I heard SW made a 45acp version of the N frame mountain gun and many people loved it and want them to do another run. I dont understand this at all since I thought you wanted magnum performance for protection from animals. What am I missing here? The 45 long colt sounded perfect with magnum loads but I heard you cant use them in the light weight mountain gun. But the 45acp sounds like a terrible choice due to trajectory and energy.
Why the heck a 45acp mountain gun?
- Thread starter timothy75
- Start date
Not everyone buys a Mountain Gun to go to the mountains. I like my 629 Mountain Gun because it is lighter than a standard 629 for everyday carry. I shoot 210 grain W-W Silvertips, more power than 44 Special but no so much that I can't hit multiple targets with it. To me, the skinny barrel of the Mountain Gun looks good, like the original Magnum (Model 27). I just wish they would make a 3 1/2 inch. That was the best looking revolver Smith & Wesson ever made. The 2 1/2 inch 66/19 looks good also, but the original M-27 3 1/2 was beautiful.
I recently switched to a 625 in 45 ACP due to my departments desire to reduce the types of furnished ammo to either 357 SIG or 45 ACP. Now that I've gotten used to the full moon clips, they allow me to reload my revolver much faster than with speedloaders plus my speedloader pouches hold 9 clips loaded with 45ACP but only 6 speedloaders loaded with 44 Magnum.
If 45ACP is your caliber and you want a good looking revolver that is a little lighter to carry, the 45 ACP Mountain Gun is the ticket. The next thing I want is a 325 for off duty/backup and then a 625-10 for a boot gun.
The idea behind the original Model 29 Mountain Revolver was a slightly lighter anti-bear gun, but a lot of people bought them who never venture into bear country. They just like the way they look and feel, so why not make them available in whatever caliber the person wants to shoot.
I recently switched to a 625 in 45 ACP due to my departments desire to reduce the types of furnished ammo to either 357 SIG or 45 ACP. Now that I've gotten used to the full moon clips, they allow me to reload my revolver much faster than with speedloaders plus my speedloader pouches hold 9 clips loaded with 45ACP but only 6 speedloaders loaded with 44 Magnum.
If 45ACP is your caliber and you want a good looking revolver that is a little lighter to carry, the 45 ACP Mountain Gun is the ticket. The next thing I want is a 325 for off duty/backup and then a 625-10 for a boot gun.
The idea behind the original Model 29 Mountain Revolver was a slightly lighter anti-bear gun, but a lot of people bought them who never venture into bear country. They just like the way they look and feel, so why not make them available in whatever caliber the person wants to shoot.
buzz meeks
New member
Read up on your Elmer Keith, too. This is a revolver and does not have the same constraints that an automatic chambered in 45 ACP does. Keith and others found they could run cast 255 SWCs and similar hunting-style bullets at velocities that match the old 45 Colt blackpowder specs. These revolver-only ACPs don't have the range and trajectory of the heavy magnums but they would make dandy thumpers for defensive work against any animal.
"Keith and others found they could run cast 255 SWCs and similar hunting-style bullets at velocities that match the old 45 Colt blackpowder specs."
Back in the old pin shooting hayday lots of us loaded 255 SWC's for our 25's and 625's. Moved the pins off the table with authority.
Back in the old pin shooting hayday lots of us loaded 255 SWC's for our 25's and 625's. Moved the pins off the table with authority.
Why NOT a .45ACP moutain gun?
Magtech has a 230gr JHP .45acp +P listed at 1,007 fps. That is pretty hot and would take care of any animal I might see in the moutains here.
Not too hot, .like a 44mag and up, for follow up shots. Six of those in a rock solid, reliable, quick loading (with moon clips), easy handling, perfect pointing, and accurate 4 or 6 inch revolver sounds ideal to me.
Actually, what could be better for animals less than big bear?
Along this train of thought, how about the Taurus .45acp Tracker? Has anyone tried one out yet? They are only 5 shots, but WOW, look at that price.
JRLaws
Magtech has a 230gr JHP .45acp +P listed at 1,007 fps. That is pretty hot and would take care of any animal I might see in the moutains here.
Not too hot, .like a 44mag and up, for follow up shots. Six of those in a rock solid, reliable, quick loading (with moon clips), easy handling, perfect pointing, and accurate 4 or 6 inch revolver sounds ideal to me.
Actually, what could be better for animals less than big bear?
Along this train of thought, how about the Taurus .45acp Tracker? Has anyone tried one out yet? They are only 5 shots, but WOW, look at that price.
JRLaws
I load my Smith 625-9, .45 Colt Mountain Gun with Georgia Arms 200 grain Gold Dot HPs, which provides 1100 FPS velocity ten feet from the muzzle. I respectfully suggest that is a formidable load for defense against all “East of the Mississippi” critters (two or four legged) and for all sports shooting.
True...
But Clark will convert a 625 to 460 Rowland for $99.
I don't see any reason why a MG couldn't be converted.
The 460 Rowland delivers a 230 gr @ 1350 fps.
For comparison, the big 3 (Rem/Win/Fed) all load their 240 gr .44magum to only 1180 fps.
So, even though you can't use the jacked up .45 Colt loads, you can still beat some factory .44mag offerings.
Lloyd Smale
Moderator
got to say that i have 4 inch n frames in every caliber that smith made them in and of all of them the 625 is my favorite with the 610 running a close second. I just love shooting those moon clip guns.
Boarhunter
New member
Two guns ranking right up near the top of my list of "most favorite" revolvers include the Smith model 625 (stainless) and the Smith model 325 (scandium). The first shoots like a dream, and the second carries like a cloud. With +P factory or reloaded ammo, you have all of the power you need short of a large bear attack; and purchased in bulk, you can buy all of the ammo you need for plenty of practice, all on a beer budget. And the moon clips make loading fast and easy, particularly when you use the polymer RIMZ instead of the old military-style metal clips.
From my perspective, the question is not "why?"; the question is "why not?"
Boarhunter
From my perspective, the question is not "why?"; the question is "why not?"
Boarhunter