I have a 625-8 I have been kicking around the idea of using as a defensive Handgun. I'm large enough to conceal it. One of my main concerns is how much should I be concerned about it only having one lock-up point with the use of defensive ammo? Other then the weight what say the masses?
Thanks, Joe

The 625-8 is a great shooter. I’d carry it for a week and make the call then. You’ll get some replies about .45acp ammo I’m sure and comparisons to a1911, but my opinion is it’s your life, your money, and your choice.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

Thanks Brother, Ive been carrying it for about 2 mionths. The weight has not been an issue, my biggest concern is the single point lock-up. I'm nota huge bpttp, feeder fan. I was issued a plastic gun which was as reliable as anything I'bve carried. I'm just just a fan of wheelguns. I do own a 1911, great gun just more of a wheelgun fan.
Joe

Thanks Brother, Ive been carrying it for about 2 months. The weight has not been an issue, my biggest concern is the single point lock-up. I'm nota huge bpttp, feeder fan. I was issued a plastic gun which was as reliable as anything I'bve carried. I'm just just a fan of wheelguns. I do own a 1911, great gun just more of a wheelgun fan.
Joe

I’d carry it and run whatever ammo u want through it. And if six shots aren’t enough , u can use it as a club.

It sounds like you can conceal it. I say go for it. I love my model 625-8PC that I got from a forum member here.

What is your concern on the lock-up points? There should be two: one at end of the ejector rod and one at the cylinder face. The same frame and lock-up points undergo much more stress in 44 mag and holds up fine.

If you can find them, Buffalo Bore makes some hot loads in .45 Auto rim.

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No baby we aint

Unless there has been some kind of modification done to your revolver, there are two locking points as mentioned by Casual Smith Nut. The same two that have been in use on 45 ACP revolvers since 1917. They have withstood the test of time and a have done a good job.

I carry a Model 22-4 but on occasion will carry a Model 625-6 or my custom Model 28-2. All three can use the same holster, moonclips and ammunition holder.





I have a few more ACP, N frames but those three are the primary ones.

My preferred ammunition is a 235 grain full wadcutter (SAECO 453) over a hardball dose of powder. It is accurate and hits hard.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Buffalo Bore offers some 45 Auto Rim rounds with full wadcutters.

I got some in case I ever wanted to use my 45 Auto JM or 25-2 for defense. Never did use them, but figured they would do the job.

If you can comfortably lug around that big chunk of iron I say GO FOR IT. One thing for sure if you ever have to pull it on a bad guy he will know you are not screwing around.

I carry mine in rotation with a Shield 2.0 in 45 ACP. It's a solid, accurate, dependable weapon, that is much more shootable out to 75 yards (I travel in empty, coyote-rich country a lot) than the Shield.

I like the Buffalo Bore 255 grain LFN, standard velocity Auto Rim in the chambers, with 2 moon clips loaded with Winchester RED45 230 grain FMJ FP handy.

Why would the lock up of your S&W revolver be of any consideration since the method has stood the test of time and durability.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

C*** used to use only one lockup point, in the rear, although it was a bit larger than on the S&W, and one perhaps should count the hand in the C*** as a lockup point. No one claimed the C*** 1917 couldn't handle .45ACP ammo. Meanwhile, almost every S&W I've seen has two. Why do you think yours has only one? What happened to it?

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Formerly Model520Fan

My apologies gentlemen, There IS 2 lock-ups. I must have looking at a another one of the other guns in the safe. Sorry for the confusion.
Joe

Thank you for clearing that up. It will still make a dandy carry piece.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

There is nothing wrong with a 45acp for carry. Single stack, double stack, revolver, or derringer.

Here is one of my all time favorites by Jovino and it's younger cousin a 625-4.

They all fall to 45 ball, right?



And the Jovino had the factory's 2nd locking device removed, and they added a ball detent lockup for the crane. Just FYI.

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On the Oak Savannah

Personally I can't really understand WHY you would want to carry a huge and heavy Revolver in Florida. Even though you say you are able to conceal it, it has to be cumbersome and annoying in Florida's hot & humid season. If there are no other options of defensive handguns for you - then I understand but personally I'd opt for a smaller and lighter defensive firearm. The M625 is a great Revolver in a great caliber, however I never thought of it as a CCW Revolver.

As far as the lock up points are concerned, the two there are more than adequate and you will not have any issues with defensive ammunition. This basic design has been around for a century and it seems to work just fine.

The weight does not bother me at all after wearing a 20lb+ duty belt for the past 38 years. The heat, I've lived here all my life, 61 years, the heat is hot but nothing unbearable. I do have smaller/lighter wheel guns, a couple model 60's, 642's 36's, 686 2.5" etc. When I started my career as LEO, I carried a 6" model 27 for 6 years until my agency switched to auto's. I just like the N frames, lol.

That’s all the reason you need.

So do I! Here are some of my 4”, 45 ACPs.



Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Try carrying around the house, concealing the way you would if outside to see how it goes. Check yourself in a mirror to see if anything is printing.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

If I was gonna use a 625 for a defensive gun... I'd get the 3 inch .45 ACP with round butt.. Like mine!

Here is the difference in size between my J frame and my 625 .45! But in a good OWB holster it will do quite fine. You can use .45 Supers in a 625 if you need more umph than a .45 ACP.

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Deaf

I've said this before: I consider the M625 Mountain Gun in .45 ACP as the best fighting revolver ever built. It weighs about the same as a M66, but is chambered in a more controllable, less loud cartridge. Using full moon clips, one can reload as fast as someone using a semi-auto.

Joe in FL, if the weight doesn't bother you, go for it!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I have been carrying a 625-3 for a while. I have qualified with it two years running for my LEOSA qualification...has REALLY quick reloads using TK moon clips. It is very concealable using this Milt Sparks PMK holster.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Another vote for carrying a 45acp revolver, however I use a shoulder rig 90% of the time to carry my N frame snubbies.

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213th FBINA

As has already been pointed out, lock up is an absolute non-issue. Two points of lock up, stout .44 mag, etc.

As for carrying...heck yeah. I daily carried a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt for over five years, and still often do. Quality leather makes all the difference.

.45 ACP is no slouch, and offers plenty of flexibility. 135-260 grains...there's likely something in that range for everyone, whether you're trying to get close to a .357 load or a standard pressure .45 Colt. We can talk tetminal ballistics, gel tests, Strasbourg goat tests, Fackler, Marshall, Sanow, etc. Until we're blue in the face, but under any metric, a half inch hole means big ouch.

Your choice might not be my choice, and my choice isn't anyone else's choice. Carry it if you like it, be proficient, be comforted and have fun!

I think you got your answer very clearly from this crowd. Whatever the lock up is, a successful, 100 year old design should never be a concern. I don't carry anything that large but whatever I carry I stick to standard ammunition. I've blown up a perfectly good Model 19 with hot loads and I blew partially apart a SAA replica with hot .45 Colt loads. That one was repairable. When you're on the street defending yourself you're always better off with standard, reliable ammunition in any gun/caliber. YMMV

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Come and take it!!

625 Is a duty gun for an LEO on the Precision pistol team at my club.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If I were going to carry an N frame revolver it would be one of the 8 shot 357’s. I know you get moon clip reloads with the 625 but I think two extra (and more powerful) rounds on tap is more advantageous.

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NRA Endowment Member

That is why there is always more than one horse in a race, so folks can make a choice.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Not a bad choice, but .357s are so stinking LOUD.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

S&W lockup has been overdone ad-nauseum.
Even a "hot" .45 ACP load is piddling compared to what the N-frame can handle. Let's look at numbers since that's the only thing that validates one over the other: A "hot" .45 auto loaded 230 grain is only going about 950 fps which is basically equal to the .45 Colt 255 grain at 800 fps...the design intend of the caliber. To reach this astounding level of performance, the cartridge need only be loaded to around 21,000 to 22,000 psi which is VERY low stress.

The stories run up and down the internet date from the 70s when .44 magnum N-frames would occassionally "unlock" under recoil due to hot, heavy bullet handloads in the range of 275 grain slugs being shoved at 1,250 fps and more! This would cause the entire gun mass to recoil "away" from the cylinder locking pin. S&W has long since corrected this with a longer pin and stronger spring, but 625s of ANY era simply are not capable of causing traumatic unlocking of an N-frame.

Plus it's NOT a "single-point" lockup, it locks up at the front of the ejector and recoil shield. That cylinder just ain't going to suddenly jump out - not with anything remotely close to 45 ACP +P+ even!

I enjoy mine but have only carried in the -10 in the winter as a coat pocket gun.

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I believe the stainless revolvers are able to use the 45 Super cartridge also.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I carried a 4" 625 when I was a PI. I concealed it well, but I am a big guy.

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Let's be careful out there

I had a 325 PD for a while with visions of using it for SD, but the recoil was a bit much for fast DA work.

I’m sure I could’ve trained enough to handle it, but concealing on my 5’10” 215-lb frame would’ve been a challenge, plus there were reports of cracked frames with this model.

I’m still a great believer in big, wide meplat bullets for SD.

These are two of my favorite revolvers for field or self-defense use. These are for open carry in holsters or house guns. I like the .45s for controllability and plenty of smacking power.

John

A 625-2 Model of 1988, .45 ACP, 5" barrel, modified to suit.



A 625-6 .45 Colt Mountain Gun, also mildly modified

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Hah was fixing to say the same thing
Cheese and crackers Why ? Could do a 7 or 8 shot 357 and save over a lb

Before my back shelled out I carried a 625-8 PC in an IWB holster frequently. It handles heavy SD loads easily and offers the fastest revolver reload with moon clips. I only stopped carrying it when I got a Ruger LW Commander in 45 acp.

I have 2 325 snubs and I probably average around 100 rounds a month out of the one I carry. I don't care how pretty they, are ditch the wood. You MUST have good recoil absorbing grips on theses.