Best Sporting, Target Shooting and Possible Self Defense Handgun: Episode2 S&W Mountain Gun 45 Colt

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I truly do not want to start any arguments so I am changing the title.

How about the BEST Sporting, Target Shooting, Self Defense Handgun? Under time trials which one do I shoot best?

This is not about saying what is the best BUT what I do best with. Also challenging YOU to get out and try this and post your times.

Of these two which one for you 45Colt or 38Special?

45 Colt 625 Mountain Gun


38 Special 686+

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I have both in a few different guns...BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER...

 

[DR505]

I will take my .45 Colt Mountain Gun any day over my 686. My MG was modified with a pinned front sight blade, this one is a Baughman and has the red insert. I also swapped the Goodyears for a set of Ahrends round to square in Cordia wood.

 

[ThomasT]

I would be perfectly fine with my model 15. It does all I need from a handgun.

 

[Dave T]

The N-frame Mountain Gun is a fine overall choice for "Sporting, Target shooting, & Self-defense", but I would differ in your choice of caliber. The same gun in 45 ACP, shooting Moonclips, moves it up a notch in competitive shooting with the fastest reload in the revolver world.

YMMV,
Dave

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Trying to get ahold of my buddies 625 in 45acp as someone recommended.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Here is my 45 colt. Pic is from when i did a review on cast boolets. SW 25-5.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Schaweet are those 45AutoRim or 45ACP?

 

[DR505]

I do like .45 Colt revolvers....here are a 6" 25-9, a 4" 25-9, and a 625-7 MG:

 

[DR505]

The N-frame Mountain Gun is a fine overall choice for "Sporting, Target shooting, & Self-defense", but I would differ in your choice of caliber. The same gun in 45 ACP, shooting Moonclips, moves it up a notch in competitive shooting with the fastest reload in the revolver world.

YMMV,
Dave

A .45 ACP MG is moved up a notch for competition, but I use my .45 Colt MG in the wilderness areas of Idaho, where some pretty big beasties roam, so I will stick with .45 Colt and LARGE bullets at a decent velocity; the .45 Colt handles large lead bullets better than the .45 ACP or Auto-Rim (longer cylinder in .45 Colt). I also also have a 625 in .45 ACP that is a great revolver, but the nod goes to the .45 Colt for duty in the wild.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I will take my .45 Colt Mountain Gun any day over my 686. My MG was modified with a pinned front sight blade, this one is a Baughman and has the red insert. I also swapped the Goodyears for a set of Ahrends round to square in Cordia wood.

View attachment 981690

I LOVE this revolver oh my!!!

 

[wcwhitey]

Loving the videos, great contribution. Thanks!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Mine is 45 LC.

 

[Aim1]

Does the 45 ACP need moon-clips to work?

 

[DR505]

Does the 45 ACP need moon-clips to work?

Most 625's chambered in .45 ACP will work fine without moon clips, but you have to extract the empty cases singly as the ejector star won't engage the rimless case.

 

[hanno]

Most 625's chambered in .45 ACP will work fine without moon clips, but you have to extract the empty cases singly as the ejector star won't engage the rimless case.

Indeed. Or, just reload with .45 Auto Rim cases.

 

[Rodfac]

I will take my .45 Colt Mountain Gun any day over my 686. My MG was modified with a pinned front sight blade, this one is a Baughman and has the red insert. I also swapped the Goodyears for a set of Ahrends round to square in Cordia wood.

View attachment 981690

That is one beautiful Smith DR...how do the Ahrend's stocks work out with .45 Colt recoil? Beautiful combination...Rod And thanks for your service!

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Moonclips for faster reloads 45 Autorim brass for range fodder

 

[DR505]

That is one beautiful Smith DR...how do the Ahrend's stocks work out with .45 Colt recoil? Beautiful combination...Rod And thanks for your service!

The Ahrends stocks fit my hand perfectly and reduce felt recoil very well. It is a shame Kim Ahrends went out of business when his wife passed.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I was watching some more vids on your youtube. Very enjoyable.

 

[Risky buisness]

I put Ahrends on 2 SW 25s and found them to be superior to anything else. It's a shame their no longer doing buisness.
N frames are where it's at for me for serious get out side time.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Brings up an interesting question: Can a Model 25 Mountain Gun in .45ACP/AR be handloaded to "outperform" a Mountain Gun in .45Colt safely and without exceeding SAAMI pressure spec's?

In theory, the smaller volume, thicker sidewalls and bases - especially of +P cases like those made by Starline - suggest its possible to get more velocity from a same-weight bullet in .45ACP vs. .45Colt. The bullets themselves are interchangeable for either loading so selection isn't an issue.

 

[Dave T]

The 45 Colt's advantage as a hunting round is it handles heavier bullets than the 45 ACP. Yes, people occasionally load 250g projectiles in ACP and AR brass but it isn't optimum. On the other hand the 45 Colt gained it's reputation back in the 19th Century propelling 255g soft lead RNFPs at 910 fps with ol' black powder. Modern 45 Colts can drive 300g bullets at 1000 fps and more. The ACP won't touch that.

And let's remember the OP ask about "sporting, target shooting, and self defense". Thread drift has gone toward big game hunting when that may not have been what he had in mind with 'sporting'.

Dave

 

[Gordon]

yes the Mountain Gun in a major caliber is very near or at the top of the list for all around revolver king. It can be concealed , it is very accurate and when you get the flywheel moving it rips off follow up shots amazinly fast and smooth. I used to shoot a 4" S&W 29 for that role but it was a touch too big and heavy to conceal, tho Elmer did ! Here is my beautiful, accurate and perfect in every way 1989 Model 629 Mountain Revolver that got the Mountain Gun thing going . I have had it 25+ years . I carry it in bear country always with heavy 275-320 grain loads , and these days if I wander into the small Oregon and Idaho towns after being in those bear camp areas it still rides with me in a custom Kydex rig concealed with 240-180 grain loads . If I am riding a motorcycle then it is a Kenai chest rig , which also used to go on before my backpack when I back country packed. I love this N Frame format with Ahrends grip, these are 20+ years old :

 

[Riomouse911]

The Mountain Gun is a pretty good all around compromise between brute power, controllability and practicality. I, too have the 629 .44 Mag version but the 625 in .45 Colt is right there with it .

With a good 250 gr SWC over 8.5 gr Unique you have a load that handles just about any chore you can face, the Mountain Gun can handle hundreds and hundreds of them with no issues and your hand won’t be tingling after you're done shooting several cylinders full in a row .

Stay safe.