When .45ACP In Your S&W 625 Isn’t Quite Enough… Step Up to the 45 WSM

[BLUEDOT37]

Related noteworthy 45WSM question from another thread...

Ream the chambers to accept 45 win mags and load those with heavy bullets. Just don't go to the factory 40,000psi levels.

I initially considered just doing it this way too but even knowing I'd never buy any factory 45 WIN MAG ammo, & that I'm the only one who shoots my guns, I just didn't feel comfortable going that route now, for my use, or later down the road when I'm not around & can't oversee it's use.

When the brass for the 45WSM is cut to 45 S&W Schofield (aka:45 Short Colt) length, at 1.095" (min 1.090" - max 1.100"), and the chambers' shoulders are reamed to the proper corresponding depth, an inserted factory length 45 WIN MAG cartridge will be too long to be able to close the cylinder on, thus avoiding that potential over-pressure situation.

No matter what the case capacity size is people still have to reload responsibly, of course.

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[steelslaver]

I get it and like what you have done. Made a round and chambers that make the most out of an acp cylinder. Main reason my guns can use 45WM is because they started out as 45 colts and were then made to fire rimless brass. All my guns use .452 bullets. Most of my 45 Colt cylinders started life as 44 mag cylinders which I reamed to 45 colt and a .453 dia plug gauge will not go in the throats.

People need to take some responsibility for what they stick in guns though. Doing it the length you did to prevent chambering 45 Win Mags is fine, but some knuckle head can still stick in a 40k 45 Roland. Trying to make things idiot proof only goes so far and idiots know no bounds.

There is a lot of wasted cylinder in a factory 45acp cylinder that one can put to use.

One of the things I learned from this thread is that Winchesters 45 Win Mag bras won't go in clips, I bought 200 rounds of Starline brass and had been using it with no problems.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Doing it the length you did to prevent chambering 45 Win Mags is fine, but some knuckle head can still stick in a 40k 45 Roland. Trying to make things idiot proof only goes so far and idiots know no bounds.

LOL, ain't that the truth!

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[lilwoody]

I acquired a 5" 625-4 from a collector here in town with the intent to to turn it into a Rowland. That's off the table now but this sounds like a viable option. I wanted it for a bit more portable hiking/hunting backup revolver around my cabin. I have a 629 that I put a 7.5 slab side on but it's too heavy and awkward for this purpose. I carry a L frame now for this purpose and without it would have had to let the biggest buck I've taken walk, but that's a whole different story. Guess I'll just trade off the 625 for a 4 or 5" 29 seris.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The 4" 325TR that I ended up using for this project is definitely portable & at 31ozs empty (8oz lighter than my 4" 625-8PC) it's pretty light too.

My 4" 329PD, with the titanium cylinder installed, weights 25.2oz empty.

I swapped out it's Ti cylinder for a Ss cylinder which bumped it's weight up to 28.8oz.

But I do love 5" barrels for general purposes though.

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[YkcorCal]

I like the whole concept of the .450 WSM bringing the .45ACP into the 21st century and offering the possibility of a revolver that can be used with full moon clips and standard .45 ACP ammo in the same firearm. Not all situations call for a semi-auto. There are some situations when a revolver can be a superior weapon in my humble opinion no matter how much I LOVE a custom Colt 1911 .45ACP!

Thanks, for the thread and the great info.!

I'm a big guy and am more concerned with how the gun hangs on target in my hand, recovers for repeat shots, and just just over all feels to me. I like a litle on the heavy side and bull barrels. It's just a personal preference but then I don't think a .44 Mag with standard loads recoils bad. Yes, I know I am strange; I just have been shooting almost since I could walk. The first center fire handgun was a .45 ACP; Colt 1911 (my Grandfather's).

 

[YkcorCal]

You are talking my language as my dream concealed carry revolver would be a short barreled Doubletap .450 Shot Magnum Cartridge/.45 ACP. Loaded with either their 200gr. or 230gr. bonded HP loading it should be a formidiable street loading for self-defense.

