Opinion on S&W 625?

First topic message reminder :

I know it's a blasphemy but I want to try something different for the .45 game. How does S&W 625 shoot lead bullets? My plan is to get Wilson Combat springs and lighten the trigger to 2 1/2 lbs (oddly enough, I just checked the rules, 2 1/2 is a legal trigger weight for .45 revolvers), and install Jack Weigand mini scope mount. And maybe get a wide spur hammer. Anything I'm missing?
I guess I need 5" barrel - or will a shorter barrel perform?

PhotoEscape wrote:

lablover wrote:Wish it had a buy now!


Had to bid!  

Well, I recently posted WTB OEM grips for Smith & Wesson 1955 .45 Target Model Pre-25 C&R 5-Screw 6 1/2" Heavy Barrel Revolver, MFD 1955.  There were no offers, so now I must buy another gun .  So I had this one (and couple of others too) on my watch list.  However will not bid now.  I know the seller, - previously purchased from them.  Great people.

Side question though, - moon clips?  I don't believe it is avoidable with 45ACP.  Is it?

AP

Please feel free to bid!  I have a stopping point and am sure this will go over that.

"Side question though, - moon clips?  I don't believe it is avoidable with 45ACP.  Is it?"

The 45 acp headspaces on the case mouth. So no moon clips needed in the S&W i had. (If i remember correctly?)   Can use 45 Auto rim brass, no clips. 

Maybe confused  and thinking of      the Ruger  Black Hawk convertible  in  357/9mm & 45 Colt/45acp headspace on the case mouth using 9mm & 45 acp ammo. No moon clips.

My 625 works with 45 acp brass and no clips (keep a pencil handy to remove spent cases), but I still use the clips when I shoot it in a match.

willnewton wrote:Yeah Len, l like my 625, but in no way has it stopped me from wanting a 25. 

 Just waiting for that perfect, unfired, boxed, mint Model 25 priced at $300 to come across on Gunbroker!

You might be waiting a while like this guy.

The 625/25-2 and clips work great for a match. I actually shoot it quite often for the 45 stage of the 2700. Changing loads is so fast that no one ever waits on me to finish. The trick is to have enough of them loaded so you don't have to unload them during the match. The special tool is handy but a little screwdriver works fine for removing from clip. A little caution here. Don't try to clean the clips in your ultrasonic cleaner. It works. Too well (notice the brite shiny moons in box). I bring enough loaded clips for the Reeves match too. The Auto Rim (last picture) work great if your a one cylinder only SF shooter.

Saw the sellers other items....OMG! Gorgeous!

What does a "C" stamp mean on the box? Saw no such markings on the gun itself, a Lew Horton 624.
Thanks

I bought a model 25-2 new in 1982 and it is a beautiful gun with a nice trigger. The barrel is 6 inches long. Unfortunately the cylinder throats were too large and the accuracy out of the rest was horrible. Many years later I got to know someone in the industry who had some pull at SW. I was able to get a new cylinder with properly sized throats. At the time, SW was running low on 25 cylinders and the only ones they had left were matt blue finished. The good news is the accuracy improved drastically. I am not sure my groups were as impressive as FC60’s but is seems it did hold 10 ring with some Federal factory match ammo that I had. I cannot find the targets but they are hidden somewhere. I have fired it in bullseye practice but have never shot it in a match. They are a fun gun to shoot and present a new challenge in bullseye. Good luck in finding a 625.

Use a piece of copper pipe with the end cut for case removel from the clips. Make it long enough to hold all the shells and close the end with epoxy. Works good.

I'm no expert on moon clips. But, I did have a 929 in 9mm. The OEM steel clips were impossibly hard to load/strip. I bought some expensive tools to make it easier on the fingers. Wasted my money!

Then I came across RIMZ carbon fiber clips. Very easy to load/strip. Worked perfectly.

RIMZ have clips for 25-2 and 625.

OK,that was fun. I got out my 27-7 in 45 Colt. Shot a 25 yard match which I have never done before. I was quite happy with the results. First shot I held center of the bull. Next I held 6 Oclock. I went up 6 clicks. Timed fire was not so good, but 10 on the repair center. Then I went down 2 clicks. Rapid was great except one shot got out of control and landed on the slow fire center. All in all it was fun. Trigger and grip are much different than my K-38 . I shoot rapid double actio. Next time I will try timed double action too. Once I cock the gun, get my grip right and be on the bull, all is lost.
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At one time this was my "Deer rifle" with a 2x scop mounted on it and loads way to high to write here.

