The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 27, 2013, 04:31 PM   #1
Brutus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 11, 2005
Posts: 1,023
S&W mountain gun .45 Colt loads.

This 625-3 has become one of my favorite revolvers. Mostly I've loaded it with 8.0gr. of Unique under a 255gr.SWC. Having been unable to replenish my supply of Unique I've been using 7.6gr. of Universal clays (8.0gr's seem hotter than the Unique load). Anyway my real question is, before running out of Unique I was working up a woods load for critter defense. I had gotten to 8.5gr's under a 265gr. Cast Performance WFN gas check bullet, all data for these Cast Performance bullets are for Ruger .45 Colt's and .454 Casulls. Going to be heading up north next week and I need a good substitute. Never had a chance to Chornograph the 8.5gr. load but I figure it to be around 800/850fps. out of my 4" barrel. Don't want to stress the gun and these loads will be used sparingly. would like to get around 900 fps. and call it a day. Any suggestions or more knowledgeable input would be readily appreciated.
__________________
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out,
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen,
Winston Churchill.
Brutus is offline  
Old December 27, 2013, 04:58 PM   #2
WESHOOT2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 1999
Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country)
Posts: 14,324
Is all you have Unique?

I might possibly theoretically consider 9.5g under that bullet as MAX for that gun, but I'm hoping someone who knows more pipes in, too
__________________
.
"all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"
WESHOOT2 is offline  
Old December 27, 2013, 06:49 PM   #3
Slamfire
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Posts: 5,261
I have shot thousands of rounds with Unique in my 45 LC. I have lots of chronograph data, you can see here how velocity changes with bullet weight, bullet type, older and newer Unique and different primers. I have a bit of data with AA #5.

The heaviest load I would use is the 2400 load, and I would that sparingly in a N frame revolver.


I have not used Clays and I can't give any meaning ful recommendations for load levels.

Code:
M625-9 Mountain Gun 4" Barrel 



250 JHP 8.5 grs Unique thrown, W-W cases, WLP primers 
18-Mar-07 T = 55 °F V, accurate 
Ave Vel = 830 
Std Dev = 30 
ES= 103.5 
High= 893.4 
Low= 789.8 
Number Shots= 12 


250 Nosler JHP 17.5 grs 2400 thrown, Master cases, Fed150 primers 
18-Mar-07 T = 55 °F V, accurate uncomfortable recoil 
Ave Vel = 971 
Std Dev = 25 
ES= 69.47 
High= 1003 
Low= 933.5 
Number Shots= 11 


255 LSWC (.452") 8.0 grs Unique thrown, lot 6/21/1993Starline cases, WLP primers 
25-Mar-07 T = 80 °F accurate 
Ave Vel = 800 
Std Dev = 30 
ES 99.02 
High 847.2 
Low 748.1 
Number Shots 11 


250 LRN (.452") Valiant 8.0 grs Unique lot 6/21/1993 thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers
25-Mar 07 T = 80°F accurate 
Ave Vel = 814 
Std Dev = 24 
ES 72.81 
High 847 
Low 774.2 
Number Shots 11 


250 LRN (.454") Valiant 8.5 grs Unique thrown lot 5471, 4/3/06, R-P cases, WLP primers

25-Mar-07 T = 80 °F accurate 
Ave Vel = 891 
Std Dev = 17 
ES 61.31 
High 921.1 
Low 859.8 
Number Shots 27 

255 LSWC (.452") 8.0 grs Unique lot 6/21/1993 mixed cases WLP (nickel) 

23-Sep-07 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 802.5 
Std Dev = 31.03 
ES = 123.5 
High = 867.2 
Low = 743.6 
N = 12 

250 LSWC (.452") 10.5 grs AA#5 lot 12599 mixed cases WLP (nickel) 

23-Sep-07 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 875.1 
Std Dev = 19.36 
ES = 62.64 
High = 905.7 
Low = 843 
N = 12 


250 LSWC (.452") 10.5 grs AA#5 lot 12599 mixed cases Wolf NCLP 

23-Sep-07 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 826.2 
Std Dev = 20.14 
ES = 63.38 
High = 862.1 
Low = 798.7 
N = 12


__________________
If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.
Slamfire is offline  
Old December 27, 2013, 07:02 PM   #4
Brutus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 11, 2005
Posts: 1,023
Thanks for the feedback Slamfire, very informative. Wish I could get some Unique but for the time being my choices are:

Universal clays
Power pistol
AA#7
AA#9
2400
Lil Gun

Also managed to get some WSF, Autocomp and Red dot but don't consider either to be good candidates, maybe I'm wrong about that.
__________________
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out,
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen,
Winston Churchill.
Brutus is offline  
Old December 27, 2013, 07:15 PM   #5
Slamfire
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Posts: 5,261
You can use 2400 for heavy loads, AA#9 is not as flexible and I have not developed loads with AA #9 in the 45 LC as the powder is not appropriate.

Red Dot is an excellent standard pressure, standard velocity powder in these large cases, I shot can's of the stuff in 44 Special, it should work well in 45 LC.
__________________
If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.
Slamfire is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:30 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04347 seconds with 10 queries