Need some load Sug. S&W 25-15 45LC

brsviking · December 20, 2009, 12:11 PM

Just bought a new S&W Classic 25-15. Would like some suggestions on what this revolver can handle for loads and favorite loads for accuracy. Powder-Bullets etc.

Ozzieman · December 20, 2009, 02:33 PM

http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html
For plinking rounds in my 25 I use Penn .45 Caliber 200 Grain Round Nose Flat Point Bevel Base. I use his .454 sized bullets. Leading is minimal if you stay under 1000 FPS.
It’s also a great bullet since you can also use it in a 45 ACP.
I use light loads of 231 which you can find at the following website
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
For my 4 inch 23 and that bullet I load 6.8 of 231 (8.0 being max) its light shooting and easy on the gun and very accurate.
I have loaded some 250 gr semi wad cutters but found that Herco works best for the heavier bullets.
If yours is a long barrel 6 inches or longer then a slower powder that 231 might work better.
I like 231 because it will work well in just about any non magnum pistol case and is clean.

Pathfinder45 · December 20, 2009, 03:42 PM

.... is still one of the very best powders for .45 Colt. I like Titegroup for mild target loads but Red Dot works well too. If I run into a killer deal on W231/HP-38 I'll start using it again also. Moving beyond Unique, I really like HS-7/W-571 when it can be found. For real +P loads I prefer AA-9. I dont believe your gun is quite as strong as a Blackhawk so I cannot recommend H-110/W-296 as it is not all that consistent unless it's loaded to the gills. AA-9 gives me all the power and recoil I care for in my Vaquero. I tried some heavy loads with Hercules 2400 but the muzzle flash was like to start a forest fire! I shoot more hand-cast Lee 255 grain RNFP bullets than anything else. It has a very large flat point and shoot well in both my Vaquero and Marlin. If I had to live with one load only I would choose this bullet loaded with 14.0 grains HS-7 using CCI magnum primers. I use a lot of different cases but there are none better than Starline in my experience. Have fun and be safe!

Slamfire · December 20, 2009, 03:51 PM

I have shot hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of 250 LRN, LSWC with 8.5 grains Unique. That usually gave me about 850 to 900 fps depending on the conditions.

Now I have turned into an old futz and am shooting 8.0 grains Unique and that chronographs exactly at 800 fps. Back in 1993 I purchased a lot of Unique powder, and most of my data reflects that older version. I did go out and shoot the new stuff and it appears to be faster. I would start with 7.5 grains and work my way up with that stuff.

My “Gold” standard powder for the 45 LC is Unique, but I came into a keg’s worth, and some loose pounds, of AA#5 through an estate sale. So I developed some loads over my chronograph. AA#5 works quite satisfactorily in the 45 LC, accuracy is excellent and the burn rate is appropriate for this big non magnum case. Being a ball powder it throws well.

Each lot of an Accurate Arms powder is sufficiently different from the next, and having tested several lots of AA#5, in a couple of other 45LC’s, in the future I am going to use 10.0 grains of AA#5 with a 250 Lead bullet.

I developed a load in a SAA with 10.5. grs AA#5 and it shot great and was about 825-850 fps. Well, with this different lot of AA#5, 10.5 grs is faster than I want. I don’t want 875 fps, so I am going to retest, and I expect 9.5 grs will give me what I want.

AA#5 is a ball powder, shoots “cleaner” than Unique, though that does not make the slightest difference on paper or in clean up time.

I though might be of interest is the Wolf primer data. Looks to be a mild primer.

My loads are accurate enough to hit my 12 gong target each shot, standing, shooting one handed, at 50 yards. I don’t always hit each shot. I am very happy if I hit 5/6. The distance is within the range limitations of where I shoot.

The 2400 load is the most powerful I have shot in my 45LC, accurate, powerful, uncomfortable. I don't recommend high doses of it, and I guess this would be the most powerful load you could shoot in the N frame.

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")   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")   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

Shot all these loads, with the except of the 2400 load, in this pistol. And they all shot fine.

zxcvbob · December 20, 2009, 04:21 PM

7.5 grains of Bullseye with 255 grain cast bullets will be just a little over SAAMI specs (about 16000 psi v. 14000) and should give you over 900 fps from a short barrel.

I like Herco for hot loads (> 25000 psi) with cast bullets in my Blackhawk, but I wouldn't abuse a S&W like that.

