Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Disclaimer: When I speak of "accuracy," I'm not speaking of PPC National levels where score is king and the tightest possible group in the right place is the goal. For me, being able to consistently know that I can hit within a target of certain dimensions at a given distance defines "accuracy" or the lack of. Just wanted to clear that up as I've been told that I "don't have a clue" on what is meant by accuracy. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=132495&pagenumber=2
The Revolver: In '96, I bought an S&W Model 625-6 "Mountain Gun" in .45 Colt. The gun pictured is stock with no work having been done on it. The stocks were changed from Pachmayr Grippers to the more compact ones. The reason is that I like them better.
(Att: Terry Murbach: I've got some wooden stocks ordered, but they're not in yet. I am going to try what you suggested.)
Ammunition: Three loads were used with this revolver with one being factory and the other two, handloads.
CCI Blazer 200 gr GDHP
Rucker 255 gr CSWC
8.0 gr Unique
WLP primers
New Starline Cases
Hornady 250 gr XTP (moly-coated)
8.0 gr Unique
WLP primers
New Starline Cases
From Left to Right: Rucker SWC load, CCI Blazer, Hornady XTP load.
Just for grins and knowing that sand is NOT a good test medium for expansion, I fired three of the obviously light-loaded CCI Blazers and three of the XTPs into sand to see of any expanded at all. Here's the results and I took no measurements as I've not yet shot a deer or anything else made of sand! Anyway, not scientific at all, but interesting, at least to me.
The three recovered bullets are the 250 gr XTPs. The one on the right is the GDHP; I could not dig deep enough for the other two which I suspect did not open up.
I'll do some expansion tests in water along with some .44 Special tests in the future. I was surprised to see the XTP's fairly uniform expanison at .45 Colt speeds.
No chronograph work was done today as I wanted to find the loads I'd be interested in before messing around with that. I'd estimate the handloads at somewhere around 850 - 900 ft/sec. The 200 gr Blazer may be in the 800 to 850 ft/sec range judging only from felt recoil. It is noticeably less than the less-than-maximum handloads.
My goal for this handgun is to perhaps take some animals and use it at the range as well as something to tote in the field. If I can hit a playing card size target at 25 yards, I'm happy. If that's setting goals so low as to be "clueless," so be it. I shoot to please myself and no one else.
Shooting: Firing was done at 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards. All shots except @ 7 yds were made firing single-action. All of the 7 yard shots were fired double-action. More on that later.
Fifteen Yards:
Here's the 5-shot groups at this distance, fired slow-fire, standing w/2-hand hold. I fired groups w/CCI Blazer 200 gr GDHP three times as I never could get it to behave. Perhaps my particular gun doesn't like it or perhaps I just couldn't shoot it. I'm "clueless." The two handloads satisfied me and were consistently grouping well on these targets and others.
Next, firing in the same manner, I fired a group with each of the handloads at the same target.
At this distance, the two distinct groups can be seen, but as distances grow, they'll overlap as my ability to hold accurately becomes less precise.
At least that's what I expected..........and that's what happened.
Twenty-Five Yards:
At 25 yards, there's enough error that the groups do in fact overlap.
Fifty Yards: These shots were fired single-action, two-handhold, sitting at a bench with my arms and wrists resting on a coat on top of my range box. They are slow fire.
Five shots with the 255 gr CSWC and 250 gr XTP were used.
As far as I'm concerned, either load can be used w/o changing the sights for my purposes for this gun.
Seven Yards: This group was fired with the SWC handload and was fired 2-handed, standing, double-action and as fast as I could get a sight picture. I went ahead and did this as some folks have mentioned using this revolver for protection and the question of "What gun to use for protection against animals" seems a fairly frequent topic. Depending on the size of the animal, one should be able to put multiple hits in a reasonable sized area pretty quickly in "panic mode" if he can focus on what he needs to do...and do it.
I had 15 rnds left so I used them at 7 yards.
Observations: I was darned surprised at my being able to group as well as I did with a 4" revolver at the longer distance. Normally, I shoot longer-bbl'd revolvers at such distance. One of the targets shot at 50 yards was quite a bit tighter than the one shown, but I know it was a lucky fluke and the one shown is a more truthful representation....at least for me.
I was not surprised to get pretty decent groups. Folks familar with the .45 Colt round have frequently recommended the 8.0 gr Unique with a 250 or 255 gr bullet, enough so that I was pretty darned sure it would be a tight-shooting handload. I should've brought the chronograph, but was lazy. Oh, well, it'll be something fun for another day.
Recoil is not bad at all out of this N-frame and not so "sharp" as with the faster-stepping .357 magnum on up. It's a shove and there is a bit of muzzle flip, but we have a light bbl on the "Mountain Gun."
There were no pressure signs at all and cases extracted easily. There were no malfunctions.
Not loaded as hot as the .45 Colt round can be in more appropriate handguns for "hotrodding" rounds, it is hot enough for what I'll use it for, shooting Texas whitetail deer under fifty yards and most likely, under thirty-five. This might not be the load of choice for a fellow in Alaska or other places where creatures have large fangs, paws, and claws, but in my neck of the woods, it'll do nicely. Though not intended for it, I think it would also be a most sufficient round against any two-legged predators as well and is a comforting, relatively compact little package when toted about in a "tanker" type shoulder holster. Not built for speed, it is convenient for the hunter primarily using a rifle, but willing to take an animal close with his handgun if the opportunity presents itself.
