Just won a nice-lookin 625 JM on Guncrack for $730. Anything I need to know about Smith's with locks? This will be my first, and I've had Smith revolvers since 1976.

Have several with the lock. No issues at all.

That's good news!

I have a 625 JM and several other Smith revolvers with locks.

In fact, I carry a S&W snub with a lock every day.

Never had a problem with any of them.

Any gun, revolver or semi, can fail. A number of internal parts can break and tie the gun up and prevent it from firing.

The lock is just another part that could fail, but I think it's rare -- in fact non-existent for me.

Are 1970's guns with no lock better than current production versions of the same gun?

I'm not so sure. There have been major improvements in metallurgy and machining in the last 40-50 years. Current guns may be more reliable even with the lock. The big difference between now and 1970 is we have the Internet so every failure is broadcast to the world.

I can believe that about magnified failures. I carried a revolver until we went semi-auto in '92 and continued to keep and enjoy 60s-80s Smiths regardless of modern trends. They're not like strawberries - they don't go bad.

I wished mine didn’t have the lock but I never could get lucky enough to find an affordable one w/o the lock. I actually hated the grips. I traded them for a set of Hogues and couldn’t be happier. It just makes more sense for me to own a 625 over a 629. I just don’t see me ever making a trip to Alaska and being able to carry a handgun with me.

Every N-frame I own has a 4" barrel and identical Hogue Monogrip. My scores prefer it that way! I do need to find a set for this one as well.

The Canucks won't allow you through to Alaska with a handgun if you go by road; they are really rifle-friendly, though.

My hiking/horseback sidearm now is either an older 29 or 58, usually with 900-1000 fps standard weight bullet handloads. The 625 should be able to do that as well with 250 grain lead bullets.

Have one I bought new in 2003. It was made in 2002. Lovely hand gun. Has a very nice single and double action. Never used the lock. The keys are still in the box it came in. I have never had any problems with it. Don't shoot it a huge amount but it has had several thousand rounds through it over the years. Nice revolver to shoot.

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Do you use any auto rim ammo? Mine has a 4" barrel, but that 5" looks great!

I have 250 rounds of Auto Rim that I NEVER use.....full moon clips with .45 ACP in my 625 JM and never look back.

Still nothing faster than 6 in and 6 out with moonclips.....

Randy

"On guncrack" ...... Now that's funny and oh so true.

Alaska is a long ride from Tennessee. I would have to fly. I actually thought you could transport, over a 4” barrel, across the border if you said it was for collecting or completion but not self defense. Oh, and of course you paid the fees.

Dunno....I only took a rifle or shotgun through Canada. They always asked about pistols or pistol ammo.

Congratulations on being the successful bidder. Good revolver. I have a few ACP revolvers and a couple have the lock. One with the lock is my EDC. Remember, it is a storage lock and you do not have to use it.

Kevin

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Very good, thanks!

Decades ago, I was a serious PPC competitor. I competed in 5 states and Canada. To bring my competition revolvers into Canada I needed a Canadian carry permit. Fill out the paperwork, submit it to the RCMP and wait for approval. Once I had that, it was no problem.

Show up in their country WITHOUT a permit but with handguns, confiscation is the least that will happen.

Kevin

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I've had a 625-8 for 10 years. Probably have 3K rounds thru it. The lock has never been an issue for me. I won't buy any more S&W's made in the last 30 years tho. The quality just isn't there and I'm using a bunch of older models to compare. But my 625 works for what I want it to do. If it didn't I would have sold it.

You'll like it. Just don't put it next to a pre lock gun and start a comparison.

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Well, that's kind of why I've stayed with older Smiths. Glad to hear the 625 is serviceable. What I'm looking for is a larger caliber replacement for a 357 for a hiking and horseback gun I won't worry about skinning up. It has to have enough umphf to put down a horse, just in case. A handful of Buffalo Bore +P Auto Rim ought to do that.

The Model 625 and all of the S&W ACP revolvers built in the last 4 decades are fully capable of using 45 Super if the boutique cartridges are too costly or not available to you.

Kevin

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You did well on the price! Mine was in very good shape used from a mail order shop for $800, box etc. included. I use RIMZ poly moon clips. No tools needed. Changed front sight to Hi-Viz .250". fast & easy on your gun if you desire. Different stocks also, but have originals. Had mine 6 years or so. Enjoy your 625! Bob

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Thanks, and I was likely the only guy bidding on the 4th.

I use mostly auto rim in my 625's. It's easy to reload from mild to wild. I do use moons if the only ammo I have handy for the range is acp. In non competitive, casual range and plinking use, moon clips are not worth it to me.

I use moon clips nearly exclusively. Why? Because ACP brass was a cheap commodity. Auto rim I would need to buy brass or ammunition in order to acquire a supply. I may have 50 rounds of AR or maybe I gave it to my brother. My moon clips come from Ranch Products. I believe they are the originator of the modern full moon clip or at least an early mass producer of it. I use a piece of 1/2 thin wall pile to remove the brass and a pair of water pump pliers to load the ammunition, two at a time, into the clips. Is it difficult? No more so than loading a magazine for a self loading pistol. I cannot remember the last time I heard a 1911 bitch about loading magazines. And those guys and gals like to bellyache! But, it does take all kinds and there are usually at least two horses in a race so RIMZ and Auto Rim are good alternatives to those less mechanically inclined.

Kevin

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I've got a pack of Ranch moon clips on the way from Midway.

Next time you need moon clips, Ranch Products sells direct to consumer. Compare prices.

