45 Colt, S&W and Corbon

[mothermopar]

Ok. I've heard that corbons 45 colt, 335gr load at 1050 is perfectly safe in a S&W model 25.

1. Is this the case?

2. Anyone know the saami of this load? Lindbaugh claims the MAX saami for the s&w model 25 is 32,000 psi.

Let's discuss! Thanks!

 

[akadave]

Will the gun handle it....yes. Will it batter the crap out of your gun and cause pre-mature end-shake...yes.

How do I know? I loaded 300 gr. FA WLFN GC's in two Model 25s to about 1050-1100. Its hard on the gun. But if you are in bear country it will work as a thumper for furry encounters. John Linebaugh carried some stiff loads in his Mdl 25 but he is a brilliant smith and can tighten his gun up when it gets beat up.

If you shoot the load in a Smith, just dont shoot much of it at all...I mean very little.

 

[loadedround]

Why beat up a beautiful S&W with Cor-Bon ammo? If you have a definite need for those heavy slugs, invest in a Ruger Blackhawk or an OM Vaquero. They're much stronger revolvers and can take the beating of Cor-Bon ammo.

 

[Lucky Derby]

DO NOT DO IT! I speak from experience. I jacked up my 25-5 doing this.

 

[mothermopar]

Thanks for the replies.

This load would only be fired if by some God aweful chance it needed to be used on a hike/camp trip against a big mean critter. It would not be used for casual shooting or hunting. At most a couple test rounds once then never again until the possible shtf.

I've considered the rugers and still am considering them... But the smith is nicer and it'll shoot cowboy loads 99.9% of the time. The .1% would be shtf or a test round or two.

 

[CraigC]

If Corbon says it's okay, then it's okay. Get the last word from them.

MAX saami for the s&w model 25 is 32,000 psi.

SAAMI sets pressure standards for cartridges, not guns. The SAAMI maximum pressure standard for the .45Colt is 14,000psi. Those of us who venture beyond that point, do so at our own risk.

 

[rcmodel]

Never underestimate the 250 grain Keith SWC at 1,000 FPS!!
This ammo right here will get-R-done on anything you are likely to meet up with in the lower 48 states & Hawaii.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=45

It is perfectly fine & safe in the N-Frame S&W and will shoot clear through anything you are likely to meet up with. And unlike 325 grain Corbon +P+, is perfectly controllable in a DA revolver for fast follow-up shots.

Brown bears in Alaska might be better handled with a very large rifle or a shotgun loaded with Brenneke slugs.

rc

 

[Old 112]

My 625 Mountain Gun eats a diet of
255swc at 850 to 900 fps.

My Blackhawks like the same diet, but
occassionaly go two to ttree hundred
more.
I guess I am getting forgetful, so
I do this to remind myself why I like
the standard load.

The Smith is just to sweet an iron to abuse.

Regards,
Old 112

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It is "safe" in that it will not outright blow up the revolver, but the frame topstrap (subject to stretching on any revolver) is a bit thin on these guns for extensive shooting with "warm" loads like this. Be careful.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I repeat my earlier post "DO NOT DO IT!" Even a couple of rounds can damage the gun.
If you want to shoot the hot stuff, get a Ruger.
That BB load mentioned above is fine in the Smith and all you need for anything in the lower 48.

 

[mothermopar]

Man... You party poopers! Lol

I have a box of the BB 255@1000 already... So that's good enough medicine?! I know it's also safe out of my soon to be Colt SAA... but figured the Smith was stronger than the ole Colt single action...

Boy o' boy... The decisions we must make in life! Maybe I should just get another Colt SAA, have a pair and be done with it?!

 

[sw282]

The old BP stuff would reportedly go thru a horse with a mv of 900fps. That enough penetration?

 

[DWFan]

The RCBS 45-270-SAA 270gr SWC over 7.5gr Titegroup will generate 950 fps from a 4" barrel at 14 kpsi. Bumping to 8.0gr will give you 21 kpsi (.45 ACP pressure and safe in the S&W) and over 1000 fps.

 

[unspellable]

S&W 45 w heavy loads

The S&W top strap will NOT stretch. That's a myth.

What does happen with abusive loads is that the tail end of the yoke tube wears a groove in the bottom of the cylinder well allowing end shake to develop. This is the Achilles' heel on the S&W. Why they don't fix this once and for all I don't know. It would take a rather minor design change.

If you have a hand grenade type load the cylinder will generally fail at the web between chambers. This type of failure will progress and result in the opposite web on the same chamber failing, the wall of the chamber and half the wall of the adjacent chambers is then blown off, taking the top strap with it.

It's not likely to fail at the bolt notch, that's another myth. If it's a 45, I have heard of the bottom of the notch bulging, but not failing.

Years ago I saw a test which attempted to lay this myth to rest. Starting with an N frame 357, one chamber was ground flat even with the bottom of the bolt notch for the entire length. A second chamber had a slot the width of the bolt notch cut the entire length. The revolver stayed in one piece when both chambers were fired. Next a barrel with NO bore was installed. Again the revolver stayed together when fired. (Note that bore obstructions are generally not close to the bullet and allow it to get up to speed before it encounters the obstruction.)