The 45acp has a max over all length of 1.275", but in a revolver like my S&W 25-2, there is more room.

I can seat 230 gr FMJ Montana Gold bullets out to 1.4" with a Lee Factory Crimp die, and get a crimp that will resist recoil.

With this bullet and WLRs, I have worked up to 22.2 gr of LIL'GUN and the recoil is allot like max load 44 mag in another N frame revolver of mine: the 29-2.

That's interesting, Clark. I saw a post about it somewhere else and wondered if that was what you were doing. Don't think I ever got back to the reply.

I am up to 22.5 gr today, but have no way to proceed safely.

The gun is NOT stronger than the brass.

The next thing in the work up might be a split cylinder, and this revolver did not come to me cheaply.

The cylinder walls of the 25s are a good bit thinner than the 29s, aren't they?

I am up to 23.1 gr now.

29-4 vs 25-2 thin spot in chamber wall = .090" vs .065".
The 44 mag is 36 kpsi with proof loads from 1.3 to 1.4 times that.
That make the 44 mag good for 46.8k psi to 50.4 ksi in a proof test.
Scaling down: the 25-2 should survive once from 33.8 to 36.4 kpsi.

If I assume H110 and LIL'GUN are interchangeable and look at Quickload: 23.1 gr. H110 45 acp 1.4" is 24.5 kpsi, 1358 fps

It thinks that 1.59" 44 mag 24 gr. H110, 240 gr. JHP is 26.2 kpsi, 1,397 fps.

But the 45 kicks harder.

23.4 gr now.

Is this pistol still shootable?

I don’t think lilgun and H110 are interchangeable.

H110 and win 296 are the same.

I don't understand? If you want to shoot 44 mag loads, do it in the 29. The 25-2 won't last forever with over pressure loads. I shoot 7 grains of unique and a 230 lead in auto rim or acp cases. It chronos at 856 fps and that is that.

I'm thinking maybe new Auto-Rim brass and work up to Rowland levels?

Well, I'm an old time fan of 2400; but I remember the wise words of an old timer that once said," load it until it blows up + then back up a hair." I do understand the infatuation on loads as I have been doing rifle wildcats for the last 50 years, just because you want to, don't try to reinvent the wheel. Be safe!

Did it go to pieces at 23.4? We haven't heard a word since

What has become of this experiment? Has anyone heard if the last load he tried was successful?
Just curious about the experiment.

The OP hasn't had a post since 2005.

I think there is little hope of finding out what happened.

Thanks for pointing that out,I didn't even notice how old that thread was...

The last load was not successful which is why there were no more posts. His heirs didn't have the login password....