Loads For My Mini-Mountain Gun

[Blaine]

I have a very nice S&W 625-3...an older S&W. I bought some AutoRim Brass, and some 255 grain cast bullits.... I've heard that the older S&W might not hold up to heavy loads, so I've been wondering how heavy I should go. Can I go with any data I find published for acp heavy loads? I don't want to bend this one, but I would like something that would be acceptable for small deer in case the need arose. This one shoots 230 FMJ nearly perfectly without the moon clips...

[44-40]

I bought a 3" 625 in 1989, and have put several thousand full charge 45 acp loads through it over the years, and it's as tight as the day I got it. They are after all N frame guns and quite beefy. I did a mild action job on it early on, and on several occasions have cleaned the clocks of more than a few Glock shooters at my club's annual defensive pistol match. Should the need arise to take a deer at a sensible range, out to 50 yds. or so, a 255 gr. 45 caliber slug doesn't have to be going very fast. I think 800 fps would shoot through any whitetail I've ever met. Trying to make a magnum out of it will only wear out your wrist and the gun, and will gain nothing in the scenario you describe. I've played with auto rim brass also, but for carrying spare ammo and for a fast reload, nothing beats full moon clips.

[Blaine]

I bought a 3" 625 in 1989, and have put several thousand full charge 45 acp loads through it over the years, and it's as tight as the day I got it. They are after all N frame guns and quite beefy. I did a mild action job on it early on, and on several occasions have cleaned the clocks of more than a few Glock shooters at my club's annual defensive pistol match. Should the need arise to take a deer at a sensible range, out to 50 yds. or so, a 255 gr. 45 caliber slug doesn't have to be going very fast. I think 800 fps would shoot through any whitetail I've ever met. Trying to make a magnum out of it will only wear out your wrist and the gun, and will gain nothing in the scenario you describe. I've played with auto rim brass also, but for carrying spare ammo and for a fast reload, nothing beats full moon clips.

800 fps is exactly what I had in mind. I don't "race gun", so I don't care how long the reloads take me with acp sans clip, or auto rim.
Thanks

[M. M. Wright]

Blaine, this is my old 1917 that someone modified to what I think is perfect. 3.5 inch bbl. It now wears a Tyler T grip adapter.

Most of it's shooting is with the 200 H&G semi-wadcutter over 5.5 HP-38 but for social purposes I like the 200 XTP over the same charge. I think 200 grain bullets are easier on the gun and me. I'd have no hold backs on shooting a whitetail within about 35 yards.

[Sixgun]

Blaine,
I have one of the Model 25's made in the late sixties and the load that it loves is a top load of 231 with a 200 gr. Lyman SWC sized .452. I'm thinking 5 to 6 grains....don't have my notes handy...I'll check it out later. This is beer can accuracy at 100 meters using A.R. brass. I dropping off Nancy Pelosi at the pool at the moment.-----6

[Blaine]

I dropping off Nancy Pelosi at the pool at the moment

Took me a second....

[piller]

I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with the spare .45 ACP cylinder. Factory FMJ ammo of any brand is more accurate in that gun than most people can ever shoot. I put it in a Random rest at a range one time. One ragged hole groups at 25 yards happened 7 times with the box of Winchester white box I had with me. As far as I can tell, .45 ACP in a revolver is an excellent idea.

[Blaine]

I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with the spare .45 ACP cylinder. Factory FMJ ammo of any brand is more accurate in that gun than most people can ever shoot. I put it in a Random rest at a range one time. One ragged hole groups at 25 yards happened 7 times with the box of Winchester white box I had with me. As far as I can tell, .45 ACP in a revolver is an excellent idea.

Mine shoots 230fmj very good, too....I'd just rather use AR brass. A 255gr cast load is a bit more oomph in case a rare Washington Cascade Mastodon attacks....

[Pete44ru]

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Ole Elmer Keith never had a problem with his strong loads in his N-frame Smiths.........


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[Blaine]

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Ole Elmer Keith never had a problem with his strong loads in his N-frame Smiths.........


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Ole Elmer blew up more shooters than Carters got oats.....

[Bill in Oregon]

And here I was hoping Blaine had an original Krupp he was loading for ...

[Malamute]

When you say "older" S&Ws, and a reluctance to use anything but lowest level loads, the 1917s come to mind, not a stainless or post-war gun. I wouldn't be the least bit hesitant to load 250's to 900 or so, it shouldn't be any problem with that gun. I believe you can get 45 auto ammo for 1911s that run that level.

[Blaine]

When you say "older" S&Ws, and a reluctance to use anything but lowest level loads, the 1917s come to mind, not a stainless or post-war gun. I wouldn't be the least bit hesitant to load 250's to 900 or so, it shouldn't be any problem with that gun. I believe you can get 45 auto ammo for 1911s that run that level.

Buffalo Bore makes some dandy heavy (250ish) +P 45 acp. They also posted an advisory about using shooters that would hold up. I tend to be conservative when loading....