625-8 JM Sights Replacement/Re-Install?

[Talan2000]

Hi all,

I just purchased, somewhat impulsively shall we say, a used 625-8 JM on GB.

Anyway, I haven't received it yet, but I noted somewhat belatedly (face palm) that it does not have the factory sights installed. Nor JM grips (which I did notice and am happy about except for not being able to sell them- wonder what they are worth?).

Instead, the rear sight has been replaced. Maybe that's going to be just perfect and my target loads will be perfectly zeroed with it... Maybe not.







1. So I was curious what you more experienced folks (with the 625 or others), might have to say about what I would need to get this back to the original/factory adjustable sight from what appears to be a fixed rear sight.

Would this just be a matter of buying a $12 blade/screw at midway or is there something I'm missing. And if so, presuming the gun has the stock (.300 Front gold bead sight), what is the proper (or at least standard factory) rear sight height/width?

Smith & Wesson Rear Sight Blade Kit K L N-Frame .146 Blue Blade

2. Anyone recognize the installed rear sight -- it has a rounded notch for example. I'd like to learn about them before making any changes. It seems pretty substantial (ie thick and not cheap metal like the stock S&W replacements look). And of course fingers crossed that they are some super premium piece of gear




3. This gun will be a range toy for me, not a game gun, so I can learn to work with just about any sight option so long as it will be consistent and ideally POA=POI.

As an aside, from looking at a lot of these newer guns, it seems that S&Ws roll stamping is really hit or miss - looking sloppy and causing distortions/dents in the metal that I've never seen in the older guns. anybody else have this observation?


This one, isn't too bad but for example the "." in .45ACP seems too deep/sloppy and there is some distortion around the 4 & 5. Another gun in my watch list -- a PC version 625, had some weird distortion in the barrel too which kinda put me off it though the price sure looks nice...


Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Todd

 

[BarnStorm]

2. The rear sight appears to be an "Extreme Duty" model by Cylinder & Slide. They are excellent quality in my experience. Another company by the name of D&L Sports also makes a very similar one.

That's a beautiful gun, the previous owner had excellent taste. Don't lose any sleep over not having the factory grips. They are easy to obtain. The Hogues on it run right around the same price range as the factory replacement JM grips.

Enjoy and safe shootin'.

 

[gnystrom]

I just sonld my JM (only because I am getting older and simplifying my modest collection of guns) If my memory serves me correctly the font sight is a quick change and held in place by a spring. Check this link post #2
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/160369-s-w-625-jm-front-sight-job.html

BTW, that gun was easily the most accurate revolver I have ever fired. It is safely in the hands of a very happy friend of mine so I can visit it anytime I want.

I found the gold bead to be the easiest to acquire in all light conditions.

 

[Pizza Bob]

I believe that the rear sight was correctly identified as the unit from C&S - these were used on the S&W Night Guard series and are available directly from C&S.

Since this is a newer gun and has the factory D&T'd frame and the round tang rear sight, a replacement assembly can be purchased directly from S&W. You cannot get by with just a blade as the C&S fixed sight is monolithic, you need the assembly. Smith can advise the height. As an alternative, you can install an LPA sight which gives a better, more precise sight picture. They only come in one height, so using it may entail changing the front sight also - although that hasn't been necessary on any of the applications for which I've used it (627-4PC, 586-4 and 646). These are available w/ or w/o fiber optics.

Good luck and have fun with your 625 - great guns.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Talan2000]

Gracias!

Gentlemen, Outstanding! Thanks so much for the information. I thought the sights looked pretty nice and I was pretty sure I was going to be in for a replacement of the entire sight assembly if I wanted to go back to stock.
As it is, it's a pretty close match to my early edition Ruger Match Champion with fixed sights. And at the distances I shoot, there's not too much kentucky windage involved in hitting the targets with fixed sights, so I will definitely shoot it quite a bit before investing in original sight assembly.


I definitely do like the hogue grips it is wearing over the JM ones. I've read too much about how slippery and awkward they are. And the PC red white and blue version...well, enough said.

I'm not familiar with C&S or LPA sights but will do some research.

And thanks - I think the previous owner had pretty good taste too -- I'm very curious if he smoothed the trigger (the other ding on the JM guns) or did anything with the springs. Buying from afar, from an anonymous pawn shop near Reno is always an "exciting" adventure.

Thanks!

Todd

 

[rog8732]

I like the sight replacement; if it shoots to point of aim of course. It appears to me it is matched up with the original front ??

For the L P A series of sights, while they are an Italian Co., "Fusion Arms" of Venice, Fla. carries the complete line, including spare parts for the sights. (Springs, screws, etc). Brownell carries the sights, but no parts. (At my last call.)

As for C&S; of the many items I have used from them, mostly 1911, there has never been anything but first class quality and great C S R.

On the JM grips, or lack there of, I have outfitted a JM 625 with rubber, urrgh, stag in two different sets, round to square, original set of S&W finger groove combats, tried good brands, bad brands, and home-mades. I have consistently returned to the originals for looks and shooting.

As for those "Forth of July" jobbies; for some reason I am itching to get a set,......just cause.

When you say "trigger" work, I take it to mean exactly that, and not "trigger pull" work ? I feel the little sharpness of the right side edge of the trigger curve, but it does not yet bother me enough to smooth it.

Unlike the famous Jerry M, I can manage to shoot 12 rounds in 3 minutes, unlike his 12 in 3 seconds or what ever ridiculous time it is.

A great fun shooting big bore. I bet you like it !!

 

[Talan2000]

Roger that Rog,

Yes I've read the trigger gouges you. If it has ridges still, I'll have to see if I am man enough to endure it, or just file it

T

 

[153]

I have the JM stocks ... the original owner did you a favor with the swap.

