MODEL 25 QUESTION

[Mike SC Hunter]

The 25-7 was the best of the pre lock 45s

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An example.

 

[Model19man]

I have both a Model 25-2 with both cylinders and a Model 25-3 in 45 Colt. I think you would have to reload some really long rounds to have a round that was too long. It's another exaggerated story similar to the internet myth that Model 25-5's have larger throats and are therefore inaccurate.

Whoever tells you either of these things never owned one and doesn't know what they are talking about.

 

[SLT223]

Don’t rule out the 25-13 Mountain Gun. They are gorgeous, have correct throats, and demonstrate laser accuracy. They also balance very nicely in the hand.

 

[Hair Trigger]

While I am not a 45 long Colt aficionado, I do like the Model 25 revolver. I believe the oversized throat condition was cured at the same time the pin in the barrel was discontinued, so you are looking for a non-pinned, non-recessed model

Kevin

Only 1982 and earlier magnum calibers, and .22 rimfire have recessed cylinders. .45Auto and .45 Colt don't have them in any series.

I have both a Model 25-2 with both cylinders and a Model 25-3 in 45 Colt. I think you would have to reload some really long rounds to have a round that was too long. It's another exaggerated story similar to the internet myth that Model 25-5's have larger throats and are therefore inaccurate.

Is it the fact that some .45 Colts had oversized throats, or that they are inaccurate guns, that is internet myth? The throat should be .450-.451 at most. Mine is .453, and a .45Colt bullet (.452) will drop straight through it. However, from my first range results, it doesn't appear to affect the accuracy at all.

 

[Model19man]

The SAAMI Spec for 45 Colt used to be .454" and that is what the 25-2, 25-3 and 25-5 were made to accept. They are fantastic and extremely accurate if you know this. The current SAAMI spec is not what was used then.

Load the right thing - it pays to be knowledgeable.

Only 1982 and earlier magnum calibers, and .22 rimfire have recessed cylinders. .45Auto and .45 Colt don't have them in any series.


Is it the fact that some .45 Colts had oversized throats, or that they are inaccurate guns, that is internet myth? The throat should be .450-.451 at most. Mine is .453, and a .45Colt bullet (.452) will drop straight through it. However, from my first range results, it doesn't appear to affect the accuracy at all.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Those wood stocks on your 25-13 are beautiful. Tell me about them.

Thanks.

Those are the factory grips that it came with.

I found out that they were Ahrends Cocobolo S&W Tactical Grips, Square Butt Finger Groove model grips.
http://ahrendsgripsusa.com/images/revolver/Revolver Pix 6.jpg

Looks like Ahrends went out of business in 2020 & Cocobola wood is on the restricted list as an endangered species.

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My M329PD came with similar style grips but they weren't pretty.
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[BLUEDOT37]

The SAAMI Spec for 45 Colt used to be .454" and that is what the 25-2, 25-3 and 25-5 were made to accept.
They are fantastic and extremely accurate if you know this.
The current SAAMI spec is not what was used then.

I don't know when, or if, 45 Colt specs changed but the current SAAMI specs are:

.4520" + .0075" (.4520" to .4595") for their cylinder throats,

.450" to .454" for the groove diameter, &

.4560" - .0060" (.4500" to .4560") for bullet diameter.

Likely a carryover from way back when that finally got changed to match the tighter diameters that the 45ACP revolvers always carried.

And don't forget that S&W had similarly loose specs for their 44 Magnums throats at .432" & later standardized them to .429" too.

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[steelslaver]

I have both a Model 25-2 with both cylinders and a Model 25-3 in 45 Colt. I think you would have to reload some really long rounds to have a round that was too long. It's another exaggerated story similar to the internet myth that Model 25-5's have larger throats and are therefore inaccurate.

Whoever tells you either of these things never owned one and doesn't know what they are talking about.

I have had a bunch of 45 colts and still do. I do know what I am talking about

I had a 25-3 and a 25-2 that had a 357 cylinder reamed to 45 colt. Neither could use my Keith 255 gr bullets when seated so the crimp was in crimp groove. The 25-3 is gone. The 25-2 now has a 44 mag cylinder reamed to 45 colt. I also had a pinned 25-5 that had .456 throats. (I have a set of pin gauges). I replaced it with a 44 mag cylinder I reamed out. When I make up my own cylinders a .453 gauge will not go in throats. Accuracy improved considerably.

Neither are myths. How much effect either has is not as great as some believe. With those long bullets, for awhile I just crimped in front of top band. Never found a factory load that did not fit, but did not use many either. The big throat deal and accuracy is very bullet dependent.

 

[Nick B]

You’re all wrong . The 625-5 Classic rules the roost in .45 Colt . ��

 

[steelslaver]

No this 5" Pinned and recessed 25-5 is boss.

this converted to 45 colt 4"629 with cylinder recessed to fire 45acp in full moons is runner up and its 5" buddy that only fires 45 colt is third

Then there is the converted to 45 colt by reaming with partial recess 455 Triplelock

How about a 4 1/4" made from a Brazilian, achopped 1950 barrel and a reamed 44 mag cylinder?

I just finished making this cut to 3 1/2" 1950 barrel mounted on a cut down 1917 with a cut down grip frame and adj sights into a 45 colt using a reamed 44 mag cylinder.

