625-6

[Coastie762]

I've always been a fan of .45 ACP revolvers and over the years a few have found their way into my hands. I rarely see them at local gun shows, folks who own them tend to hold onto them.

So imagine my surprise recently, I opened the local Armslist site and the top listing was for a 5" 625-6. A call to the owner found he was only a few miles down the road from me. We met up that night and (surprise, surprise) it came home with me.

No box, just the gun and three (loaded) moon clips. Very clean, it had been fired a bit but obviously well taken care of. Only finish wear I noted was on the top strap; it appeared to me that it may have had an optic mounted at one time. Screw heads NOT buggered up. Timing is excellent, BC gap of .005. No perceptible endshake. Cylinder throats measure .451 with pin gauges. Only changes noted was an aftermarket thumb piece and fiber optic front sight. Serial number prefix (CDW) dates it to January 2000.

Action is smooth. Very smooth... Too smooth? Single action pull weight was 3 lbs with no push-off. Double action weight was 8 lbs. Hmmm. well, I thought, I do have replacement springs if needed.

I opened it up to take a peek and found it to have a ribbed mainspring installed. Not sure of the rebound spring weight but it at least it was not clipped. Internals had definitely been polished but nothing appeared to have been hacked up. Strain screw had not been shortened.

I lubed and reassembled the gun, pulled out an assortment of .45 ACP and AR ammunition then headed to the range. I ensured I had samples loaded using Federal, Winchester and CCI primers to see how well (if?) it ignited them. To my surprise and delight I had no problems whatsoever. Fired primers showed deep indents regardless of manufacturer. I ran approx. 150 flawless rounds through it, turns out my fears were unfounded. Very happy!

Gun came with the original S&W marked Hogues. I installed a set of Ahrends Goncalo Alves Retro Combats for now, may eventually install a set of target stocks down the road.

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[HamHands]

Love the find you got there! I love everything about it except that front sight. But to each his own and if you like it, then rock it!

 

[bananaman]

I've always been a fan of .45 ACP revolvers and over the years a few have found their way into my hands. I rarely see them at local gun shows, folks who own them tend to hold onto them.

So imagine my surprise recently, I opened the local Armslist site and the top listing was for a 5" 625-6. A call to the owner found he was only a few miles down the road from me. We met up that night and (surprise, surprise) it came home with me.

No box, just the gun and three (loaded) moon clips. Very clean, it had been fired a bit but obviously well taken care of. Only finish wear I noted was on the top strap; it appeared to me that it may have had an optic mounted at one time. Screw heads NOT buggered up. Timing is excellent, BC gap of .005. No perceptible endshake. Cylinder throats measure .451 with pin gauges. Only changes noted was an aftermarket thumb piece and fiber optic front sight. Serial number prefix (CDW) dates it to January 2000.

Action is smooth. Very smooth... Too smooth? Single action pull weight was 3 lbs with no push-off. Double action weight was 8 lbs. Hmmm. well, I thought, I do have replacement springs if needed.

I opened it up to take a peek and found it to have a ribbed mainspring installed. Not sure of the rebound spring weight but it at least it was not clipped. Internals had definitely been polished but nothing appeared to have been hacked up. Strain screw had not been shortened.

I lubed and reassembled the gun, pulled out an assortment of .45 ACP and AR ammunition then headed to the range. I ensured I had samples loaded using Federal, Winchester and CCI primers to see how well (if?) it ignited them. To my surprise and delight I had no problems whatsoever. Fired primers showed deep indents regardless of manufacturer. I ran approx. 150 flawless rounds through it, turns out my fears were unfounded. Very happy!

Gun came with the original S&W marked Hogues. I installed a set of Ahrends Goncalo Alves Retro Combats for now, may eventually install a set of target stocks down the road.

Merry Christmas to all!

