Just saw my very first 1955 target 45 acp at the local gun shop. As tomorrow is my birthday will one of ya'll please buy it for me! I'm in love! Is $999.00 too much? Its in really nice shape with a box. Does not have wood grips though, looks like pacmyere

I have one. It's probably the most accurate revolver of many I own, I absolutely love shooting it, and I wouldn't dream of selling it for $999. Nice S&W N-frame target grips (stocks) are readily available for a bit less than $100.

Nice shape? With box? Take it. eBay is full of all types N-frame grips, and you might also find some here in the WTS area. Pachmayrs are fine for shooting purposes.

Is it a pre model number Gun? If so $999 with the box is a steal!

Not a pre model, model 25-2 on yoke. Serial num N 66XXX. This post is probably in the wrong thread. Here are pics .






Any thoughts on value? He wants $999.00. Has box and moon clips.

Thanks

Jay

too much......

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

More like $750ish.

Sounds a little high, if they don't come down around 750, keep looking. Larry

When was the last time you saw one in that condition with (original?) box... Get a set of original grips if you want and take the gun if you like it and have fun.. The next one you see will be more money and less of a great moment... Happy Birthday.. Negotiate a better price if possible 700 is about where it should be...

Thanks guys, going to a gun show in Hickory, NC thhis weekend. If i come home empty and the gun is still available on mon then it was meant to be. Then we shall see what we see. Like i say each time before i bring one of these things home "I don't want this gun." LOL

Thanks

Jay

Looks like they been going for $900+ on the auction sites. I don't think I could let mine go for anything.

I'd wanna see underneath those rubber grips before the cash comes out

Preach it brother!

After doing some research discovered that some of the earlier ones had issues with excessive diameter cylinder throats. I need all the help i can get to shoot accurate anyway. Me and my micrometer went out today to measure the cylinder throats. .455, i asked the LGS guy if he had a 45 acp bullet. Dropped straight thru the cylinder. It should not do that right? I passed on the gun. Now get to go to the gun show on sun still looking.

Thanks all

Jay

Jay, the chamber throat diameter being that large is not unusual with a 25-2. The throats of mine are also that oversize. Hardball .45ACP in clips shoots just fine in mine. Ditto .45 Auto Rim handloads with 230 FMJ bullets. If you want to shoot cast bullets, experimentation with diameter, profile, and alloy hardness would be in order. They're marvelous revolvers, nonetheless. That price tag, I think, was a bit too hefty. Maybe $800 tops, if in superb condition throughout? Good luck in your quest!

Gene

Thanks for the info. Maybe i can use that to my advantage on Mon if i come home empty from the gun show this weekend. I was going to offer him $700 and see where it goes.

Thanks

Jay

If that is a factory red post front sight, it might be worth $900-$950.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

You will never know how well it will shoot until you shoot it. Even then, there is a lot to be said for experimentation to determine the optimum combination of bullet and powder/load to get the best grouping. A well-tailored load can cut group sizes in half, just like in a rifle.

Cutting the group size in half when you're shooting 10" groups still isn't much to talk about. I took my sorry shooting 25-2 and converted it to .45 Colt using a .44 mag. cylinder. The bluing even matched so it looks original. But I didn't start with that nice of a gun or that tall of a price.

I was wondering about that sight.

it looks like red paint to me

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Offer him $700 on the way to the gun show.

Maybe I missed something. Did the OP say it fired 10" groups?

I promise, I looked and looked and couldn't find my checkbook. Happy birthday anyway. I hope you get the .45.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

No, not the OP. Another member, series guy, commented about HIS M25-2 shooting poor groups.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I don't remember about the front sight. I think he painted a white outline on the rear so might suspect paint on the front. I will definetly look on Monday. If God wants another S&W in my safe then things will all work out. First item on shopping trip is a 1911 9mm for my wife. We will see what kind of deals i can find. Guess i better read up on state and fed law. I live in SC and show in NC. Hot here going out to jump in the pool.

Jay

I love all this talk about $700 25-2s with good finish and box. Can't remember when I last saw one of those in this neck of the woods.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Geez, I've got one with a box I've never shot, previous owner did. Had no idea they were going for that much. Guess I need to look on Gunbroker more often.

I think a number of members here are stuck back in time a couple years. Now maybe this phase will settle down and prices may equalize but I would not count on it. I have passed on quite a few lately that ended up out of my range but if I see one I really want then I am going to hop on it and "pay early", because I may not get another chance any time soon.

This is more of a question than a reply. When you are speaking of 1955 Target, it seems to me that the early 1955 Target models were marked 1955 Target on the barrel. When they became 25-2, they didn't have the Target marking on the barrel. Am I wrong?

Yes you are.

At least as far as mine goes, which shipped January 1956. I don't know how they were labelled on the box though. The SCSW 4th edition does list them as 1955 .45 Target model (heavy barrel), which of course was changed to the model 25 in 1957. You know somebody here has one or twenty new in the box that can answer the box label question.

I've never seen one marked Target on the barrel, but I haven't seen everything.

The model 25 is a great revolver. Unfortunately, I don't own one. I just have to settle for these two--a model 1950 and a model 1955. Woe is me.

Attached Images

20210113_082025.jpg (65.3 KB, 33 views)

sodacan
Luv the early model tapered barrel big bores in your Pictures..Very Very Nice..Great picture of your 2 Smiths..What target triggers..smooth or serrated?
Randy..

Both serrated. The 1950 came from the factory with TT, TH and TS, which makes it a fairly unusual gun.

Randy,

I also have a Model 1950, 45 ACP Target, the trigger on mine is grooved but the standard width. Same thing on the Model 1950 Army, grooved, standard.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

The trick to get early 25-2's with oversize chamber throats to shoot is a simple one. Use .454" diameter cast lead bullets. You may have to search a little for them however the results make it very worthwhile. My old 6.5" 25-2 went from minute of basketball at 50 yds to a nice softball sized group with this simple change.

Thanks, I sold one in 1969 and thought it had Target on the barrel. Bad memory! I have a 25-2 now and it's not going away.