Pathfinder45 · December 20, 2009, 10:12 PM

....excellent posting. I agree, Unique is the Gold Standard fo .45 Colt. One powder often over-looked is fffg black powder. That must be the Platinum Standard.

Pathfinder45 · December 21, 2009, 07:59 PM

......IMR-4227 is another good powder for higher velocity loads.

orionengnr · December 21, 2009, 10:17 PM

Disclaimer: I am not an old hand at handloading.

My only handloads with the .45 LC are in 231. Depending on bullet weight (200 to 255 gr), the published loads I have used go from around 6.1 to 8.3 grains.
I recently acquired a decent quantity of Green Dot at a favorable price, and have found published loads for it as well. I have yet to try them, but look forward to doing so.

Pathfinder45 · December 22, 2009, 01:52 AM

Near as I can tell these are identical. I used 8.0 grains under 255 grain bullets with good results.

SwampYankee · December 22, 2009, 08:01 AM

Yes, HP-38 and W213 are identical. I forget the exact scenario, but I believe Winchester (Olin) makes both in the same factory and puts and HP-38 label on some and a W213 label on the others. This has been confirmed by a few people actually calling up the manufacturers.

I bought 4 pounds of HS-6 for high power 45 Colt loads but have never used it for high power loads. I use 9.0 grains and a WLPM primer for my standard load. It's quite accurate but dirty as heck- although that could be the lube on the bullets. And there is a ton of unburned powder left, even with the magnum primers. I'm probably going to switch over to H110 or 2400, I have 2 pounds each.

crowbeaner · December 22, 2009, 07:44 PM

Lyman 454190 and 452424 over 8.0 to 9.0 of good old stinky dirty Unique will do the job every time. Hey Slamfire; if you'd like to divest yourself of some of that AA#5, PM me. I'm running low. CB.

Pathfinder45 · December 23, 2009, 01:16 PM

I've heard this before but in the 4 different .45's I've had I haven't found it to be dirty at all. Of the smokeless powders I've used, Blue Dot was by far the worst in .45 Colt for dirty residue. Try fffg blackpowder and you'll never complain about any smokeless powder being dirty again! My Unique loads start at 9 grains; maybe that's why it's burning clean for me.

December 20, 2009, 12:11 PM	#1
brsviking Junior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Posts: 4	Need some load Sug. S&W 25-15 45LC Just bought a new S&W Classic 25-15. Would like some suggestions on what this revolver can handle for loads and favorite loads for accuracy. Powder-Bullets etc.

December 20, 2009, 03:42 PM	#3
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Unique..... .... is still one of the very best powders for .45 Colt. I like Titegroup for mild target loads but Red Dot works well too. If I run into a killer deal on W231/HP-38 I'll start using it again also. Moving beyond Unique, I really like HS-7/W-571 when it can be found. For real +P loads I prefer AA-9. I dont believe your gun is quite as strong as a Blackhawk so I cannot recommend H-110/W-296 as it is not all that consistent unless it's loaded to the gills. AA-9 gives me all the power and recoil I care for in my Vaquero. I tried some heavy loads with Hercules 2400 but the muzzle flash was like to start a forest fire! I shoot more hand-cast Lee 255 grain RNFP bullets than anything else. It has a very large flat point and shoot well in both my Vaquero and Marlin. If I had to live with one load only I would choose this bullet loaded with 14.0 grains HS-7 using CCI magnum primers. I use a lot of different cases but there are none better than Starline in my experience. Have fun and be safe!

