The .45 Acp Revolvers

American Handgunner, July, 2001 by Charles E. Petty

When Smith began using model numbers in 1957, the .45 revolver came to be known as a Model 25. To confuse things even further, S&W began the practice of dash-numbers. Early on they had made a few 1950 and 1955 target pistols in .45 Colt and with the Model 25 they did so again in 1977 using -3 to indicate the chambering. These guns were made using the same length cylinder as the .45 ACP, but this was quickly changed to a longer cylinder to accept the semi-wadcutter bullets popular for the cartridge. The new designation was 25-5.

With the arrival of stainless steel, the S&W .45 became the Model 625. And, once again, you could get revolvers chambered for both .45 ACP and .45 Colt under that model number. Current production for the .45 ACP is a 625-6 and Mountain Guns in both calibers are planned. At this time, no blue steel guns are chambered in .45 caliber.

People still hate those half-moon clips, but the advent of full-moon clips that hold six rounds has had a profound effect. If you've ever watched someone who is really skilled reload a revolver with full moon clips, it is far faster than anything you've ever seen with a pistol.

But the easiest way to shoot any of the .45 ACP revolvers is simply to use .45 Auto Rim. There's only one problem with that. Remington discontinued the ammo over 20 years ago. Surprisingly, brass is still readily available and Georgia Arms now offers a factory load using the famous Speer 200 gr. "flying ashtray."

Handloaders have it made for the Auto Rim can use just about any .45 caliber bullet you want. It's not a candidate for serious hotrodding, but it is surely possible to duplicate any sane .45 ACP factory load in AR brass.

Some have pronounced the revolver dead, stating that it is on the slippery slope to dodoland, that the modern automatic has made it obsolete. Nothing could be further from the truth. S&W reports that revolver sales are strong, routinely exceeding those of pistols.