Heavy 45acp Revolver Load

[uncle.45]

I am thinking of using my 625 JM revolver for a fishing/woods gun.
Do any of you have experience with a load using a heavy-for-caliber bullet like a 255 to 270gn wide meplat or tcfn that would be good for this purpose?
If not, I think I will just load a 230gn rnfp over a stout charge of HP38.
I think most Florida critters I might encounter would be stopped pretty well by that. I would just like a little 'edge' on them without going to a magnum caliber.
I also need to add a little variety to my reloading just for giggles.
Thanks, guys!

 

[gotboostvr]

I'll be watching this thread pretty closely, I'm looking good a decent deer load for my 45 convertible blackhawk.

I've already got a TON of brass and 45acp dies. No LC dies or brass yet.

 

[Richard Jay King]

I am currently shooting a Lee #452-255-RF bullet in my .45 Super. In my 5" S&W 4506 auto I get 1030 fps using 8 grains of Longshot. This is my deer hunting gun..This SHOULD be perfectly safe in ruger convertible but I have no experience with the 625 wheel gun so I cannot speak for that one. This load is entirely safe and functions perfectly in MY gun but I cannot promise it will work in YOUR gun...The pressures with this load are well above standard .45 acp pressures. Proceed with caution...but this will kill the heck out of a deer!

 

[gotboostvr]

@Richard Jay King thanks!

I was specifically looking for a ~250gr at 900-1000fps

 

[PapaG]

RCBS 45-255 KT and Unique is my go-to choice. Found data in an old copy of The Book of the 1911, edited by Mr. Ayoob. Article was on "Buff Busters" or something similar. All I have killed with it are a few hundred bowling pins, three woodchucks and a raccoon. I have shot it through a couple of ripe deer we found that had escaped the neighboring farms after being wounded and which died on my place. Chest, through and through. Hip, not clear through. I don't use the full charge suggested in the article and doubt my bullet is hitting 900.

 

[murf]

@Richard Jay King thanks!

I was specifically looking for a ~250gr at 900-1000fps

that is 45 super range. be careful.

luck,

murf

 

[murf]

If not, I think I will just load a 230gn rnfp over a stout charge of HP38.

that sounds like a fine way to go here. when you go with a heavy bullet, feeding problems will crop up and data will be slim to none. I run a heavy bullet in my glock 30, but have converted it to 45 super and still only get to 850 fps with a 265 grain bullet.

luck,

murf

 

[gotboostvr]

that is 45 super range. be careful.

luck,

murf

This is for a large frame Blackhawk, any and all charges will be worked up and cross checked. No such thing as an over abundance of caution and I appreciate the concern.

I know Power Pistol and HS-6 are pretty popular for this purpose as well as Longshot. Just like hearing real world results.

 

[Sistema1927]

The OP was looking for loads for a 625. We have suggestions for .45 Super loadings, with others talking about feeding problems, and then a Ruger Blackhawk tossed in for good measure.

To the OP, your 625 isn't a magnum pistol, and it isn't a Blackhawk. As a result, err on the side of caution, and keep the loads restrained. A 230-255 gr. LSWCFP doing ~850 should be OK for anything that you are going to encounter in Florida. If you were in Alaska or Montana I would suggest a different revolver, but you should be fine with what you have.

 

[gotboostvr]

Sorry if I got us a little side tracked with me tossing a Blackhawk into the mix.

Ideally, I'd prefer something safe enough for a 625 because I have one of those as well. I don't use it for deer hunting thanks to Ohio's 5" minimum barrel requirement.

I realize 250gr @1000fps might be a little overly optimistic especially with ACP, not Super brass.

 

[brewer12345]

My woods load in an automatic is a 200 grain cast sec over 7 grains of unique. Extremely accurate and a full power 45acp load with cast like this should penetrate and make a big hole.

 

[IlikeSA]

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/fast-loads-for-the-45-acp/99214

Ramshot Enforcer can get a 230 going around 1050 and still not be +p.

I wouldn't be able to tell you where to start for a 250 except to start low and work up slow. I believe Buffalo bore and maybe Underwood make ammo like that, so it may be possible.

 

[CoalTrain49]

230 is fine. 6.0 grains of American Select will slap your pappy.

My 625 JM target load is 4.5 grains American Select/230 Speer FMJ.

https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloa...owderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=2&cartridge=35

 

[Archie]

I have a pinned barrel S&W m55. I load 255 SWC bulllets (from .45 Colt) over Power Pistol powder (look up you own load). Chronographed @ 850 or so. Penetration excellent.

 

[Richard Jay King]

RCBS 45-255 KT and Unique is my go-to choice. Found data in an old copy of The Book of the 1911, edited by Mr. Ayoob. Article was on "Buff Busters" or something similar. All I have killed with it are a few hundred bowling pins, three woodchucks and a raccoon. I have shot it through a couple of ripe deer we found that had escaped the neighboring farms after being wounded and which died on my place. Chest, through and through. Hip, not clear through. I don't use the full charge suggested in the article and doubt my bullet is hitting 900.

