45 ACP revolver accuracy

pittpa · Feb 22, 2016

I've been interested in a 4"-5" 45 ACP or so for some time now. I picked up a 25-9 8-3/8 in 45 Colt along the way, and I am somewhat familiar with the cylinder throat issues on older varieties. I like revolvers and I like the round. I've toyed with the idea of having a cylinder reamed for moon clips but I can't find a cylinder. S&W won't send one-they want to 'smith it onto the gun, which is one option, I guess. I prefer not to ship the gun and it adds to the cost. A 325 Thunder Ranch caught my eye at the lgs ($1225), then a 625-8 JM at another LGS ($915). Both have stout d/a triggers compared to my 25-9. In the process of looking into owners' experiences, it seems the accuracy is a bit hit-or-miss. This seems like a lot to pay for a gun that may not be all that accurate. I have been shooting Pythons for 20 years and I have been spoiled by the easily achieved one-hole accuracy. What is my best chance to pick up an accurate revolver? Am I better to have S&W fit a new cylinder to my 25-9 and then have it or the original one reamed for $150? While we are on the subject, does anyone use full or button-nose wadcutters in 45 Colt or 45 ACP with any success. I ask simply because they are available and I shoot DEWC in my 38 revolvers.

girvin02 · Feb 22, 2016

Try to find a nice, used, 625 Model of 1989. I have one with the more common 5" barrel and it is a tack driver. Others report similar findings. They can be found for less than the cost of the new guns you're looking at. Though you may have to be patient, in waiting for one to show up on the market. Owners tend to hold onto them (for good reason).

pittpa · Feb 22, 2016

Will it have a particular dash number? EDIT-appears 625-3 was first version, said to be few made. I saw a 625-6 1989 4" listed on GP, and a 3" with dash not noted.

theoneff · Feb 22, 2016

For trade in the classifides

http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/464952-ft-625-6-3-45-acp-1-155-a.html

loc n load · Feb 22, 2016

45's and wadcutters

I own and shoot a number of S&W 25's and 625's, in 45 LC and 45 acp. I have shot all of mine in my ransom rest and they will all shoot much tighter groups clamped into my ransom than I am capable of holding. I also shoot full wadcutters in my 45 colt, using a Mihec mould, that will throw a solid full wadcutter or a HBWC. I use a Saeco 225 gr WC for my 45 acp's. I size the acp's to .452 and the 45 colt's to .454. Photo's are of a batch I cast a couple of weeks ago, waiting to be sized and lubed.
Over a charge of Bullseye, they will cut a nice tight group of big full caliber holes.

pittpa · Feb 22, 2016

They look like shiny little oil drums! How did you decide on .454 for the 45 colt?

loc n load · Feb 22, 2016

.454's

That is what my particular S&W 25's 45 LC throats measure out at. 452's drop right through them, .454's will hang and need a nudge to clear. I am a big fan of full wadcutter's, I also throw the same bullet's in 44's, 41's and 38 / 357's. You are correct about them being " oil drums", you could write a note on the face of them. Or draw a

.

theoneff · Feb 22, 2016

loc n load, just a taper crimp on those?

girvin02 · Feb 22, 2016

pittpa said:
Will it have a particular dash number? EDIT-appears 625-3 was first version, said to be few made. I saw a 625-6 1989 4" listed on GP, and a 3" with dash not noted.

I don't know all of the dash numbers off hand. Mine is a -4 and I love it.

andyo5 · Feb 22, 2016

My 625-6 is a good shooter. Better than me. Here, I am holding the gun in my hands and resting the strong hand on a sandbag. My eyes are not so good, so I can't see the sight picture and the target clearly at the same time. On this target, I used prescription glasses so I could see the sights better, but the target is a fuzzy black blur.
Still, the vertical stringing suggests that the variation was my fault, not the gun's.
Years ago, I competed in bowling pin shooting with this gun and did quite well (until my eyes went to heck).

g-dad · Feb 22, 2016

Model of 1988

Here is my one hole maker 625-2. Model of 1988. I highly recommend the -2 if you can find one.

