S&W 625 45acp load recommendations

Dale53

Active Member
The problem is the “bare” .45 ACP cartridges will work in some and not in others. Brian Pearce covered this in some detail. Tommy Campbell, retired S&W Professional Competitor and employee shared his view in the same issue of the Handloader. The specs WERE changed. One if my 625’s works fine without the clips, the other does not.

I made up my mind that to avoid ANY problem I will not be trying to use ACP’s without the clips.

P.S. the issue of the Handloader that discusses this is HL #257. The full length article on the .45 Auto Rim along with “clip details” will be found in HL #254.

YMMV,
Dale53
 
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Walks

Well-Known Member
I have 2 100rd boxes of ACP loaded in the 1/3 clips. They are handy. I also have 2 MTM 100rd 44/45 "blank" boxes loaded with 1/2 clipped ammo and full moon clipped ammo. Don't know if MTM still offers them, but they are handy for the clipped ammo.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
How curious......that a wartime expediency 103 years old--clipped autopistol ammo--survives and thrives in this age of striker-fired plasticating bottom-feeder sidearms. Gotta be reasons for that, and I think it has to do with the caliber itself. 45 ACP is no thunder-gun like the 44 Magnum, but it is accurate, cast-bullet-friendly, and sufficiently powerful for its designed purpose--putting armed aggressors on their nalgas decisively--and still be controllable by most users. FBI had to tone down their 10mm about 25% from the Norma level to enable most agents to qualify with their S&W 10XX-series pistols. We have that move to thank for birthing the 40 Short & Weak, which seems (after 30 years of acceptance) to be the approximate equal of the 45 ACP when it comes to fight-stopping.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
Those 1st Norma loads were HOT. Put 100rds through My brand new Colt, rattled My eye teeth.
It's no wonder the FBI went to the 10mm Lite load.
And S&W and Winchester jumped on the bandwagon, created the 40S&W with the same ballistics in a smaller case. And that had a good run for 20yrs+.
Or maybe it was Federal and not Winchester.
 

Dale53

Active Member
I have added a P.S. to my above comments with the HL issues in questions regarding use of the clips with ACP ammo in these late revolvers.
 

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
...I made up my mind that to avoid ANY problem I will not be trying to use ACP’s without the clips...


YMMV,
Dale53

I agree. Easier to load the moons and not have to worry about the potential problem in the newer revolvers.

Kevin
 

Dale53

Active Member
NOTE;
I don't pretend to understand it, but Brownell's has those RIMZ clips at a REALLY good price compared to the price listed at the RIMZ company direct. Understand, the RIMZ company's prices include shipping. You might want to check it out:


It might be a good time to order out a BUNCH to minimize the cost on shipping per clip????

Me, I have a bunch;)...

FWIW
Dale53
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
I've had a 6"×3/8" dowel in My Shooting box for 40yrs. It, like the Ruger & Luger clip loading devices are jusy there when or if I need them.
While I can't remember the last I needed it, It's still there.

Auto Rim cases are just better. And like I said before, the clips are fun to use every now and then.