25-7 .45 model of 1989

[andy52]

I went to a estate sale today and purchased this 25-7, I've actually never owned a gun in .45 long colt and have read here that this might be the best model S&W made in that Cal.
The gun is not pristine and no box or docs but it's a pretty high grade shooter which I fully intend to do.
Now I'll have to get a set of dies, bullets and brass so I can load some ammo and try this bad boy out.

 

[RGNewell]

I went to a estate sale today and purchased this 25-7, I've actually never owned a gun in .45 long colt and have read here that this might be the best model S&W made in that Cal.

The gun is not pristine and no box or docs but it's a pretty high grade shooter which I fully intend to do.

Now I'll have to get a set of dies, bullets and brass so I can load some ammo and try this bad boy out.

May I suggest carbide dies.
Great find

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[andy52]

May I suggest carbide dies.
Great find

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Only kind of handgun dies I buy nowadays.

 

[richcory]

Good looking revolver & I'd like one myself. Congrats

Cory

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on a wonderful addition to the family

Your revolver, Product code 100924, is probably the best Production 45 Long Colt that the factory has produced. 2000 pieces of that revolver were made during the -7 and -9 engineering revisions. It is unknown where the change occurred

Some will argue that the -9 revision is better because of having some of the Endurance Package features included, but if you are not shooting 300 grain slugs at near Magnum velocities than it is moot

There have been several Performance Center offerings in 45 Long Colt that are spectacular performers not to mention the Heritage series

 

[Nightowl]

That looks like a great gun. I really like mine, but don't shoot it as much as I should. I bought an 8 3/8 .45 Colt a few weeks back and it is fun to shoot too!
More than one of us here have found our 25-7s will shoot high with factory equivalent ammunition. I would be interested on how yours shoots!

 

[Kurusu]

That looks like a great gun. I really like mine, but don't shoot it as much as I should. I bought an 8 3/8 .45 Colt a few weeks back and it is fun to shoot too!
More than one of us here have found our 25-7s will shoot high with factory equivalent ammunition. I would be interested on how yours shoots!

Yes. They probably will shoot high. Factory .45 Colt is generally slower than they should be. But the adjustable sights should cover that.

 

[OldChief]

I really enjoy shooting my 25-5, 4" in .45 Colt. This is a very accurate revolver in that caliber. I know you will enjoy yours as I do mine. You'll notice that the pictures that I'm posting show a bit of holster wear at the muzzle but now, after using a bit of cold blue, it can't be seen anymore. The grips are Culinas finished with Tung Oil.

 

[andy52]

That looks like a great gun. I really like mine, but don't shoot it as much as I should. I bought an 8 3/8 .45 Colt a few weeks back and it is fun to shoot too!
More than one of us here have found our 25-7s will shoot high with factory equivalent ammunition. I would be interested on how yours shoots!

I certainly will let you know when I get a load worked up, whatever I load will probably be hotter then a standard factory load I'm not going to push the upper limits of the gun but I will definitely be above standard.

 

[andy52]

I really enjoy shooting my 25-5, 4" in .45 Colt. This is a very accurate revolver in that caliber. I know you will enjoy yours as I do mine. You'll notice that the pictures that I'm posting show a bit of holster wear at the muzzle but now, after using a bit of cold blue, it can't be seen anymore. The grips are Culinas finished with Tung Oil.

I haven't decided to leave the Hogue's on it or go to wood. I'm not a big fan of goodyears but the gun did come with them.

 

[BigMuddy]

Mine shot high with most loads until I replaced the rear sight blade with a shorter one. (.125 I think?). Now it’s dead on with a couple clicks off the bottom. I often shoot mine with loads in the 23k psi range.

You’ve got a great one there.

Dan

 

[The Norseman]

Great Revolver, great Caliber, great Purchase, Congratulations.

Thanks for the Story and Pictures. Hopefully a Range Report to
follow.

S&W Model 25/625 "N" frame 45Colt's forever!

 

[SLT223]

The 25-7 and 5” 25-9 are the best .45 Colt revolver Smith ever made in my opinion. Mine shoots like a laser.

Edit to add:
Since you reload, give CFE Pistol a try for 45 Colt. It meters like water, and plays very nicely with 250 to 270gr bullet I’ve been using.

 

[roberth]

OP - you got a gun like I did, no box or papers, a shooter. I really enjoy my 25-7.

slt223 - Thanks for the tip on CFE Pistol, I use Unique primarily but I have a can of CFE Pistol so I'll try it out.

 

[woudstra]

I had a 5" 625 Model of 1989 in .45 ACP. A wonderful handgun.

 

[S&WIowegan]

S&W 25-7

This gun was one of the S&W gun-a-month specials that the company President at the time marketed. It was on the front cover of GUNS magazine. I was desperate to get one but it took me 5 years to find one(pre-internet days). Great gun and famous big bore pistolsmith John Linebaugh carried one regularly.

 

[Grayfox]

Andy, I'm so glad that you got it!
I love mine and you're gonna love your's too. This is absolutely the best .45 Colt revolver S&W ever made.
Yeah, I hated the Hogue rubber grips that came on mine. They're long gone.
BTW: the classic .45 Colt load is a 250/255 gr lead bullet over 8-9 grs of Unique.

Here's mine along with a few friends.

The one on the bottom right is in .45acp. All the rest are .45 Colts.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Personally, I think .45 Colt is the bees knees for woods walking but it's doggone great for personal defense also.

I have several guns in .45 Colt but this one M25-5 is very special to me, I looked for it for a very long time - the elk stocks are by bgmntmn on this Forum.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I load a 255g RNFP over 9g Unique (flammable dirt) for @ 900fps to duplicate the original BP loading.

Mine is a laser! You're going to like it!

Also got one of these in 45LC

 

[The Norseman]

45Colt revisit

Well since reloading the 45 Colt has been brought up.
My current go to plinking and defense Reload is:

.453 dia. 250gr Lead RNFP round nose flat point or
SWC Semi Wad Cutter.
6.0grs Alliant Red Dot, CCI LP #300 primer.
Brass is Winchester, Star Line, or R-P.
Crimp is what I call medium roll crimp.
816 FPS approximately.
Bullets tumble lubed with Ben's Liquid Lube,
for Lead free barrel performance.
Primers no where near flat.

Be safe, the Best to you and your Endeavors.