[Mordoc]

Does anyone have an opinion on this? I have become fond of the 45 colt cartridge but only have a Bisley chambered in it at the moment. I will be looking for one at the Knoxville show this weekend.

[Richard2003]

I own a S&W Model 625 Mountain gun in .45 Colt.
Very accurate shooter.
Recoil not bad.
Ammo can be expensive if you don't reload.

[Jim March]

The S&W N-frame 45LCs can't take the "Ruger ONLY!" 45LC+Ps that often might as well be 44Mags.

S&W unfortunately does "lesser metallurgy" on the 45LC guns.

So compared to the Ruger New Model action like your Bisley, the S&W can perform well but at a lower power level. Bufallo Bore is supposedly working on a project to do a "maximum hunting round" for guns like the S&W, SAA and clones, etc involving a 260grain hardcast @ 1,000fps. There are also defensive hollowpoints you can use, like the Cor-Bon 200grain JHP @1,100fps the Winchester Silvertip 225 @ 950ish, or the Proload 230grain Gold Dot JHP @ 850 - 900 (the latter an explicit attempt to duplicate 45ACP combat effectiveness in a 45LC case).

If you can live with those power limits, sure, the S&W is a fine gun.

If you want to send a 325grain hardcast at 1,300fps (one of the Bufallo Bore factory loads!), you need a Ruger. But hey, you're *got* one for that :D.

Just DON'T load those monsters in the S&W. Like Nike doesn't say: "just don't do it!".

[Phil in Seattle]

If you want to send a 325grain hardcast at 1,300fps (one of the Bufallo Bore factory loads!), you need a Ruger.

But honestly would you really want to do that through the 45Colt Mountain Gun?

A 300gr JHP at just under 1200fps is more than I want to shoot a whole cylinder full through my 44 mountain revolver.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Disclaimer: When I speak of "accuracy," I'm not speaking of PPC National levels where score is king and the tightest possible group in the right place is the goal. For me, being able to consistently know that I can hit within a target of certain dimensions at a given distance defines "accuracy" or the lack of. Just wanted to clear that up as I've been told that I "don't have a clue" on what is meant by accuracy. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=132495&pagenumber=2

The Revolver: In '96, I bought an S&W Model 625-6 "Mountain Gun" in .45 Colt. The gun pictured is stock with no work having been done on it. The stocks were changed from Pachmayr Grippers to the more compact ones. The reason is that I like them better.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p12ed7fe3778af028ec3cc9a606e0421a/fd35a316.jpg

(Att: Terry Murbach: I've got some wooden stocks ordered, but they're not in yet. I am going to try what you suggested.)

Ammunition: Three loads were used with this revolver with one being factory and the other two, handloads.

CCI Blazer 200 gr GDHP

Rucker 255 gr CSWC
8.0 gr Unique
WLP primers
New Starline Cases

Hornady 250 gr XTP (moly-coated)
8.0 gr Unique
WLP primers
New Starline Cases


From Left to Right: Rucker SWC load, CCI Blazer, Hornady XTP load.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pe1eb48eb74b35d425711c1af87768a8b/fd35a3ec.jpg

Just for grins and knowing that sand is NOT a good test medium for expansion, I fired three of the obviously light-loaded CCI Blazers and three of the XTPs into sand to see of any expanded at all. Here's the results and I took no measurements as I've not yet shot a deer or anything else made of sand! Anyway, not scientific at all, but interesting, at least to me.

The three recovered bullets are the 250 gr XTPs. The one on the right is the GDHP; I could not dig deep enough for the other two which I suspect did not open up.

I'll do some expansion tests in water along with some .44 Special tests in the future. I was surprised to see the XTP's fairly uniform expanison at .45 Colt speeds.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/paee6de6621349a35da01a39576e2f437/fd35a3eb.jpg

No chronograph work was done today as I wanted to find the loads I'd be interested in before messing around with that. I'd estimate the handloads at somewhere around 850 - 900 ft/sec. The 200 gr Blazer may be in the 800 to 850 ft/sec range judging only from felt recoil. It is noticeably less than the less-than-maximum handloads.

My goal for this handgun is to perhaps take some animals and use it at the range as well as something to tote in the field. If I can hit a playing card size target at 25 yards, I'm happy. If that's setting goals so low as to be "clueless," so be it. I shoot to please myself and no one else.

Shooting: Firing was done at 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards. All shots except @ 7 yds were made firing single-action. All of the 7 yard shots were fired double-action. More on that later.

