S&W .45-Colt revolvers
Four Stars for the .45-Colt S&W!
My first was in the early '70s when I was a young deputy sheriff, and an "Olde Guye" on the department loaned me one of his S&W's to carry (no memory of the model) until I got a model 65 (.357) for myself. It was my first experience with a "big bore" revolver. Loved it.
In the late '70s I bought a pair of S&W 25-5s. They have the oversize chamber mouths but I load with the .452 or even .454 bullets and they shoot where I point them, though I have never been a bullseye shooter. Lasercast are my favorites today.
I got a stainless 625 for backpacking and much later a blue 25 Mountain Gun, the one with the lock, etc. Sure, it lacks the glamor of the earlier models, but it is a fine shooter. I load everything from black powder to low-end "+P" cartridges. Like someone else on the forum said, my early 25-5s are showing their wear so they don't get out a lot.
Standard loads pack all the whomp I need and I feel they serve well for self-defense, plinking, or safety while backpacking. I rotate the 625 with the newer 25 and my modified .44 Magnum 329. I've love to see a .45-Colt S&W with the scandium frame like the 329.
The .45 ACP is, in my opinion, a more efficient use of space. It and the .45 Auto Rim appear they can be loaded to levels similar to the standard .45-Colt, but I haven't tried any. I don't own a .45ACP revolver. Besides, I love those long brass cases.
Starting a little over a year ago I began using Trail Boss powder because it fills the case pretty well, and saves on my oatmeal filler expense ):-{(=). Works fine, for me.
-Backpacker