WTK: Best Loads for 45 LC Mountain Pistol

[md66948]

I bought a Smith Mountain pistol in 45 LC when they were first released. I have never fired it. I do not own any other 45 LC pistols. I am going to purchase dies and Dillon 550 hardware in the near future to load 45 LC to feed my mountain gun.

Does anyone care to share load data that works well in their 45 LC Mountain Pistols.

Thank You,

Dane

 

[Mule88]

Ive been loading 9 gn of Universal Clay behind a 250 gn cast and it works great in my guns and accuracy is very good. This would be considered a +P load so work up to it in your gun first. It should do anything youd need done in a handgun in most situations. Also welcome to the forum!

 

[JohnK]

The old tried, and true loads.

8-9 grs. of Unique, with a 250-255 gr. lead bullet. These loads give 800-900 fps.

 

[max]

I usually start between 7 and 8 grains of Unique.

 

[Dale53]

A good 250-260 gr Keith bullet at 800-900 fps will do a fine job in your S&W Mountain revolver. Another good bullet is RCBS 45-270-SAA (casts about 285 grs in my alloy). If you want to read about good loads with this bullet read this:

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL 246partial.pdf

Page 12 - this is a sample (partial) copy of Handloader #246 with the full article on the RCBS 45-270-SAA bullet.

Dale53

 

[zspacez]

The old tried, and true loads.

8-9 grs. of Unique, with a 250-255 gr. lead bullet. These loads give 800-900 fps.

I think you will be happy with this.

 

[bloo]

8 grains of Unique with a 250gr Keith will shoot one ragged hole at 25yards from a Ransom rest in my 25-3


Ted

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have 2 loads I like a lot in the .45 Colt. One is a 250/255gr bullet over 7.2gr W231 and the other is the same bullets over 10.4gr HS-6.

If you don't have either powder on hand and you do have AA#5, it also produces good .45 Colt ammo. Accurate lists a range of 9.4gr to 10.4gr AA#5 under a 255gr LSWC bullet.

I have shot all 3 powders along with trying Universal and Trail Boss but my favorite is a tossup between W231 and HS-6 with AA#5 following closely behind.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Yes, indeed!

A good 250-260 gr Keith bullet at 800-900 fps will do a fine job in your S&W Mountain revolver. Another good bullet is RCBS 45-270-SAA (casts about 285 grs in my alloy). If you want to read about good loads with this bullet read this:

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL 246partial.pdf

Page 12 - this is a sample (partial) copy of Handloader #246 with the full article on the RCBS 45-270-SAA bullet.

Dale53

In my opinion this is THE article for the 45 Colt, bar none!
Personally, I limit my M25 -7 to the 20,000psi loads. John Linebaugh has some loads that are in the 32,000psi area and he uses them in his M625/M25 frequently. Remember, he is a gunsmith though!

While they certainly won't blow up a firearm in good condition, they have to increase wear and tear and I decided that I would relegate those kinds of loads to my Ruger 45 Convertible rather than my nice M25!

If it will handle the 32,000psi loads, and they will, then a M625 Mountain Gun should last absolutely forever shooting 14,000psi or even 20,000psi loads.

I know that with a bullet of 280gr at any velocity, the sights are NOT going to be able to come to POA/POI, no possible way. In fact, mine will not shoot that way unless I use a 230gr bullet or below, period.

I can also tell you this: If you shoot a 280gr bullet even in the 20,000psi data, you are not going to want to shoot a lot of them at one time! Get you a lever gun to shoot them in. They are a real hoot! Besides, that is a great combination, a Smith M625 and any lever gun in the same caliber!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Two loads I use in a 25-7 are:

7 ~ 7.5g W231/HP38

8 ~ 9g Unique

Both under a 245 ~ 255g cast.

Any permutation is good.

I favor 9g Unique for the original BP equivalency.

It's a powerful load and can do anything you need it to including CQC with a bear.

 

[JoeHatley]

I use a mid-range/target load.

200 grain SWC plated bullet
6.0 grains Bullseye
Federal 150 primer
Star-Line Cases
OAL 1.603"

48 rounds, double action, 50'.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

The Handloader article cited is indeed the article for the 45-270 SAA bullet, one of my favorites in 45 Colt. I now prefer the load using Power Pistol, but have used other powders in the past.

My favorite informal target/range/general load is a Speer 250 swaged LSWC and 10.5-11 gr WSF. It works quite well in my 25-13.

 

[moonshine44]

9 grains of Unique behind a Laser Cast 255 grain LSWC shoots tiny groups out of my Mountain Gun.

 

[Sebago Son]

I use 8.5 grains of Unique under a 260 grain Cast Lead Round Nose Flat Point (RNFP) in my Mountain Gun... it's stout but you can shoot it all day long without getting "S&W thumb"...

 

[robctwo]

That 6.0 Bullseye under a 200 gr lswc is a very nice range load. I can shoot 2-300 of them at a session.

 

[00Buck2]

I use 8.6 Unique under a 200 SWC with CCI primers and Winchester brass. It shoots great in my 4" 25-5.

I just purchased 1lb of trail boss and I am gonna try it just for fun. I have a Speer #11 and Lyman P&R 3rd edition but neither show a starting load for trail boss with a 200 SWC.

 

[md66948]

I want to Thank Everyone for the info that you all have provided me.

Dane