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I shoot a S&W 25-5 45 LC. I've loaded 11grs of Unique behind a sierra 300 gr jacket with no problems.(1,000 fps) Tonight I'm loading 12.4 grs of unique behind a 250 gr nosler HP. Why not ?
45 LC and heavy charges of Unique
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Unique is a pretty fast powder and I've read, although not experienced, gun frames being basically rattled apart. The highest load I've seen using Unique is 13 gr. with a 250gr. bullet, so I'd say that'd be fine. I currently use 11 behind a 255gr. LSWC for a midrange load. I am shooting a Ruger New Model Blackhawk, however, so not familiar with the Smiths. Hopefully, if there's an issue, someone else will pitch you some firm data on your revolver specifically. 8)
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Alliant Unique is a bit fast for this type loading in the Model 25 S&W.
I would reduce my Unique loads below 10.0 grains for the thin wall cylindder of the S&W.
To push the 250--grain bullets to 1,000 fps or perhaps 1,050 fps I would use Alliant 2400. You will find 16.5 grains of 2400 will break 1,000 from a 5" barrel using the 250-grain Hornady and Nosler bullets.
Personaly I am happier in the 900 fps range for a maximum load with the S&W revolver.
8.0 grains of Unique is my normal maximum using Jacketed 250- to 260-grain bullets in the Model 25. I get a little more adventerous using castbullets.
I would reduce my Unique loads below 10.0 grains for the thin wall cylindder of the S&W.
To push the 250--grain bullets to 1,000 fps or perhaps 1,050 fps I would use Alliant 2400. You will find 16.5 grains of 2400 will break 1,000 from a 5" barrel using the 250-grain Hornady and Nosler bullets.
Personaly I am happier in the 900 fps range for a maximum load with the S&W revolver.
8.0 grains of Unique is my normal maximum using Jacketed 250- to 260-grain bullets in the Model 25. I get a little more adventerous using castbullets.
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Sounds good
I think I will pick up some 2400 and do that .
I think I will pick up some 2400 and do that .
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The thinnest point on a S&W revolver chamber is at the cutout for the bolt and, unfortunately, is also the thinnest point of the cylinder which is why shooters like Ruger revolvers for hot loads.
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For what it is worth, Load Data has specific loads for S&W 25-5 and list max of 9.5 grains of Unique for your gun with 250 jacketed bullet. 2400 max is 17 grains for 260 grain jacketed bullet. I don't think you will gain more than about 200 fps if that.
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I don't want to push it
So even though I'm using Star line brass it doesn't make a difference ? This gun means to much to me to take the chance.
So even though I'm using Star line brass it doesn't make a difference ? This gun means to much to me to take the chance.
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I believe that you are pushing your gun past the point of safety - defined as not hurting the gun if not your person. Even if S&W will either fix it or send you a new/different gun. For example, 11 grains of Unique is a serious charge for a 300 grain jacketed bullet to get 1,000 fps. Have you nconsidered using hard cast bullets like they sell on this site? They go faster at same powder charge for equal weights and are easy on the barrel. A 300 grain hard cast with around 9 grains of Unique would get you in the 900's fps I bet. If you are hunting that would smoke just about anything on earth. Just a thought - but I am biased and will only use hard cast bullets and Unique.
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I'm listening
I'm gonna lower my charges
I'm gonna lower my charges
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My brother and my wife both have 5” Model 25’s. I prefer to load the 255-grain bullets. The 300-grain bullets have a bit more muzzle flip require a significant sight adjustment. 6.9 to 7.0 grains of Alliant Unique works well with the 300-grain RCBS bullet. This load will edge over 700 fps from the 5” barrels.
The Lyman 454424 255-grain bullet is a preferred plinker with us and 6.0 grains of Bullseye is the best load giving us about 750 fps from Starline brass. I don’t have a notebook in front of me now but we shoot the same load in the Taurus Thunderbolt pump rifle with good results. If we are shooting 45 Colt this most likely the load we are shooting.
The Lyman 454424 255-grain bullet is a preferred plinker with us and 6.0 grains of Bullseye is the best load giving us about 750 fps from Starline brass. I don’t have a notebook in front of me now but we shoot the same load in the Taurus Thunderbolt pump rifle with good results. If we are shooting 45 Colt this most likely the load we are shooting.
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Good idea. Speer's Loading Manual #12 recommends not more than 10.5 gr. Unique with a 300 gr. jacketed bullet. This load is meant to be shot in Ruger and Contender firearms only. The internal parts of a S&W Model 25 are not nearly as strong as those found in a Ruger. Please do not "hotrod" a Smith, or someday you could wind up with a handful of parts.
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I dropped load down to ?
I lowered my charge down to 10.5grs of unique behind a Nosler 250 gr JHP. Well they were accurate and ejected with out any resistance. But some will say its still to hot,and that fast powder is rattling my Frame ? I was thinking of trying 2400 . But I have to ask my self why ?Its not a 44 magnum.So I'm getting what I want out of it now.
I lowered my charge down to 10.5grs of unique behind a Nosler 250 gr JHP. Well they were accurate and ejected with out any resistance. But some will say its still to hot,and that fast powder is rattling my Frame ? I was thinking of trying 2400 . But I have to ask my self why ?Its not a 44 magnum.So I'm getting what I want out of it now.
Seems like most agree that around 9gr of Unique should be about max for the Smith. The books I checked say 8.7. Please keep us posted how long the Smith holds up with that load..
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So is 2400 and 4227 easier on the gun
So are these slower powders produce less pressure but same velocity ?
So are these slower powders produce less pressure but same velocity ?
How many of these loads are you shooting per session? I am not familiar with the smith in 45 colt but i have shook everything loose that can come loose on few saa's some to the point of damage! using heavy charges of unique and 260 grain bullets. I now shoot mild loads in those guns and keep plenty of thread locker in the shooting box.
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Not exactly, they are doing other things for you such as changing the location/time of the pressure curve peak and altering the recoil impulse.
I don’t have apples to apples comparisons of jacketed bullet load data with pressure information.
I do have quite a bit of apples to apples cast bullet pressure data. Here is some stuff for the Lyman 452424 255-grain bullet fired from a 7” pressure barrel. I looked for approximately equal pressure to give you an idea of velocity difference between the powders.
8.0 grains of Alliant Bullseye ahead of the 255-grain 452424 produces 24,000 CUP for 1,021 fps.
10.5 grains of Alliant Unique ahead of the 255-grain 452424 produces 24,800 CUP for 1,050 fps.
12.0 grains of Alliant 800X ahead of the 255-grain 452424 produces 24,800 CUP for 1,139 fps
24.0 grains of IMR 4227 ahead of the 255-grain 452424 produces 24,400 CUP for 1,192 fps.
18,5 grains of Alliant 2400 ahead of the 255-grain 452424 produces 25,100 CUP for 1,266 fps.
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How much pressure can my smith take ?
Can my smith take 25,000 psi ?
Can my smith take 25,000 psi ?
After posting a reply to your thread yesterday, thought I would research this a little farther. According to John Linebaugh, newer S&W 25-5, can take up to 32,000 psi ABSOLUTE MAX, work to slowly. His personal loads he keeps to 25,000. His words not mine. You can look up his writings. Very good reading.. He knows a heck of a lot more than I do about these things, but I've not seen in any reloading books, "Ruger, contender, and S&W 25-5 loads only"...your choices, good luck.
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