December 20, 2009, 03:51 PM	#4
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I have shot hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of 250 LRN, LSWC with 8.5 grains Unique. That usually gave me about 850 to 900 fps depending on the conditions. Now I have turned into an old futz and am shooting 8.0 grains Unique and that chronographs exactly at 800 fps. Back in 1993 I purchased a lot of Unique powder, and most of my data reflects that older version. I did go out and shoot the new stuff and it appears to be faster. I would start with 7.5 grains and work my way up with that stuff. My “Gold” standard powder for the 45 LC is Unique, but I came into a keg’s worth, and some loose pounds, of AA#5 through an estate sale. So I developed some loads over my chronograph. AA#5 works quite satisfactorily in the 45 LC, accuracy is excellent and the burn rate is appropriate for this big non magnum case. Being a ball powder it throws well. Each lot of an Accurate Arms powder is sufficiently different from the next, and having tested several lots of AA#5, in a couple of other 45LC’s, in the future I am going to use 10.0 grains of AA#5 with a 250 Lead bullet. I developed a load in a SAA with 10.5. grs AA#5 and it shot great and was about 825-850 fps. Well, with this different lot of AA#5, 10.5 grs is faster than I want. I don’t want 875 fps, so I am going to retest, and I expect 9.5 grs will give me what I want. AA#5 is a ball powder, shoots “cleaner” than Unique, though that does not make the slightest difference on paper or in clean up time. I though might be of interest is the Wolf primer data. Looks to be a mild primer. My loads are accurate enough to hit my 12 gong target each shot, standing, shooting one handed, at 50 yards. I don’t always hit each shot. I am very happy if I hit 5/6. The distance is within the range limitations of where I shoot. The 2400 load is the most powerful I have shot in my 45LC, accurate, powerful, uncomfortable. I don't recommend high doses of it, and I guess this would be the most powerful load you could shoot in the N frame. 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") 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") 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 Shot all these loads, with the except of the 2400 load, in this pistol. And they all shot fine. Last edited by Slamfire; December 20, 2009 at 03:56 PM.

December 20, 2009, 10:12 PM	#6
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	applause to slamfire...... ....excellent posting. I agree, Unique is the Gold Standard fo .45 Colt. One powder often over-looked is fffg black powder. That must be the Platinum Standard.

December 21, 2009, 07:59 PM	#7
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	I forgot to mention..... ......IMR-4227 is another good powder for higher velocity loads.

December 20, 2009, 02:33 PM	#2
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html For plinking rounds in my 25 I use Penn .45 Caliber 200 Grain Round Nose Flat Point Bevel Base. I use his .454 sized bullets. Leading is minimal if you stay under 1000 FPS. It’s also a great bullet since you can also use it in a 45 ACP. I use light loads of 231 which you can find at the following website http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp For my 4 inch 23 and that bullet I load 6.8 of 231 (8.0 being max) its light shooting and easy on the gun and very accurate. I have loaded some 250 gr semi wad cutters but found that Herco works best for the heavier bullets. If yours is a long barrel 6 inches or longer then a slower powder that 231 might work better. I like 231 because it will work well in just about any non magnum pistol case and is clean.

December 20, 2009, 04:21 PM	#5
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	7.5 grains of Bullseye with 255 grain cast bullets will be just a little over SAAMI specs (about 16000 psi v. 14000) and should give you over 900 fps from a short barrel. I like Herco for hot loads (> 25000 psi) with cast bullets in my Blackhawk, but I wouldn't abuse a S&W like that. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 21, 2009, 10:17 PM	#8
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,177	Disclaimer: I am not an old hand at handloading. My only handloads with the .45 LC are in 231. Depending on bullet weight (200 to 255 gr), the published loads I have used go from around 6.1 to 8.3 grains. I recently acquired a decent quantity of Green Dot at a favorable price, and have found published loads for it as well. I have yet to try them, but look forward to doing so.

December 22, 2009, 01:52 AM	#9
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	W-231 or HP-38 Near as I can tell these are identical. I used 8.0 grains under 255 grain bullets with good results.

December 22, 2009, 08:01 AM	#10
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,333	Yes, HP-38 and W213 are identical. I forget the exact scenario, but I believe Winchester (Olin) makes both in the same factory and puts and HP-38 label on some and a W213 label on the others. This has been confirmed by a few people actually calling up the manufacturers. I bought 4 pounds of HS-6 for high power 45 Colt loads but have never used it for high power loads. I use 9.0 grains and a WLPM primer for my standard load. It's quite accurate but dirty as heck- although that could be the lube on the bullets. And there is a ton of unburned powder left, even with the magnum primers. I'm probably going to switch over to H110 or 2400, I have 2 pounds each.

December 22, 2009, 07:44 PM	#11
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Lyman 454190 and 452424 over 8.0 to 9.0 of good old stinky dirty Unique will do the job every time. Hey Slamfire; if you'd like to divest yourself of some of that AA#5, PM me. I'm running low. CB. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

December 23, 2009, 01:16 PM	#12
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Unique dirty? I've heard this before but in the 4 different .45's I've had I haven't found it to be dirty at all. Of the smokeless powders I've used, Blue Dot was by far the worst in .45 Colt for dirty residue. Try fffg blackpowder and you'll never complain about any smokeless powder being dirty again! My Unique loads start at 9 grains; maybe that's why it's burning clean for me.