Fifteen Yards:

Here's the 5-shot groups at this distance, fired slow-fire, standing w/2-hand hold. I fired groups w/CCI Blazer 200 gr GDHP three times as I never could get it to behave. Perhaps my particular gun doesn't like it or perhaps I just couldn't shoot it. I'm "clueless." The two handloads satisfied me and were consistently grouping well on these targets and others.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pc214a172e3df43103ab35ad74bd16f50/fd35a3ea.jpg

Next, firing in the same manner, I fired a group with each of the handloads at the same target.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p8541860d94e9079f2ab220cb6b23e1b3/fd35a3e9.jpg

At this distance, the two distinct groups can be seen, but as distances grow, they'll overlap as my ability to hold accurately becomes less precise.
At least that's what I expected..........and that's what happened.

Twenty-Five Yards:

At 25 yards, there's enough error that the groups do in fact overlap.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p25fc90ea9e6cf51379a410c8fd33d5ec/fd35a3e8.jpg

Fifty Yards: These shots were fired single-action, two-handhold, sitting at a bench with my arms and wrists resting on a coat on top of my range box. They are slow fire.
Five shots with the 255 gr CSWC and 250 gr XTP were used.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p4745de4433050c781c01fc2bccc08794/fd35a31a.jpg

As far as I'm concerned, either load can be used w/o changing the sights for my purposes for this gun.

Seven Yards: This group was fired with the SWC handload and was fired 2-handed, standing, double-action and as fast as I could get a sight picture. I went ahead and did this as some folks have mentioned using this revolver for protection and the question of "What gun to use for protection against animals" seems a fairly frequent topic. Depending on the size of the animal, one should be able to put multiple hits in a reasonable sized area pretty quickly in "panic mode" if he can focus on what he needs to do...and do it.
I had 15 rnds left so I used them at 7 yards.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pf83d3b5e0a992015fb14375a62f8348a/fd35a318.jpg

Continued...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Observations: I was darned surprised at my being able to group as well as I did with a 4" revolver at the longer distance. Normally, I shoot longer-bbl'd revolvers at such distance. One of the targets shot at 50 yards was quite a bit tighter than the one shown, but I know it was a lucky fluke and the one shown is a more truthful representation....at least for me.

I was not surprised to get pretty decent groups. Folks familar with the .45 Colt round have frequently recommended the 8.0 gr Unique with a 250 or 255 gr bullet, enough so that I was pretty darned sure it would be a tight-shooting handload. I should've brought the chronograph, but was lazy. Oh, well, it'll be something fun for another day.

Recoil is not bad at all out of this N-frame and not so "sharp" as with the faster-stepping .357 magnum on up. It's a shove and there is a bit of muzzle flip, but we have a light bbl on the "Mountain Gun."

There were no pressure signs at all and cases extracted easily. There were no malfunctions.

Not loaded as hot as the .45 Colt round can be in more appropriate handguns for "hotrodding" rounds, it is hot enough for what I'll use it for, shooting Texas whitetail deer under fifty yards and most likely, under thirty-five. This might not be the load of choice for a fellow in Alaska or other places where creatures have large fangs, paws, and claws, but in my neck of the woods, it'll do nicely. Though not intended for it, I think it would also be a most sufficient round against any two-legged predators as well and is a comforting, relatively compact little package when toted about in a "tanker" type shoulder holster. Not built for speed, it is convenient for the hunter primarily using a rifle, but willing to take an animal close with his handgun if the opportunity presents itself.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pc74269ca4643e80aec469534a4aefadd/fd35a313.jpg

Even though an N-frame, I find the revolver a comforting little package.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pb30a367c1ab4a6906aa141a7911bacd6/fd35a314.jpg

This one's giving my .44 Special a run for its money.

Best.

[Mordoc]

Thank you all. Excellent replies. I like to shoot double action and am looking for more than a .38 spl but with less roar and flash than a .357. I have the Bisley and a redhawk in .44 if I need to pound something. The Redhawk is a little long and heavy for plinking. I had not really thought about the cost. That is a good point, 45 colt factory loads are very expensive. There is always Georga Arms cowboy loads but even they aren't cheap. It may be time to reload.

[JoeHatley]

I enjoy the heck outa mine.
http://elwood.pionet.net/~hatley/625mg_45lc_l.jpg

[bpisler]

Thank you for another great range report stephen,i've just started reloading 45 colt for my 625-6,what a blast.I keep my in my apt loaded with silvertips,very accurate out of mine.