A few years ago I set out to craft what I hoped would be the ultimate .45 ACP revolver for defense or target use. I began with a really nice Model 625-2 Model of 1988 stainless 5"-barreled example, shipped in February 1989. For defense use, I favor a red-ramp front sight, as it pulls easily from a holster and stands out plainly against most targets. On a larger N-frame, I like the hand-filling Ahrends classic smooth stocks, and equipped this gun with them. Next, the gun was treated to a Class A action job by Phoenix gunsmith Nelson Ford, making the action as smooth as glass. It is the smoothest double action revolver I've ever fired, including Colt Pythons. Check the overtravel stop installed in the trigger, as well. The accuracy is amazing, being capable of cloverleaf groups at 25 yards.

This revolver easily handles .45 ACP cartridges without moon clips, with 100% ignition. Of course, full moon clips make it all the better, and it will accept .45 Auto Rim rounds as well.

When I carry it, it's packed in a strong-side black Galco pancake holster that pulls it in tight to the body.

Here's a pic of what I consider to be the ultimate .45 ACP revolver!

John

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Nice looking gun!

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Go NRA

That's a beautiful gun and I'd love to have it. However, for me, the ultimate .45 ACP revolver is just like yours with a 4" barrel. Very nice gun you have there.

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18-4, 15-4

very nice!!......here is my ultimate 45 ACP/AR carry piece....i have 625JM and 25-2 for range fun....but the 325PD is fun at the range too

Nice gun, I have been looking at the JM, and the 22, and, and.....Something about 45 ACP Smiths. Here is an older brother to your gun.

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Beautiful!

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V/R
Roger / SG

Very nice gentlemen, very nice however, for me the ultimate .45 ACP revolver is my 25-14.

Sweet looking Gun John..Nice Job!

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Winchester~Smith & Wesson~<3

You guys are killing me. I want a .45 ACP so bad I can taste it. I just saw 4 guns that I would love to have...or the 625PC or the 625JM or the Army Model of 1917... I haven't even bought 1 and I want at least 5 or 6 different variants.... This addiction is impossible

Those are all awesome weapons.
Mike

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

The ULTIMATE .45ACP revolver for me is the 4 inch 625-3 Model of 1989....

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Okay, okay, since you asked, here's another pic of of the ultimate .45acp revolver - my armoloyed Austin Behlert 25-2. She's accurate, concealable, and has an incredible action. Just got it back from Pinnacle, had Mark chamfer the charge holes, install a second crane ball detent, fix a little end shake, and give her a good going through. Now she locks up tight, feels and shoots like a new gun. And, thanks to the Armoloy finish, it still looks new, too.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

MY ultimate .45 ACP revolver is either my 4" JM Special or my Model of 1989 625-6. Flip a coin. They are both SO-O-O good, it is hard to believe!!





Then, there is the "Ultimate" ammunition to go with them:

250 gr Keith from an NOE five cavity mould for general field use:


OR the "Ultimate" expanding bullet (200 gr round nose Hollow point with pentagonal hollow from a Mihec mould):



My most used load (at least 100-1 of anything else) is the Mihec clone of the H&G #68 200 gr SWC ahead of 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent for a truly sweet, highly accurate, target load. Sorry, I don't have a picture of this one.

FWIW
Dale53

BEAUTIFUL ! ! ! THAT AMMO IS JUST AS PRETTY AS THE WEAPON......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Like several others shown, this is getting very close to the ideal combat revolver.

Buck

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I notice nobody has mentioned the 325 Thunder Ranch...any opinions on it? I've been thinking about adding it to my want list if I could find a decent used one for a good price.

While we are on this subject, I have shot thousands of rounds using .45 ACP cases with both steel and RIMZ polymer clips as well as the pictured .45 Auto Rim cases. Up until recently, I used the flexible Rimz clips and really enjoyed the fact that you didn't need tools to re and de-moon the clips. However, they were a bit less secure than the steel clips (of course, to their credit, they didn't bend either).

Recently, I re-ordered another supply of Rimz clips (not that I had ever had one fail even after hundreds of rounds). I just believe that a few "too much" is just about right (:<)).

At any rate, I received the #25 clips instead of the expected #625 clips. They are considerably different in appearance. They are nearly rigid and are made of a hydrocarbon polymer mixture. They seem to have some of the same qualities of the steel full moon clips but still allow you to load and unload them with your fingers (with a bit more effort than the flexible polymer clips).

At any rate, I believe I have found my new "standard" for using .45 ACP cases in both my revolvers. RIMZ rigid new clips...

Ez Moon Clips

I have no financial interest in Rimz clips just a happy user.

Dale53

The only thing better than the 5-inch (to me) might be the three-inch, but I haven't found one I could afford just yet. So in the meantime I fitted this one with a better front sight, a White Outline rear, and a set of ugly grips that fit my hands like a dream. It's not perfect...........but it's edging closer.

What? Did we forget one? Did no one suggest the Governor as a candidate for 'The ultimate.45 ACP revolver'??



I have a 625JM, too... but it's picky about ammo. It's got to be .45 ACP in moonclips or loose .45 ARs... with Federal primers. Not the Governor... it's not proud (Kind of like a previous Alabama governor... who enjoyed some Federal time...). It'll chamber a range of loads. Okay, a bit of levity...

The OP's choice is nice - but I think a better one would be a new run of 625MG's in .45 ACP - with better sights (MG's all have black/black!) - even just an OR on front would help my mature eyes. Heck, anything that launches .45 ACP and has a cylinder is neat!

Stainz

The two at the bottom are both used for bullseye shooting. The Model 1989 at the bottom is just a bit easier to shoot accurately than the JM immediately above it. But the JM is a lot newer and I have not really found the right load for it.

