I have seen 625s talked about here and seen them and they have caught my interest.There is a nice used one at a shop near me. Can those that have a an thought about these share.
Mostly how does 45ACP shoot out of a revolver?

Thanks Hank

I had a 5" Model 625-2 and can tell you that it shot great. Most people I've heard opinions from seem to agree. I sold mine just because it was a little bigger than I wanted to carry. I hope to replace it soon with a 3" or 4" model. Jerry Mic. (sp?) routinely shoots a 625 with 45 acp and he is considered the best revolver shooter of recent years (or maybe ever), so I think that tells you how they shoot!

What are the particulars on the one you're looking at? Barrel length? 625-#? Cost?. Accessories?

I have a 5" and 3" 625. The 5" could very well be the last revolver I'd ever sell. Both are impressively accurate and soft shooting. You'd be ard pressed to go wrong.

This one is a 5in with box
4 moon clips
in very good shape with loc
I may have had very good trigger work its at a dealer who is an excellent S&W store

629.00
Hank

I have a 625 with a 5"bbl., that will routinely achieve less than 2" groups at 25 yards. They are big, solid revolvers, and the recoil is very controllable. Very smooth DA pull, with fast follow-up shots. Plus, it has the added-advantage of shooting light to heavy rounds. In a variety of configurations up to .45 Super. Also, a nice augment to any 1911 pistol in .45 ACP.

b b,, yesterday i received a new 625jm. today i put 30 rounds through it and am verrrey happy with the way lt performed and the big ragged hole the 6 reloaded rounds left in the paper plate at 15 yards.(wood grip is cracked and s&w is sending new one.) trigger is great. $767 delivered from jet guns.

using fish scales to compair to my 627pc, the 625 showes 3 1/2 lb single action and 10 lb double action. the 627 showes 4 1/2 single and 11 1/2 double.

i have several semi autos but for some reason i have taken a real liking to the revolvers. may be searching for brass on the ground has gotten a little old and so have i. good luck.

Here is my 625-8 PC 10 shots @ 50 feet one handed.

I have a 625-3 and a 625 JM and love them both. They are fun to shoot and very acurate. If you have a chance at one for a decent price I'd buy it and not look back.

Lock or not, any N frame in VG condition or better is a good buy at $600 or less.

That's a pretty broad statement, don't you think? I doubt anyone will come bye and try to prove me wrong and that's just a base line. It does not even take into account things like market trend toward popularity or scarcity of a particular model.

Right now, N Frames, in my opinion, a very low risk stock with high return. Buy all you can at this price.

I own a 625-8 like the one pictured above and it is one of my best shooters with low recoil. I also have a Model 1950 Army that also shoots great.

In my opinion you can't go wrong with a 625, in my opinion.

I have 4 45acp moon cliped Smiths, love them all. This 625-3 will shoot anything from bunny farts to +P+ and do it well.



It has had thousands and thousands of 230gr TC cast over 4.5 of Titegroup put thru it with and I would trust it with my life today.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

I have just recently acquired my first, but not my last, M625. I have put a few rounds through it and it is fast becoming my favorite shooter. If I do what I am supposed to do, it makes me look like a really good shot. No small accomplishment there! Recoil is very manageable. Can you tell I really like mine?

Looks like I better lock this one up
I do need something that shoots "bunny farts" HAHA

Only once did I post a find and had many NO TURN back forget it!!

I didnt expect that with this one
Hank

I have a 625JM and love it, everyone says if you have 1911's you should also have a 45ACP revolver too.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I own a plethora of .45 ACP semi-autos. So it was only natural that I purchase a .45 ACP revolver. Found a great deal recently on a 625-6 and have been amazed at how much I enjoy shooting this gun. This is also the first time I have ever dealt with moon clips. Took some getting use to but I am thoroughly enjoying the experience!!

Here's my 5" 625-6 with Ahrends stocks...

