325 PD

[bananaman]

Hi, saw a 325 PD on a sales/ trade site. Can anybody give me info on them? Are they durable?? Issues? Anything else I should know including value? Any help would be appreciated! Bob

[Groo01]

Groo here
As far as durablity , the biggest problem is cleaning the TI cylinder..
Got to use the correct stuff to not damage the coating.
I just wipe with oil......
The biggest thing will be the weight..
Think a J frame S&W snub weight with an N frame grip.....
They tend to kick a little.....

[shell627]

I have no experience with the 325 pd.But I have owned and carried a 325 nightguard for a number of years.And it is a great gun and caliber and very easy to carry,full moon clips make for quick reloads.

[smithman]

It’s hard to imagine a low pressure round like .45acp wearing out any N frame.

[jughed440]

I once had a 325 AirLite PD, and its recoil was no worse than a 3" 625. Very tame and manageable recoil. .45 ACP is such an easy shooting round.
I would not try to shoot a .44 Mag version.

If you're thinking of buying it for carry, do keep in mind that the TI cylinder is wider than a stainless version. Comparison pic..25-2, 625-3, 325 PD...

[Pizza Bob]

A great carry gun at 25 oz. One of those that you carry a lot, shoot a little, although with .45 ACP the recoil really isn't that bad. Mine has Pachmayr Compac grips on it, which really help as they cover the back strap.

Bought mine from someone on this forum seven years ago and paid $750. My buddy was much enamored of it but couldn't find one for $1K or less. I finally found him one for $1K and he was glad to get it at that price.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[M1A]

I bought mine when they first appeared. Just a whim for something different. Empty it has the weight of a squirt gun.
I like it, shoot it a lot, but don't think I will wear it out.

[Old cop]

I’ve owned & shot my no lock 340PD for a little over three years and never a single issue, just be careful what you use to clean the cylinder. I wipe mine w/gun oil. The few times I shot magnum loads the casings swell inside the chambers making them difficult to extract. Thirty-eight extractions are no problem.

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by jughed440

...do keep in mind that the TI cylinder is wider than a stainless version.

I don't have a 325PD but I have several other S&W Ti cylinder revolvers & their cylinders are same diameter as their stainless steel/steel counterparts.

I have multiple 45ACP revolvers, as well as a fair quantity of other N-frame revolvers in various calibers, and ALL their cylinders run ~1.710" in diameter, +/- a few thousandths.

Is that what we're talking about? A few thousandths?

The frame window limits the size of the cylinder.

.

[jughed440]

Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37

I don't have a 325PD but I have several other S&W Ti cylinder revolvers & their cylinders are same diameter as their stainless steel/steel counterparts.

I have multiple 45ACP revolvers, as well as a fair quantity of other N-frame revolvers in various calibers, and ALL their cylinders run ~1.710" in diameter, +/- a few thousandths.

Is that what we're talking about? A few thousandths?

The frame window limits the size of the cylinder.

.

I have side-by-side compared the 325 and 625 cylinders, The difference is very noticeable, but i never took the time to measure the difference before selling the 325. Maybe a 325 owner can.
I'm guessing that the Ti cylinders had to be made larger and the frame opened up to accept the larger cylinder...just like the 627 frames being enlarged to take the 8 rd. cylinder.

This article has clearer pictures...notice the spacing between the loaded rounds.
Gun Nuts Reviews: Smith & Wesson 325PD - Gun Nuts Media

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by jughed440

...but i never took the time to measure the difference before selling the 325. Maybe a 325 owner can.
...just like the 627 frames being enlarged to take the 8 rd. cylinder.

Again, all my Ti cylinders measure the same diameter as their SS model counterparts.

I'm going with the lighter gray color -vs- the black cylinder creates a size difference illusion, until I see measured proof otherwise.

As far as the spacing between the loaded rounds in the article you referenced, don't forget those are rimless (45ACP) rounds you're looking at.

There's a big difference when you add rim to them as in 45AR or if it was 45 Colt resulting in less "apparent" space between them.

And the frame of a 327/627, with an (8) shot cylinder, has the same cylinder window size as any other N-frame (~1.74"), again no matter what cartridge/caliber it's in. (I double verified with my revolvers)

They were able to achieve (8) round spacing by moving the chamber centers toward the outer circumference of the cylinder & by moving the barrel's bore center a tad closer to the top strap as well as moving the firing pin a tad higher a corresponding amount (~0.035"), & limiting the barrel extension's diameter, as I recall. Not by making the frame/cylinder window larger.

.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37

Again, all my Ti cylinders measure the same diameter as their SS model counterparts.

I'm going with the lighter gray color -vs- the black cylinder creates a size difference illusion, until I see measured proof otherwise.

