Finally got a 625.... Now what mold to buy?

[KA0811]

Finally got myself a 625 the other day so now I need some acp or AR reloads. I haven't loaded 45 acp yet because I've always had alot of FMJ for my 1911s but now that I have this I think it's time. Any mold suggestions? I've seen alot of people seem to use h&g 68 style. I think Id like a swc design. Once I get a few ideas I may post In the boolit exchange to try a few before I go buy a mold. Thanks

[tygar]

I use any of the molds that I use for 45 autos, but the ones I like the best is a NOE 230 FN/HP & MP 230 FN/HP. I also use the Lee 230 RN & it works fine in autos & 625. That 625 is easy shooting with full pop 230gr loads & quite accurate. Shoot your FMJs also. Every so often I'll run some thru it.

[pjames32]

I shoot primarily a 200gr SWC, but anything works well.
PJ

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I use a old Lee GB mold that is a copy of the H&G 68.
AND
I also use the 255gr Lee for HOT and Heavy loads, because it has a crimp groove.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/775664/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-452-255-rf-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-255-grain-flat-nose

[376Steyr]

I've always gotten much better accuracy using AR brass versus the same load with ACP in clips.

[Scharfschuetze]

I like the RCBS 45-225-RN mould, but any mould duplicating the original bullet shoots very well in the .45 ACP revolvers.

Although the RN 45 ACP bullet designs don't have a crimping groove, I gently roll crimp over the start of the ogive of the boolit and I've never had one slip out of the case.

For paper punching, any of the SWCs work well with a taper crimp. As you have adjustable sights, you should be able to zero up with the very light 150 or 185 grain SWCs for a mild, shoot-all-day load.

Full moon clips work a treat with very fast reloading offered by their design if you use yours for any type of competition or as a service revolver. I once had a partner that used the Model 25 as a service revolver. He was a big guy and on him it just looked like a 38 special.

[Nocturnal Stumblebutt]

My 625 is my most fired, or at least top 3 most fired guns, I love it. I love everything about it and I especially love loading for it because it is versatile!

i shoot A LOT of the lyman 452460 because it is a great boolit and gives me consistently great results from auto brass in moonclips. Also my 4 cavity mold is a recent production and casts beautiful boolits.

i have a had very good results with the 452389 in both auto cases and auto rim. It has a slightly larger bearing surface than the 452460 and it is correspondingly slightly more accurate. You shouldn't have a hard time finding a 2 cavity mold, but 4 cavity molds can be difficult, but not impossible, to find.

i have had mixed results with the rcbs 45-230-CM. it does very well at home defense velocities, and is a boolit that is well suited for said purpose, but I am still tinkering with that boolit in a target load that is more comfortable to shoot a lot of.

My results with the rcbs 45-230-RN have been similar to the other rcbs mold. I have had spectacular results in my 1911 but haven't experimented much in the 625.

So my suggestion is get the 452460.

And for moonclips I suggest relvolversupply.com

[JSH]

What are you going to use it for?
I punch paper with mine, so a was cutter from accurate molds serves my purpose.
Be aware of thread choke,chambers that are not cut properly for 45acp or ar and cylinders with small throats.
Accurate 45-170W is my mold. I have lube and sized to .452 and sized to .452 and powder coated, 3.0 of bullseye and a good crimp over the front of it and I am happy.

[35remington]

Good target type SWC of 185-200 grain weight for pleasant shooting accurate target load and reasonable range small game capability. Will shoot many of these. I like the traditional target type charge weights of Bullseye for this.

Heavier 230-250 grain bullet of reasonable meplat for more thump and penetration. Unique, Herco and similar added as powder choices. 2400 can work with heavy bullets over 240 grains and tighter cylinder throats.

Can't get by with a single bullet weight in my opinion.

[wv109323]

Google Marty "Babe" Magnan bullseye pistol Go to the S&W forum and read the thread on the M25. Babe may have the highest score ever shot with revolvers in NRA Bullseye.

[imashooter2]

Lee 452-228-1R




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[warf73]

If you are using moon clips I would use a RN boolit. If loading by hand with AR brass a SWC mold in your choice of weight. The reasoning behind my choices is from shooting a lot of lead down rang with a 627. IF I'm loading by hand I'll use SWC or what ever else I feel needs shot. BUT with moon clips the RN boolit loads so much easer than a SWC and having to mess with all the rims on the boolits catching on the cylinder.

Congratulations on your new handgun you will have many years of fun with it.

[mick27]

In my 625jm, I shoot the same load that i have been shooting in all my 1911s forever, 5.7gr of 231 with a H&G #68 in full moon clips. Shoots superbly !! Also added a fastfire III, what a shooting machine !! For what its worth !
Mick

[Bigslug]

Might as well plug my own in-process group buy, right?:mrgreen:

http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index.php/topic,1627.0.html

172887 est. 234 grain for solid and 220 for the HP version.

