Just called S&W...

[andrew17]

I just called Smith and asked if it was ok to shoot 45 super in a current model 625 (acp) and got a big fat "no" for a reply. I've got a 5 inch on order and was trying to find out some info in anticipation of its arrival.
Just thought you'd like to know.

 

[Ron James]

A 1911 type pistol has to be modified before it can fire .45 Super, once modified it can fire both the .45 Acp and the .45 Super. Yes, a .45 super will chamber and fire in an unmodified 1911 but you will have a cracked frame in no time. I guess you could draw a comparsion between the .38 Auto and the .38 Super. The .45 Super is not a .45ACP +P. Like the .38 Super. it is an improved cartridge in an old case..

 

[Old Fuff]

Does not suprise me. The revolver is made to shoot .45 ACP ammunition, and not someone's hot-rodded wildcat. Smith & Wesson has no industry standards and/or specifications for the .45 Super. They also have no control over how such ammunition might be loaded. If they did O.K. the use of Super ammunition and the revolver was damaged of course it would be Smith & Wesson who got blamed.

If I were them I'd say "NO!!" too...

 

[Ron James]

I'm going th have to read the post more closely, I answered a questioned that wasn't asked.

 

[Tom C.]

I have a 625-8JM. I love the gun, but the cylinder walls look pretty thin to me. It is so accurate and fun to use with .45 ACP and .45 AR, I don't want to take a chance and damage it. I have other guns for shooting hotter loads.

 

[Majic]

If they had said yes then they would have opened the door for all kinds of litigation if something goes wrong.

 

[Chuck Perry]

I would think 45 Super is fine in the 625. While it is hotter than standard ACP, the Super is still fairly low pressure, below 30K PSI. Clark Custom modifies (reams) Smith cylinders to fire the slightly longer 460 Rowland. The Rowland round maxs out at 40K PSI. While Smith may deny it for legal purposes, I can see no reason not to fire 45 Supers in the 625.

 

[SaxonPig]

The N frame cylinder leaves pretty thin chamber walls when bored to .45 cal. I personally would not use anything over standard pressure ammo in a .45 cal N frame for this reason.

 

[JoeHatley]

I wouldn't have expected S&W to respond any differently. Too many liability issues.

This 5" has seen quite a lot of .45 +P and several boxes of .45 Super, without problems.



With Clark doing a Roland conversion, it would seem to indicate the gun is plenty strong.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[BluesBear]

In 1999 I fired 500 rounds of Triton .45 Super out of an early 70s vintage S&W 25-2. It gobbled them up nicely.

It did make a bigger bang than standard ACP fodder but still was pleasant to shoot.
That 6½" barrel really gave it some zip too.

 

[andrew17]

update

I've now got about 6-700 rounds through my 625 and it is doing nicely.
People always remark about the accuracy of the 625 and I'm inclined to agree. This thing shoots!
The only mods I've done to it are, giving a little polish to the side and bottom of the rebound slide and replacing the main spring with a wolff standard power and replacing the rebound spring with a 13 lb.

 

[Onmilo]

Liability rears its ugly head.
Of course Smith and Wesson will not recommend anyone using a cartridge that they have not tested endorsed or marketed themselves.
It would be foolhardy for them to do so.
If there is anything made that can be broken or blown up then some jackass has managed to do it somewhere.

They don't call the hobby "Wildcatting" for just any old reason.
Sometimes you tame the cat and sometimes it comes back and chews you all up!

 

[grendelbane]

I watched a nice 1917 self destruct once. The new 625s are much stronger, but they have their limits.

The .41 and .44 magnums work much better for that kind of thing.

I have a load for a heavy cast bullet that performs respectably. The pressure seems to be reasonable, though.

Smith OKs the use of .45 +p loads, and there are some quite respectable ballistics to be found at this level.

If it weren't so hot right now, I would fire up the pot and cast some of those nice Lyman 452423's. Now that is my idea of a .45 ACP wheelgun load!

 

[BluesBear]

I watched a nice 1917 self destruct once. The new 625s are much stronger, but they have their limits.

That 1917 was probably not heat treated.
S&W didn't start doing that until well into the 1930s.

 

[grendelbane]

I have a Great War era Colt 1917, and it only gets mild loads these days. The Smith & Wesson 1917 I saw come apart was a Brazilian contract model, which I believe was manufactured in the .30s, and I assume the cylinder was heat treated. It belonged to my friend. I believe all those who report that the 625s hold up well with .45 Super. It is just that there is not much metal left in that cylinder after reaming the chambers to .45 ACP dimensions.

Elmer Keith recommended some pretty warm loads in those old guns. Mine is in honorable semi-retirement. I have a new 625, which I can shoot until it wears out, and not feel too bad. Alliant lists some .45 ACP +p loads with Power Pistol that will produce all of the velocity I need, and do so at reasonable pressure.

I suppose I am getting old just like that 1917 Colt.