Model 25 Classic

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Many years back the Model 25 suffered from oversized throats, some as large as .457. Oddly they seem to have some collector value but froma shooter point of view pretty worthless.

The 45 Colt is a grand old cartridge even with SAAMI level loads. Just a really big 44 special really. A 250 gr bullet at 750-800 FPS is nothing to sneeze at.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
My 200 grainers are seated case mouth even with front drive band and given a light roll crimp. Deep seating won't hurt anything in those cavernous hulls with such short drive band sections.

My 1980-vintage Model 25-2 (45 ACP/AR) had wide throats as well, .455"-.456". The S&W 44 and 45 caliber revolvers had this flaw well into the 1980s. Ruger 44 and 45 throats often show the opposite problem--throats too small for their groove diameters. (That you can remedy easily). Nicely enough, S&W's 41 Magnum 57-series variants and the 58 had PERFECT throating at .410"; the several S&W and Ruger 41 Magnums I have owned have all had perfect throating and groove diameters. The 41 Magnum is a MUCH LESS COMPLICATED revolver to create good ammo for.

But what fun are EASY calibers?
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Just ordered a set of new stocks for the revolver. Went with blue black G10 to match what I put on my 1911.
Factory stocks are too slick for taste and the G10 will be far gripier.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Gripier. The ones I have hardly complain at all
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Many years back the Model 25 suffered from oversized throats, some as large as .457. Oddly they seem to have some collector value but froma shooter point of view pretty worthless.

The 45 Colt is a grand old cartridge even with SAAMI level loads. Just a really big 44 special really. A 250 gr bullet at 750-800 FPS is nothing to sneeze at.
I have a buddy who got so over wrought about his .456" throats in his Model 25 he sold it. I got a Gen 3 SAA with .456" throats. I simply load 230 grain rnfp bevel base bullets that drop at .456". It works perfectly. Isn't this why we are hand loaders, to be able to diagnose an issue, create a solution, and enjoy the shooting?
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
That is why But it can also be a pain to find a mould that drops .456.
I was willing to live with anything under .454. The throats are a nice .453 so it isn’t an issue for me.
kinda nice being able to make up custom sizers specific to a single gun.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I used to be that way but now I've swung back to the #$&&@* firearm needs to be made to $&#*@! proper specifications or I'm gonna remake it the right way or sell it. Life is too short to drink cheap booze or coddle to pos out of spec guns, especially because I really love just a few calibers and want them all to shoot the same ammunition well.
 

Bisley

Active Member
I am beginning to feel left out. Last month marks 20 years since I last fired my 6" Anaconda .45 Colt. I bought an antique single cavity 454190 and cast for it five years ago, but sold the bullets during one of several moves. I am gonna fix that when I get back to the US. Honest.
 

Bisley

Active Member
Rick,

I am in Mongolia on missions work for my church. I'll be back in December. It's just a matter of getting the bench installed and attached to the concrete poured foundation wall in the garage and I am in business. I have arrangements to get that done upon return. I was supposed to get the bench put in place before I left, but I threw my back out cutting firewood. Since we bought the house, it's been five years of when I get the mould / cowboy dies / bench installed / etc. before I can go to the range with some of the men from church and exercise the only revolver I ever purchased new.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Wow, those new grips are GRIPPY! If I fired a couple hundred I could see the palm getting a bit sore. I do like them however.

Fired 100 rounds today. All loaded were the NOE 454424 with 6 gr of Promo and a Tula LP in Starline brass. Crimp was a bit light, that will be changed next time. All bullets were powder coated using a powder that has given good results in many other guns.

I wanted to see if the gun had a preference for either .452 or .453 bullets. The .452 seem a little loose, the .453 a bit snug.

All firing was done at 10 yards indoors.

This is the .452 group
26D25DDC-86F6-4256-B8F9-6E51D1911498.jpeg
This is the .453 group
D54AA5AB-7210-4BE9-A61A-1EC13B339C0D.jpeg
There was leading in the bore. I fired the .452 first so I have no idea if that size gave leading or not but can be pretty sure that .453 did. The leading is in the area that usually means thread choke but I can’t find signs otherwise yet. A .444 pin gauge slides easily the length of the bore, a .445 won’t enter the muzzle. That doesn’t mean choke isn’t present in the grooves but the lands don’t show signs.

Next time will be all .452 with the same load.