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Mark

I really think that most people who get around to shooting a 25 or 625 find that they move that gun into their top ten favorite list. I would love to know why S&W never made a k frame moon clip 9mm version like a little brother to the N frame version. They reload so fast with moon clips, moon clips are so cheap to buy in bulk, and then you realize that your gun just turned into a bullet hose. And to think I both nearly passed on my 625-3 and then thought about selling it right after I bought it. (face slap)

I found and bought a nice 625-2 in 2009. It of course is chambered in .45 ACP. It will keep 12 shots (twice around the cylinder) into 2 inches at 25 yds. using plain Jane 230 gr. FMJ ball. This revolver was purchased used in a local gun shop for $575 plus tax. The SA and DA trigger pulls are outstanding. The lock up, etc. is as though the revolver were new. I have been very pleased with it. It is one of the most accurate revolvers I have ever owned regardless of manufacturer or caliber. I have been shooting handguns since 1979.

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<><

I bought an early 625JM - my second 4" .45 ACP revolver. Frugal 'big bore' fun - can't beat it. Get enough moonclips - Ranch Products makes the 'clips included with S&W's - they sell them direct for ~$35/100. Here are 105 loaded such clips (I keep ~240 'clips loaded... first line Zombie defense!):



Of course, shop around and you can find this S&W .45-ish shooter - the S&W Governor - for likely less than the $629 you mentioned - and new. It takes the same moonclipped .45 ACP's, .45 Colts & Schofields, as well as 2.5" .410 shot shells, while it weighs a lot less (<30 oz empty). Mine hits coincident POA/POI from 7-12 yd with ball ammo or my usual .45 Colts. Here is my Governor sporting .500 Magnum grips, OEM's alongside, and some of the ammo it will chamber and shoot:



Anyway you cut it, a .45 ACP capable revolver has the benefit of easily found and affordable big bore ammo. You can buy a 250 round box of UMC .45 ACP ball ammo on a Sunday afternoon here at WallyWorld for just less than a C-note - including sales tax. I think 130gr MC .38 plinkers are more! Try to find - then afford - .45 Colts. They drop SPC metal plates with authority, too.

Stainz

Ok I finally got a chance today to shoot the 625 I picked up
Man you guys are right its a gas

You get to shoot an N frame without any type of a beating
I loaded up some reloads and shot and thought these must be quite light after I shot them I shot some factory 230s and it was just as polite

I had a white paper with an aprox 3inch orange circle on it it was so easy and fun just to keep knocking that orange out. Than to just drop in a new loaded clip
I didnt have to chase down brass I made a tool out of 1/2 copper pipe and the empties just slide out into a pile
Wow what a joy
I am going to need to start loading 45
I think my new favorite

Now I would like a 325PD

Hank

I can attest to how well his 5" shot! About 100% better than I can aim! After shooting two cylinders full at two different bullseyes... every shot touched! Since I wanted it for shooting... everyday carry wasn't an issue. Thank you, again, BCDWYO for parting with your 625-2!

Hog

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

You are most welcome...glad it found an appreciative home! As you may have seen from another thread I just started, I finally found the 625 Mtn Gun in 45 acp that I'd been looking for to replace it!

I have said, many times, on this forum that my most used revolvers are my two 625's. Either of them shoots well under 1" at 25 yards. I shoot nothing but my own cast bullets (Mihec's H&G #68 mainly, but also his 200 gr hollow point and some NOE 250 gr Keith bullets).

I have shot target after target that is worth hanging on my walls and a good bit of it is that these revolvers are so user friendly. They just flat are easier to shoot well and I LOVE those big holes that are punched in the targets. The optimum long distance paper punch!(LOL)

Here is one shot recently standing at 25 yards:



I use both ACP cases and Starline .45 Auto Rim cases. Rimz clips are used at the range and their new Model 25 hydrocarbon/polymer clips are as reliable in retention as steel clips and can be loaded and unloaded with the fingers.

FWIW
Dale53

Can you tell me what particular ahrends grips you have?? Are they round butt or round to square conversion?? thanks

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

I had 2 Kimber 1911's and traded one for a 625 PC. I feel balanced. If I had to choose 1 to keep it would be the 625. No more chasing brass in the grass.

I have a Wilson Combat autoloader, and a S&W 625JM.

They are both a hoot to shoot. And the revolver doesn't throw the cases. The 625 is deadly accurate, even in DA mode.

