, it is ballistically 'more powerful' than the .45 ACP. Owning SAAs would make-it a total 'no-brainer'. Since, I do not 'reload' and shoot 1911s; the .45 ACP chambered-revolver is the 'better choice' logistically. Also, the .45 ACP round is more widely-available over the counter, unlike it's older relative.

 

[NEURON]

1911 person first and foremost so .45 Automatic Colt Pistol round in a .45 Automatic Colt Pistol is the way I enjoy the round the best. I sold a 25-2 recently and bought a 25-5. Interesting round with a lot of history like the .45 ACP except the .45 LC was black powder at one time, not many modern cartridges can say that. It seems like a totally different gun even though they were/are both 6" P&R. Reloading coming up soon, looking forward to something different but still has that nice BIG hole!

 

[g-dad]

S&W 1917 .45 ACP

Great looking firearm! I'd like one of those. The case it is sitting sort of looks like a casket?

 

[lebomm]

The second handgun I ever bought was a Colt-made Model of 1911. I shot it for awhile, thru my late teens, then went to various .38s. Having had a couple of 1917s, a couple of 1937 Brazilians, and a 1950 Target, on both sides of an unsatisfactory experience with an M25-5 in .45 Colt, I finally ended up with (and currently own) a Model 22-4. It's 'cuz .45 ACP revolvers are just more fun (.45 AR, y'know) ! ! But heck, that's just me......

Larry