45 Auto Rim revolver loads

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Tom Acheson posted this 14 hours ago

Just some load fishing here. The revolver is a S&W Model 25-2 with 6 1/2” barrel. The bullets must be sized @ 0.455” to work with the cylinder throats.

A friend gave me a bunch of Lyman 454524 bullets. As cast they are 0.456-0.457”. So sizing down to 0.455” should be doable. They weigh about 261 to 263-grains. No idea on the alloy.

So far with this gun, and a little lighter bullets, I’ve played with WST, Tite Group, Bullseye and good ‘ol dirty burning Unique. WST was probably the “best”.

I have a lot of the above powders and am not looking to buy more different types. Any experience out there with this bullet and any of the above powders?

Thanks!

Tom

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Waleone posted this 13 hours ago

Boy, that's a tough one with that bullet weight! Searching my library, I found no cast bullet load data from a reputable source for cast loads using bullets close to that weight.

I however did find this jacketed bullet data for 45 Auto Rim using Unique powder;

  • From Sierra #3 to #7 manuals, 240gr. jacketed bullet starting load 5.7 gr. @ 750fps, accuracy load 6.6gr @ 850fps, max load 7.0gr @ 900fps.
  • From Speer #10 to #13 manuals, 260gr jacketed bullet, starting load 5.2gr @ 612fps, max load 5.7gr @ 672fps.

And these using Bullseye;

  • From Sierra #3 to #7 manuals, 240gr jacketed bullet. starting load 4.7gr @ 750fps, max load 5.4gr @ 850fps.
  • From Speer #10 to #13 manuals, 260gr jacketed bullet starting load 4.2gr @ 581fps, max load 4.7gr @ 650fps. Warning; starting with manual #13, there is a warning not to reduce below the 4.7 gr max load!

I found no data for the other powders you listed.

 

 

Wayne

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Aaron posted this 12 hours ago

I'll bet you get the best accuracy with TiteGroup.

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Larry Gibson posted this 9 hours ago

Went through numerous M1917 S&W and Colts starting back in the late '60s.  Got my first M25 in the mid "70s.  Read Elmer's writings on them and tried a lot of different loads with bullets of 185 gr up through 260 gr.  Found very quickly the 2400 powder loads Elmer espoused with the 250 - 260 gr bullets including the loads listed in older Speer manuals.  Shot very dirty causing jamming with unburned powder residue getting under the extractor.  Best, and cleanest burning loads with 245-260 gr bullets was with Blue Dot or Unique.  

However, having gotten over the "Dirty Harry" syndrome trying to make the 45 AR revolver something it isn't years ago I sold all the M1917s except one and traded off the M25.  The one M1917 S&W I kept I've put a new M25 barrel on.  I call it a M1917/25.  For shooting I just went back to shooting my standard 45 ACP loads  [200/205 gr SWC/5 gr of Bullseye, 452-230-TC/5 gr Bullseye and Either hard cast over 7.5 gr of Unique].  All three of those loads shoot very well (better than I can) and give excellent service in that revolver.

 

LMG 

Concealment is not cover.........

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Tom Acheson posted this 9 hours ago

Some background.

I have the RCBS 45-201KT and RCBS 45-255 molds. First I tried the 201 with 4.5 Bullseye and and 4.0 of WST. But with no crimp groove in the bullet, I suspect the accuracy suffered. The 201 was probably intended for the 45 ACP.

The 255 (257-grains) was tried also with 3.5, 4.6, 3.7 and 4.0 Bullseye, as well as 4.0 WST. Accuracy was OK, but not great.

I told my friend I was going to buy a new mold. He gave some bullets to try. An Ideal 457127 round nose and a Lee SWC. There I again tried 3.5 and 4.0 WST and 4.6 TG. The Lee weighs 218 to 223-grains. (For some reason he has large selection of Lee multi cavity (gang) molds.

I use the revolver to shoot Postal matches, 50-feet, standing, with a two hand hold. (This goes back to 2019.) My best results were with the Lee SWC and 4.6-grains of TG. So looks like Aaron’s comment is right on.

I was “fishing” because the #454524 @ 261-grains is heavier than the Lee @ 218-grains, suggesting that 4.6-grains (or less) of TG might be worth considering.

I have to thank John Alexander, past president of the CBA and frequent contributor here, for me having TG (Tite Group) on the shelf. He was using TG in his .22 rifle and I was messing with my XP-100 in .22 BR, so I tried TG in that gun.

I have a little Bullseye available (thanks Larry) but I just want to try something “unordinary”.

Thanks!

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admiral posted this 8 hours ago

I realize this isn't going to help but I'll post anyway. In my S&W 1950 Target I use a 45-240K (also @ .455") from Accurate Molds with  Universal or Winchester 244 loaded to 900 fps.

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Ed Harris posted this 8 hours ago

Speer No. 13 states max. pressure for .45 Auto Rim 15,000 cup in deference to the older WW1 era revolvers. Modern S&W 25 and 625 can safely use .45 ACP Data up to 21,000 psi. On p.576 data for 260-grain Speer JHP gives full charge loads as 5.9 of 231 for 824 fps, 6.3 Unique for 821 fps, 5.0 Red Dot for 800 fps.

With Saeco 260-grain #955 I load 4 grains of Bullseye for 701 fps or 4.6 of 452AA for 744 fps from my 4-inch S&W Model 25. I use the same loads in my S&W M1917 and Colt New Service.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Eddie Southgate posted this 5 hours ago

Mine shoots a 200 gr cast SWC with 5 grains of Red Dot as well as anything else I tried . I have used and still do , hotter loads but this one does everything I need the SR to do.

Grumpy Old Man With A Gun......Do Not Touch .

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Tom Acheson posted this 3 hours ago

Ed,

Is 452AA equal to WST?

Thanks!

Tom

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Idahocaster posted this 40 minutes ago

I don't recognize the mold number in your original post. Was that supposed to be 454424 instead of 454524?

I have an old Ideal marked mold that is a 452423. It is a 230 gr. Keith style wadcutter intended for the 45 auto rim. It resembles the 454424, but is shorter and has a wider meplat. I don't have an auto rim so I have never been able to use it in its intended cartridge. It worked well as a bullet in light loads for a 454 Casull.

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