45 ACPWheel Gun Love It Or Leave It
- Thread starter USMC586
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powerhaulic
Member
I ordered a 625pc this week, hope to be shooting it in a few weeks. 
Doug M.
Member
452x6, I suspect I strongly dislike you, as that appears to be a pair of the Springfield Armory Commemorative .45ACP Mountain Guns. I had a 629-4 converted to 45ACP/AR by Bowen. Maybe too heavy for what it is, but a great gun.
C17
US Veteran
625-8 4 inch
I am new to the forum, and just bought a new (to me) 625-8. This is the first wheel gun I have ever bought, and I will never sell it.
It quickly became my favorite when I took it to the range friday and shot 250 rounds through it. It is amazingly accurate and the recoil feels less than a Glock 19 (9mm) I got rid of.
I have about 50 moon clips (RIMZ) that I use, and find that they are very easy to use. I just ordered 200 45 Auto Rim just to try it out.
Next up is to reload them with 200 grain SWC on top of 3.8 grains of 700 X powder. Just waiting on my brass pile to exceed 500.
It shall be noted that I have owned just about every make of semi auto handgun, in various calibers and I will never go back to a SA.
I also ordered a SDM 300 Gold dot front sight (SDM ships same day if you get direct from them $61 bucks)
Next up is to have my smithy chamfer the cylinder.
I read A LOT about the 460 Rowland conversion, which from what I can tell is nothing more than boring the cylinders down another 1/16th of an inch to allow the 460 rowland to headspace correctly. I am seriously considering this because it will allow the use of .45ACP, .45 AutoRim, and .460 Rowland in the same cylinder.
I gather that the .460 Rowland has the same performance features of a .44 magnum. Could be useful, could be overkill, but I like options. Clark customs does the conversion.
Also I read a few posts about people making sure to use "federal primers" in these guns. If you go to Clark Customs website and look for the JM spring kit for 625 revolvers you will see the reason for that. The JM spring kit lightens the hammer strike and it does not reliably ignite all brands of primers.
Will post some pics soon.
Now I want a 3 inch 625.
I am new to the forum, and just bought a new (to me) 625-8. This is the first wheel gun I have ever bought, and I will never sell it.
It quickly became my favorite when I took it to the range friday and shot 250 rounds through it. It is amazingly accurate and the recoil feels less than a Glock 19 (9mm) I got rid of.
I have about 50 moon clips (RIMZ) that I use, and find that they are very easy to use. I just ordered 200 45 Auto Rim just to try it out.
Next up is to reload them with 200 grain SWC on top of 3.8 grains of 700 X powder. Just waiting on my brass pile to exceed 500.
It shall be noted that I have owned just about every make of semi auto handgun, in various calibers and I will never go back to a SA.
I also ordered a SDM 300 Gold dot front sight (SDM ships same day if you get direct from them $61 bucks)
Next up is to have my smithy chamfer the cylinder.
I read A LOT about the 460 Rowland conversion, which from what I can tell is nothing more than boring the cylinders down another 1/16th of an inch to allow the 460 rowland to headspace correctly. I am seriously considering this because it will allow the use of .45ACP, .45 AutoRim, and .460 Rowland in the same cylinder.
I gather that the .460 Rowland has the same performance features of a .44 magnum. Could be useful, could be overkill, but I like options. Clark customs does the conversion.
Also I read a few posts about people making sure to use "federal primers" in these guns. If you go to Clark Customs website and look for the JM spring kit for 625 revolvers you will see the reason for that. The JM spring kit lightens the hammer strike and it does not reliably ignite all brands of primers.
Will post some pics soon.
Now I want a 3 inch 625.
452x6
Member
Doug M.
Member
You may intuit the response I would like to give, which the mods will not allow. 
Many years ago I owned an 625 Model of 1988 in 4 inch. It was a great revolver. I used it for "Pin Shoots". Like a complete dumb *** I sold it to fund another gun at the time. Should never have done that. They are great guns and if you can get one I highly recommend it.
I wish that had the Bisley grip .OK, it is time to get rid of the moon clips and get a smarter revolver. Granted, its single action, but the Ruger New Model Blackhawk .45 Colt with Extra .45ACP Cylinder (Ruger® New Model Blackhawk® Distributor Exclusives Single-Action Revolver Models) is the way to go. Why? The folks at Ruger have build a cylinder that uses the same type of system as the 1911 for seating the round in the chamber, there is a shoulder in the ACP cylinder (yup, there are two cylinders with this revolver) that uses head spacing (base of case to neck). The only problems with this revolver are: (1) the extra cylinders are hand fitted for the revolver it is issued with and (2) it is single-action only. Maybe Ruger can be coerced into making a .45ACP Redhawk in the future... If enough of us express an interest it might happen.
