For some reason I have been getting a hankering for a .45 ACP wheel gun with a 4" or shorter barrel. Those that I have spoken with love the accuracy on these babies.

I am looking at several potential models that meet the resrictions of my state. That is, if they can be found to purchase. The new models I can own, in this state of misery, they are the 625, 625 JM, 325 PD, and the 325 Thunder Ranch.

Before I begin a quest I want to know if I should spend my time elseware or grab one of these beasts. What does the S&W Forum crew think?

I assume you mean 625 not 645. I have a PC625 4" and it is a hoot. I like a light trigger so to have it at 8.5 lbs I have to be sure to keep to ammo that uses federal primers.
Good handling and good accuracy.
e.

I hate moon clips, but I can't say no to a nice 45ACP revolver! Just bought a 25-2 not that long ago....

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Mark

You're right I changed it, I should not talk on the phone and type, damn I am getting old

Thanks for the input about your shooter! Is the primer concern due to the firing pin length?

Some different primers seem to have a lot harder case especially Winchester. Somewhere in this forum is a reference to a chart showing the different hardness of primers.
I have installed the Apex extended firing pin and spring kit but to be 100% reliable I stick to Federal Primers.
e.

I had never owned a .45 acp revolver until last year. I do not know what too me so long. I really enjoy shooting it. As for accuracy, well it is more accurate than I am, but what isn't. However, it does make me look good at the range. I have just added another one, so yeah, I like them.

Couple of months ago I picked up a M-22 4 inch. Had to put on some larger grips and a green Hi Viz front sight. Gun is a keeper. I think the .45 wheel is going to be a new "I want to get"

Dennis N

I just got a 625 PC and LOVE IT!! I own a Sig, H&K, and SA, and I will say that it shots as well if not better than ALL of them. Dont have any seconds thoughts, just DO IT.

they are alot of fun 17s, 22, 25 and 625s.

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Tommy

Agree with the above. 45 revolvers are great and great fun.
Mine even does double duty as my bedside companion:

Since repurposed as a match gun. 1st place first time out.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I know this is the wrong forum but I have to show off my favorite .45 ACP wheelgun - no moonclips needed!

Now back to S&W. I just shot my new S&W Governor today. I picked it up to be a camp/kayak gun for the .410 bore. I was amazed at how accurate and mild shooting the .45 ACP was. The new grips even worked well. As soon as I plug it - it will be gtg. I did have a 625 PC at one time for a range gun but didn't shoot it as much as I thought I would so when someone else really wanted it bad it went to them. It was a great handgun, however. I'm on a quest now to find a 325 Night Guard to replace a retired 3" 625. But they are getting hard to find. I was introduced to .45 ACP when I joined the Army MPs and it's been a favorite of mine for over 50 years. And the wheelguns are my favorites of the bunch.

My 625-3 with a 3inch barrell is a hoot to shoot and it's very accurate at that.

Get one if you can!!!!!!

The only bad thing I've found about them is that they're addictive.
And you aren't regulated to moonclips either as you can shoot the 45 Auto Rim cases. I've started using them more & more. You won't be disappointed.
Beruisis

I love mine

These are a ball to shoot, especially the Model 22. I carry the 325NG as a CCW gun. The Ruger has been carried as a "trail" gun. The extra .45ACP cylinder is fun, and no moonclips. I don't shoot the Model 22's with the standard stocks. They both get a set of Ahrends for target or carry work.

My TR 325 is an outstanding revolver. Steel case ammo sticks as expected, but brass cycles flawlessly. The 325 is a happy medium between the heavier .45 steel guns and the lighter weight .45 snubs. It weighs in at 31 oz, and is surprisingly nimble to carry and shoot.

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I'm with the banned ...

Gotta love the .45 ACP revolver. Good luck finding a 3"!!! Spent over 2 years trying to find one at a bearable price. It's a sweet shooter, and no FTFs when shooting without moonclips, and it's the last S&W i'd sell. Found the 4" at a gun show last month, but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.