This post is a waste with out picture of the gun.

Purchased in 1990

Best thing since sliced bread:


http://www.bmtequipped.com/purchase.php

Best moon clips:

=1&sortby=]https://tkcustom.com/products/moonclips?productfilter_ids[]=1&sortby=

Depends on the throating, my 625 works without moons, the 25, mostly.

Yes those 45 revolvers can shoot.

Here is a composite target of two groups I fired with my very early 1955 Model (pre 25-2).  Fired offhand.  4.8 BE in rimmed cases.  200 gr Hornady JSWC.  My trigger job will lift 3#, but feels like a hair trigger.  

The 4 on the right were after one shot and a lowering of the sight.  That first shot was like 4-5 inches up and my sights were excellent, so I confidently lowered the sight.  Hit it just right.
After the four, I posted a new centre, and confidently moved the sight left.
Then shot the five with excellent sight pictures each.  I do not think I have the confidence like that today.

The GoldCup target is there to cover writing and holes on the backing target.  They don't make GCs like that any more.

Sold for 1283.00 Someone won a nice pistol.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/835422551

Len,
This was a better buy - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/829403389
But then you didn't want to sell S&W grips.................... nor 14-6

AP

That was a great deal. A 1955 model 1955. That's the only year they were 5 screw. And what grips did I not want to sell? I will sell my 14-6 to anyone willing to drive to the Oregon coast to buy it. Except Californians. They don't get to buy guns here either.

Len

I Like the way the Model 25 fits a persons hand better then those little K frames.

This is a Fung Grip.  Works great

Go for it !
A 2½# trigger is nice. - With Wolff springs, my JM 625 trigger is slightly over 2½lbs & stone reliable (with solidly seated primers)

A few years ago I got a JM625-4".- from a rest:6 shot groups (25y & 50Y) measured C to C: 25y: 1-3/8" -- - 50y 2-9/16".-used all 6 chambers. -  4.0gn BE / 180 grn flat base SWC.  I know-it's only 6 shots. - When I rest-test again, I hope for similar results.
Dry-firing: 
With a small pc of truck tire inner-tube inserted in the right place for the hammer to fall on we can dry-fire practice all day, inc'g T&R.-Really helps with developing technique.

Using the same sight setting the 50 yard group was 2½" lower and 1" right.  I shot 2 matches (CF and 45) with this & did about the same as I do with the 1911 wad-gun. 

I started wetting my lead bullets with Rooster Jacket to help with revolver leading. I think it helps.
and:
Recommended by Brother Buzz this product makes revolver bore/chamber cleaning a lot easier for me.https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/ 
2¢ - YMMV  - More darn fun,  -- - Russ

LenV wrote:That was a great deal. A 1955 model 1955. That's the only year they were 5 screw. And what grips did I not want to sell? I will sell my 14-6 to anyone willing to drive to the Oregon coast to buy it. Except Californians. They don't get to buy guns here either.

Len

Indeed, I was surprised by myself.  There was another pre-25 5 screws sold by the same seller yesterday for over $300 more than one I got.  And I wasn't as lucky with 25-2 as with pre-25. 

Grips - my pre-25 came with nice target grips (might be a reason for low price??), that coincidently fit my hand very nicely.  However I've been looking for S&W OEM N-Frame Square Butt.  I believe, there was a WTB post by Jason (Tim:H11) or someone else (I also posted WTB) for such, and you offered something else, stating that S&W you have are too nice to sell
And finally, I understood why you offered to trade 14-6 for STI - no driving (almost) involved.  You and Roy are neighbors!

AP

Russ OR wrote:Go for it !
A 2½# trigger is nice. - With Wolff springs, my JM 625 trigger is slightly over 2½lbs & stone reliable (with solidly seated primers)

A few years ago I got a JM625-4".- from a rest:6 shot groups (25y & 50Y) measured C to C: 25y: 1-3/8" -- - 50y 2-9/16".-used all 6 chambers. -  4.0gn BE / 180 grn flat base SWC.  I know-it's only 6 shots. - When I rest-test again, I hope for similar results.

Did you get the 625 JM or the 625 JM Performance Center ? 
 The Performance Center 625 has broached rifling and the regular 625 JM has EDM rifling.

Virgil