Very nice! What is not to like? I have a 625-8 JM. I also like the F.O. front sight. Try some RIMZ poly moon clips in it. No tools needed, or sore fingers. Bob

 

[jack the toad]

Nice find... congrats.
I just came across a 5" -6, mind sharing price?

 

[Fessor]

Hey Bananaman, I like the looks of the grips on your 625. I've got a 625-4 3" that I'd like to put those grips on. Are your grips fat or sized for somewhat smaller hands? Where did you get them?

 

[Coastie762]

Thanks all for the compliments. I've got a batch of the Rimz moon clips along with a pile of steel ones, both work well for me. With the onset of winter here in Cheeseland, it is just as easy for me to load a batch of steel clips in warmth of home and toss them in the range box. I load .45 AR cases as well for when I don't want to mess with clips or for loads not intended for autoloaders.

The gun came with the fiber optic sight and oversized thumb piece. I was not initially fond of the thumbpiece but after using it the first time out it is growing on me. I have a love/hate relationship with FO sights, that may eventually get swapped out for a patridge style sight. Further study (and range time) is needed.

 

[Dale53]

I had a 625-6 for a number of years. It was one of the most satisfying revolvers I have ever owned. Some months ago I gifted my youngest son the revolver along with a quantity of loaded ammo complete with moonclips.

I still have my 625-8 JM Special.

I think that the 625's are some of the best revolvers Smith has produced.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[eTripper]

I had mine for over twenty years now, I guess. Probably my most favorite 'wheelie' in the stable! Big, bad, and burly!

 

[Dale53]

I have shot my 625's THOUSANDS of times. For several years, I would run 5000-7500 rounds a year through them. I ONLY use my own cast bullets in my revolvers. Revolver life expectancy using cast bullets at reasonable levels is almost forever.

Jacketed bullets WILL actually wear out a barrel in a relatively short time if you shoot as much as I have. The boys in the Advanced Marksmanship Unit of the U.S. Army would replace their 1911 barrels every five thousand rounds. Ray Chapman (IPSC World Champion) told me that he had 200,000 rounds (all cast bullets) through the barrel of his Pachmayr 1911 and it still shot with excellent accuracy. My 1911 has 100,000 rounds through it and it still shoots with NRA Bullseye accuracy (and the loads that I shot were IPSC level loads).

This is something that is seldom discussed.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[tjpopkin]

I shoot my 5" 625-4 all the time, and especially in bowling pin matches....
Accuracy rivals my 945 (or Les Baer)semi-autos and the action is done to perfection...6 lb. double, 2.5lb. single...I obtained it from a shooting acquaintance after he allowed me to shoot it....probably 15 years ago. I only shoot LSWC LOADS (4.0gr. Bullseye..185gr.cast (me or MT.Bullet)and barrel is perfect...
I like the gun so much, I invested in a BMT loading tool (fantastic and really fast...have them for .38 super/9mm)and can load or unload in seconds. One of my favorite handguns...should probably pull the dated optic and replace, but I like it)...

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on a fine addition to the Family

That Cylinder release is one of the older designs from Hogue. I really like that one. My old 625 is even wearing a set of Hogue grips as well. It has been in this configuration for decades. I can not recall when they came out

I actually just came upon a 3" 625 that had been converted to DAO. The seller turned out to be 45 minutes west of me. So we did the deal a couple of weekends ago

I just finished replacing the hammer and trigger to get the 3" back to normal last night. It has wood grips back on it and I need to snap some photos to post

 

[ralph7]

I've always been a fan of .45 ACP revolvers and over the years a few have found their way into my hands. I rarely see them at local gun shows, folks who own them tend to hold onto them.

So imagine my surprise recently, I opened the local Armslist site and the top listing was for a 5" 625-6. A call to the owner found he was only a few miles down the road from me. We met up that night and (surprise, surprise) it came home with me.

