325 PD UPDATE: YOU GUYS WONT BELIVE IT!

[AR_Black]

Picked up this 625-2 "Model of 1989" about two years ago. Replaced the front sight with a green fiber optic.

.45 ACP - 200 grain plated TC reloads
.45 Auto Rim - 250-grain lead Keith flat nose reloads w/Unique

Shot a deer at 75 yards last year using my 45 Auto Rim loads, one shot, dropped on the spot.

 

[AR_Black]

And OP: Great find, the 325-PD is a super nice pistol too, contrats!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

At the end, Pizza Bob was more right than I was. I eventually DID have a failure to fire using .45ACP at the range without moon clips. It happened within the last year or so, and I don't remember whether it was with my 22-4 or my 325PD. It did fire when I hit it again. Not a problem on the range, but the new guns should definitely be used with moon clips when carried for real.

 

[ShowMePro]

Plus you get to recover your spent brass with ease.

Yeah i hate picking up my brass from my revolver when it spits it all over the ground lol. But anyway yes its much easier than a semi-auto shooting session.

 

[John Patrick]

Congrats Daddio! Very nice revolver, at a steal!

Haha, just saw this thread was resurrected.

Still, congrats Daddio!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I eventually DID have a failure to fire using .45ACP at the range without moon clips.
It happened within the last year or so, and I don't remember whether it was with my 22-4 or my 325PD.
It did fire when I hit it again.

A couple of thoughts:

45ACP cases, without moonclips, that are within SAAMI length specs (.888"-.898") will sit lower in the chamber & farther away from the breech/firing pin by ~.006" to .016" than the same case in a moonclip will.

As a revolver's cylinder develops more endshake from use the cylinder can be moved farther away from the breech/firing pin.

A "marginal" length firing pin is more likely to give light strikes/FTF as the distance between the firing pin & primer face increases.

Add variances in primer pocket depths, seated primer depth, and numerous other factors, it's becomes very beneficial to have a full length firing pin, or an extended length firing pin, installed in models that have frame mounted firing pins.

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S&W factory firing pin
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Apex extended length firing pin
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[sandog]

I bought my PD about ten years ago for something to take on river trips.
I had other handguns that could be used, but the PD is perfect for that role.

Yes, they are light, but recoil is not bad at all. My daughter would shoot mine until all the ammo was gone, and she is 5'2" 110 lbs.
I don't know why someone would want to use these without moon clips even if the case will headspace on the mouth without them.
You'll find the extractor will slip over the case rim and you'll be picking the empties out one by one.