hotrodded .45 AR loads??

13 September 2003, 05:24

Frank Nowakowski

Anyone done any real work with the .45 auto rim and modern components in a 25-2 or 625 Smith?? I have a 4" 625 and a buddy has an older 6 1/2" 25-2 and we thought of maybe filling our doe tags from a stand with the AR's. Range would be no more than 25 yds, probably shorter.

Thought of using a good 250 gr SWC, hardcast, in an auto rim case and enough Unique to get 950 to 1000 fps. I'm sure I have some data someplace on this but the idea just hit me so I thought I'd post it.

FN in MT

15 September 2003, 09:02

C1PNR

Frank,

Have you looked at "Top loads for 45 AR Bisley" under "Cast Bullets?"

Regards,

17 September 2003, 13:23

Frank Nowakowski

Just took a look......Thank You

23 September 2003, 04:43

casper_zip

Hello:

I have plenty of hot loads for the 45 AR, and use them all the time. My loads will fully equal the 41 Mag, and in the 44 Mag range, also. I got these loads from Speer #10 Manual which I still have, and also from older magazine articles. Send me your email address, and I will try and send them to you. I have mine on Excel Spreadsheet, which you will need Excel to see them. Anyway, if you don't have Excel, and no access to Speer #10 Manual, I could send you some super deer loads just by plain ole email.

Later & congrats on a Super good cartride, the 45 AR. Matter of fact, I like mine so much, that I had a custom 12" T/C barrel made by VVCG. Steve made it so I can also shoot 45 Auto. (Change extractors), but, I can shoot ACP in mine, and most of the time, they just slide out, or I use my finger nail for an extractor.

Casper_Zip

23 September 2003, 04:44

casper_zip

Hello:

I have plenty of hot loads for the 45 AR, and use them all the time. My loads will fully equal the 41 Mag, and in the 44 Mag range, also. I got these loads from Speer #10 Manual which I still have, and also from older magazine articles. Send me your email address, and I will try and send them to you. I have mine on Excel Spreadsheet, which you will need Excel to see them. Anyway, if you don't have Excel, and no access to Speer #10 Manual, I could send you some super deer loads just by plain ole email.

Later & congrats on a Super good cartride, the 45 AR. Matter of fact, I like mine so much, that I had a custom 12" T/C barrel made by VVCG. Steve made it so I can also shoot 45 Auto. (Change extractors), but, I can shoot ACP in mine, and most of the time, they just slide out, or I use my finger nail for an extractor.

Casper_Zip [Wink]

06 October 2003, 15:35

Carson

quote:
Originally posted by Frank Nowakowski:
Anyone done any real work with the .45 auto rim and modern components in a 25-2 or 625 Smith?? I have a 4" 625 and a buddy has an older 6 1/2" 25-2 and we thought of maybe filling our doe tags from a stand with the AR's. Range would be no more than 25 yds, probably shorter.

Thought of using a good 250 gr SWC, hardcast, in an auto rim case and enough Unique to get 950 to 1000 fps. I'm sure I have some data someplace on this but the idea just hit me so I thought I'd post it.

FN in MT

I use a 255 grain SWC with 14 grains of 2400. 7 grains of Unique with a 230 grain cast bullet, or 240 grain SWC would be excellent also. I use a 6 1/2 inch 25-2, but just purchased a 4 inch barrel .45 ACP mountain revolver after much searching. It should do over 800 fps with the same loads, but time will tell. I'd limit the heavy loads, as the ejector rods on my S&W tend to back out, binding up the gun, at least from my 6 inch .45 Colt S&W 25. My standard 18.5 grains of 2400 in the .45 Colt is almost duplicated by the .45 Auto Rim with 14 grains, pretty good performance I'd say!
As to other loads, I like 8.0 grains of Unique with a 200 grain Speer for 1000 fps. I need 10.0 grains of Unique in my 6" .45 Colt to duplicate this result. I back off to 7 grains in a ACP case for use in my Stainless Steel Colt Government Model .45 ACP.
If you like light bullet weights, for small deer size game, try 185 grain Speer JHP with 8.5 grains of Unique. Here again, 7.0 grains is a nice factory duplication load in ACP cases.
The standard ACP ammo works very well in my revolvers, if I use full moon clips or Auto Rim brass in the Ruger Blackhawk. For some reason, full moon clips add a little accuracy to my loads, but you may find something different. I haven't been successful with the .45 Auto Rim for deer, as the deer don't seem to cooperate, but can hardly wait for the chance. Your accuracy and shot placement are bigger issues than the 25 yard range restriction you mention. May I suggest a 200 grain JHP as your first round in your revolver, followed by the 255 grain hard cast bullet as your follow up rounds? If you can't get the presentation for an unobstructed heart-lung shot, no shoulder or bad angle shots allowed, just slip the cylinder past the first up JHP and use a 255 cast bullet at 900 fps. You won't have a recovered bullet to admire afterward, but the deer you harvest should keep you happy. My broad side shots with cast bullets tend to show lower levels of shock than JHPs through the lungs, but still animals on the ground in a few seconds, one 250 pound pig with 255 grain cast SWC at 1050 fps (45 Colt), one 750 pound water buffalo with 240 grain cast at 1000 fps (44 Spl), two white-tail deer with JHPs (factory Silvertips .41 Mag and .44 Mag). They all work. The 25-2 is the greatest target revolver, wonderful sights, decent sight radius. I send my back to S&W and replaced the wide serrated target trigger with a narrow case harded round faced one. Otherwise, it's unmodified, except for a set of Pacmyer presentation grips to hand the recoil of those heavy loads.