625 or 986?

[Kurt kaBOOM]

New guy to the forums here. Got back into shooting last year. Started with a RO 1911, and have added several more guns to my collection, including a model 17 and 14, and a few Ruger single actions. Trying to decide between a 625 and a 986. 625 pros: I have 2 handguns in .45 ACP. I like big bore guns. I like knowing I shot something. The 625 5" barrel looks fantastic.
The 986 sure looks like a cool gun. 7 shots, pretty cutting edge tech wise. 9mm is for sure cheaper to shoot...I don't reload, may in the future. In some ways I almost have the 986 in my 14 6".
I'm mostly a bullseye type guy, but would like to give pins and USPSA or something like that a try. Soooo, any input and advice welcome. Thanks! Kurt

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

When in doubt,get both! I bought a 929 JM October of last year and a 625 JM May of this year and love them both. Excellent shooters.

 

[Kurt kaBOOM]

Yeah , may get both. Which one would you get FIRST?

 

[AzShooter]

If you get the 9mm get the 929.

The 625 is real nice but not practical for USPSA anymore. All the top shooters are shooting 8 shots.

9mm sure is a lot cheaper than .45s.

 

[Newbs]

I can't speak to the 625 but do own a 986. Other than caliber and the obvious, the biggest difference is the 986 is a L Frame which I think, is a perfect match for the 9mm. Huge difference in both cost and weight going to the range with 500 rds. between the 986 and RO. Big-bore it is not, but you can shoot it all day. If my wife gets her hands on it, I won't see it the rest of the day. This is also the most accurate non-optic handgun I own. The one thing that surprised me was, out of the box, I thought the trigger should have been better considering it falls under the PC product. I wound up having a trigger job done.

 

[k22fan]

[...] Trying to decide between a 625 and a 986. 625 pros: I have 2 handguns in .45 ACP. I like big bore guns. I like knowing I shot something. The 625 5" barrel looks fantastic.
The 986 sure looks like a cool gun. 7 shots, pretty cutting edge tech wise. 9mm is for sure cheaper to shoot...I don't reload, may in the future. In some ways I almost have the 986 in my 14 6".
I'm mostly a bullseye type guy, but would like to give pins and USPSA or something like that a try. Soooo, any input and advice welcome. Thanks! Kurt

Before you buy a moon clip loading revolver go to the matches your local range(s) offer. It is a myth that a discipline's national organization's rules govern most local matches. The reality is who ever a club can get to volunteer to put on matches chooses his rules. See what the local guys are doing and what equipment the top shots use.

My experience has been that all metal knock down targets are set so that a standard 115 grain 9 mm load will topple them so long as you hit in the upper 2/3s of the plate and most will go down after being hit anywhere. On the other hand it takes a heavy chunk of lead to clear bowling pins off the table.

An L frame's shorter trigger reach makes them easier for most people to shoot DA accurately. On the other hand no other moon clip loading revolver is as fast to reload as a 625. Thin walls between chambers, chamfered chambers and round nose bullets allow 625 clips to be tossed in with a slight spin without looking at the chambers. The slowest moon clip revolvers to get reloaded at the clubs near me are the 7 and 8 shot .357s. In order to draw in more revolver owning competitors most matches do not allow more than 6 cartridges in any pistol. Consequently you have to align those empty chambers so that the first of your six rotates into line behind the barrel. To their credit the 8 shot 627s only give up a few points to automatics in the second most numerous matches, single stack auto. I have not seen any matches in which 7 shot moon clip loaders would be ideal.

A 986's titanium cylinder has to be cleaned with tools that are soft enough to not rub off its protective erosion resisting protective coating. That means no bronze bore brushes and you loose the biggest advantage of stainless revolvers, the ability to scrub them with bronze wool wool with out changing the appearance of the factory surface.

Welcome to the forum and keep in mind we are all just, well you know whats with different opinions and tastes, but I would not sell one of my 625s to fund a 986.

