Best bullet/load for 25-2?

I bought a M25-2 for the sole purpose of being able to shoot a 2700 all revolver. I'm curious as to what others have found to be accurate. I have Bullseye and WST but I'm not opposed to other powders.

Anything that's accurate in a 1911.

The 200 JSWC Hornady was great in my 1955 model >>>>>
4.8 BE in rimmed case

Is jacketed preferable to lead?

In mine it is

Mine liked a 185 Lead SWC with 3.5 grains of BE.  Very pleasant and a tack driver.

Wobbley wrote:Anything that's accurate in a 1911.

I spent a few days researching the same question on my 625-4. The internet and I came to the same conclusion as Wobbley.

Use whatever you are currently reloading 1911 with as a starting point and proceed with finer testing.

My 1911 target base loads:

185gr JHP 4.2gr BE
185gr LSWCHP 3.8gr BE

I use the Zero 185 JHP with 4.5 WST for long line and EIC. I'm hoping that groups well. I also have a bunch of 200gr SWC with 4.5 WST from before I switched to the Zero.

Greetings,

In the Model 25, how light of a load has anyone gone with the 185 grain J.H.P. Nosler/Zero?  Any concern about jacket/core separation with such light loads?

Thanks.

Jim

I've shot jacketed down to 3.7 gr BE with no issues in 1911. Would revolver really be much different? I know the gap between cylinder/barrel loses gas but is there a chance if seperation? I alwYs thought seperation was from too fast. Great question. I always figured to slow was either poor accuracy or squib :l)
Jon

Hello Jon,

Your experience matches mine.  I was thumbing through some older (1970's) manuals over the weekend and they stressed not to go too low with J.H.P.s in revolvers.  The jacket/core bonding technology is probably much better today than it was then.

Jim

In those old days, JHP were derived from the "half-jacketed bullets" that preceded them. There were definite concerns about core separation in the bore with those old tech bullets.  I believe Speer cautioned against light loads with their 146 gr. SJHP design.

The old 1/2 jackets would come off of low velocity.

Answering the OP my favorite load is 3.8gr BE and a 200 gr LSWC. I load that or 4.5gr and a 185 Zero JHP. I am not worried about recoil for slow fire so the hot ones work fine. I only use the good stuff for matches and train with the 200gr lead bullets. I can't really tell much difference but sometimes you only lose by 1 point.

Len

I'm going to slug the chambers and barrel. I think the throats are a little big. A 0.452" 200 gr LSWC goes through with not much effort. The zero 185 JHP drops right through.