For those of you with the 625JM, have any of you had any experience with the JM "laser etching/engraving" on the frame diminishing over time? Also have any of you tried IWBing it in VMII? I have IWB'd a 686P in a VMII without a problem and I know that the 625JM frame isnt that much bigger, it is obv but not much, but was wondering if it was enough to make a difference. I also have no problem IWBing a TRP in a VMII, just as a little background info.

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Disabled Combat Veteran OIF

I bought my 625 because I already had a 1911 and thought it would be cool to use the same ammo in each gun. I quickly learned that I like my revolvers better!

There is no denying the flat out efficiency of a good Model 1911. It is probably the best close quarter combat weapon EVER!

That said, my 625's produce nothing but a positive experience every time I hit the range with them. At my age, not having to pick up brass is a big positive, also(:>)).

Dale53

My experience with 45 ACP's out of revolvers is very positive. I have 3 I shoot. A 625-8 that is a 4" with custom rnd to sq wood grips. It is the model that was the basis for the "JM", but isn't a JM. I bought it new and had S&W do the "master revolver package" on it, and it is one of my all around favorites. I also have 2 25-2's. One I shoot, and one that is pristine, and is currently for sale. They are the gun that really carried the whole moon clip tradition into the modern age, and they still are, in my view-there's just something about them. Then, I have a 25-5 8 3/8's barrel that I sent off (for a long time) and had quite a bit of work done on, including having the cylinder machined so that it would shoot 45AP's a well as 45Colts. This is not a pinned barrel m-25-5, and has .451 cylinder throats, as opposed to earlier guns with over sized throats. It took some work to get the right bullet loaded for it, but it is incredibly accurate, an has practically no recoil. It's like the 45 ACP was intended for revolvers!

I just acquired a 4" Jerry Miculec 625-8 from a friend. I have $475 in it. I shot it for the first time yesterday and I'm extremely pleased with it. I particularly like the brass bead on the front sight! The stocks are Hogue, round butt to square, that came with the trade. I have several "N" frames and think this may be the most accurate of all! It shoots my old standby 1911 load of 5.3 grs. of 231 behind a homecast SW bullet of 200 grains dead on!
I realize it has the dreaded "lock" but decided that rather than ignore all the new Smiths from now on, I'd give one a try. (Actually, I have a Mod. 21-4 with lock that I've never fired.) I won't be using it for self defense and have never heard of a proven lock failure? This way I'll know from my own experience!
Dick

Attached Images

	SW Mod. 625-8 JMP0853.jpg (46.8 KB, 84 views)
	SW Mod 625-8 JM Stainless.jpg (43.7 KB, 87 views)
	SW Mod 625-8 Hoague Stocks.jpg (33.6 KB, 73 views)
	SW Mod 625-8 45ACP Brass Bead.jpg (32.1 KB, 65 views)

That's a nice looking set of hogues. Been thinking of something like that fir my 629 5"

I have a 625 JM and a new Ruger SR1911.

For me the 625 is the more accurate gun, I can see the gold bead in the front sight better at an indoor range and the weight of the double action trigger seems to "settle" the gun a bit better in my hand. I also feel like the 625 is a bit softer shooting than the 1911 but that is likely due to my choosing to use the 500 Magnum monogrip on my 625.

I really didn't expect that, common wisdom is that a single action trigger and the longer sight radius of a 5 inch semi would produce an accuracy advantage. However, I've found that I am typically more accurate with my Sig Sauers on the double action first shot that subsequent shots even in slow fire shooting. Most likely reason is that I'm a bit more attentive to technique when shooting in double action and get sloppy with a single action trigger.

To sum it up either version of the 625 is a great shooting handgun but they are more challenging to conceal than a 1911. In addition I'll warn you that the serrated trigger on the 625JM has serrations sharp enough to draw blood. I can guarantee you that you will have to remove the trigger on the 625JM and do some grinding on it if you intend to shoot it. Personally, I don't like serrated triggers so on my 625JM I've replaced the flash chromed hammer and trigger with a 0.400 smooth MIM trigger and 0.375 MIM hammer in blue. It's one thing about a revolver, they are so easy to work on and get parts for that customizing one just for your needs is duck soup.

