Author Topic: Power Level of 625 in 45LC  (Read 1950 times)

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Offline quickdraw

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Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« on: January 17, 2009, 08:56:31 AM »
The loading data for the +P level 45 Long Colt states that it is for Ruger, Freedom Arms and T/C only.  Why not a newer S&W 625?  Is it a cylinder length issue or are they just not able to withstand higher pressure?

Thanks,
QD

Offline dbriannelson

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2009, 09:34:11 AM »
S&Ws work just fine with the cartridges they're designed for.  I'd suggest if you want a hotter .45 and the quality of a S&W you get the .460 S&W.  Or if you want more power, get a 629.

Or you can experiment until your gun blows up then back off 10%.

-Don
Semper Fi.  (1803/0210)

Offline gunblade

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2009, 10:26:09 AM »
The cylinder walls on a 625 are too thin for the hotter .45 Colt loads. 

Offline Autorim

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2009, 05:38:09 PM »
IMO it is a frame strength issue. The Ruger has a much heavier frame.  Exceeding the manufacturer's design standards with reloads is asking for trouble needlessly. A 270 grain bullet at about 1000 fps will do a lot.

Offline Mohawk

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2009, 07:22:19 PM »
  Smiths are funny creatures. The Models 27 and 28 can handle about the toughest load a .357 mag can load but the frame is over-sized for the caliber, not so with the .44 or .45 calibers. If I were going to run hot loads I would opt for a .454 and work the loads up from there. Save the Smith for the commercial loads, which is still very effective. A .45 Colt at 900 fps is a hand full on the receiving end.... ;) 

Offline Autorim

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2009, 03:08:46 AM »
After I posted about the frame strength of the revolvers, I thought again about gunblade's post about cylinder wall thickness. I measured my 625 cylinder diameter at 1.707 inches. All of my Bisleys measure 1.734 inches so there is more room for increased wall thickness in the Ruger cylinder.

Offline Ken ONeill

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2009, 02:55:40 AM »
S&W .45 Colt cylinders can be particularly thinner than Rugers at the cylinder locking notches. The frame on a Smith is also susceptable to possible stretching with extremely heavy loads. Save those heavy loads for a Ruger or FA.
The Smith will , however, perform well for a long time with 250-260's @ up to 1000-1050 fps.

Offline jro45

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2009, 01:32:47 AM »
Could I shoot my LC shells in my 410. I've heard that I could but never done it. Is it safe?

Offline billy_56081

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2009, 01:52:01 AM »
Could I shoot my LC shells in my 410. I've heard that I could but never done it. Is it safe?

NO!

The only 410'S that fire 45 colt ammo are the ones with the combo 45colt/410 barrals and are so marked.
99% of all Lawyers give the other 1% a bad name. What I find hilarious about this is they are such an arrogant bunch, that they all think they are in the 1%.

Offline kiddekop

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2009, 01:59:21 PM »
  Smiths are funny creatures. The Models 27 and 28 can handle about the toughest load a .357 mag can load but the frame is over-sized for the caliber, not so with the .44 or .45 calibers. If I were going to run hot loads I would opt for a .454 and work the loads up from there. Save the Smith for the commercial loads, which is still very effective. A .45 Colt at 900 fps is a hand full on the receiving end.... ;) 
Ruger BH's were used to test some corbon ammo according to a tech I spoke to 10 years ago.I have a ruger bh convertible with 45acp & 45lc cylinders, I use several sources for reload data:Loadbooks,Nosler,Lyman,Hornaday,Sierra,Hodgdon plus many on line sources.

Offline 44-40

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2009, 03:43:40 AM »
I would not hotrod loads in the smith,  the guys that write the load books no more about it than you and I. If I had a 625 and messed it up I'd cry. I had a ruger blackhawk 45 l.c. several years ago and made some hot loads for it, the cases are not strong enough to hold up very long under that sort of pressure and therefore shortens case life, same goes for hotrodding marlin 45-70

Offline Dale53

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Re: Power Level of 625 in 45LC
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2009, 07:23:09 PM »
John Linebaugh has a lot of good experience and gunsmithing ability to draw upon. His article on the Model 25 (and of course, includes the 625) chambered in .45 Colt has a lot to commend it. I especially cotton to his suggestion of his wife's load (260 Keith at 900 fps) as being a perfectly adequate hunting load. Here is the whole story:

http://handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

I have a couple of 625's in .45 ACP and will load THIS caliber to 900 fps with a 260 gr Keith (perfectly safe) so it is obvious that the .45 Colt with it's greater case capacity can be safely loaded to a higher level. I use my .45 ACP's mostly for target but an occasional hunting trip would NOT be out of the question (deer or hogs). At any rate, John spells everything out in detail and I believe him fully.

Dale53