I was so lucky to pick up/steal 60+ full boxes of Remington .45ACP at a garage sale last weekend for $1 a box. Older lady and her daughter just wanted them out of the house. No firearms,just some odds and ends of cleaning kits etc. from her late husband's garage wood shop. I have a Colt auto in .45 but I'm starting to look for a S&W in this caliber. What is the best one to focus on? Like the P&R older ones. Shooter grade would be best. Not much interest in the newer models with the lock. Any advice?

Thanks,
Ischia

The Model 25-2 is one of the preeminent S&W N Frames. They are unfortunately a little scarce, and a little pricey, going somewhere from $550 to $900 depending on the condition. They use the moon clip or you can use 45 auto rim brass. Exceptionally accurate and fun shooting revolvers.

The older, WWI vintage is the 1917 model 45 double action, and it's sister, the 45 Double Action Brazilian model. The Brazilian can usually be acquired least expensively in the $400 - $600 range depending on condition.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

This has gone from a gun I started to regret buying to being more fun than I may deserve. It’s a 625-3 with a three inch barrel. I cast my own 200 grain SWC’s from a Lee mold and they may as well be laser beams coming out the end. This gun can shoot better than I will ever be able to do. This is my first three inch barrel revolver and now I see what all the stir is about. I know you mentioned P/R but no .45ACP revolver has ever been counter bored that I know of since it’s a rimless cartridge and the pinned barrels do look good but I wouldn’t pass up a gem like this one that I almost did. This may be my new favorite shooter.

I love my 25-2 with Kurac maple grips

I would suggest - look over every .45 ACP S&W revolver you see. Take with you in your pocket a new jacketed .451 bullet [not cartridge] and check for fit in chamber mouths. A slip fit would be good; pass if it drops through with a rattle. This in addition to the usual check of cylinder motion/endshake, barrel gap, clocking and crown, action timing and all.

My pre-lock ACP Mountain Gun is most satisfactory, but not always seen for sale.

Regards,

Dyson

There are no recessed cylinders on .45ACP revolvers. Early model 25's are pinned, but that really isn't an important feature. I suggest an early 625, -2 to -6, which are pre-ILS. Cylinder throats are usually appropriately sized, and the guns are tack drivers.

Buck

Model 25-2 six inch barrel= FUN

If you really want a good shooter, be on the look out for one of these:

it's a Model of 1950 Target in .45ACP. AKA a pre-26.

625s are great too. I have a 4" -3 and a 5" -2. The 5"er is another one of my favorite shooters. When IDPA went to 4" barrels a few years ago, the 5" guns were going cheap. (I think I paid $325 for mine.) Can't believe people sold them so cheap.

I also have a couple of 1917s/1937 Brazillians. Great if you like the bare bones Martial arms thing. 5.5" barrel and fixed sites can still be quite accurate.

I'm also partial to my 2nd Gen SAA with a .45ACP conversion cylinder:

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I looked for a 25-2 for over five years and only saw one for sale around here, and it was pretty beat up. Then I started looking for 625s and saw plenty of those...all chambered for 45 Colt.

So last year I bought a Performance Center 625-8 and haven't looked back. It is the most accurate Smith I own and an amazingly smooth trigger right out of the box.

I don't know what you price range is, but this is a winner.