 

[dwever]

Easy! - 929.

1. USPSA superior
2. N - Frame.
3. Removable compensator.
4. 8- Shot.

An L frame's shorter trigger reach makes them easier for most people to shoot DA accurately.

An L Frames shorter trigger reach for DA is better only if most people have smaller hands. If you take an L or XL glove, chances are you're going going to find the N Frame more ergonomic, and that is virtually certain if you're an XL or XXL. I wear an XL and in .357 Magnum I have **3 N Frames and 2 L Frames, and the fit and shootability of the N Frames is superior; and, the N Frames tend to have better action even after action jobs. If I didn't need IWB carry from time to time I would only have N Frames. Both the men's and women's USPSA revolver champions run N Frames and I know at least Julie Golob has switched to the 929; and I would guess perhaps Jerry M. has too since it bears his name.

While 8-Shot moon clip reloads can be fussy with 9mm (or .38), if you use a round tip bullet such as the Federal American Eagle and moon clips that hold just mildly firm, you will reload just as fast as the .45 and can even skip the chamfering. Only one of my 627's is chamfered (second pic) and if your ammo and clips are right with the right basic technique, the effect is not so much. I do hate getting home and stripping out all the brass from the clips.

** N Frame = Two 627's in 2.625" Barrels and one 627 in a 5" (Also a 629 but that's a .44 Magnum); L Frame = a 586 L-Comp and a 686 Plus.

When it comes to 9 mm, the 929 is way to go. The 8-shot guns dominate the USPSA Revolver Division. Haven't yet found a good use for the 7-shot L-frame - at least in the realm of games.

Well said.

My advice........get yourself a Dillon 550, check out the reloading section of this forum for help and advice, and THEN start saving for your next gun.

Maybe start with a single stage press like a RCBS Rock Chucker until you learn to set the dyes, then a multi-stage. What do you think there Lou?

 

[Pizza Bob]

If, as you state, gun games are in the offing, then you need to slightly reconsider your choices.

When it comes to 9 mm, the 929 is way to go. The 8-shot guns dominate the USPSA Revolver Division. Haven't yet found a good use for the 7-shot L-frame - at least in the realm of games.

When it comes to .45 ACP, you've got the gun right and the barrel length wrong. If you opt for a 4" barreled 625 it can be used in IDPA and USPSA (albeit at a disadvantage as was pointed out).

As k22fan pointed out the 625 in .45 ACP is very fast to load with moon clips, but the real beauty of it is that it isn't "fussy". It will easily digest mixed brass and use $.40 moon clips all day long with nary a hiccup.

The 8-shot guns, OTOH, are "fussy", but can be made to load almost as fast - just at a much higher price in time and materials. Figure in sorting and segregating the brass you use and then purchasing moon clips specific to that brass. And those moon clips are usually of the $6 to $7 a piece variety. The trick to fast loading that 8-shot is finding the brass/moon clip combo that holds the cartridges most rigidly for easier insertion. Oh and have the charge holes chamfered - usually requires more that what it comes with from the factory. Of course finding someone to chamfer a titanium cylinder can be a chore - not something you want Bubba with his countersink and hand drill doing.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Lou_NC]

If you have the cash for a new revolver, and don't reload, I'd actually suggest getting into reloading first.

I remember going through the same gyrations a LONG time ago, trying to figure out which caliber to buy next, based on ammo costs. It's nice that once you reload, the delta in costs between reloading for various calibers becomes virtually irrelevant.

My advice........get yourself a Dillon 550, check out the reloading section of this forum for help and advice, and THEN start saving for your next gun.

Good luck,
Lou

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! I have a 625JM, that I really like. Just would like to have a 9mm revolver too. I can not imagine me not reloading. I load .38, 9mm, .40S&W, 45ACP, & 45 Colt. Use a Lee Classic turret press. Never a problem! Bob

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I would get the 929 first.