Looking at the Buffalo Bore website and the .45 colt loads they have say for Ruger and some other guns with no mention of Smiths.Will the Mountain Gun models handle these heavy .44 mag .45 Colt loads ok?How is a 4" barrel on a .44 mag or .45 Colt performance wise?Will I loose too much velocity for hunting?
S&W strength for heavy ..44 and .45
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Tom C.
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The S&W .44s are strong enough, but may be lacking in durability with top loads. The .45s aren't in the same league with the Ruger Blackhawks and Redhawks. If you want a double action .45 with strength and durability, consider the Redhawk.
A big hearty NO on the 45's. The 25-7 and and newer are as strong (durable with heavy loads) as the older 44 magnums, but the previous 45 cal guns are not.
I would not be pounding the 44's either unless a 29-5 or newer gun, even then I would hold them to occasional use.
I would not be pounding the 44's either unless a 29-5 or newer gun, even then I would hold them to occasional use.
P95Carry
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I'd personally favor 6" for hunting ... tho 4" can be perhaps called ''adequate'' .
The simple contrast between Smith and others .... is for me, the ''relatively'' less robust nature of the Smith. I do not mean that disparagingly.
I hate to ''knock a Smith about'' ... with excessive hot loads or large quantities of same ..... sure they will for most part take it but i think we tread on thinner ice!
By contrast .. the Ruger is built like a brick latrine! Machined from solid frame ........ generous cylinder walls .... cyl latch notches of center line ... etc. Others would be Freedom Arms for example.
Best IMHO .... keep heavy loads in the toughest guns ....... and cosset the Smiths - just a bit.
The simple contrast between Smith and others .... is for me, the ''relatively'' less robust nature of the Smith. I do not mean that disparagingly.
I hate to ''knock a Smith about'' ... with excessive hot loads or large quantities of same ..... sure they will for most part take it but i think we tread on thinner ice!
By contrast .. the Ruger is built like a brick latrine! Machined from solid frame ........ generous cylinder walls .... cyl latch notches of center line ... etc. Others would be Freedom Arms for example.
Best IMHO .... keep heavy loads in the toughest guns ....... and cosset the Smiths - just a bit.
Optimizing the Mountain Gun...
If I ever buy another S&W revolver, it'll be a .45 ACP Mountain Gun. Talk about a do-everything iron! ACP's for general/defense use, and .45 Supers for anything up to about elk size. I forget now who's doing the .460 Rowland conversions, but they will ( or would) do your 625 for about a c-note. I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of .460s in a 625, but I'd not be afraid to fire a few or use them for carry in the high country.
I want to say that it was Clark Custom that was doing the Rowland conversions, but I might be wrong on that one.
If I ever buy another S&W revolver, it'll be a .45 ACP Mountain Gun. Talk about a do-everything iron! ACP's for general/defense use, and .45 Supers for anything up to about elk size. I forget now who's doing the .460 Rowland conversions, but they will ( or would) do your 625 for about a c-note. I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of .460s in a 625, but I'd not be afraid to fire a few or use them for carry in the high country.
I want to say that it was Clark Custom that was doing the Rowland conversions, but I might be wrong on that one.
Preacherman
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Yep - Clark Custom Guns is doing the .460 Rowland conversion on revolvers, and also sells a new slide and barrel kit for 1911's. I'm picking up my converted 5" 625 from them on Friday! 
The Colt Anaconda and the Dan Wesson M45 and M460 are strong double action revolvers that can take higher loadings than the Smith. The M460 is probably the best of the breed as it can shoot either the ACP, the Super, the Win Mag, or the Rowland.
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