I just picked one up locally last week. So are you saying you do not have to use the moon clips to shoot? I know it makes removing the spent cases more bearable but I didn't know you could omit the moon clips altogether.

Sure can. The spent shells will fall out until the fouling makes it more difficult and a dowel rod or pencil may be needed to push them out. I have bought some Rimz moonclips which can be loaded by hand, and they're very easy to use. Others have mentioned experiencing FTFs when not using moonclips

When I first bought my 625-3 I wasn't sure I was going to keep it. I still laugh at that thought. It quickly went into "from my cold dead hands" status.

625-3 wearing Ahrends moradillo tacticals with Rimz on the side:


15 yard rapid fire with multiple reloads:


Various reloads with copper tubing demooning tool:


Close up with Rimz vs. steel clips:


Wearing factory Pachmayr Gripper:


Swapped out for Pachmayr Presentation as I shoot better with this grip:


My favorite target ammo cast 185gr SWCHP:

Winchester primers are pretty soft. CCIs are very hard.

One of my biggest firearms regrets is getting rid of my 325PD. I kick myself each and every time I see one now. Whadda fool I was....traded it on a black-plastic wonder. Damn, that was dumb.........

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GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

Use 45AR ammo and you don't have to worry about pencils or dowel rods to eject your brass.

My most shot centerfire handguns are a pair of 625's (a 5" 625-6 Model of 1989 and a 4" 625-8 Jerry Miculek Special). Here is the 5":


Here is the 4":


Here is why I especially like these revolvers - standing at 25 yards with the 625-8:


I cast my own bullets and reload - my standard target load is the Mihec version of the #68 H&G 200 gr SWC ahead of 4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent (currently Titegroup). My heavy load is an NOE version of the Lyman 454424 (a 250 gr Keith SWC) ahead of 7.0 grs of Unique for a chronographed velocity of 900+ fps. This is a dandy field load:



A terrific varmint or self defense load is the 200 gr Mihec hollow point (from a brass Cramer style mould). This can be safely driven to 1000+fps and will expand to about .80 caliber:


I use the new Rimz Model 25 rigid carbon/polymer full moon clips for most uses with .45 ACP. My favorite case for the range is Starline .45 Auto Rim cases. I also have the tools and use steel full moon clips for serious work.

FWIW
Dale53

Dale53,

Those are some outstanding looking loads there.

my 325pd is my bedside gun. Has Crimson Trace laser grips. Have a 25-2 that is too nice to shoot so I picked up a shooter several months ago. Then there's the 625's in the safe....
My big hands fit the N frame grips(stocks, whatever)

I guess I like them.

Maximumbob54;
Thanks for the kind words. As the pictures show, this is a MOST versatile revolver (the 25 or 625 series). I prefer the "6" or "8" series because they have the correct cylinder throat dimensions and shoot extremely well. The early Model 25's and the 1917's and Model 22 often had very large throats causing many problems with cast bullets. Any revolver that I own MUST work well with cast bullets...

Dale53

great write-ups and photos, I enjoyed this thread very much! I know I really enjoy my model 25-2 (M689XXX) 6 inch barrel!

I started with a Brazilian that I got from another forum member...looked like it had been drug cross country behind a jeep...but boy could she shoot! That caused me to acquire a 25-2 and then a a US 1917. Love the moon clips as I'm a fumble finger with speed loaders. Now I'm looking for an affordable 625 so I can add a scope.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Sadly, we have all been there...

Two of my favorite revolvers are My S&W model 1917 and my Colt 1917, both .45acp. Both can be shot with or w/o moonclips. Both made in 1918. Very accurate and extremely well made. Really cool to shoot a piece of history.

I have a 3", and a 5". They are both excellent shooters.

Mine is a Ruger 4 5/8" NM BKH Convertible. Light and handy and a very good shooter. I have 100 new Starline AR cases, so I may get a S&W yet. If a Springfield Armory Commemorative Mountain Gun ever turns up I may just jump on it. (I refuse to own ugly guns.)