The one on the left is a 1955 with a 6 1/2" barrel sporting a reamed to 45 colt 44n mag cylinder

Ya I like 45 colts

 

[DR505]

I also agree that the 25-7 is without a doubt the finest .45 Colt revolvers S&W ever made. Mine ain't going nowhere!

I'll throw some doubt for you...the 25-9 is an improved 25-7....it has the larger stop notches and different bolt. But 25-9s came in the 5" unfluted variety AND the fluted versions!

 

[GypsmJim]

While I am not a 45 long Colt aficionado, I do like the Model 25 revolver. I believe the oversized throat condition was cured at the same time the pin in the barrel was discontinued, so you are looking for a non-pinned, non-recessed model.

Having said that, if you handload, .454 diameter bullets from my Model 25-5 are wonderfully accurate.

Kevin

Eons ago bought a Colt SAA in .45 Colt. I like the round so much as the years went by I added a Blackhawk, Redhawk and Vaquero to the collection. My last purchase was a 25-5.

I was a little disappointed with the Smith's accuracy. Then I learned about the over sized throats. I bought a small box of store bought 250 gr. 0.454's and it made the gun a tack driver.

The interesting thing was that those boolits even performed better in my other 4 revolvers as well.

Lastly, I bought a new mold and .454 sizer and that's my standard for ALL my Colts.

If I were to buy another model 25, I think I would actually WANT an early 25-5. There is just something about a pinned barrel, and IMHO the finish on the newer models simply does not compare.

 

[StrawHat]

Boy, I wish I lived in Central Montana!

Kevin

 

[Model19man]

The recipe in my Lyman manual for the 250 grain lead bullets that I use calls for 1.570" OAL. There are no crimp grooves exposed if you follow the recipe. The bullet sits in my 25-2 or 25-3 (shown) cylinder with .125" to spare. These are .454" OD powder coated bullets that arrived last week. I am using a below maximum load of Unique powder over a W-W primer in fresh Starline brass. If you are making the round that long it's not going to fit, but my guess is that you have exceeded the specified OAL for the cartridge which is not desirable IMHO. It pays to look at a reloading manual and follow the directions.

I've been reloading 45 Colt for my 25-2 revolver since I bought it in the early 1980's. I have always followed the recipes in reloading manuals and have yet to experience anything like you are saying. It will tear the center out of a paper target if I do my job.

I have had a bunch of 45 colts and still do. I do know what I am talking about

I had a 25-3 and a 25-2 that had a 357 cylinder reamed to 45 colt. Neither could use my Keith 255 gr bullets when seated so the crimp was in crimp groove. The 25-3 is gone. The 25-2 now has a 44 mag cylinder reamed to 45 colt. I also had a pinned 25-5 that had .456 throats. (I have a set of pin gauges). I replaced it with a 44 mag cylinder I reamed out. When I make up my own cylinders a .453 gauge will not go in throats. Accuracy improved considerably.

Neither are myths. How much effect either has is not as great as some believe. With those long bullets, for awhile I just crimped in front of top band. Never found a factory load that did not fit, but did not use many either. The big throat deal and accuracy is very bullet dependent.

 

[SmithNut]

The 25-7 was the best of the pre lock 45s

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I don't know, I'm pretty fond of the M25-9..

Enjoy

 

[steelslaver]

Some nice guns pictured. Love those 45 colts.

 

[Drm50]

I have 25-2s, 25-3 and 25-5s. The 25-5s shoot outstanding. I do use cast bullets and shoot either a factory dupe with 250gr RnFp or mostly target loads 237gr BNWC at 750fps. The 25-3 is NIB and I’m not shooting it.

 

[greenmachine]

Boy, I wish I lived in Central Montana!

Kevin

I see what you did there. Ditto that.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Bolt block mechanism in Endurance Package

I have a 25-9. Can someone elaborate on the “endurance package” as mentioned above by CH4 ?

It has the longer stop-notches in the cylinder, not the full-blown endurance package as started in the Model 29-3E.

Two of the four Endurance Package features that I felt complimented each other are the longer cylinder stop notches & the cylinder bolt block mechanism.

While virtually all of the modern N-frame revolvers have the longer stop notches now they do not all have the bolt block feature too.

My 45 Colt M25-13 does not have the bolt block.

Standard 45 Colt loads do not warrant this feature be add.

Here's a view of the bolt block mechanism in my 329PD.

When the bolt block hand (lower arrow) is moved up by the trigger, to the engaged position during firing, it prevents the cylinder bolt (upper arrow) from moving forward & unlocking the cylinder during heavy recoil.

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Bolt block not engaged
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Bolt block engaged
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[StrawHat]

Two of the four Endurance Package features that I felt complimented each other are the longer cylinder stop notches & the cylinder bolt block mechanism.

While virtually all of the modern N-frame revolvers have the longer stop notches now they do not all have the bolt block feature too…

Here's a view of the bolt block mechanism in my 329PD.

When the bolt block hand (lower arrow) is moved up by the trigger, to the engaged position during firing, it prevents the cylinder bolt (upper arrow) from moving forward & unlocking the cylinder during heavy recoil.

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Bolt block not engaged


Bolt block engaged
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Thank you for that explanation.

Kevin