The Lee mold I mentioned

@Richard Jay King thanks!

I was specifically looking for a ~250gr at 900-1000fps

Well the Lee mold I mentioned cast a 255 grain bullet...pretty close!

 

[Richard Jay King]

Sorry if I got us a little side tracked with me tossing a Blackhawk into the mix.

Ideally, I'd prefer something safe enough for a 625 because I have one of those as well. I don't use it for deer hunting thanks to Ohio's 5" minimum barrel requirement.

I realize 250gr @1000fps might be a little overly optimistic especially with ACP, not Super brass.

In a revolver that fully supports the head of the case standard ACP brass can handle Super pressures just fine...If you want 1000 fps from a 250 grain bullet you WILL have to run pressures up well over standard acp pressures...no free lunches...If you have a chrono choose your 250 grain bullet of choice and using published handbook loads work up with till you get what you want. I would suggest Unique, PowerPistol or Longshot...The "standard" published pressure levels for .45 Super loads is 28,000 psi where as max accepted pressure for ..45acp is somewhere between 17,000 to 22,000 psi. 800 fps should be doable at standard acp pressures with a 250 grain bullet..if you want more contact S&W and ask them if the 625 is rated for .45 Super...Otherwise ask others what their results have been...the S&W forum would be a good source of info I think...However I am reasonably certain that a deer will not notice the difference between 800 fps and 1000...

 

[Rule3]

You DON"T need something beyond a regular 230 gr bullet loaded to +P levels. A 250 gr bullet is not gonna be any better that a 230gr.

Florida Panthers are near extinct and black bears get to a max of 250 lbs. Then of course there are the hogs, pythons and other things out there

 

[uncle.45]

Thanks for the resonses.
My typical target load is a 200gn LSWC over a light load of Clays or HP38.
The 625 is an N frame, but I don't ever beat it up with real heavy loads.
I think I will just use a 230gn RNFP from Precision or MBC
over about 5.5gn of HP38.
That should be totally adequate for any of the smallish critters, and will stop a hog if needed.
Thanks again!

 

[murf]

I realize 250gr @1000fps might be a little overly optimistic especially with ACP, not Super brass.

acp brass works just fine @ 45 super levels with a fully supported chamber in the gun, with the stock glock barrel … not so much.

luck,

murf

 

[GarrettJ]

I’ve loaded a 250 gr. XTP to 725 fps from my 4-5/8” Blackhawk Convertible using Win 231 powder. I’d have to check to see which manual I got that load from, but it was a published load. I wasn’t really trying for a magnum load. I have a .45 Colt cylinder, or some other revolvers for that.

I expect with a slower burning powder, you should be able to get up around 900 fps without going over pressure limits.

 

[the Black Spot]

How about this one Matts with about 6.5-7 gr of unique?

 

[uncle.45]

That wadcutter must punch really nice holes in paper targets.
It is also exactly what I had in mind for a woods load.
My 1911s prolly wouldn't like them, but they should be perfect for a good revolver load.
Thanks!

 

[LaneP]

I've loaded "+P" .45 ACP in the past but now I favor accuracy and control above all else. One of the most accurate and easy shooting loads in my Ruger 1911 CMD is a 225 grain commercial hard cast bullet and 4.2 grains Bullseye for 790 fps. Not a barn burner but it shoots right to the point of aim and if I needed quick accurate followup shots I would be good to go. Brass life with such loads is amazing.

 

[brewer12345]

I've loaded "+P" .45 ACP in the past but now I favor accuracy and control above all else. One of the most accurate and easy shooting loads in my Ruger 1911 CMD is a 225 grain commercial hard cast bullet and 4.2 grains Bullseye for 790 fps. Not a barn burner but it shoots right to the point of aim and if I needed quick accurate followup shots I would be good to go. Brass life with such loads is amazing.

I shoot buckets of 200 grain SWC over 4.5 grains of bullseye. Long brass like, modest recoil, very accurate. Would not hesitate to defend myself with this load if necessary. But this is really intended as a target load.

 

[35 Whelen]

In Handloader #306 Brian Pearce did an article the 45 Auto Rim. Therein he loaded a 280 gr. SWC (Montana Bullet Works)cast from an RCBS 45-270SAA mould. With 6.0 grs. of Unique he attained 891 fps out of a 6 1/2" S&W Model 1955 Target.
I loaded some of these same bullets in one of my S&W 1917's and while I don't have my load log handy, I seem to remember getting around 850 fps. I'll check my data and report back. In my 1917 I carry a load consisting of a 255 gr. cast SWC running close to 900 fps.

35W