What are you shooting in your 625?

[Fostereast]

200 Gn SWC

I'm finishing up several boxes of MB's coated .45 ACP 200 GN SWC. They make a very nice, large, clean hole in cardboard I'm not sure about the accuracy in the 625 because I'm still getting used to it and have only shot it a few times. I'm using 5.3 Grains W231 right now.

NOTE: This round fired nicely through a Remington R1 1911 once I tinkered with the OAL and determined what it liked best, and stored the magazines for several weeks with 5-6 bullets loaded in them to work the springs.

I think very highly of MB in all aspects of dealing with them so far. I've placed 4-5 orders over the past 18 months and they are very responsive when a question comes up.

I'm moving to a 230 Grain round nose or ball nose with a taper crimp. I've thought (too much) about trying a 250 gn RNFP that can be roll crimped, but am going to try the 230 ball taper crimp for a while first.

I've had similar performance from a similar load:
Xtreme .45 acp (.451" diameter) 200 gr copper plated SWC with W-231 4.6 gr.

I'd like to try Missouri Bullet Company Hi-Tek coated .45 acp "button" (.452 diameter) 185 grain SWC. If anyone reading this has tried this, or a similar, Missouri Bullet Company coated .45 acp bullet please weigh in.

 

[TAROMAN]

Pretty much settled on the Bayou coated 200 grain SWC over 4.2 grains of VV-N310.
Have won a lot of matches with that combination.

Two hand standing at 25 yards with this load:

 

[Dale53]

I have two 625's. One is a 625-6 Model of 1989 with 5" barrel and the other is a 625-8 JM Special with a 4" barrel. They are a couple of my favorite revolvers of all time.

It is VERY important to size the bullets to the cylinder throat size. On both of my revolvers, the throats are .452". I shoot NOTHING but cast bullets in my revolvers. I shoot a lot (my 625's have MANY thousands of rounds through them) and either of them will shoot under 1" at 25 yards off a rest - on demand. Jacketed bullets wear barrels prematurely for a serious loss of accuracy. The AMU replaces their 1911 barrels every 5000 rounds (that would be two barrels a year for me - for each revolver<(). I have well over 100,000 rounds through my 1911 and it still shoots under an inch at 25 yards.

I cast my own bullets but there are a number of good commercial sources of good cast bullets.

My standard target load for both the 1911's and my 625's is an H&G #68 (cast from a Mihec multi-cavity mold), sized at .452". The powder charge is 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent and taper crimped to a mouth diameter of .470". The overall length is governed by my 1911 (the bullets are seated so that my rounds base are even with the barrel hood when using the "plunk test". This works fine in my revolvers, so I run the same load for all of the guns.





Dale53

 

[rockquarry]

My 625s shoot best with cast loads that also do well in 1911s: either an H&G #68 or the SAECO copy (#69), wheelweight alloy sized at .452" and 5 grs. Bullseye powder. This loads works well in either ACP or Auto Rim brass. Use just enough taper crimp to keep bullets from moving under recoil. A roll crimp of the same degree will also work in either, though I prefer the taper crimp.

I don't remember whether or not I've fired commercial 230 gr. ball ammo in my revolvers, but I've found such ammo is not particularly accurate in a 1911.

 

[m657]

auto rims: I loaded enough of them to learn I preferred dealing with the moon clips after all;

boolit: I shoot my 625-8 best at the range, with 200 or 230 RN cast lead; best accuracy 720-800 fps regardless of a small group of favored powders;

 

[johngalt]

When I still lived in Cincinnati, I used to get flat based 185 gr LSWC from a local caster, + 3.9 gr Bullseye. Since I've moved, I've started loading Hornady swaged 200 gr LSWC. Those are very accurate. I've also loaded Hornady 230 gr FMJ + 5.0 gr Bullseye, but the swaged bullets are more accurate. Hornady 230 gr HAP were also more accurate than the FMJ.

I personally despise plated bullets, they have never worked for me.

 

[rockquarry]

I realize many don't cast bullets and have no interest in doing so, but a properly fitted cast bullet is generally more accurate than a jacketed or plated bullet.

Casting is a lot of work and the experimentation required to find the best loads takes much time. That's certainly a valid argument against the process, but for handgun cartridges, I've never seen an instance where a jacketed or plated bullet would have an advantage over the right cast bullet.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I rarely load specifically for the 625 as my "go to" loads in 45 ACP run in anything I own ( i.e. 1911's, M&Ps, 625s.....
FWIW my favorite "do all" recipe is 4.0 gr of Clays under a lightly crimped 200 gr LSWC (or LRNFP) . Good accuracy, light smoke, low recoil.

 

[SLT223]

Xtreme 185-230 over any fast powder will do well. I will second the vote for Clays in post #28. Congrats on the 625-4 MG by the way. Those aren't easy to find. Seems S&W's product methodology is to produce the best guns in very limited numbers...

 

[zeke]

Coated 200 lrnfp over 5.8 grains hp-38 in auto rim cases. Coated bullets add about .001 to the dia, which help fit the bullet to cylinder mouth.

