That question has been asked.

The answer seems to be: YES

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/45-super-in-a-revolver.367540/

That said, these pre-lock guns are pretty valuable.

Unless you just don't care, maybe not shoot a LOT of it in them?

By the time you are shooting TRUE .45 Super, you are shooting different-and-dedicated .45 Super brass. Ammo is pretty expensive if you don't handload.

There are lots of MORE POWERFUL, who-cares-if-you-ruin-it, NEW guns in more powerful calibers if you feel the need to go FULL-BLAST-O-RAMA with a revolver.

Get one of them .480 Ruger guns, and deride the .45 Super guys for their "pop-guns."

I know its "just" a .460, but something like this looks like it really could affordably torment the fella's on the bullseye pistol range.

https://www.guns.com/firearms/handguns/revolver/taurus-raging-hunter-460-s-w-magnum-single-double-action-5-rounds-6-75-barrel-new?p=1140506

That muzzle-brake should be super popular.

Attached File

.45 Super was the brain child of Dean Grennell. One of the design objectives was that the cartridge be capable of being fired in a standard .45 ACP 1911 with a stronger recoil spring and minimal further modification. Also, pressures needed to be kept low enough so that accidentally firing a few .45 Super rounds without the replacement spring would not damage the gun. This was accomplished by beefing up the brass in the web area adjacent to the head & holding chamber pressures down. This strengthening of the case would include the area neighboring the cylinder notches in a revolver.

The maximum pressure ratings for the cartridges are as follows:

.45 ACP 22,000 CUP
.45 ACP+P 23,000 CUP
.45 Super 28,000 CUP

While the .45 Super represents a 27% increase in max. pressure over the .45 ACP and 22% over +P loads, it is below that of proof loads which run 30% or more over maximum. Further, it is very far below the pressure levels of .44 Magnum ammo which approaches 40,000 CUP. Given the above, the term "magnumizing" isn't really an accurate correlation. Additionally, ammo for the Super is pretty much a handloading exercise so the "manufacturer" can control the pressure levels as is the case with any other round.

The 25/625 in .45 colt has historically been rated as a tier II (<23k cup) gun. I would feel comfortable carrying that info over to the .45acp version. That being said, Clark Customs have been converting them to .460 Rowland for years with no issues as far as I have heard. That's 40k cup...

I should note that I've asked the 460 Rowland people about using it in revolvers, and they were pretty clear that they do not believe that the S&W revolvers can take it.

I just really like this revolver.  15 yards with my 255gr loads:

I'm not willing to risk it for sure. Still can't believe that Clark does that conversion against all advice to the contrary.

Can't complain about that.  Unique?

Personally, .45 ACP +P is enough for me for my 625. I've heard a number of people having no issue at all shooting .45 Super through their guns and the simple fact that a simple spring change works for 1911s and such is fine too. Now, .460 Rowland is something I'd never do. Now, I do believe that the 625 can shoot .45 Super safely. But I personally won't be doing it just because I really don't see much of a need.

I agree with that tactic.

Close.  Herco.

255gr SWC
4.7gr Herco, 1.17” COAL, Win LP

5” 1911: 795fps
4” 625-8:  730fps

Fairly tame, but a nice shooting load.

If I want to shoot something more powerful, I'll reach for my .41 Magnums or .44 Magnums. What makes my .45 ACP revolvers perfect is the fact that .45 ACP is damn good as is. You're talking about a cartridge that was intended to shoot the horse out under from the rider. If .45 ACP FMJ can that. Good enough for me. My Colt and S&W 1917s, my S&W 625, and my Ruger New Model Vaquero are all in .45 ACP and that is good enough. And if that ain't, I can grab my .45 Colts.

Heck, my old model Ruger Vaqueros can take some super heavy loads that would bust my S&W Model 25 and Colt New Service. Corbon's .45 Colt +P 335gr HC is no joke.

Thank you, I'll look into Herco, I'm not familiar with it.

Also look for be-86. Not that it's necessarily better but it's just normally available.

Man I wish I wouldn't have opened this thread. I've been buying more revolvers and now the wish list grows.

I may have a pound of that

The 5 inch is sweet and a buddy of mine uses reloads and almost shoots like a .22

I haven't found a 325 or 625 I like for sale locally, but I did snag a Ruger Service Six in 9mm to play around with moonclips. It's certainly fun to load and unload the cylinder quickly, but the clips themselves are a pain to get cases into or out of. I found that simply using a rod to poke them out of the cylinder was more convenient when plinking once my clipped ammo was expended. Can the modern S&W revolvers take .45 without the moonclips, assuming the shooter is fine with poking out empties?

Yeah, they headspace on case mouth so moon clips are a convenience not a necessity. Smith discontinued them and they have gotten really popular over the last year, so it's hard to find a deal lately.