625 JM questions

[AreWeNotMen?]

Yesterday I [impulse] bought a 625 JM that the original owner got new in 2013 - SKU 160936, SN CSM974X. He'd shot one box through it and put it away. It came with all the normal stuff plus a Hogue, mooncliptool w/15 full moons, and a box of PMC. Being in CA I now have to wait the silly 10 days to pick it up and thought I'd find out more about it.

It is my first S&W with MIM and an internal lock (I have 11 non-MIM/ILS revolvers and never imagined I'd buy a MIM/ILS anything!), and I do plan to remove the ILS and plug it.

I did not find details on this SKU, but found the following on the 625-8 (160935) - also a JM?

• The rifling of the 625-8 is designed for lead bullets.

• The cylinder has been shortened, so the bullet spends less time before engaging the rifling. This also reduces "torque-over," the jolt from starting and stopping the motion of the cylinder.

• The interior dimension below the top-strap has not been altered, but the barrel and forcing cone have been extended across the cylinder gap.

• The target sights are still in place, and there is still plenty of sight radius despite the shorter barrel and long front-sight blade.


I know my has some differences, but what exactly I don't know.
My questions are:
- Is this a 625 - ? ("dash anything"?)
- What year was it made?
- How many were produced?
- Is the rifling of "special" design?
- Anything else I should know?

Thank you.

 

[toad67]

You should be able to open the cylinder and look on the frame to see what it is. 625 would be a 625, and any - with a number behind it will tell you what variant it is. Once you figure that out, post what it is, and you will get the answers that you are looking for.

 

[Redlegvzv]

It sounds like it is the current version, so should be the one on the S&W website.
It sounds like it is just like mine.
These are great revolvers. Accurate, and nice triggers. I really like mine. I replaced the gold bead sight with a Hi Viz Fiber Optic sight, and put on Hogue grips in lieu of the JM grip which did not work for me.

 

[AreWeNotMen?]

You should be able to open the cylinder and look on the frame to see what it is. 625 would be a 625, and any - with a number behind it will tell you what variant it is. Once you figure that out, post what it is, and you will get the answers that you are looking for.

As soon as I get my hands back on it, I will. I had thought any "dash" indication would be on the box/case, but it simply says Model 625.

 

[AreWeNotMen?]

Yep, the prior owner "Hogued-it" for me already. And once I see how the brass bead works or not for me, I may look in to a fiber-optic front.

 

[scooter123]

Good news is the 625-8 has the quick change front sight. The sight is held in by a spring pin. Push the sight blade towards the rear of the revolver as far as it will go and then pivot the sight blade so the front comes up and out of the slot. BTW, you will find a dovetail type arrangement and using a small file to put a bout 1/32 inch of flat on the front dovetail tip will make it much much easier to remove in the future. Because out of the box that sharp tips will only provide a few thousandths of in of clearance and you have to push very hard to get the sight far enough back to release.

 

[Pizza Bob]

It sounds like all of your bullet points in your OP refer to the PC model, not the JM. The PC has the shortened cylinder and has broach cut rifling, not ECM (actually I think the ECM is not good for cast bullet comment is Internet lore. Too many other variables.)

You will love your 625 - I have three of them as well as many other Smith .45's. Have fun with your new acquisition.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[kaaskop49]

attn PizzaBob

I thought so too, Bob, but the OP provided the SKU# for the JM model. I was momentarily thrown off by his shortened cylinder comment.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[dmy]

One negative comment

I've posted on this forum before that you are hard-pressed to find any negative comments about a 625. Well, I must be bored from sheltering, because I have one negative comment.

I bought my first 625-2 in 1989. It's a great gun. It compelled me to buy a 325 Thunder Ranch last year. Also a good gun, although it's been back to the factory twice to straighten the barrel. Of course, it was free and relatively quick turn around. This compelled me to buy a 625-3 with a 3" barrel last month. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet because all of the ranges are closed.

Buying 625s is a disease for which there may not be a cure. I hope you catch this desireable fever and enjoy yours.

 

[growr]

Great gun.....you will NOT regret owning one of these! Next thing to do is get a bunch on moonclips for it. Still the fastest way to load and unload..

I used to shoot mine in USPSA Revolver Major until the rules were changed. A real 6 shot revolver isn't hip anymore.

Randy

 

[bananaman]

I have a 625-8, which is a JM. Item#160936. 2009 gun. Picked it up used. Serial CNE045xx. Mine no longer gets regular cast bullets. It leads more than any other gun I have. Simple fix, I reload with powder coated, or copper plated bullets. Fun gun to shoot! Mine also has a Hi Viz front sight on it. So easy to change. Helps us older guys! You may want to try RIMZ, poly moon clips. Easy to use with no de-mooning tools. Bob

 

[AreWeNotMen?]

Thanks Everyone

I appreciate all your input and comments! Once I pick it up and have a chance to get to the boonies for some shooting (my range is closed at the moment) I'll report back with my impressions.

I have a bunch of factory and reloads (assorted Rainier, Berry's and X-Treme) ready to go in the moons already.

 

[Dale53]

I have a standard 625-8 JM Special. It is one of my all time favorite revolvers. I have put THOUSANDS of home cast bullets through mine without issue. The cylinder throats are perfect at .4525". I have checked out a number of these revolvers locally and they seem as good as mine.

I regularly use Rimz full moon clips for range use (no tools needed to load and unload). I use steel full moon clips fir serious use but they require tools to load and unload. The steel clips retain the cartridges better if dropped.

I also use Starline .45 Auto Rim cases when I don't need the speed of reloading that clips provide. I buy these direct from Starline (they sell at a really good price with free shipping but sell only a minimum of 500 cases).

The last time I looked, Brownells had a better price on RIMZ clips than the manufacturer offered.

FWIW,
Dale

 

[Rudi]

They are indeed fine revolvers. The original grips are tiny, dumb for a pistol of this size and weight. Buffalo Bore makes some very stout loads in .45 Auto Rim that really pack a punch, expensive but worth getting some.

 

[Redlegvzv]

One of the really nice things about moon clips with the 625JM is the simple fact that .45ACP lends itself very nicely to moon clips. .357s with moon clips can be hit or miss, but all the .45ACPs I've used were super-easy to moon and de-moon. I love using moon clips with my 625JM.

 

[StrawHat]

Been shooting ACP revolvers for nearly 50 years. A couple of things I learned worth sharing. Tools to unload and load the clips are important and do not have to be expensive. My first unloading tool was a 30 caliber ammunition can. Hook the empty in the corner and pull. Case pulls free from clip and drops into the can. Next was a piece of thinwall tubing, 1/2" ID. File about 3/4 of it away at the end, slip over the empty and turn. Again, very easy. Loading the moons was a bit more difficult. At first w used a 1/2"(?) metal rod through the center and rolled the clip over the round. Pop saw me doing that and handed me a pair of water er pump pliers. At the widest opening, I could squeeze two rounds in place at a time. From that I built a lever actuated contraption that worked well.

If you plan on shooting a lot, I suggest you learn how to cast good bullets. There are fora devoted to that topic so I am not going to post about that. Pay attention to diameter. I recommend.001-.002 over throat but the throat has to equal groove.

Jacketed, plated and powdered stuff is beyond my ken.

Good luck and enjoy it.

Kevin