Kevin

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Just be sure to keep one of the keys on your ring.

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No baby we aint

I have a model 25 and shoot 45 auto through it all the time.......no moon clips and never had a light strike or misfire. In competition I use auto rim cases and A cast 205 gr. full wadcutter that are cast from a custom mold I had made for me. That bullet shoots a single ragged hole from a Ransom Rest @ 25 yds consitently.

As for a built in lock I just cannot bring myself to buy a current production Smith unless it is a “no lock” model, which gives you not much choice. The last 4 revolvers I have bought have all been Rugers. They know how to build a good gun without an unsightly lock.

I've had a 625JM for 12 years or so. Great shooter in spite of some obvious defects including a messed up bbl to cyl gap, looks like some one took a Dremel to the rear of the bbl on the left side, forcing cone is the worst I've ever seen, looks like it's threaded. The chambers are messed up, not bored so you can use it with ACP unless you use moon clips. Rounds go in too deep. It shoots really well so I just grin and bear it.

I have a 625-8 (4” barrel) JM Special and have had it several years. I fire nothing in it but my home cast reloads. Same with my 625-6 Model of 1989 with 5” barrel. Both came with perfect cylinder throats for .452” cast bullets. Both of them are quite accurate under 1” at 25 yards with a variety of loads from target loads to 250 gr Keith SWC’s powerful enough for hogs and deer.

The only thing I did was put my favorite Pachmayr grips on, replaced the springs with a JM matched set and tuned the double action to 9.0 lbs. with the single action to 3.0 lbs. (my preference).

I have also examined and shot fellow club member’s 625-8’s and they also had perfect dimensions. I have tens of thousands of my cast bullet reloads through my 625’s and they have become some of my most favorite revolvers of all time.

FWIW
Dale53

The RIMZ clips are the cat's pajamas at the range.

Never had any problems with the lock.

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Centennial Every Day

I have a few with the lock and have never had an issue. I don't even remember it's there until I see it mentioned here.

That’s too bad, you are cheating yourself out of some very nice shooting, at least in ACP.

Kevin

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Well, I picked it up today. It seems to have had little use; it cleaned up quickly and nicely.

This is the first Smith I've owned with a lawyer lock; the lack of a hammer mounted firing pin is a little weird as well. 

There is NO comparison between the DA trigger pull and that of any of my 60s-to-early-80s N-frames; it's not even close. SA is excellent. The balance is nice, slightly muzzle-heavy. I'm hoping the DA will smooth out after I get a chance to send some rounds sent downrange, but I guess we'll see.

I found some Buffalo Bore 255 grain LFP in 45 Auto Rim...my plan is to load a couple of hundred 45 AR this afternoon with 6.5 grains of Longshot and Missouri bullets 250 grain SWC, then burn through some tomorrow. The rounds are really short after handling magnums!

Let me try to post the Guncrack photos...neither PhotoThief nor any other image-hosting company will get me again. It looks different right now, as I put a Hogue Monogrip on it - all my N-frames wear the exact same grip to help my aging muscle memory. 

S&W Smith 625-8 JM Jerry Miculek 45acp 4" 45 $.01 Start-No Reserve 160936 - Revolvers at GunBroker.com : 871909541

That DA pull should smooth up nicely with dry fire and live fire. If it feels gritty, drop the sideplate and give it a good cleaning. When they sweep up the factory at night, the sweepings get dumped in the actions.

Kevin

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'Gritty' is exactly the feel - I'll give it a cleaning now. Thank you!

I’ve got the similar, but not identical, 625-8 PC and it’s been very enjoyable to shoot, the lock never having presented any problems.

I don’t bother loading moonclips for the range anymore because the cylinder charge holes are bored to allow .45 ACP to head space on the case mouths and although the extractor won’t pull the cases out, all I need to do is shake the revolver and the cases virtually fall out by themselves, sometimes with a little help from a fingernail.

Enjoy your 625 JM, they’re very nice revolvers.

Thank you, I'd wondered how hard it might be to get ACP empties out without moonclips.

Got chopstick?

Kevin

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Many of the modern 625's will not headspace correctly without clips. Smith changed the chambers of the late models. I have had both - one worked perfectly without clips and one would not. I just use RIMZ full moon clips at the range. You can load those clips without tools. However, for "serious" use, steel full moon clips (which require tools to load the clips properly) retain the cartridges better than the RIMZ clips if dropped.

Also, many use .45 Auto Rim cases at the range. Starline Auto Rim cases are far superior to the original Remington/Peters cases regarding longevity. Frankly, I use Rimz, Steel, and Auto Rim cases depending on my particular want or need at the time...

FWIW
Dale53

Yes, but there's car hair on it....

I recently saw a listing on Armslist about a plug for the Hillary Holes on S&Ws. I think there is a company making plugs that will match the finish of your gun that hides the annoying lock.

The lock delete kits are available from a member of this forum.

Universal MOONCLIP Tool ** S&W Revolvers LOCK DELETE PLUG ** ORIGINAL PRECISION

Kevin

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I really enjoy shooting my 625JM, and carry it a fair amount in the winter. I found a real nice gent that makes a great moonclip called Rimz, a glass-reinforced polymer that has stood up to lots of shooting and some fair abuse....and they require no tools for removing casings. I did once years ago avail myself of a fellow here making ss plugs for the hole after removal of the lock, and it worked great. I have to admit since then I’ve learned to live with the lock.
I have since gone to a hogue rubber grip, and much prefer shooting with them.

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