Bullets for a S&W Model 25 with .455 and .456" throats

I need some suggestions for bullets for a S&W Model 25-2, with cylinder throats that all pass a .455" pin gauge, and some will pass a .456" pin gauge.  I plan on doing lots of experimenting this winter.  

I have bought the following:  a NOE 453-238-SWC 5 cavity PB (453423) mold:  I expect this bullet to actually drop about .455 or .456"
                                                          Remington 250gr .455" Lead bullets intended for the .45 Colt:  https://www.midwayusa.com/product/532693/remington-bullets-45-colt-long-colt-455-diameter-250-grain-lead-round-nose  
                                          I also bought a quantity of several Dardas .45 products, unlubed and unsized, which I expect to be about .455", including 160, 185 and 200 grain bullets.  

Are there any others I should try?

It is probably time I asked this question. What difference does it make what size the cylinder throat is as long as it is not undersized? It has no riflings. The bullet is not expected to have anything happen to it before it goes into the forcing cone. I would think cylinder gap and bore would be much more important. I also have a 25-2 but have never worried about matching the bullet to the throat size. I shoot .451 jacketed and .452 lead bullets thru it and have superb accuracy. I have seen some undersize throats on a couple of 14s and a 19 I own but I never increased the bullet diameter when I had the throats reamed. I was taught to load to match the bore. Just curious.

Len

Greetings,

Oversize throats allow the bullet to tip off axis when fired. Also, the gasses leak by leading to Lead fouling.

Just from experience, I found that bullets sized to throat diameter (0.453", a model 625) shot ten ring at 50 yards easily. The gun with the larger throats (a model 25 with 0.456" throats) had trouble staying on the repair center at 50 yards with the 0.453" bullets.

You might encounter chambering issues with the large diameter bullets (0.456"). With brass having 0.010" wall thickness, the resulting loaded diameter would be near 0.476".

Looking forward to your test results.

Cheers,

Dave

My experiences so far with the pistol and soft .452" Lead bullets of the sort I shoot in 1911 autos have not been good.  I am trying to act on the suggestion to have the bullets fit the throat, and because the rifling is shallow go with a harder bullet.

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

Oversize throats allow the bullet to tip off axis when fired. Also, the gasses leak by leading to Lead fouling.

Just from experience, I found that bullets sized to throat diameter shot ten ring at 50 yards easily. The gun with the larger throats had trouble staying on the repair center at 50 yards.

Cheers,

Dave

 +1 my opinion also. Cylinder throat fit matters first.

I guess I must be confused about how that works. How do you load a .455 swc bullet into a 45 acp case and still have a .455 bullet after you have crimped it down to .463 (like I do) or even .470 like you would a jacketed bullet? I understand empirical evidence. If it doesn't work for you it doesn't work. I was just trying to figure out why mine works so well with all my 1911 ammo. Must have smaller throats.

Len

hehe..
Use .45 Cowboy brass. crimp to .470, used swaged bullets.
Revolvers, it's always been about the cylinder throats.
larger than bore with fitted bullet works.
smaller than bore dia throats never work.

Last time I checked, a .463 crimp on a .452 bullet only reduced it about .001 anyway.

Remington brass, at least the large batch I have, has really thin case walls.  I will try the big bullets with it, and the Cowboy brass.

Google up babe magnan, he used hard bullets and heavy loads.

Penn Bullets are another good source for specially sized slugs.

What would you use for jacketed bullets?

LenV wrote:What would you use for jacketed bullets?

Oh, a 1911!


Lol

Jacketed 200 gr Hornady in this offhand group. 




There were 4 more to the right at 3 oclock 9 ring just as good before a windage change.  The first of 10 shots was up at 10:30, then adjusted down but no windage yet. 
In other words that could have been a 10 shot group to be proud of. 
OK - never mind, I was only zeroing in.