I also have a 625jm and as everyone else has mentioned i love it !! I also installed the JM trigger spring kit and installed it as the directions
stated.Trigger pull in da is just over 7 lbs,and i use federal primers with
no missfires.I do reccomend having a extra strain screw available,as i filed the first one down too much,second try was perfect.I also like the easily changed front sight setup,which is very handy for changing light conditions. I also suggest lots of moon clips,as you will want to keep shooting alot when at the range (i have 500 rounds pre clipped).Moon clip tool is a must have,got mine at revolver supply.com.GO FOR IT!!!
stated.Trigger pull in da is just over 7 lbs,and i use federal primers with
no missfires.I do reccomend having a extra strain screw available,as i filed the first one down too much,second try was perfect.I also like the easily changed front sight setup,which is very handy for changing light conditions. I also suggest lots of moon clips,as you will want to keep shooting alot when at the range (i have 500 rounds pre clipped).Moon clip tool is a must have,got mine at revolver supply.com.GO FOR IT!!!
I have a 25-2 with 6.5 inch barrel and I find it a blast to shoot. It's acurate and just plain a hoot to shoot with moon clips. If you have the right tools the moon clips are easy to load and unload and beat a speed loader for ammo changes.
25-2 6.5 inch with Kurac maple grips
25-2 6.5 inch with Kurac maple grips
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nawilson
US Veteran
Amen! I have mine on right now in a Simply Rugged Sourdough holster.
OIF2
Member
My target shooting background is bullseye, so I was always attracted to the 25-2. I never shot a match with one, but I now enjoy shooting slow-fire practice with this at 25 and 50 yds. Incidentally, this is a '79 gun with a 6" barrel. A superb revolver.
Bob
Bob
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BigCityChief
Member
I'm looking for a 625 JM ever since I saw it in the 2013 S&W catalogue - made me drool just to look at it - undignified for a grown man, but I couldn't help myself.
The .45ACP revolver is an acquired taste. I feel the moon clips introduced in the 80s made this gun: the old-style half-moon clips were less sturdy, subject to bending, and could tie up the cylinder. In my experience... When ammo is available, there are many options, and THEY ALL FEED! If generic ball is your fancy, .45ACP is the least expensive big bore ammo out there, $19-20 a box of 50. ACP rounds will work w/o clips, but some chambers are bored a smidge more deeply and there could be an ignition problem. Buffalo Bore has some nice Auto Rim loadings, if you want to go AR.
My wife calls me an idiot also. Must be because I have a model of 1989 5" 625, a Springfield armory commemorative mountain gun and the new 325 Nightguard. Oh did I mention my 610,940 and ruger 9mm security six? I really enjoy my clip revolvers.
Of course I also enjoy my semiautos, But hate scrounging around for brass.
Of course I also enjoy my semiautos, But hate scrounging around for brass.
C17
US Veteran
I love my 625-8. I will not ever sell it. It is hands down, the most accurate and fun to shoot handgun I have ever owned.
I confess I have a fondness for .45 ACP revos. I have an older 25-2 and newer 625JM and 625PC. To go with my double action revos, I also have a .45 Colt NMBH with .45 ACP cylinder that has been modified for .45 AR. I mostly use .45 AR for range work in all of them, but I have shot in IPSC with the 25-2 with moon clips.
Attachments
rockyrider
Member
S&W Governor
just picked up a new S&W Governor yesterday .so far it has surpassed my expectations .it's a science project in itself .at 29.6 and scandium frame tritium night sights ,its state of the art .now can it shoot ? first day I shot 50 rounds through it just to break it in. the cylinder already opened and closed better after that .it's dead accurate at 10 meters, with me throwing a few shots away. the biggest problems I had with my own reloads was the primers must be perfectly flat with the case .close tolerance allows the primers to rub against the firing pin bushing . Other than that, shes a sweetheart. Combined with a DeSantis molded holster from Amazon, I think it will be a keeper when it comes to tactical shooting, and PP. Finally got the right wheel gun to compliment the 25-2.
just picked up a new S&W Governor yesterday .so far it has surpassed my expectations .it's a science project in itself .at 29.6 and scandium frame tritium night sights ,its state of the art .now can it shoot ? first day I shot 50 rounds through it just to break it in. the cylinder already opened and closed better after that .it's dead accurate at 10 meters, with me throwing a few shots away. the biggest problems I had with my own reloads was the primers must be perfectly flat with the case .close tolerance allows the primers to rub against the firing pin bushing . Other than that, shes a sweetheart. Combined with a DeSantis molded holster from Amazon, I think it will be a keeper when it comes to tactical shooting, and PP. Finally got the right wheel gun to compliment the 25-2.
BearBio
Member
Since I load 45 acp, it's a snap for me to load 45 AR and use that most of the time. Just $3 or so for a shell holder and I found about 5-6 in the junk bin at 98 cents each!
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