S&W 625 JM .45ACP for Hunting

[petepaaz]

     As a 1911 .45ACP fan, I've been thinking about adding a S&W 625JM  for trail/hunting/self-defense purposes here in AZ. We have critters ranging from rattlesnakes to black bear (up in the mountains). How HOT can this gun/cartridge be loaded safely....plus how reliable and accurate is this gun in the real world?

[Larry Gibson]

While I've not used a 625JM (assuming 4" barrel?) I have loaded the .45AR into +P range with a couple other revolvers.  I do suggest the use of 45AR cases to preclude the possibility of any of these loads getting into a .45 ACP pistol.  I use Speers 185 Gold Dot HP or Hornady's 185 gr XTP for such loads.  I use SR 4756 powder, R-P cases and WLP primers.  You are getting into unknown territory with +P loads in the 45AR and should proceed cautiously.  My loads are right at 1200 fps out of 4" barrels.  I will probably give Power Pistol powder a try when my current can of SR4756 is used up. For cast bullets I cast a flat based 200 gr SWC out of WWs + 2% tin and water quench them.  I load them over 7.5 gr of Unique for very close to 1000 fps.  If you don't want to push into +P range then there is lots of standard .45 ACP data available.  Keep in mind most 45AR data keeps the psi low in deference to older M1917 revolvers.

Larry Gibson

[tacklebury]

Interesting article that I have emulated successfully with my NMB Convertible.  Really sharp recoil if you take the loads to full, but really amazing performance from a typically sluggardly round.  I just mark my hot load cases with a red Sharpie around the bottom of the case and can tell right away if it's a hot one that way.  I also keep my carbine level RL7 rounds in .45 LC and the hot .45 ACP in a separate orange plastic storage box, so if I want hot, I have to get them purposefully.    I know your smith isn't a blackhawk, but there may be some data that can be gleaned from the article.

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=41

[Lloyd Smale]

ive pushed 255s to 900fps in acp and auto rim brass and a load like that would do fine on deer pigs and bear. to be honest ive never shot anything with my 625 using those loads but have shot a bunch of game with the 45 colt loaded just like that. As a matter of fact my 625 is more accurate with the 255s then it is with any of the cast acp bullets.

[kynardsj]

When I had my 625 I was making my own 200 gr SWC hardcast for the acp's. I wasn't looking for a screaming load so I went with a reloading manual that called for this bullet over 7.0 grains of Unique for 1000 fps. Extremely accurate, cheap to shoot and I took two whitetails with it. Both were in the 30-35 yard range but it did the job well. I don't know if these rounds would have cycled in a 1911 because of the bullet shape but no problem in the revolver.

[shot1]

I use to use the RCBS mold # 45-200SWC cast from wheel weights and 7 grs Unique in a Colt 1911A1 to kill deer with. All shots were inside 50 yards and it would drill a 45 cal hole clean through a deer broadside. They would run off about 30 to 50 yards like a bow shot deer before they went down for the count. I was pretty pooooooor at the time and times were tough just keeping a roof over the family. I could not afford a rifle but had a shot gun and an old fellow gave me the Colt for some work I did for him. It was in pretty bad shape with not much finish and the barrel looked like a 100 year old chimney. He said that he brought it back from WWII after taking it off a dead Jap. It had pits on one side that looked like blood had caused rust to pit it. I knew a fellow that was in the National Guard and I was telling him about the pistol with the worthless barrel. A couple of weeks later he walked up to me and handed me a paper bag. It had a brand new barrel and spring in it  . I ask no questions of where it came from  . A friend let me use his bullet molding stuff and loading tools to make up my loads. I could keep the family in deer meat pretty cheap that way. It was much cheaper to shoot a bunch of deer with the pistol than it was to have to use a store bought shot gun buck shot shell to kill one with. In East NC where I lived at the time deer were plentiful and the season was long and they let you kill a bunch. 

[petepaaz]

    Thanks for your responses so far......I'm encouraged by the versatility of the gun and loads. Was wondering if anyone has heard anything about mechanical problems/ lack of durability associated with using MIM parts which S&W is doing more these days......as a Ruger guy from way back I love the robustness Ruger traditionally has had.......can I expect anything comparable?

[Ak.Hiker]

If you do not reload both Buffalo Bore and Double Tap are loading 255 grain cast Auto Rim loads. I carry the 250 grain hardcast loaded to 900 fps or a little more. This load hits plenty hard and is pretty easy on the gun.

[HGunner]

I've got a 5.5" Ruger SS Bisley 45 colt/45 acp.  The accuracy with 45 colt is good but the accuracy with acp is amazing.  I'm getting 1" groups at 25yds with ball ammo.  I don't reload and recently tried Hornady 230 gr XTP +P loads (listed as 950 fps in a 5" barrel) which are also very accurate.  This makes for cheap practice ammo and readily aviailable working ammo. I am tempted to try some deer hunting this season with the Hornady ammo (up to 50 yds). Anybody have experience with similar ammo?

[petepaaz]

     HGunner.....I also have a Ruger SS Bisley Blackhawk with 5 & 1/2" barrel and have found the 45ACP fairly accurate with hardball loads. I have some of the Hornady +P 230 hr XTP's which I haven't tried yet. Unfortunately, shortly after starting this thread I discovered my youngest daughter (a nursing student) has 4 impacted wisdom teethe....and I have put the Ruger Bisley and my Marlin 1895CB on consignment to help defray dental costs....which means my S&W 625JM purchase will be put on hold.  I still have 2 1911 .45ACP's which are keepers for sure. They are my favorite handguns.
     Appreciate your feedback along with everyone else's.......Pete

[HGunner]

Sorry to hear about you having to sell your guns.  I certainly can recommend the Bisley 45 to any prospective buyer.  It has become one of my favorite guns.  My most used deer/pig gun is a Ruger Bisley in 44 magnum and my favorite plinker/range gun is the Bisley 45 with the acp cylinder.  As a non-handloader it is much cheaper to shoot 45 acp than 44 special.

[Dale53]

I have two 625's (a 625-6 Model of 1989 with 5" barrel and a 625-8 JM Special with 4" barrel). A very reliable game getter bullet is the Lyman 454424 250 gr Keith (I use a clone that I cast from an NOE mould). You can safely drive this bullet at 900+ fps and it will shoot through a deer at 100 yards (although it might be more prudent to limit your maximum range to 50-75 yards). Using 7.0 grs of Unique is not hard on the revolver, either.

My everyday target load is a Mihec #68 200 gr SWC ahead of 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent (currently using 5.1 of DuPont PB for approximately the same velocity).

This is a MOST versatile revolver and makes an excellent field pistol when loaded correctly.

FWIW
Dale53

[TommyD]

Accurate Powder has published a 45 AR load using No. 9 powder and the 255 grain SWC Lyman 452424 at
http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/45Cal(11.5mm)/45%20Auto%20Rim%20page%20141.pdf
They list the gun as a 625-2 with a 6.5 inch barrel giving 874 fps with a pressure of 14,400 cup. This is a safe manufacturer published load and easily competes with the old 45 Colt peacemaker black powder loads.

I have the 4 inch barrel and the load is accurate in my pistol.

I would be real careful with this gun loading hot unpublished loads. The smiths are nice guns, but I don't think they will stand up to the "Ruger Only" pressures that the blackhawks can take. I have seen people writing that they have loaded the ACP up to 460 Rowland levels in the Blackhawk. Maybe it's safe in a blackhawk  and maybe it isn't. I don't know and don't advocate it. But I don't believe the Smiths will stand up to the Ruger pressures.

Tom