No box, just the gun and three (loaded) moon clips. Very clean, it had been fired a bit but obviously well taken care of. Only finish wear I noted was on the top strap; it appeared to me that it may have had an optic mounted at one time. Screw heads NOT buggered up. Timing is excellent, BC gap of .005. No perceptible endshake. Cylinder throats measure .451 with pin gauges. Only changes noted was an aftermarket thumb piece and fiber optic front sight. Serial number prefix (CDW) dates it to January 2000.

Action is smooth. Very smooth... Too smooth? Single action pull weight was 3 lbs with no push-off. Double action weight was 8 lbs. Hmmm. well, I thought, I do have replacement springs if needed.

I opened it up to take a peek and found it to have a ribbed mainspring installed. Not sure of the rebound spring weight but it at least it was not clipped. Internals had definitely been polished but nothing appeared to have been hacked up. Strain screw had not been shortened.

I lubed and reassembled the gun, pulled out an assortment of .45 ACP and AR ammunition then headed to the range. I ensured I had samples loaded using Federal, Winchester and CCI primers to see how well (if?) it ignited them. To my surprise and delight I had no problems whatsoever. Fired primers showed deep indents regardless of manufacturer. I ran approx. 150 flawless rounds through it, turns out my fears were unfounded. Very happy!

Gun came with the original S&W marked Hogues. I installed a set of Ahrends Goncalo Alves Retro Combats for now, may eventually install a set of target stocks down the road.

Merry Christmas to all!

An aftermarket cylinder release that can cover the lock?
Sheer brilliance!

 

[NavyVet24]

Hope you enjoy the 625-6. I bought a 25-2 about 25 years ago (for $317 including tax) and it has always been a favorite of mine. Fantastic shooter! If you reload, but some Auto Rim brass and forget about fighting with Moon Clips. I like FO sights, but mine is TT, TH, TS and I had Nelson Ford put the brass bead in the Patridge Front. Enjoy.

 

[mrstang01]

These are the commercial versions of the 1917, correct? How do they compare?

 

[colt_saa]

These are the commercial versions of the 1917, correct? How do they compare?

NO

These are more like stainless versions of the1950 .45 Target Model

 

[Pizza Bob]

I can not recall when they came out...

I just finished replacing the hammer and trigger to get the 3" back to normal last night. It has wood grips back on it and I need to snap some photos to post

We must be on the same wave length. The 5" barrel and the ramp front sight would indicate that it is probably a 625-2 Model of 1988 that came out early in 1989. I bought mine in March of that year...

A couple or three weeks ago, I also stumbled upon a 3" 625-3 (Model of 1989) and bought that...

It had the original Pachmayr Grippers on it so I swapped them for some Hogue "bar of soap" grips.

What are we buying next? Not that I could ever keep up to you LOL.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[RLVG22]

second that

I've always been a fan of .45 ACP revolvers and over the years a few have found their way into my hands. I rarely see them at local gun shows, folks who own them tend to hold onto them.

So imagine my surprise recently, I opened the local Armslist site and the top listing was for a 5" 625-6. A call to the owner found he was only a few miles down the road from me. We met up that night and (surprise, surprise) it came home with me.

No box, just the gun and three (loaded) moon clips. Very clean, it had been fired a bit but obviously well taken care of. Only finish wear I noted was on the top strap; it appeared to me that it may have had an optic mounted at one time. Screw heads NOT buggered up. Timing is excellent, BC gap of .005. No perceptible endshake. Cylinder throats measure .451 with pin gauges. Only changes noted was an aftermarket thumb piece and fiber optic front sight. Serial number prefix (CDW) dates it to January 2000.

Action is smooth. Very smooth... Too smooth? Single action pull weight was 3 lbs with no push-off. Double action weight was 8 lbs. Hmmm. well, I thought, I do have replacement springs if needed.

I opened it up to take a peek and found it to have a ribbed mainspring installed. Not sure of the rebound spring weight but it at least it was not clipped. Internals had definitely been polished but nothing appeared to have been hacked up. Strain screw had not been shortened.