I like the S&W 629 .44 Magnum 2.625" barrel length at 37.4 oz. however I would prefer it had been cut for full moon clips, its chambers more chamfered for fast relaoding with said moon clips. My problem with the 629 is the lack of load development by major companies for lower end .44 Magnum loadings specificly designed for law enforcement/self-defense use as compared to say the 9mm/.45 ACP/.357 magnum loadings.

That is the reason I thought a Doubletap .450 Shot Magnum Cartridge/.45 ACP revolver similar to the design of say a PERFORMANCE CENTER MODEL 629 would serve a good law enforcement/civilian self-defense purpose.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

LOL, you're seriously making me consider trying the 45WSM cylinder in the 325NG, just for giggles.

A revolver like you described would be cool too!

Too many fun options, if we only could.

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[PALADIN85020]

Looks like you've done some well-planned and interesting work to boost the power of some .45 ACP revolvers. I admire that.

At my age, I value simplicity. With this old model Ruger Blackhawk, I can shoot .45 ACP, .45 Super and special .45 Colt loads that would make the .44 magnum guns blush with envy. Changing from one cylinder to the other takes just a few seconds.



Those same hot .45 Colt loads can also be loaded into these older large frame Vaqueros, and with Ron Power kits they can be indexed and loaded like the old model Blackhawks from half cock. The older Blackhawks and Vaqueros were built like tanks and can easily take the increased pressures achieved through handloading.

John

 

[erikpolcrack]

Would the M625 cylinder bought from Midway for this project fit my Model of 1955/25-2 SN 4584XX made in 1978 or 1979?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Would the M625 cylinder bought from Midway for this project fit my Model of 1955/25-2 SN 4584XX made in 1978 or 1979?

Maybe someone else can confirm but I'll say No, for at least this reason & probably more:

This modern cylinder has a "D" shaped extractor shaft, to keep it aligned. I'm sure ones made in the late 70's still had round shafts with a pin in the extractor star to keep them aligned.

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[BLUEDOT37]

With this old model Ruger Blackhawk, I can shoot .45 ACP, .45 Super and special .45 Colt loads that would make the .44 magnum guns blush with envy.
Changing from one cylinder to the other takes just a few seconds.

Having cut my teeth on Ruger Blackhawks while growing up, back when that's the most I could afford, & just barely, I can't tell you how many times over the years I've come within a hair of purchasing the one for sale I was inspecting. They definitely cover a lot of bases.

I'm sure if I had bought one I'd still have it, & cherish it, but at this point in my life I'm not changing horses. I'm getting close to the finish line.

A 45WSM cylinder can still shoot 45ACP or 45 Super with moonclips, 45AR loaded as hot as you like, or the 45WSM with or without moonclips.

No cylinder swap needed.

And I've got my S&W 460 MAG for anything hotter.

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[BLUEDOT37]

45WSM - 45 COLT: same load comparison

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Recently I started doing some load comparisons between my 45WSM & the 45 Colt with the same bullet & powder used in them.

In this one I used Hornady's 230gr HAP bullet which I used extensively in working up loads in the 45WSM & have found it to be a very consistent bullet at a reasonable price.

While the bullets weren't seated to the exact same depths in both cartridges (my bad) there was about .020" difference.

I was curious of what the difference would be between the two different size cases (the 45WSM has 18.9% less volume than the 45 Colt) with the same powder weight in them.

The 45 Colt loads are (+P) load & are less than 23K psi loads per Handloader #337, which is the same pressure as SAAMI 45ACP +P loads.

The 45WSM loads should be in the mid to low 45 Super pressure range due to it's smaller case volume.

The M25-13 has a 5" bbl. while the 325TR has a 4" bbl.

The Power Pistol loads with 11.4grs had a difference of 130mv & 145me in favor of the 45WSM.

The Power Pistol loads with 12.0grs had a difference of 150mv & 175me in favor of the 45WSM.

Big difference.

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