Guess you got the drift on this one!
+1 what stainz said. Moon clips. Lots and lots of moon clips!
Man, can you burn through some rounds.
Sustained rate of fire beats the speedloaders and the bottom feeders, too.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I found and bought a 625-2 a little over two years ago. I have since then fired a little over 1,000 rounds of Winchester and Tula .45ACP 230 gr. FMJ's through it. I have been shooting handguns since 1980. This is just about the most consistently accurate handgun I've ever owned. I am extremely pleased with how this revolver has performed for me at the range and in the field. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

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<><

Scooter,
I have 4 Mod. 57s and a Mod. 29 that all have serrated triggers, no problem, because I always wear gloves when I shoot. I have a Remington 1911 R-1 and this revolver shoots much better than the Remington semi-auto!
Why didn't you guys put pictures with your stories?
Dick

I shot mine today with 203 gr. RCBS cast and 5.3 grs. of W-231 while putting the finishing touches on adjusting the sights. Empties pushed right out with a stick. Didn't use moon clips. It'll do!
Dick

Attached Images

625-8 203 SW 5.3 W-231 5-30-12.jpg (38.6 KB, 37 views)

Thanks, Seabee! They are Pau Ferro. I also have a pair in Rosewood on a Mod.29.
Dick

Hey Dick, nice JM. Does it have the broached rifling? Larry

Happy owner of a 625JM, it is the best finished and fitted S&W I own. Very accurate, easy to shoot well and as a 1911 junkie I have plenty of ammo for it.

Any 625 should provide a good experience, in my example moon clips are not needed, 100% with any ammo dropped into the cylinder, all extract easily with a fingernail.

Moonclips just add to the fun, check out the easy to load plastic moons now available. They work fine and require no tools to load or unload.

Larry,
I don't know? I bought it slightly used from a buddy. Is there a way to tell?
Dick

The 625 is an awesome revolver, I really like mine and am in the market for a 25.

Worked up my nerve and went out to the shooting range and fired 25 rounds, standing two hand, at 50 feet in a 15 mph wind! Only missed the target three times! That's pretty good for this old man! I used to try to keep them all inside the 10 ring. Now I feel good if I can keep them all on the 8.5 X 11 target paper!
Dick

Attached Images

625-8 50 feet standing two hand.jpg (39.0 KB, 37 views)

Not real sure Dick. Compare the rifling with some other Smiths but then if your eyes aren't too good!!!!!! Nice shootin, Larry

Larry,
It does look quite a bit different than the grooves and lands in a Mod. 27? But that's not the same as a .45 bore. I don't know. Maybe someone on here knows if they're broached?
Dick

.45 ACP Smiths have different rifling than usual for Smiths (six lands and grooves compared to standard five lands and grooves). Further, the .45 ACP grooves are much shallower. This is for a reason and goes back to the first ones issued in WW I. Apparently, the rather hard jacketed bullets of military ammo had a tendency to occasionally stick in the barrel during early experiments in converting the revolvers to .45 ACP. They came up with the shallower rifling (and six lands and grooves) to combat this problem.

I shoot nothing but cast bullets in my two 625's (625-6 with 5" barrel and a 625-8 JM Special with 4" barrel). I think that Smith is cutting rifling with electro-discharge machines. Whatever process they are using, they sure shoot well (and with cast, also).

FWIW
Dale53

If I were you, I would run far away from that 625! I have a PC model, and it always out shoots me!!

I just spent a few enjoyable hours at the range this week with my 625-3, and I'm still amazed at how accurate and easy to shoot this gun is! I've had it a couple of years but recently "realized" I could shoot lots of 45ACP without chasing brass, and it's astounding how many rounds I can burn through in an hour or two!

I have a 625 with several thousand rounds through it now. Like said in one of the other post, it would be the last gun I would sell. Accurate and the large frame makes it comfortable to shoot. I bobbed the hammer and shoot double action only. I got rid of the spur because I grip high on the backstrap. Very nice revolvers!