I lubed and reassembled the gun, pulled out an assortment of .45 ACP and AR ammunition then headed to the range. I ensured I had samples loaded using Federal, Winchester and CCI primers to see how well (if?) it ignited them. To my surprise and delight I had no problems whatsoever. Fired primers showed deep indents regardless of manufacturer. I ran approx. 150 flawless rounds through it, turns out my fears were unfounded. Very happy!

Gun came with the original S&W marked Hogues. I installed a set of Ahrends Goncalo Alves Retro Combats for now, may eventually install a set of target stocks down the road.

Merry Christmas to all!

I personally prefer the Model 610 in 10mm. I've had two stolen (6.5" & 5") and wish I still had them today. They were more accurate than any .357 Magnum I ever owned (Ruger & Colt).

Being in Cali, I'm seriously pissed at missing out on two auctions for a 6.5" Classic Hunter I've been looking for for over ten years & a 5" Standard model. as well as a Performance center 629 4".

As so many are these days I'm bailing on Cali at the first chance I get!!!!

 

[colt_saa]

We must be on the same wave length. The 5" barrel and the ramp front sight would indicate that it is probably a 625-2 Model of 1988 that came out early in 1989. I bought mine in March of that year...

The box for my 5" is here in the office so I just looked at the SPEC ORD number and mine was manufactured February 18th of 1989.

What are we buying next? Not that I could ever keep up to you LOL.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Christmas Gifts . . . . Ho, Ho, Ho

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all

 

[oneounceload]

I have shot my 625's THOUSANDS of times. For several years, I would run 5000-7500 rounds a year through them. I ONLY use my own cast bullets in my revolvers. Revolver life expectancy using cast bullets at reasonable levels is almost forever.

Jacketed bullets WILL actually wear out a barrel in a relatively short time if you shoot as much as I have. The boys in the Advanced Marksmanship Unit of the U.S. Army would replace their 1911 barrels every five thousand rounds. Ray Chapman (IPSC World Champion) told me that he had 200,000 rounds (all cast bullets) through the barrel of his Pachmayr 1911 and it still shot with excellent accuracy. My 1911 has 100,000 rounds through it and it still shoots with NRA Bullseye accuracy (and the loads that I shot were IPSC level loads).

This is something that is seldom discussed.

FWIW
Dale53

What weight bullet are you using?

 

[Ed Fowler]

I have shot my 625's THOUSANDS of times. For several years, I would run 5000-7500 rounds a year through them. I ONLY use my own cast bullets in my revolvers. Revolver life expectancy using cast bullets at reasonable levels is almost forever.

Jacketed bullets WILL actually wear out a barrel in a relatively short time if you shoot as much as I have. The boys in the Advanced Marksmanship Unit of the U.S. Army would replace their 1911 barrels every five thousand rounds. Ray Chapman (IPSC World Champion) told me that he had 200,000 rounds (all cast bullets) through the barrel of his Pachmayr 1911 and it still shot with excellent accuracy. My 1911 has 100,000 rounds through it and it still shoots with NRA Bullseye accuracy (and the loads that I shot were IPSC level loads).

This is something that is seldom discussed.

FWIW
Dale53

My friend and coach would chew you out and you were off of the team if he found you shooting jacket ammo out of a nice target 45 acp, his 1911 had been built for him while he was on the Marine Corps team he retired that pistol and went to a Gold Cup. Shooting with him for a few years we shot thousands of lead bullets and if anything found accuracy improved after about 2,400 lead rounds. He later picked a was shooting a Gold Cup, I was shooting a Swenson, my Swenson always won no matter who was shooting. My 625 out shoots both of them.
Again always lead, same with my 22 rf rifles and hand guns.

He has been gone for years, but I can still hear him coaching me on loads and lead vrs jacketed bullets
wonder what he would think of this coated stuff?