[QUOTE=PALADIN85020;136386318]A few years ago I set out to craft what I hoped would be the ultimate .45 ACP revolver for defense or target use. I began with a really nice Model 625-2 Model of 1988 stainless 5"-barreled example, shipped in February 1989. For defense use, I favor a red-ramp front sight, as it pulls easily from a holster and stands out plainly against most targets. On a larger N-frame, I like the hand-filling Ahrends classic smooth stocks, and equipped this gun with them. Next, the gun was treated to a Class A action job by Phoenix gunsmith Nelson Ford, making the action as smooth as glass. It is the smoothest double action revolver I've ever fired, including Colt Pythons. Check the overtravel stop installed in the trigger, as well. The accuracy is amazing, being capable of cloverleaf groups at 25 yards.

This revolver easily handles .45 ACP cartridges without moon clips, with 100% ignition. Of course, full moon clips make it all the better, and it will accept .45 Auto Rim rounds as well.

When I carry it, it's packed in a strong-side black Galco pancake holster that pulls it in tight to the body.

Here's a pic of what I consider to be the ultimate .45 ACP revolver!

John

I could not agree more. I paid $575 for a very nice 625-2 in Sept. 2009. I rapidly came to appreciate its fine accuracy and handling. I had never owned a .45 ACP revolver and was not sure such a chambering would have a great deal of utility. I was very happily surprised. As soon as I can return to handloading, I will doubtless be shooting my 625 much more than is currently possible given the price of WWB .45 ACP at Wal-Mart.

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I have mine, it's just not put together yet. The gun is a 625-4 5" and to be added to it is a brand new mountain gun 4" barrel. The barrel is bright stainless so it'll have to be blasted to match the rest of the gun.

The thunder ranch 45 is great and the 625 JM also tops.

After years - if not decades! - of fiddling around with 25-2s and invariably ending up dissatisfied with the results, I was lucky enough to snag a gun VERY similar to yours (mine still has its original black patridge blade) from one of our members. It is hands down the best .45 revolver I have ever fired, and it too is capable of the kind of accuracy you mention, when given good ammunition. In fact, the gun is not even particularly ammunition sensitive. I wish I had tried one of these years ago!

My gun happens to have been tuned by Mr. Ford, too. Since I was impressed with what I saw, I just talked with him a few days ago about tuning a couple more guns. He did a great job on that one. Nothing scary - just good quality, very usable work that makes the gun both more shootable and more of a pleasure to shoot.

How about a Mountain gun for I.D.P.A..

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My 625 Magnaport custom with 2 5/8" barrel......

That'll be a GREAT revolver. Be sure to post some pics when it's done.........

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Can't let this thread go by without posting another picture of my blue steel Mountain Gun. Custom made by cutting a 1950 tapered barrel down to 4" and round butting the 25-2 the barrel was on.



My gun smith also tuned the action and finally bead blasted and blued it. Haven't found a holster I really like but even with a less than perfect holster it carries as well as any N-frame can. (smile)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Mine shoots like a dream,

SWEET ! ! !

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Some GREAT looking 45's in this thread,but this baby is SWEEET!
I passed on a blued one of these in about '89 and have kicked myself ever since.

That is a beauty for sure.I like my Thunder ranch 22-4. It is like a model 10 on steriodswith it's tapered barrel and fixed sights and nice blueing.Nothing fancy like those others but it shoots great and handles great. I sold a M 625-8 and kept it.

I haven't found anything that beats my 3" 625-3



or the 3" 625-6 Lew Horton



One of these is going to the range this weekend.

New shoes, same gun...

I just sold my 625 model of 1989 with a 4" barrel.
I prefer the 5" barrel myself and if I ever see one I will buy it, if I have the cash ready.

John

I've got a -3 5" but it's not for sale.

RollinHot, are those factory grips? I have a set laying around here somewhere just like that that came on a buddies 3" 625. He was told they are rather sought after but he didint like them so he gave them to me.

brucey had something in his post about 'This revolver easily handles .45 ACP cartridges without moon clips, with 100% ignition. Of course, full moon clips make it all the better, and it will accept .45 Auto Rim rounds as well.'

Stainz had it that a 625 jimmy wouldn't fire loose acp.

Im no expert but golly, doesnt that violate some contract made to do so?

I would think he would be bent a bit over that.

Would it be a case of headspacing?

Could a tiny shim be shoved in there?

- Batts

longer firin' pin will make it light them....

Thanks ghitch75.

I just saw the saami pdf of acp and the chambers can be .020 long.

Is there need for concern over the backslap to the frame/breech from a loose floating round?

I will probably shoot few more than a few loose rounds anyways.

Just new to DAs.

Getting more grips for it than mlady has shoes.

And holsters ...

- Batts

My Governor is fun... but it's the new kid on the block. My early 625JM, like the 4" 625-8 that preceded it, is a frequent range bag occupant. Fun to plink away with, the picture below was in response to a range-mate's question regarding capacity - and reloads. The 105 loaded moonclips shown stow in 5 layers, with hardboard between, of 21 'clips in a metal .223 ammo box. I have two such boxes full and thirty odd more in tupperware boxes - 1,440 rounds before I have to reload 'clips. Now I can share them with the Governor. Zombies beware!



I bought my 625JM over seven years ago last month - and still can't find fault with it. Even the grips developed me as a champion - I put some on my 627 Pro - and the same HiViz sight, too. The 625JM is a great .45 ACP package.

Stainz

YOU DA MAN, STAINZ ! ! !

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I fell into the 625 trap thanks to AlleN-frame! I was able to pick up a -2 and a -3 in ACP and a -6 MG in LC. l have a 1917 headed my way. After shooting the 3 625s, it's gonna be a difficult decision to pick a favorite for some custom work. They all three are saweeet shooting irons!

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