so if my S&W 25-5 won't hold up to the hot loads, will my S&W 27-2 in 357 mag. be weak also? is thr ruger red hawk the only one? i sure like the smooth triggers on my smiths
I like the my 25-5 and 27-2 also. I do not use "Ruger Only" hot loads in the 25-5. My personal rule of thumb for the 25-5 is to limit my every day loads to those from the Speer Reloading manual or Lyman Pistol and Revolver manual in the "regular" load section. Some authors have suggested starting loads for the "Ruger Only" data can be used occasionally in the 25-5. 18.5 grains of 2400 isn't listed anymore for the .45 Colt, 1040 fps in my S&W 25-5 6 inch, but a chronograph should allow you to develop load data, starting below with WLP primers or similar and stopping at or below. I use a maximum 10.0 grains of Unique from my old Lyman 45th edition, long out of print, before pressure testing, but accurate and powerful, near 960 fps. There is a worhwhile increase in performance between SAA only loads and modern revolver loads, but no need to go past 21,000 psi, the level of .45 ACP +P loads used in the 625 .45 ACP revolvers. The ACP case is nearly the same diameter as the .45 Colt, resulting in the same cylinder wall thickness (.4760" and .4800" respectively), and I'm sure the modern 25-5 and 625 S&Ws are similarly manufactured, with the same heat treating and so on. The problem is a lack of test data for this level of performance. My handloads taken from current manuals exceed the factory velocities without exceeding pressure standards or straining the gun. 8.5 grains of Unique with 255 grain cast SWC comes from the Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook, for 845 fps nominal, 200 gr JHP with 9.5 grains of Unique, 934 fps nominal. If you prefer a JHP, the Speer Reloading Manual Number 12 lists: 12.5 Grains HS-6 with 200 grain JHP for 1081 fps, 13.0 grains of Blue Dot for 225 JHP, 1036 fps, 13.0 grains Blue Dot with 260 grain JHP for 941 fps. Speer uses a six inch S&W 25-5 to develop their data.
Factory .45 Colt 250 grain Speer Gold Dots give 722 fps from my 25-5, 900 fps nominal. Using Hornady 250 grain HP-XTP bullets and 13.0 grains of Blue Dot, I get 869 fps with WLP primers.
I don't handload for the .357 Magnum but like Magtech 158 grain JSP accuracy-wise. No reason this shouldn't be a good deer load but I have no proof of performance. The 27-2 is an excellent choice for use with .357 Magnum loads, since it is an N-Frame revolver. If a load is listed in any pressure tested, modern, reloading manual, do proper load development and enjoy!