Even though an N-frame, I find the revolver a comforting little package.
This one's giving my .44 Special a run for its money.
Best.
The Revolver: In '96, I bought an S&W Model 625-6 "Mountain Gun" in .45 Colt. The gun pictured is stock with no work having been done on it. The stocks were changed from Pachmayr Grippers to the more compact ones. The reason is that I like them better.
(Att: Terry Murbach: I've got some wooden stocks ordered, but they're not in yet. I am going to try what you suggested.)
Ammunition: Three loads were used with this revolver with one being factory and the other two, handloads.
CCI Blazer 200 gr GDHP
Rucker 255 gr CSWC
8.0 gr Unique
WLP primers
New Starline Cases
Hornady 250 gr XTP (moly-coated)
8.0 gr Unique
WLP primers
New Starline Cases
From Left to Right: Rucker SWC load, CCI Blazer, Hornady XTP load.
Just for grins and knowing that sand is NOT a good test medium for expansion, I fired three of the obviously light-loaded CCI Blazers and three of the XTPs into sand to see of any expanded at all. Here's the results and I took no measurements as I've not yet shot a deer or anything else made of sand! Anyway, not scientific at all, but interesting, at least to me.
The three recovered bullets are the 250 gr XTPs. The one on the right is the GDHP; I could not dig deep enough for the other two which I suspect did not open up.
I'll do some expansion tests in water along with some .44 Special tests in the future. I was surprised to see the XTP's fairly uniform expanison at .45 Colt speeds.
No chronograph work was done today as I wanted to find the loads I'd be interested in before messing around with that. I'd estimate the handloads at somewhere around 850 - 900 ft/sec. The 200 gr Blazer may be in the 800 to 850 ft/sec range judging only from felt recoil. It is noticeably less than the less-than-maximum handloads.
My goal for this handgun is to perhaps take some animals and use it at the range as well as something to tote in the field. If I can hit a playing card size target at 25 yards, I'm happy. If that's setting goals so low as to be "clueless," so be it. I shoot to please myself and no one else.
Shooting: Firing was done at 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards. All shots except @ 7 yds were made firing single-action. All of the 7 yard shots were fired double-action. More on that later.
Fifteen Yards:
Here's the 5-shot groups at this distance, fired slow-fire, standing w/2-hand hold. I fired groups w/CCI Blazer 200 gr GDHP three times as I never could get it to behave. Perhaps my particular gun doesn't like it or perhaps I just couldn't shoot it. I'm "clueless." The two handloads satisfied me and were consistently grouping well on these targets and others.
Next, firing in the same manner, I fired a group with each of the handloads at the same target.
At this distance, the two distinct groups can be seen, but as distances grow, they'll overlap as my ability to hold accurately becomes less precise.
At least that's what I expected..........and that's what happened.
Twenty-Five Yards:
At 25 yards, there's enough error that the groups do in fact overlap.
Fifty Yards: These shots were fired single-action, two-handhold, sitting at a bench with my arms and wrists resting on a coat on top of my range box. They are slow fire.
Five shots with the 255 gr CSWC and 250 gr XTP were used.
As far as I'm concerned, either load can be used w/o changing the sights for my purposes for this gun.
Seven Yards: This group was fired with the SWC handload and was fired 2-handed, standing, double-action and as fast as I could get a sight picture. I went ahead and did this as some folks have mentioned using this revolver for protection and the question of "What gun to use for protection against animals" seems a fairly frequent topic. Depending on the size of the animal, one should be able to put multiple hits in a reasonable sized area pretty quickly in "panic mode" if he can focus on what he needs to do...and do it.
I had 15 rnds left so I used them at 7 yards.
Observations: I was darned surprised at my being able to group as well as I did with a 4" revolver at the longer distance. Normally, I shoot longer-bbl'd revolvers at such distance. One of the targets shot at 50 yards was quite a bit tighter than the one shown, but I know it was a lucky fluke and the one shown is a more truthful representation....at least for me.
I was not surprised to get pretty decent groups. Folks familar with the .45 Colt round have frequently recommended the 8.0 gr Unique with a 250 or 255 gr bullet, enough so that I was pretty darned sure it would be a tight-shooting handload. I should've brought the chronograph, but was lazy. Oh, well, it'll be something fun for another day.
Recoil is not bad at all out of this N-frame and not so "sharp" as with the faster-stepping .357 magnum on up. It's a shove and there is a bit of muzzle flip, but we have a light bbl on the "Mountain Gun."
There were no pressure signs at all and cases extracted easily. There were no malfunctions.
Not loaded as hot as the .45 Colt round can be in more appropriate handguns for "hotrodding" rounds, it is hot enough for what I'll use it for, shooting Texas whitetail deer under fifty yards and most likely, under thirty-five. This might not be the load of choice for a fellow in Alaska or other places where creatures have large fangs, paws, and claws, but in my neck of the woods, it'll do nicely. Though not intended for it, I think it would also be a most sufficient round against any two-legged predators as well and is a comforting, relatively compact little package when toted about in a "tanker" type shoulder holster. Not built for speed, it is convenient for the hunter primarily using a rifle, but willing to take an animal close with his handgun if the opportunity presents itself.
Even though an N-frame, I find the revolver a comforting little package.
This one's giving my .44 Special a run for its money.
Best.