 

[cowboy4evr]

There is some bad info being posted here . Cast bullet size is not determined by the size of the cylinder throats . There's a " piece of pipe " in front of the cylinder called a barrel . It's the " groove " diameter of the barrel + 1-2 thousandths more for the proper cast bullet size . If the cylinder throats are smaller than that measurement , then they need to be reamed out . Don't just take it for granted the barrel is the size that it's " supposed " to be . It needs to be slugged for the groove diameter and also a slug driven all the way down the barrel to determine if there is a tight spot where they roll stamped the markings on the side of the barrel or a tight spot at the junction where the barrel threads onto the frame causing a choke . I had a Smith 25-10 that the groove diameter was .4535 , not the published .452 like we are told . It also had a terrible tight spot where the barrel threaded onto the frame caused by over tightening the barrel to index the front sight to the rear . It " choked " down the slug driven down the barrel to .448 from .4535 . Cast bullets size .454 just did work . I had fire lap the barrel to remove the barrel " tight spot " and had to ream out the cylinder throats . Then, yes then the accuracy improved greatly .
Remember gentlemen , " Fit is King " concerning cast bullets . If you doubt anything that I have posted , go to " LBT Molds " website and read his articles . Veral Smith is probably the most well known authority on shooting cast bullets in revolvers , semi auto's and yes , rifles . Regards , Cowboy4evr

 

[rockquarry]

A bit off topic here, but regarding Veral Smith... his booklet, "Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets" may still be available; very worthwhile reading for anyone with a serious interest in cast bullet accuracy, handgun or rifle.

I haven't checked in quite a while, but LBT has or had a website.

 

[ontargetagain]

I have a nice combo with Badman coated 200gr SWC's with between 4.5-4.7gr of HP38. Also same load with Missouri 200gr SWC 'non grooved' coated bullets.

My 625 is the Model of 1989, 5" and my favorite shoorter!
Karl

 

[zeke]

If your cylinder throats are oversized to your bullets, you are unlikely to get any degree of decent accuracy, no matter what your lands dia is. The bullets are unlikely to come out of the cylinder straight. Unless you start casting bullets specifically for the situation. Like ones that the base will expand to fit.

Well known problem with some older revolvers, where cylinder mouths were .454 and up, or .434 and up.

 

[cowboy4evr]

The above post (Zeke)is not correct . My 25-5 has over size throats and is one of THE most accurate revolvers I have . John Linebaugh addressed this problem in an article stating that over size throats are not that serious of a problem like some think . My bullets are not soft . If you were shooting directly out of the cylinder , to the target , then yes but there is a little piece of pipe in front of the cylinder called a barrel . That is where the accuracy is made , or lost . Undersize throats will affect accuracy , not over size , within reason . My post is based on " actual " experience . Not just repeating internet myths .

 

[AR_Black]

Picked up this 625-2 "Model of 1989" a few years ago. That was a very good year for me, and I always wanted one of these. Replaced the front sight with a green fiber optic.

.45 ACP - 200 grain plated Ranier TC reloads, full moon clips, very mild. 3.8 grains Bullseye. Target load, drops 5-inches @ 25-yards. I could adjust the rear sight, but the pistol zeroed for my hunting load....

.45 Auto Rim - 250-grain lead Keith flat nose reloads with 7.0 grains Unique. Stout. I can hit the six-inch plate @ 100 yards at the club consistently with this one, holding over one bead.

Shot a deer at 75 yards last year using my 45 Auto Rim loads, one shot, dropped on the spot. I carved a notch in the grip. AND I'm going deer hunting this Friday, hope to get another notch at my secret spot

 

[pdcrig]

Thanks for all the info gentlemen. I've ordered some 200gr Bayous. We'll see how they work.

 

[zeke]

Sorry internet cowboy, am not using someone elses internet posting. Will continue to disagree with you. To get decent accuracy from oversize throats, you need appropriately sized bullets, or they need to expand alittle.

 

[Bugkiller99]

I've had similar performance from a similar load:
Xtreme .45 acp (.451" diameter) 200 gr copper plated SWC with W-231 4.6 gr.

I'd like to try Missouri Bullet Company Hi-Tek coated .45 acp "button" (.452 diameter) 185 grain SWC. If anyone reading this has tried this, or a similar, Missouri Bullet Company coated .45 acp bullet please weigh in.

I never had success with the Missouri 185 gr button. Went through an entire box trying to find the right combination of powder, crimp, etc.
Many people love them, I'm not one fo them

 

[cowboy4evr]

Zeke , I'm not just an internet cowboy ! It's how I made a living , raised a family in Az and NM . I carried an 1894 Winchester in 38-55 , later switched to a 30-30 . Last ranch I was on I had 4 horses and mule for my daily needs covering that ranch — just under 20 sections .
I posted that my personal experience is where I'm coming from . I can and have backed it up . Believe what you want but the facts are there . I'm done here .