As far as the spacing between the loaded rounds in the article you referenced, don't forget those are rimless (45ACP) rounds you're looking at.

There's a big difference when you add rim to them as in 45AR or if it was 45 Colt resulting in less "apparent" space between them.

And the frame of a 327/627, with an (8) shot cylinder, has the same cylinder window size as any other N-frame (~1.74"), again no matter what cartridge/caliber it's in. (I double verified with my revolvers)

They were able to achieve (8) round spacing by moving the chamber centers toward the outer circumference of the cylinder & by moving the barrel's bore center a tad closer to the top strap as well as moving the firing pin a tad higher a corresponding amount (~0.035"), & limiting the barrel extension's diameter, as I recall. Not by making the frame/cylinder window larger.

.

Thanks for the info! I was considering buying 1 I saw for sale. Going to pass. I do have a 625 JM, that will do what I want.

[jughed440]

Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37

Again, all my Ti cylinders measure the same diameter as their SS model counterparts.

I'm going with the lighter gray color -vs- the black cylinder creates a size difference illusion, until I see measured proof otherwise.

As far as the spacing between the loaded rounds in the article you referenced, don't forget those are rimless (45ACP) rounds you're looking at.

There's a big difference when you add rim to them as in 45AR or if it was 45 Colt resulting in less "apparent" space between them.

And the frame of a 327/627, with an (8) shot cylinder, has the same cylinder window size as any other N-frame (~1.74"), again no matter what cartridge/caliber it's in. (I double verified with my revolvers)

They were able to achieve (8) round spacing by moving the chamber centers toward the outer circumference of the cylinder & by moving the barrel's bore center a tad closer to the top strap as well as moving the firing pin a tad higher a corresponding amount (~0.035"), & limiting the barrel extension's diameter, as I recall. Not by making the frame/cylinder window larger.

.

As for the 325 Ti cylinder vs the 625 cylinder...i have compared them both side by side. The Ti cylinder IS larger. Its color had no effect in that comparison...but you're welcome to think otherwise until 'proof' is provided. No problem.

As mentioned many times before by members, the 8 shot model 627 cylinders are wider, and the frame has been enlarged to accommodate it. You cannot swap a 6 rd cylinder in place of the 8rd, or vice versa, and make it work.
The gap between the barrel and the extractor rod collar clearly shows the difference between 6 and 8 rd. model frames.

[Andy J.]

I have a 325 that I got a great deal on because it had some finish wear and timing issues. Timing was easy enough to correct, and I didn't really care that much about the wear.



It's a lot of fun to shoot, especially with the reflex sight I added. My forearms aren't anything like Popeye's, and I have creaky wrists, so I put a big rubber grip on it and it was tamed enough that I can do hundreds of rounds without suffering much. (My loads are using 185-grain bullets, which also helps)



I don't consider it a downside, as I really like moonclips, but be aware that moonclips are the most convenient way to shoot these, which will mean getting a tool to handle loading and unloading the clips.

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by jughed440

As for the 325 Ti cylinder vs the 625 cylinder...i have compared them both side by side. The Ti cylinder IS larger. Its color had no effect in that comparison...but you're welcome to think otherwise until 'proof' is provided. No problem.

Well, I've measured mine with a caliper, not my eyeballs, unlike you.

My 329PD Ti cylinder's diameter is the same as my 629's cylinder.

Do you honestly believe that S&W made the 325PD's 45ACP Ti cylinder a larger diameter than their 329PD's 44 Magnum Ti cylinder, both in N-frames?

Really??

.

[steelslaver]

I have 2 325. One with a TI cylinder, the 2nd has a TI cylinder I purchased from mid way. A set of calipers shows both to be exactly the same OD as a steel cylinders. The frame window isn't any bigger so how would a larger cylinder fit????

[dakota1911]

I have had one for years. I thought it was "interesting". Bought it new from an LGS. I think if I shot it more I would put on different stocks/grips.



Have a 625 also.



I will have to take the time and measure both cylinders when I am near both of them again. I know the same moon clips work in either revolver.

[PatriotX]

Originally Posted by jughed440

As mentioned many times before by members, the 8 shot model 627 cylinders are wider, and the frame has been enlarged to accommodate it. You cannot swap a 6 rd cylinder in place of the 8rd, or vice versa, and make it work.
The gap between the barrel and the extractor rod collar clearly shows the difference between 6 and 8 rd. model frames.

While the gap is different, the cylinders miked the same diameter.



627-0 6-shot and a 627-5pc 8-shot pictured

[dakota1911]

Finally got around to measuring cylinder diameter between my 325PD and 625 and they appear the same.