I have recently purchased a S&W 625 mountain gun in 45 LC.

I am trying to get information on what kind of loads this gun can handle. I know already it can not handle Ruger loads, I have a BH for those. And I understand that it is stronger than the SAA's. But that is as about as much as I know about what it will handle.

I am looking if possable with out unneccessaruy abuse to the gun to push a .452 250gr swc-gc to around 900-950 fps.

This will not be a primary hunting gun, but a back up gun while hunting and a general woods carry/utility gun. I might choose to try to take a deer with in 40 yards or so, but lighter loads will do that. We dont have Big Bears or little ones here in Charleston SC. We do how ever have lots of ferral hogs, coyotes, snakes, and 2 legged verman. I want the load to be able to kill a hog but also shoot regurarly at stumps, armadillos, pine cones or what ever else looks scary while in the woods.

What limits do I need to be aware of with this gun. What ever load it will have to be able to handle a steady diet of them maybe 300-500 + rounds a year.

I'm considering 6.3 to 7 grains of titegroup, but dont know what pressure the gun will handle. I suspect this load to be somewhere between 14,000 & 19,000 CUP from what I gather from my manuals. The 14,00 CUP is top end SAA loads and 19,000 is BOTTOM end Ruger loads.

All input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Gene

I believe Brian Pearce had loading data for this revolver in one of the Handloader issues,I don't remember which month it was but you might be able to e-mail or call him up for the info.

If you really want to know and are just not looking for conformation of what you already think you should visit John Linebaughs website.
Better still call him. He stands by his statement that a Smith will handle 80 percent the pressure of a 44 mag.
Here is an article he wrote: http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12
I really like the 13 gr of HS-6 with a RCBS 270 SAA bullet. It will shoot as well as you can hold and more.
Then again his recommended load of H110 will do the deed too as will 18.5 -19 gr 2400 is a good one too.
I've never found the accuracy with the light loads that some claim but that is just me.
But 6.7 to 7.0 of Bullseye with the 270 SAA bullet is showing promise. 6.7 will run 860 or so with that bullet from a 4.625 inch barrel.

Thanks for the site, thats alot of help.

Is the model 25 and the 625 mountain gun the same strength? I think the 625 is a light weight version. Still not sure.

They are BOTH N-frame Smiths. I have a Mountain Gun in 45 Colt.
Mine is blued. My stainless Mountain Gun is in 44 Magnum.
The 625 being an N-frame gun as are the standard M29/M629 44 magnums you have the same 45 Colt S&W as Linebaugh is talking about.
Don't worry about it. Try the 13 gr of HS-6 with the 270 SAA bullet.

Thanks MePlat, I try to pick up some HS-6

I use a 250 Gr cast Bullet over 16.0 grs of 2400 and a mag primer..in my 625 Mtn gun--

I think it is about 975-1000

The bullet is a Berry Cast BB RNFP

Alliant data shows 2400 15.4gr @ 975 with a Speer LSWC

Gene, The load using HS-6 with SAA bullet has worked fine in my
S&W Mt. Gun in 45Colt....

Thanks for the info. The 45lc is a long time favorite of mine. But my only past exterience is with my Ruger BH, and I do not push to max ruger levels either. Even with the BH I keep a 255gr to under 1200fps, and taken a few deer and many hogs with it.

Most of the loads I keep for the ruger are at 1050fps, and they go clean through both shoulders of a 300lb boar at 50 yards. So I figure 900-950 will be plenty.

Thanks

Man, that is the beauty of those big ol' bullets.

Another vote for 13gr of hs-6.It's also an accurate load in my Ruger.

Well I gave 13gr of HS-6 a try.... Way too hot for me in this lite mountain gun. I am going down a couple notches to 10gr and give that a try, thats near max standard loads. The loads jumped crimp (Heavy Crimp)I doubble checked the powder and used 2 diffrent scales to be sure. I'll let you know what happens.

Just a note--you may want to try the 2400 it is a about a 65% load as far as filling the case and you can load it down to about 14.5 or so

Just a tought

Well give this one a try 8-8.5gr of 231 over a standard primer.Should be in the 8-900fps catagory.

Thanks, the HS-6 was all over the place accuracy wise, as much as 12" at 30 yards.

Working with Titegroup 6.2 gr which is max standard loads according to my manuals. I've shot 2ea 6 shot groups both at 4' or slightly under at 30 yards. I'm not much of a better handgun shot than that anyway, on a really good day I can pull off 2" groups at 30 yards. So I'll try playing around with this a little. According to my manual it is 896fps out of an 7 1/2" Ruger, so I may be around 880fps or so from a 4" S&W give or take a few. I'll see if a couple 10ths one way or the other improves accuracy.

It went clean through (at 30 yrds will try a little further next time) both sides of a 55gal drumb and 2 sheets of 1/2 plywood not to be found. I think thats plenty for a general purpose/back up/ woods carry handgun. Shouldn't have any problem with critters.

Be careful with the titegroup--it can be positon sensative

Here's a couple you might try - velocity from a 6" barrel with WLP primers and 270 swc hc.

11.0 grains of HS-6 shoots well and the velocity is 910fps
20 grains of IMR-4227 also shoots good at 1,025fps
17.0 grains of N110 (Vihtavuori) shoots well at 964fps.

17.0 grains of N110 with a 300 grain lfn hc flew 1,007fps and produced consistent sub 1" groups (most were around 3/4")

One of Linebaugh's favorite loads.,,,and mine too.