info needed about S&W model 25

The 25-5 with a pinned barrel (which this one has) had issues with oversized throats. When the -5 was converted to a non pinned barrel the throat issue was corrected. Some 25-5 with a pinned barrel have correct throat diameters but without measuring you have no way of knowing. If you plan on shooting jacketed ammo this should not be an issue.
On to ammo, the gun should be able to handle all standard 45 colt ammo. You should not use the heavy (300gr and up) house loads. Save those for a Ruger.
If you really want to shoot heavy loads I have a Ruger 45 colt 3 screw that I would sell, it is real choice.
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And here is my 25-5, I usually shoot a 250gr bullet under 8-9grd of unique.
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Buffalo Bore's Standard Pressure .45 LC ammo should be fine, but their Heavy .45 LC +P loadings should not be used in a S&W.
 
The hot stuff from Buffalo Bore can be shot in the newer .45 colt S&W's with the frame mounted firing pins, heavier frames and full lug barrels. Not that the firing pin has anything to do with the strength, but it easily identifies the newer frames.

I had a 625 Power port 6.5" in .45 Colt that took a lot of heavy loads, and a friend wanted it so bad he offered me more than I paid for it. It's still running fine and he's killed several deer with it with "Ruger only" loads. Of course, it's on the newer style frame which is ever so slightly slightly heavier.

Running those loads through a vintage 25 will only loosen it up or wreck it.
 
Running those loads through a vintage 25 will only loosen it up or wreck it.
Well spoken Andy!
I have owned my 25 for over 30 years and shoot it a lot. Lead 255 GR with nice moderate loads and it’s as tight as the day it was new.
A 25 is one of those great guns that everyone should have in their collection, but they do need to be treated with respect.
 
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The frame has zero to due with handling heavy .45 Colt Loads. The weak spot is the cylinder stop notches in the cylinder. There is only a few thousandths of an inch of steel there and that is where the cylinder will rupture.

While there is at least one "noted" pistol guru/gunsmith who claims that the heavy loads can be used safely in the M25's, Smith & Wesson vehemently denies this. Therefore, if you bulge or rupture a cylinder, you're on your own. Just because you haven't had a problem so far shooting high pressure ammo thru your Smith, it doesn't mean that you won't in the future. Most catastrophic failures not linked to a gross loading error such as a double charge are due to incremental damage due to use of over pressure ammo. Everything will seem fine until the weak spot finally lets go. As soon as this happens, you go from a zero percent failure rate to a one hundred percent failure rate on your gun.

In the end, it's your gun, hand, eyes and face and everybody need to do what he feels is best but realized that you are proceeding at your own risk.

Personally, I like my guns and appendages just the way they are and heed what Smith & Wesson has to say in this instance because they seem to know a little more about this gun than I.

;)

Bruce
 
Well said Bruce. Thats exactly why I avoid the heavy over pressure loads SOME people love to shoot in their Rugers. I always figured if I actually needed that kind of power I'd just buy a 44 magnum or a 454. Why strain a nice gun with ammunition it was never designed for?
 
Well said Bruce. Thats exactly why I avoid the heavy over pressure loads SOME people love to shoot in their Rugers. I always figured if I actually needed that kind of power I'd just buy a 44 magnum or a 454. Why strain a nice gun with ammunition it was never designed for?
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Amen this. Just because you "can" doesn't mean you should. The 25 is a joy to shoot with standard load 45 Colt ammo. Why muck it up?
 
There seem to be two different issues being discussed here. Even if you never achieve pressures high enough to cause the chamber to rupture shooting a lot of heavy loads through a S&W will pound it enough to make it go out of time, peen the ratchets and generally loosen up. It's not so much a "safety" thing as it is shortening the useful life of the gun. Of course handloaders have been managing to blow up S&Ws and Rugers for many years.:rolleyes:
 
I got into reloading the .45 Colt a couple years ago. Started out with a Taurus cowboy gun, then bought a rossi Puma 1892 20" octagonal barrle. Bought a Ruger 4 5/8 Blackhawk, the a S&W 25-15, -13 and -7.

Standard to light loads in the S&Ws, standard to heavy in the Ruger. The '92 Rossi will handle a really hot load,my shoulder won't.

Correct bore sizes were an issue on the early 25-5. Mine are all great.

The gun pictured in the link looks to be a very interesting gun. I'm not sure how much you are looking for a collector or a shooter.
 
There seem to be two different issues being discussed here.
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No, actually it's not because the M25 shares the same lockwork and parts as a M29 and as long as you don't shoot magnum loads with bullets heavier than 250 grains, they have good design life before the advancing hand or cylinder stop needs attention. To some extent, all Smith N Frames need this sort of maintenance just as cars eventually need tires and brakes.

Correct bore sizes were an issue on the early 25-5.
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Actually, I think what you're referring to here is the chamber throat diameters in the cylinder and not the bore diameter.

Anyway...........

;)

Bruce
 
I need another 25. My favorite load for the .45 Colt is 6 gr of bullseye and an H&G 130 200 gr wadcuttter. Very accurate in most revolvers.

Doug
 
I've always been partial to the model 25, my 25-5 is probably the single most accurate handgun I own. Mostly I use jacketed bullets in it (Hornady XTPs) which will put 6 rounds in 2" at 25yds. I haven't loaded lead bullets since I first got it but it does seem that the chamber throats are a bit oversized since a .452" bullet will drop right through the chambers. I really should cast those chambers and see what they measure. I do load my M25 a little hot, but with no signs of over pressure and I don't shoot a lot of the hot stuff. I've been looking for another M25 with a 4-6" barrel for years, no one has one locally though so eventually I'll probably end up buying online. I'm of the opinion that this would make the perfect deer hunting handgun and would take the place of my 8 3/8" barreled M25 in that role.

Stu
 
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