What's an S&W 25-5 good for?

[Gordon]

I just picked up an S&W25-5 .45 Colt 4" (in the display case with tools) that I traded my New Service .357 parts gun for. I only have a couple safe queen SAA's (and a Ruger SBH .454) that shoot this round, never got around to reloading it. I did buy 6 boxes of Corbon 200grain at 1100fps ammo the local store was dumping for $9.00 a box, as the owner did'nt make any $ on my private party trade. While this gun is not pinned and recessed, it is very well made with a WONDERFUL SA trigger and a good DA. The serial numbers in crane don't match butt #'s, I think it was made in early 80's . I think this might be a real good home defense gun with those Corbon loads(I live rural) but I think the old .44's are better game guns. I have 320grain .44 molds but heaviest .45 mold(.452") I have is a 255grainLee mold. I take it S&W's are .451 or .452 same as .45 acp? I quess I 'll get some cheap dies and set the Dillon up to crank me up some Unique loads in the 900fps range. I might slaughter some live stock with the gun and report results. I'll never go hunting with the pretty blued brute though! I'll tote the 629 Mtn gun in the woods. This is my strutting around the ranch gun!

 

[HSMITH]

I have one. They can be pretty problematic to shoot lead bullets in. You need to measure/slug the throats in the cylinder. If it is over .454" let me know and I can detail what it takes to get lead bullets working. Lots of these guns had throats as big as as .459". If it has small throats you are home free.

I like 7.5 Unique with a 250-275 grain bullet for light plinkers, and some heavier than typical loads with Blue Dot and H110/W296 that I'll not detail here. Look here for an article by John Linebaugh on your gun. Well worth the read.

 

[Sparky]

It is good for Shooting.IIRC the #s in the crane area aren't serial # but mfg. or job #

 

[Gary H]

I had a problem with my S&W 25 oversized chamber and ended up sending it back to S&W and paying for them to replace the cylinder.

 

[JoeHatley]

What's an S&W 25-5 good for?

Just about anything you need.


Congrats on the nice find. Sounds like you found one similar to mine.



Very fun gun!!

With the longer barrel and red dot, it makes a pretty fair target gun also.



The cylinder mouths on both of mine (1980's vintage) mesure right at 0.450.

Hope you enjoy your's as much as I do mine...

Joe

 

[mec]

Your idea at topping out at about 900 fps is a very good one. I've seen several smithereened by shooters who thought that the superior modern steels and heat treating justified heavier than normal loads.

Although they often do have wierd cylinder throat measurements, this is not always the case. A local guy had one with a 6" barrel that was tack-driving- just about his favorite shooter. Unfortunately, he overloaded it with one of those confusing Clays powders and blew it into the middle of next week.

 

[oscar]

7 or 8 grains of Unique and a cast swc is a great load in this gun. Mine is also a 4 inch and has a great trigger. The only blue Smith that I have. You can also load the 200 grain cast acp swc for a lighter recoiling load.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Thats a GREAT nightstand/all around belt gun.

You don't have to apologize to us.

 

[RWK]

I have -- and love --a Smith 625-9 .45 Colt Mountain Gun . . .

What's it good for:

a) Great for target shooting and plinking -- exceptional accuracy
b) Outstanding for home defense
c) Excellent for concealed carry

I have decided not to "stoke it up" and I keep all rounds within standard pressure (no +Ps loads). Obviously, there are many .45 Colt standard pressure rounds in the ~900 FPS category; these approximate .45 ACPs in potency. However, CorBon (Sierra bullet) and Georgia Arm (Gold Dot bullet) make 200 grain .45 Colt loads that provide 1100 FPS muzzle velocity. These standard pressure rounds perform about like .45 ACP +Ps. I believe they are outstanding defensive rounds.

So, what's your .45 Colt four-inch S&W 25-5 good for . . . almost everything!

 

[swifter]

Very much like mine... I shoot home cast 255 WFNs over 12--13 gr Blue Dot, around 950 fps & quite accurate. My GP load...

Tom

 

[Gordon]

I used a telescopic inside mike and got .451-.452 on chamber throats, Bore seems .452. Is this good? I am loading tonight 100 rounds of 255 grain flat points over 7.8 grains of Unique using Win cases and win std primers. I will crimp the bullets real hard, I am not sizing the bullets and will tumble lube them. The first few bullets are .453" . Am I in the ball park? BTW the 12 Corbon 200grainers at 1100fps(marked on box) I shot yesterday had light recoil but a BIG flash and seemed pretty hot! They grouped about 4" at 15 yards double action barricade position and were 6" low. I presume the old boy that owned gun had it sighted for 250grain factory loads. I did'nt adjust sights as I want to see where my reloads hit. Another FUN pastime. I like the big globs of lead! Any way back to reducing my IQ by casting more lead bullets!

 

[HSMITH]

Sounds like you got one of the "good" ones Gordon. Your recipe sounds like a good one also. 7.5 Unique is a sweet spot for mine as is 8.5, it won't shoot 8.0 worth a hoot though. Go figure that one out, I can't LOL. I sure enjoy shooting mine!