It ended up being a happy collaboration between me wanting something very similar to my slick-feeding, hard-hitting LBT, but with a tumble lube format to increase production, and another member wanting the front lube groove modified for roll-crimping down in a revolver-format cartridge. Should all end with me having ACP, Auto Rim, and my light .45C bullet all from the same mold.

[No_1]

I have a few 625's and a few 1911's. I have tried all configurations in all the guns. For simplicity I now load everything in ACP cases with a RN boolit that cycles my 1911's. For the 625's I have a can full of RN 45ACP configured on moon clips. For the rest I have a few cans full of standard 45ACP. Sometimes simple is better.

[KA0811]

Thanks for all the replies. I have ordered a some samples to try out of the LBT and the Lyman keith 452423 and 452460. I may try a couple.more aswell like hg68 and some of the Lee's. I was thinking about that group buy but I don't tumble lube. Never know... Maybe it's time I start.

[Bigslug]

The tumble lube thing eliminates a step, which for the high-volume plinkers is a great thing. The GB is pretty close to the LBT in shape - main difference being the grooves and the slight beveling of the edges of the meplat.

NOE has the tooling to do the 452423, and it is indeed a thumper. They're between inventory runs at the moment, but could probably be persuaded.

[azrednek]

452491 220gr GC is my favorite for 45 ACP revolvers. Save your breath!! I know a gas check is over kill and not needed in a 45 ACP but so far it clusters better than any of the numerous 45 molds I've tried. The 225 SAECO button nosed wadcutter (the number escapes me at the moment) is a close second.

Pictures in this thread

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?310647-452491-220gr-GC-from-NOE

[runfiverun]

225g rnfp in AR brass.
okay that's what mine likes.

[ak_milsurp]

In my 625jm, I shoot the same load that i have been shooting in all my 1911s forever, 5.7gr of 231 with a H&G #68 in full moon clips. Shoots superbly !! Also added a fastfire III, what a shooting machine !! For what its worth !
Mick
I second that! Been shooting that load since 1984 in my 1911's and my S&*W 25-2 (1955 Target) forever! Thousands of them!

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[sixshot]

Probably no bad bullets choices in your 625, I've owned 6-8 of them & everyone has shot great with many different bullets. Shot them in competition all over the country & they are amazing revolvers. Powder choice is probably more of an issue & if you are competing you will have to use Federal primers if you want to have any chance of winning. I used 231 & WST almost always in my guns.
A good all around bullet for everyday use is the Miha 205 gr. RN HP, absolutely no need for a GC (my opinion) in 99% of revolvers with correct alloy. Very few people can shoot the difference.

Dick

[azrednek]

, absolutely no need for a GC (my opinion) in 99% of revolvers with correct alloy. Very few people can shoot the difference.

Dick

I'm in total agreement and should have clarified my use of the gas checked slug in 45 ACP revolvers. Having read somewhere of Ray Thompson's success using the gas checked semi-wadcutter in the then abundant WW2 surplus pistols and revolvers with worn bores. I started using the gas checked slugs in Brazilian surplus 1917's in the 90's. My results were definitely positive in the Brazilian surplus revolvers and shot much better on paper than any bare assed castings I tried. Nearly eliminating strays. In my 25-2, Model of 1998 and Ruger Blackhawk. Just like you say I can not shoot the difference and prefer the hard cast SAECO button nosed wadcutter for paper punching.

[OBXPilgrim]

I use a old Lee GB mold that is a copy of the H&G 68.
AND
I also use the 255gr Lee for HOT and Heavy loads, because it has a crimp groove.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/775664/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-452-255-rf-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-colt-long-colt-452-diameter-255-grain-flat-nose


Yes, yes, yes on the Lee 255gr RF. Love it in 625 in AR brass. I like boolits a little harder for the 625, some seem to skid on the rifling if soft - long freebore jump problem?

[35remington]

And shallow rifling problem.

[Freischütz]

452423 is a good choice in revolvers.

[azrednek]

452423 is a good choice in revolvers.

Don't have the number at hand but the SAECO equivalent of the Lyman 452423 has given me excellent results on paper in 45 ACP, AR and Colt especially. Its also a personal preference, myself I'd rather buy SAECO over Lyman if I buy new. As I've grown recoil sensitive the past couple years due to arthritis and truthfully, old age. I've leaned toward lighter weight castings for the 45 ACP and AR.

[warboar_21]

I like the RCBS 45-230-CM in my 45s. They work in my 1911s as well as my wheel guns. Very accurate out of all my handguns.

[flint45]

Mine loves the leeTL-200gr swc in AR brass with 7.8 GR of AANO.5.

[Plate plinker]

Depends on the work you want to do with the 625. TC or RN are great for speed loading, but I do like smaller weights for economy of shooting. I run a lot of 185 SWC or 200 SWC for smacking steel. Also i use ACP brass with full moon clips.