.44 Magnum
.45 Colt
The 45 Auto Rim is an interesting proposition in the 625. For one thing, you can get a 250-grain bullet going 1,000 fps and not have to worry about someone shooting that ammo in a 1911.
With 250-grain bullets in my 4” Model of 1989, I got the best results with a heavy roll crimp and 45 AR cases. Most 45 ACP dies will give you a roll crimp if you screw them down far enough, but that puts a massive taper crimp on the case first. That can screw up the driving band on a SWC, which opens up groups. The crimping shoulder in a 45 Colt die is too high for the AR case to reach, so I got a buddy to cut the bottom half-inch or so off of a spare 45 Colt crimp die. It looks kinda hillbilly, but it makes a proper roll crimp without the taper crimp and those loads were demonstrably more accurate in that gun.
John Taffin has published good cast-bullet load data for the 45 AR. There's also a cult of 625 owners on the S&W forum. Those guys have lots expertise in using heavy cast bullets in the 45 AR.
Okie John
“The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
"Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's
Thanks again to all posters in the thread.
A coda:
So now I know I have a revolver, and a carbine, capable of my stated goals. They just don't share a chambering. Fine.
When I do get some higher horsepower guns, I think I will be looking at a .454 Cassul chambered revolver and carbine, downloaded into .44 mag territory.
REPETITION CREATES BELIEF
REPETITION BUILDS THE SEPARATE WORLDS WE LIVE AND DIE IN
NO EXCEPTIONS
Bumping this up.
The great thing about .44s and .45s in terms of effectiveness, is that they really do not require tops speeds. 900-1100 FPS and a heavy slug will pretty much do all that needs done in most cases. This not only applies to revolvers, but for autos as well.
A .45 Colt 250 grain projectile at 900-950 FPS has long been known as an extremely effective man and animal stopper. A .45 ACP using a heavy for caliber projectile, such as a 250-255 grain flat point at the same speed tends to be quite effective as well.
In todays age of "9mm is just as good as .40 cal, which is just as good as a .45, which is just as good as a .50" line of thinking, we seem to have forgotten that.
I seem to recall reading a post by Darryl Bolke about how his department had a great deal of success with the +P 230gr HST.
IIRC that one clocks in around 950fps
While I have no concerns carrying a vetted 9mm JHP, if the stupid law that is in the senate comes to pass here (magazine restrictions) I will also have few concerns carrying a 1911, Glock 30, HK45 or M&P45 or any other type of .45 that can launch a +P 230gr JHP.
Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk
I remember reading that a key War Department requirement for the 45 Colt cartridge was the ability to kill a horse at 100 yards, which makes sense given that the US was in the middle of exterminating the Plains Indians at that time. The original 45 Colt load moved a pointed 255-grain bullet at 1,050 fps, which was later cut by a couple of hundred feet per second. Either way, if it will kill a horse, then it will kill anything smaller with ease.
Upgrade bullet design to a flat-nose SWC and performance gets even better.
Okie John
“The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
"Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's
Fwiw I'm really enjoying my m625 mg. I just sent the cylinder to TK customs for moon clip milling.
I'm thinking it might be my competition gun next year if it shoots ACP well enough.