A new rear sight from S&W would solve any problems on that end of the revolver. I like the fixed sight better myself.

 

[rog8732]

Talan, I see the JM is coming from a pawn shop in Reno, Nevada !!???!
Mightn't the uh uumm errr , DNA content; be checked before the trigger condition ?

 

[Talan2000]

Yeah, but would you believe that those guys shipped it out and overnighted it in less than 2 hours. It's already at my FFLs location...now if he is available this evening I can put my own grubby mitts on the triggers of the 625 AND the 25-2 I just bought

 

[bananaman]

My 625 JM is 1 of my favorite revolvers. I did replace the front sight with a HI-VIZ fiber optic sight. (does wonders for my old eyes) I have had more sets of stocks on it than any other gun I own. Just put a set of beautiful Thailand grips on it. Has not been to the range yet. Sure feel good though! Bob

 

[45Wheelgun]

I really like the looks of those sights. I would suggest shooting it first. That gold bead is wonderful.

 

[S.B.]

For the life of me, I can't understand disabling a set of excellent adjustable sights and going backward to fixed sights on this revolver?
Steve

 

[Gunhacker]

I have a 625-8 JM... if nothing has been done to the factory DA pull weight to reduce it, trust me... you will want to lose those stupid trigger serrations, it only took 1 range outing for me to realize that.

I don't know why S&W made the decision to put a serrated trigger on the 625-8 when the JM Performance Center version has a smooth trigger... if Jerry Miculek had input on both "signature" guns, why a smooth trigger on one and ribbed on the other?

You mentioned that the front blade on your gun is .300? Factory height is .250.

If it has a Cylinder & Slide rear sight, it makes me wonder if it might also have the C&S extended firing pin, that allows for lighter springs?

I put an APEX XL Firing pin kit in mine to compensate for a Wolff reduced power mainspring, and run a 14# trigger return spring. With the Wolff ribbed main spring, the shorter round butt strain screw needs to be swapped with the longer one for a square butt frame to compensate for the rib to get the proper tension.

On my 986 Pro Series, which came with the lighter weight Performance Center main spring, which is ribbed and looks very suspiciously like a Wolff spring, that is exactly what they did with the strain screw.

I found that out after I opened it to see how it was set up after I (like others) had an issue on the 625-8 after installing the Wolff spring, and wanted to see how the factory had set it up with the lighter mainspring... the secret was the longer square butt strain screw.

I've not experienced any FTF's with what I've fired through it, which includes CCI Lawman ammo, and CCI has the reputation of having the hardest primers.

I also put these S&W recoil absorbing grips on my 625-8, they are a round to square conversion and the same ones used on the 500 Magnum, what a pleasure they are for me, I have the beginnings of arthritis in my right and I can't tolerate the battering I used to be able to easily handle with wood grips. If the wood Hogues sting too much, these grips are the answer.

I love this gun... the most fun I've had with my clothes on.

Get yourself a peck of .45acp ammo, go over to revolversupply.com, get a supply of moon/star clips and the moon clip tool, and have at it.

 

[KertP]

Sights and stuff

Rog,

If you want to go back to the original rear sight on your JM, you can order one from either Brownell's or MidwayUSA. Brownell's SKU for the correct sight is 940-000-540WB, though you could make 940-000-542WB work, but it is a slightly higher rear sight slot (.010" higher). The McGivern bold bead front sight is my favorite front sight. It is visible under most any lighting condition except complete darkness.

My JM came with misaligned cylinder flutes. Chambers were perfectly aligned with the barrel bore, but the flutes were off slightly. Doesn't affect the accuracy or function, but bothers me since this is supposed to be one of S&W's premium offerings.

I replaced the original grips with rubber grips that S&W uses on their newer revolvers, then ultimately decided to replace them with Herrett's Jordan Trooper stocks. Wonderful. I also replaced the serrated trigger with a wider, smooth trigger. I dislike serrated triggers on double action revolvers. And I smoothed out the trigger pull on mine to give me a buttery smooth double action trigger pull. As far as shooting, it is one of my favorites. If I were a bullseye shooter, I would have no problem using it in competition from the standpoint of accuracy.

I'll never be a McGivern or Miculek, but I like it the way I have it. Best of all, it is fun to shoot.

 

[kennyb]

my jm is from the performance center...as noted above its a keeper!

 

[Pizza Bob]

Just a note - The 625-8 PC is not a JM, thus the smooth trigger. On the production 625 JM they equip it with the ribbed trigger because that's what Jerry uses. If I had hands like hams, and shot 20K rounds per month, I'd probably have a callus big enough to shoot a ribbed trigger comfortably. I don't, so I prefer the smooth trigger of my 625-8 PC.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Talan2000]

Thanks everyone for the info. I took the gun to the range today and really enjoyed it.

And yes, I find the serrated trigger to be sub optimal for the double action firing. Ouch. It has a fairly stiff double action pull but the single sure is nice and crisp. I shot mostly single...

Gunhacker - thanks for all that detailed information -- i'm rather the newbie, so I'm not sure how I would be able to tell if the springs and or firing pin had been replaced?

As to the sight height - that .300 height was what I THOUGHT stock blade height was. I don't know and haven't measured what it actually is. As noted, this one is wearing C&S fixed monolithic sight that apparently comes in a variety of options. I'll have to get out the calipers later and measure everything. That said, it shot very well wit h everything I fed it - zero FTF with factory 230 gr and tons of 200 GR Xtreme plated SWC reloads.

Thanks to all for the pm offers to swap factory adjustable sights for the C&S setup. I appreciate it but will keep what I have for now!

Thanks!

Todd