4" Model 25 in 45 ACP?

[georgiajay]

As my shooting evolves, it seems my dream gun would be a Model 25 with a 4" barrel in .45 ACP. Was such a gun ever made by Smith in any number? Or, is this something I should forget about looking for?

 

[505Gibbs]

As my shooting evolves, it seems my dream gun would be a Model 25 with a 4" barrel in .45 ACP. Was such a gun ever made by Smith in any number? Or, is this something I should forget about looking for?

A few 25's in 45 ACP were made in 5" but none in 4" until they offered the 45 Colt chambering. None in 4" in the ACP offering.

 

[Dave T]

Your only answer, unless you are willing to settle for a 625 and even then the 4" versions are uncommon, is to find a 25-2 and have it cut down. I think a 45 ACP with a 5" barrel is ideal so I had one made:

In this case I found a less than collector grade Model of 1955 and had my gun smith cut it to 5". If not my favorite revolver it is in a tie with which ever one is the favorite. (smile)

Dave

 

[k22fan]

Like always when the question did S&W make something comes up, never say never. In 1976 I saw a 4" model 1955 pass through the new gun section of the biggest S&W retailer in the big city I lived in. It was of minimal interest to me at the time because I wanted long barrels on N frames for sporting use and just about every body and their brother were happy as a clam at high tide with a .38 or .357 in their holster. Now if you find that gun in mint condition it would be worthless anyway because it would be too collectable to be fired any significant amount so Dave T. has given you the best answer, have what you want made. Parts and pieces guns don't cost all that much and they make lovable shooters because you have no concern about wearing them out. In your shoes I'd buy a lightly used 4" 25-5 barrel, have my smith install it on a 25-2, and keep the 25-2's original barrel so he could switch them back if I ever changed my mind.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

I just purchased a 625-3 that has a 4 inch barrel.

 

[Kelye@Belt Mtn]

I just completed this project, Hamilton Bowen shortened the barrel to 4" and Patrick Grashorn provided the Stag grips. I'm very pleased with the outcome. Kelye @ Belt Mountain

 

[Art Doc]

At a recent show I picked up a 25-2 barrel. I keep eying it and thinking about my 25-2 in the safe. I could cut the replacement barrel and keep the other should I or a future owner wish to return it to original. Seeing Dave's makes me think I should pursue this... but I would prefer a ramp sight.

 

[Dave T]

Seeing Dave's makes me think I should pursue this... but I would prefer a ramp sight.

Funny you should say that. After gouging about a pound of leather out of several holsters sight tracks, I had my smith turn the Patridge sight blade into a ramped blade. Just haven't taken a picture of it yet since the change over.

Dave

 

[georgiajay]

Wow, thanks for all the feedback. I currently own a 25-2 with 6" barrel but don't want to modify it. I also have a model 22 with the 4" pencil barrel. Shooting the two of these is what makes me think the 25-2 with the 4" barrel would be the perfect 45 ACP revolver for me.

Regarding getting a 25-5 barrel. Isn't there a difference in diameter of the bore to fit the 45 Colt vs the 45 ACP? Does it make a difference? About what would a 4" 25-5 barrel run you?

I think I'll start looking for a 25-2 beater and figure out the best option for a replacement barrel, either a cut down 25-2 or a 4" 25-5. Any thoughts on that?

NJG

 

[Tom K]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/149490-blue-m25-2-4-a.html

Per the above thread, if you're talking about a 4" blue M-25 in .45ACP, you can stop looking. There aren't any. There was maybe one or two from the factory, and there is the occasional cut-down from a longer barrel (one of which I was lucky enough to find.) But there are stainless .45ACP M-625s out there with the heavy underlug and 3", 4" and 5" barrels. I think they're also known as the Model 1989. Not common, but not rare either.

 

[Rugskipper]

This is a project which I have been considering for a long while. The 45 ACP 25-2 in 4" is one that should have been made but never was. I seem to remember Doc44 has a special order one, but a factory job is unattainable for the majority of us.

I have a 25-2 with some holster wear toward the end of the barrel, and I also bought from a fellow forum member a spare barrel that's bulged at about the 4.5 point for a cutter. Now I need another 25-2 beater because I like my 4" N frames to come in pairs of nickle and blue. Then it's off for cutting and refinish.

I'm planning to do a pictorial when I'm all done which will include:
38/44 Heavy duties
25-2's
25-5's
27-2's 3.5"
27-2's 4"
Highway patrolmen
29-2's
57's
58's
all in one nickle and one blue. All I need at this point is another 25-2 and I'll have everything I need. Of course, if I find a 520 beater in need of a nickel refinish, I'll throw in a pair of those as well, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

[tom turner]

I just purchased a 625-3 that has a 4 inch barrel.

Sho nuff the later stainless 625 has come with 4" tubes, but back to the 25-2, which is an entirely different breed of cat . . .

Back "in the day" S&W really missed a great market with their .45ACP target revolver. Only in the last few years did they offer a 6" barrel option to the normal 25-2 with the 6 1/2" set up.