I'm very fond of my 4" 625. I've got some Buffalo Bore 255 gr. hard cast AR @ 1000 fps. that make dandy mountain loads. I need to get some more AR brass so I can try to develop an equivalent.

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Dave Frost

I bought this 625-8 PC a couple of years ago. I didn't like the feel of the red, white and blue laminated grips it came with so I replaced them with these.

It's very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. I reload 45 Auto Rim, so no moon clips needed!

Better yet is to have one that shoots .45 Colt, .45 ACP/ .45 AR....

With the .45 ACP cylinder it shoots great!

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

45 ACP Wheel Gun Love It Or Leave It
I guess I'll love it.

I love the 3" one so much I bought a second one.

I must join the chorus. I have two and wouldn't trade either of them for anything. Too much adoo made of moon clips. They're not that big a deal. I load them at home and unload them in my reloading room with a tool made for the purpose. Neither chore is difficult or time consuming.

I also have just purchased a 25-2 and I can't wait to shoot it. Always love the 45 acp. My first 45 was in the Marines and my second 45 was a S&W 4506. This was my service weapon for the first 15 years on the department. I still have it and have also purchsed a Kimber Ultra CDP II, both are excellent shooters.

I always loved the original 1917 S&W revolver with the rear-end of the cylinder milled off to accommodate the .45 AR cartridge. The ol' .45 ACP is a wonderful round. Loaded to it's maximum potential, it can "stomp someone into a mud hole and stomp him dry."

Scott

Started shooting 45 acp in revolvers with the S&W 1917's, own a 25 target, a 625 5" and a 3" RB....handload a variety of bullets and loads...very versatile and very accurate. Enjoyed the thread and all the pic's.

I use Ranch Products full moon clips in mine and I bit down hard and purchased a BMT Mooner tool to load and unload them with. The people at Ranch Products are so nice that they send you the moon clips first and you send them your check later. The BMT Mooner is the best, fastest, easiest tool every invented to load/unload full moon clips.

A friend of mine has a BMT moon tool, and it works better than sliced bread. But the price is BRUTAL.

Model 25-2. I have moon clips but shoot mostly auto rim with cast bullets.

I'll pipe up too.
I have a new series Model 22, 4" barrel. I love its looks and absolutely love full moon clips. I take this gun to a weekend cabin and it's so handy to load and unload. It's so much better that I don't know why they weren't used more by the police back in the revolver days--much better than speed loaders. As many have pointed out, you have many ammunition options--a pencil ejector works fine for loose ACP ammo at the range too.
My only suggestion is a gun with better sights. I have trouble holding to a constant elevation because of the broad refection from the half-moon front sight.
Don't know what law-limits you are suffering under. California allows the Model 22.

The Model 22 has such a cool retro look. They shoot great, too.

have the JM625 and love everything about it, very little recoil, very accurate, O regrets.....4" barrel perfect...moon clips are great...BT Mooner tool works great also...

I have a 625-4 with an old Tasco Pro-Point red dot that is fun to shoot and very accurate. I see a few other comments about ammo but I have shot everything I put in it, including handloads. The steel moon clips are major tough on my old hands but I found fiber clips that do the job well and load easily. This link will get you there: www.ezmoonclip.com

I've been shooting 625 JM for the last 4 years in IDPA and love the moon clips. My reloads have gotten fast enough that the pistol guys are envious.

The other part of the fun is shooting major power.

I did like the JM grip at first but then decided to buy a stock aftermarket grip and reshape it so that it feels right. It actually looks the same as the Miculek grip but it comes down a little more behind the trigger guard and is a little thicker on one side.

I just wish this "N" frame was a little thinner for concealed carry.

I had a model 22 Thunder Ranch but sold it because I didn't like the sights.

I have a 625 JM that I had reworked by Mike Carmoney and it is my primary IDPA revolver. The guns are a joy to shoot, very well made and tough as nails.