WilliamB
Member
Wondering how the reputation of 25-5s are in 45LC for accuracy. I have read quite a bit about -7 and -9s as being accurate but don't recall anything about -5s.
25-5
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Pizza Bob
Member
The oversize throats issue fell within the 25-5 engineering change. The rule of thumb is if the barrel is pinned, it is suspect - measure before you buy. If the barrel is NOT pinned, you are probably OK, but measure anyway. I had an early one and it printed 12" - 15" keyhole groups at 15 yards. My throats measured .456" to .458". Rumor has it that S&W made the cylinders to pre-war dimensions and the barrels to post-war dimensions. Good luck.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
Adios,
Pizza Bob
I have a 4" 25-5 that I purchased new in 1986. It is one of my favorite revolvers and is the only N frame that I own. It is accurate but will shoot high with 250 grain bullets. I tend to pamper it with normal pressure reloads. It can probably take more punishment than I am willing to allow.
Weirdly,I worked for an agency where a majority of officers carried Model 25-5's in the 80's. I never saw the accuracy issues discussed. I don't know if it was because of the ammunition we used, but with good factory ammunition they were accurate. Our training reloads were so bad that it would have been hard to place blame wholly on the guns.
My last duty revolver was the 25-7, which I also shot competition with. That thing is simply awesome and one of my favorite guns.
My last duty revolver was the 25-7, which I also shot competition with. That thing is simply awesome and one of my favorite guns.
da gimp
Member
years & years ago, a good friend had & used several 25-3s & 25-5's and he was absolutely delighted with how all of them shot with both factory loads & good quality handloads... I know, because I did all of his reloading for him.......after developing his loads, he retired them as safe queens.... but they were always ready to be used in hunting, self defense & target practice.....He preferred the 25-3's overall, because they could be fitted with a .45ACP cylinder easily.......... & fairly in-expensively by S&W.
My brother had a 25-5 with 8 3/8" barrel. It was an unpinned model! That gun was extremely accurate. We used it for outdoor IHMSA silhouette competition. Using 250 gr. cast SWCs it was competitive out to the 200 meter rams. We shot a few straight all-5s at 200 meters, standing. Even with our standard velocity handloads, it put those rams down hard, too!
The gun was very accurate with every cast bullet we used from 185 gr. "button nose" SWCs up to those Keith 250s. We sized everything .452" and never had leading problems.
Great gun, great cartridge!
Jim
The gun was very accurate with every cast bullet we used from 185 gr. "button nose" SWCs up to those Keith 250s. We sized everything .452" and never had leading problems.
Great gun, great cartridge!
Jim
Vulcan Bob
Member
FYI, I have a 25-15 "classic" and it is a fine shooting revolver. I also have three 25-5's all N prefix's and pinned, two are fine and one has the oversize throats. Good luck in your search!
DR505
US Veteran
I bought this 25-9 last year for ~$725. Very accurate. Wish it was a 4" though!
