Who makes wider 45 bullets (S&W 25-2)

Hi Guys,

I have a model 25-2 that didn't shoot accurately with my go to 45 load (185 grain lead SWC, 4.2 N310).  I also tried jacketed 185 grain Zeros without success. 

After reading up on these guns it sounds a wider diameter bullet will help improve things.  I've been looking around on the net and can't find any companies selling bullets wider than .452.  Please let me know if you know of any.  My first preference is coated, but I'll take whatever I can get.

Thanks,
Dave

No help.  

Not much consolation, but lubed 4and sized 454" bullets can fall through the cylnder on my 25-2.  The .454 boolets as cast and lubed by hsnd helped to improve the accuracy problem but did not help as much as I had hoped. R&R the cylinder and barrel cone expense  was't  worth the potential gain to me.

Edit to add:  zThere are .454 cast boolets available. from private casters.

Penn Bullets
https://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html
They have some fat ones;)
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:Penn Bullets
https://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html
They have some fat ones;)
Jon

As Penn bullets says, “It is important to measure the cylinder throats on your gun to get a proper fit to insure the best accuracy.”  This will tell you what size you need and will eliminate the guessing.  Also, you want to size each cylinder.

If it helps any, the bullet bore shank length plays a big part  in this.  If your 185 is a short stubby H&G #68 style where they made the shank shorter, it won’t be accurate.  I’ve shot regular size (.452) cast and swaged lead bullets just fine in my 25, but I keep the bore shank length on the bullet quote long.
The attached target was shot with Bear Creek Supply swaged .452 SWC bullets.

Try more propellant, or different propellant. Are you getting excessive leading? Revolvers often like more crimp than autos. Does any load shoot well out of the gun? Some considerations pertaining to the above questions, may help limit your quest variables.

Thank you for the excellent advice.  

I have a special place in my heart for those guns that are accurate out of the box and not too picky with ammo.

Dave

Super Dave wrote:Thank you for the excellent advice.  

I have a special place in my heart for those guns that are accurate out of the box and not too picky with ammo.

Dave

Some 25s aren’t too picky, but some are.  

Get a copy of Handloader magazine for February 2017.  They have a large article on loading for the Auto Rim cartridge.  They talk some about developing accuracy loads.  The best shooting with a 200 gr lead bullet was 4.5 Titegroup.  https://www.wolfeoutdoorsports.com/handloader-306-february-2017/

. 

Just a thought...have you tried using one cylinder for 5 rounds and repeat in each chamber just to see if the inaccuracy is coming from particular chambers?

Hi,
I did not try one chamber at a time.  At the time I had some other gun projects that I was more interested in working on.  I tried a few groups with my favorite loads.  They were bad and I put the gun away and it hasn't been back out but I'd like to give it another shot.

Thanks for the magazine tip.  I ordered a copy.
DF

I have measurements somewhere but S&W Cylinder throats are different sizes, same with Ruger Blackhawks...  I have a few revolvers and the measurements were eye opening...

Most of the 25s seem to have .454 throats, but as always..YMMV.

Can I suggest you get a set of plug gauges and see what your cylinder throats actually are?  I bought a 25-2, expecting to see .454" throats.  All my pistol's throats will pass a .455" pin, and all of them will start a .456" pin, two of the throats actually will pass a .456" pin.  

I have bought some .456" bullets, and a .456" mold to cast more.

My 625 shoots the Dardas 160 swc with 4.0 BE really well. I tried both .452” & .453” bullets and got the same results. I slugged my barrel at .4527” &. The cylinders at .4518” per Matt Dardas

Thank you for suggesting the gages.  I order a set for 45 and 38.  I have a K38 that has never been accurate and I was contemplating selling it.  I was not aware of the chamber size issue.  Sure enough, my standard bullets drop through the chambers.  I wish I would have know about this previously since it could have possibly saved me a lot of time with a couple other older revolvers that I never found a load for and sold.  
I appreciate the input.  
Dave

Instead of going wider did you think of going softer? The old mini-ball concept in a revolver principle. Magtech makes a 100% lead bullet that should expand nicely to fill those rattle around areas. Their 158gr work great in my 38s. Grafs (Graf and Sons) has some in stock.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/75333

Good advice Len!

Bear Creek supply makes a 185 grain swaged HB 45 bullet. It is their 200 gr #68 clone withba hollow base.  It shot slightly better than the 200 I my 25-2.   

https://www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com/45swc185

Great resources.  Thank you very much.
DF

Hi Guys,

I finally got around to testing the cylinder throats with pin gauges.  They measure .455.  Penn Bullets go up to .455.  Does anyone know where to find quality .456 bullets?

I will order some the the hollow base bullets to try.

Thank you,
DF