Ivan the Butcher · Feb 22, 2016

I have a 625-4 that is the mirror image of the photo in post #9, except mine is far dirtier! The is a recent thread just on 625-4's about minor differences in hammers, triggers, & ect. These are Series of 1989 and every one shoots very well. I stated that mine is the most accurate revolver I have owned in 41 or 42 years. That is from over 50 S&W's and 250 others. I also have a 1917 Brazilian Contract revolver in 45 ACP that is a very fine shooter. I have noticed it prefers cast 230 RN to cast 185 SWC. The 625-4 likes every cast bullet it shoots. Prefered powders have been Bullseye and WW231. Ivan

BigBill · Feb 22, 2016

Why is the revolver in 45acp so popular?
I hate the thought of moon clips. Why can't the properly headspace it from the rim like the 1911 does?

andyo5 · Feb 22, 2016

BigBill said:
Why is the revolver in 45acp so popular?
I hate the thought of moon clips. Why can't the properly headspace it from the rim like the 1911 does?

In most cases, the moon clips are a convenience for fast loading and unloading. The chambers do have edges for each round to heaadspace on. But the 45ACP has no rim for the extractor to grab. So without moon clips, you have to lift each empty case out with your fingernail. This is OK at the range. It would be a real problem in combat.

625smith · Feb 22, 2016

625-8 Performance Center

Here is my 625-8 PC with a target that I shot. Target was shot @ 50 feet one handed. 10 shots, 5 shots at a time. This revolver is more accurate that I am.

AVG · Feb 22, 2016

I have the S&W M325 TR 45acp. I find the gun to be very accurate. The moon clips are great. You load all the clips at home (13) and when you get to the range you are all set. You can load them at the range with the loader again. I will get some more moon clips so i don't have to load them at the range.

loc n load · Feb 22, 2016

Crimps

theoneff said:
loc n load, just a taper crimp on those?

Short answer is: a slight roll crimp when seated almost flush.
These are long heavy bullets, the full WC weighing in at 283 gr.'s and the HBWC weighing in at 238 gr. When I first started loading these, I wanted to load with Bullseye, and I could not find any data for 45 colt wadcutter, for bullseye or otherwise.
So, I seated the wadcutters to the same depths as my 250 gr SWC's, dropped the same bullseye charge I use to duplicate 45 HB in my 45 acp's, seated the solid wadcutter to the same depth as my SWC's, roll crimped into a lube groove ( these were quite accurate loaded in this manner). After ascertaining that I wasn't going to have any pressure issues with that combination, I seated the wadcutter's almost fully and used a gentle roll crimp.
I have bumped up my bullseye charge a 1/2 grain from where I started and I run the solid 283 grer's at an avg of 810 fps, the HBWC at around 850 fps. Bullets, seated almost flush with a slight roll crimp.
These loads are very accurate, I have shot pepper poppers with them at 25 and 50 yds, and this big flat face bullet simply slams pepper poppers down. These are cast from WW's, so they are fairly hard.
A lot to be said for mass.

theoneff · Feb 22, 2016

I got it, Im gonna buy a mold. Do you have a mold number for the two

BigBill · Feb 22, 2016

andyo5 said:
In most cases, the moon clips are a convenience for fast loading and unloading. The chambers do have edges for each round to heaadspace on. But the 45ACP has no rim for the extractor to grab. So without moon clips, you have to lift each empty case out with your fingernail. This is OK at the range. It would be a real problem in combat.

They need to design a umbrella type extractor that opens sideways as the extractor moves out.

Dale53 · Feb 22, 2016

I have a 625-6 Model of 1989 with a 5" barrel and a 625-8 JM Special with a 4" barrel. Either of them will shoot well under an inch at 25 yards from a rest.

My target load is a Mihec H&G #68 (200 gr. SWC) ahead of 4.0 grs. Of Bullseye or equivalent. This bullet can be driven to 1000 fps with an appropriate powder charge.

I use mostly auto rim cases but also use ACP cases with either steel or Rimz polymer full moon clips.

I have personally checked several other 625-8's and they all have perfect throats for .452 cast bullets.

Dale53

45 ACP revolver accuracy

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