Lots of folks back then, understanding this model's incredible potential as a carry gun, had 'em chopped to 4," 3 1/2," 3 1/4," and in the case of the Jovino customs, sub 3" versions. Some smiths did great work . . . and some mediocre of course.

I stumbled across this one years ago . . . made in Savannah I was told back "in the day" by a fine wheelsmith (now unknown) who has long passed away.

Mine retains its N frame square butt, though others were converted to N frame OR K frame round butt versions. After I got it I radically narrowed and rounded the original wide, serrated "target" hammer for double action work in handgun matches and put that "dreadful" MIM cylinder release latch on the side (since I'm left handed an this latch works much better in fast, double action matches).

Mine wasn't ever told it is no longer a 1980 6" target revolver . . . for it still shoots incredibly tight groups indeed . . . and the trigger job is jaw dropping. It is the very last gun I'd ever part with, I love it so much. Here's my 3 1/4" dream gun, and I'm sure a 4" version would also be very sweet . . . though not quite as "concealable:"

I think it makes a great complementary "piece" for my 27-2 Model 27 . . . in original 3 1/2" barrel version of course . . .

Good luck on a successful conversion. The odds of finding an original 4" version are slim to none, as others have detailed.


Tom

 

[k22fan]

[... I] think the 25-2 with the 4" barrel would be the perfect 45 ACP revolver for me.

Regarding getting a 25-5 barrel. Isn't there a difference in diameter of the bore to fit the 45 Colt vs the 45 ACP? Does it make a difference? About what would a 4" 25-5 barrel run you?

I think I'll start looking for a 25-2 beater and figure out the best option for a replacement barrel, either a cut down 25-2 or a 4" 25-5. Any thoughts on that?

NJG

While I've not measused the groove diameters of S&W .45 barrels because they've shot so well there's been no need to, I believe they are all about .452" groove diameter. .45 ACP barrels have GI Joe style bores with 6 small lands while .45 Colt barrels have the rifleing style typical of most S&W revolvers, 5 deep grooves with the grooves and lands of equal width. The theory that the deeper grooves are better for lead bullets sounds reasonable but both types have been very accurate for me.

The cost of your project will mostly be a matter of what barrel you stumble onto for sale and how your gunsmith prices his work. If you use a 4" .45 Colt barrel you don't have to add a front sight but it will be in the lathe a little longer and you'll have to shorten the extractor rod and center pin a little. That's because except for the 25-3s, .45 Colt cylinders are longer so .45 Colt barrel shoulders have to be cut back to get their forcing cones close to 25-2 cylinders.

I like to discuss projects with my gunsmith before buying parts and sometimes pick out the parts just so he'll be doing the job his perfered way. It never hurts to have your smith enjoying his time spent on your project.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[gma]

25-2 Jovino Effector

Saw this thread...I have 25-2 Effector by Jovino with original box & sn on the box simply says "custom". The gun was featured in (I think) Combat Handgunner & I had a copy of the magazine, but lost it in a move. My 25-2 has a pinned barrel, 2 1/2", round butt, combat hammer & trigger The the crane assembly has a ball bearing lock. Supposedly not many made & when I got it the dealer only had two & wasn't going to let go of either of them, but fortunately I has a Baretta BL-2 O/U riot that was part of a botched order by Garcia in 1964 for the Boston PD...they ordered 150 AL-2's & they misread the order at the factory. I even had a Baretta letter that documented the error. Anyway the dealer had been looking for one of these for years so we swapped.

 

[TSQUARED]

As my shooting evolves, it seems my dream gun would be a Model 25 with a 4" barrel in .45 ACP. Was such a gun ever made by Smith in any number? Or, is this something I should forget about looking for?

No 25's but if you are looking for a shooter then the current 625's with 4 inch barrels in 45 ACP are great.

 

[thomasinaz]

I have a 4" 25-2, that I thought was factory until it was lettered as a 6.5". I can't post a pic until I get home from work, but it's been posted on the forum before. The barrel markings ("45 Cal. Model of 1955" on the right and "Smith & Wesson" left) are centered for the barrel length, which lends to the belief that they made 4" barrels. It also has serial numbers on the rear of the cylinder and in the ejector rod cutout of the barrel, which match the serial # of the gun.

 

[gma]

No 25's but if you are looking for a shooter then the current 625's with 4 inch barrels in 45 ACP are great.

Three years ago I bought a used 89 625 for my son & I swear its the nicest handgun I've ever shot. Was at a show two weeks ago & saw a S&W 625-6 V-Comp out of the S & W performance center...very nice, but very pricy.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Don't forget the hard to find .45 ACP Mountain Guns as well. They are 4" and a great gun. I wish I had one of those.

Tom

 

[sigp220.45]

Is it possible to convert a Model 28 to .45 ACP? That might be a way to go.

 

[jspick]

I just bought a 625-3 with a 4" barrel inb 45 acp. I really love that gun! I am a 5" barrel fan and would trade it for a 5" if I could find one as tight as this one is. But I'll be happy with the 4" if I don't run across one with a 5" barrel.

John