CorBon's 335gr. HC 45 Colt load

Anyone have any experience with this load in the model 25 S&W? Looking for max thump for my 4" Mountain Gun and it's been said this load is safe for the N-frame in 45 Colt. After looking at some of John Linebaugh's handload data for the model 25, this load comes in tamer than some of his stuff, so I'm hoping it's ok. It's a 335gr. HC at 1050fps from a 7.5" barrel.

I own Rugers that will handle this load with ease, but I enjoy taking the Mountain Gun out every now and then. Such a damn fine wheelgun!

I too have a S&W Mountain gun in .45 colt. I don't know about the 335gr. load, but my load for max thump is a .300 gr. LFNGC w/ 24grs of W296. Either load will do, the point is, "carry much and shoot little" with this load. Sight in your gun for your thumper, but practice/plink with a lighter load so as not to over stress the gun.

Exactly, that would be the plan. Sight in, shoot little, carry a lot. What velocity are you getting from your 300gr load and with what barrel length?

My "thumper load" in a 4" barrel, 24.0 gr of W296, Fed 155 mag primer, 300 gr LFNGC (Bear Tooth Bullets) clocks 1,100 fps with a spread of 27 fps.
For everyday carry on the ranch I load 10 grs of Unique with same bullet at 950 fps. This covers everything I'll come up against here in western Washington State, no grizzly's here.
For practice; 300 gr cast FP from Oregon Trail w/ 7 grs of Tight Group for 830 fps.
Also FYI, a really good thumper in .45 colt is from Buffalo Bore, with their 325 gr LFNGC, out of my 4" I get 1,230 fps.! Use sparingly in that N frame.

Appreciate the info! Ordered a couple boxes of the 335gr. CorBon load to give it a try.

My woods walking load in my Mountain Gun is a 255gr. hard cast Keith at 960fps (factory Underwood ammo). Plenty of oomph for 99% of what I would need it to do in my neck of the woods (black bear, but nothing bigger). I figure if I have the S&W strapped on and not a Ruger, it couldn't hurt to pack a bit more punch on the rare occasion the Keith load isn't enough. Once I get the CorBon load chronographed, I'll post up the velocity.

One of my favorite do all loads for my 45colt in a 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley is 300 LFNGC with 13 gr HS-6 and a standard Fed primer. Extremely accurate at 1040 fps and an ES 18. [RUGER ONLY LOAD]

I like HS 6 and use it in various calibers. In my 4" S&W 625 I'm getting 915 fps with 13.0 hrs of HS6 and a 300 gr LFNGC. Another thing that I like to do is stay with the same bullet weight in a particular gun so as to keep the same point of impact and not have to sight in every time I want to use the gun and not be confused as to what its sighted in for at that time.

I really need to start handloading. It would really open up my options in this cartridge.

EddyPA isin't that a heavy kicker in a mountain gun? Where in PA are you,I live in NY about 9 miles from Corry,PA I always thought a S&W mountain gun looked sweet,but a Ruger BH 45 colt was more in my budget. And yes you really need to handload,if you buy used you can get started for a reasonable price.

Havent fired it yet. I should have the ammo delivered today. I'm sure it thumps in the Mountain Gun. I'm in northeast PA (Pike County).

Id really like to start handloading this year. Got no idea where to start tho!

I have been handloading for 35 years,will be glad to answer any questions for you (there are no dumb questions).Just ask,Pike county is as far away from me as you can get in PA.

The CorBon 335gr. HC load went just over 800fps from the 4" Mountain Gun and 950fps from the 5.5" Blackhawk. CorBon gets their advertised 1050fps from a 7.5" barrel. Recoil was actually mild (for such a big hunk of lead).

As far as handloading goes, is there a "start up" kit that would be good to start with?

Just add dies:

Single Stage

Turret

I like the turret presses myself as you can leave your dies set up in a turret. To switch you just swap turrets. Otherwise I operate a turret press as though it were a single stage for the most part.

Thanks for the input. What dies would you recommend? I would be loading for 45 Colt to start with.

Although I do like Lee presses, I prefer RCBS dies.

Always buy carbide dies you don't have to lube cases that way. I have a Hornady progressive for 45 acp,38 spl,357 mag and a RCBS single stage for rifles and 45 colt. Don't buy nickle plated brass for 45 colt they wont hold up to hotter handloads (but they do look good in the western bullet belt LOL) Often you can buy used but have someone you can trust look too, presses do wear out,I would buy new dies used oes can be damaged.

If you guys could provide links to which dies you would use for 45 Colt, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Also, what would be the typical round per hour difference between something like the turret Lee press and a progressive?

Unless you are going through 1k rounds a week I wouldn't even think progressive. I can load around 200 rounds of 45 in an hour on a turret press when I am feeling it, but that is also operating as if it were a single stage. I load several different chamberings and quick changeovers are more important to me than RPH, and that is what I like about the Lee turrets.

I use these dies:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/779320/...=ProductFinding

Used to shoot 1000+ rounds in a weekend! That was back before kids, however...

Thanks for the link!

Going into grizzly country, I carry my 4 inch 45 Colt Redhawk with Buffalo Bore 325 P+ rounds in it. Back here in PA, I use a Taurus 450 Titanium with Buffalo Bore 255 SWC Heavy Standard Pressure loads... it would be a good round for the model 25. I know there are recipes for handloading either one.

I definitely would not try "Ruger Only" loads in a model 25.

Very similar to what I carry. In big 4 legged critter country, I use Underwood's 325gr. load in my 5.5" Redhawk (1373fps). For a general purpose load, I carry Underwood's 255gr. Keith load in my "non-Rugers"; 800fps in my 2" Taurus and 960fps in my 4" Mountain Gun).

I'd feel fine with the 335gr. CorBon load as well. Shoot little, carry a lot.

Look hard at Dillon dies. I think they are better quality for the same money as the other brands. I started with RCBS and they were great back then but now I replace them with Dillon since most of my pistol reloading is done on progressive machines. That is where you will notice the difference. Being Scottish by birth I try to buy something I won't have to replace until it is worn out. With Dillon they are guaranteed for your life and they will gladly replace them even if they are worn out . . for free! Reloading is the best way to wring the most out of your caliber/gun of choice for less money per shot. I get great satisfaction with home grown ammunition. Enjoy!