625 PC first range trip & impressions

jtcarm

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As I mentioned in my previous post, this is my first factory new gun in 32 years and my second PC gun. I had a 325 PD briefly before trading it off.

I ran 200 rounds through it, 100 each of Monarch Brass and Federal Champion.

I shoot Monarch brass .38 158 JHP a lot since it's inexpensive and loaded in PRVI brass. Pretty good stuff. However the .45 ACP didn't look like PRVI brass and had about 15% FTFs (about one per cylinder). They also wouldn't fire in my 25-2. Most went bang when cycled again, but I ended up with 6 duds. Fortunately that 100 rounds was all I bought.

The DA trigger is a disappointment. Not what I would've expected on a PC gun and not nearly as good as the 325 I had. IDK if the Ti cylinder turns that much easier, but that gun had a lot better DA trigger.

The candy cane stocks positively suck. It's like gripping a skinny 2x4. They're as non-functional as they are ugly. 50 rounds in I borrowed an old wood Hogue from my Model 24:

df28654b9abd3cff69140a02f983334c.jpg


An interesting "feature" of the candy canes was that instead of being properly inlet to the grip frame, there's s couple of alignment pins. I assume this is a cost-saving measure, but a CNC router should be able to make precise enough cuts to inlet the wood correctly, so I'm confused as to what value the pins add. I would expect the gun to rock back & forth in them.

f03d229c26dab4e07d46048246e0e260.jpg


To get a feel for shootability, I shot several HiTs tactical revolver Super Test drills (https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/start-shooting-better-episode-4-super-test/) and averaged around 92%, slightly better than I normally do with my 3" M-64 carry gun, which has a much better trigger and I shoot a lot. I credit the better sights and the .45 slugs cutting bigger holes that turned a lot of 9s in to 10s.

Between the crappy grips and unimpressive trigger, if doing over again, I'd buy the 625 JM and spend the difference in a rice on an action job.
 
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The pins are a normal Altamont feature and just keep the two grip halves aligned to each other.

As for the trigger... I recently bought a 629 PC and a 627 Pro both matte finish and both had bead blasting grit in the works. Go figure. After a thorough cleaning and lube (and lock removal) they are much smoother.

I approach all new Smiths as a work in progress. It's a pleasure though when you get a good one straight out of the box, like the 640 Pro I recently bought. I added Spegels but couldn't improve anything else.
 
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Don't know if you used moon clips, but my Model 22 of 1917 has one chamber where the round sits a smidge lower and often will not fire. This should not be and some folks have argued with me about this, that it can't happen... The moon clip positions the round so the firing pin can reach the primer.

As to the rough action, have the innards been lightly lubricated? Also, on any new wheelgun, I spray the insides with GunScrubber to flush out any metal shavings or cheese doodles (:D) the assemblers may have left inside the mechanism. Is the sideplate properly fitted? That on my above-mentioned Model 22 sat higher than the side of the frame and required a gunsmith to fit it correctly.

Sounds like your gun could use a tune-up by a 'smith to smooth out the rough edges. Don't give up on it: there should be a diamond inside that chunk of coal!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
I had the M625JM version... The first thing I did was snatch out that retarded lock... The second was replace the Patridge front sight that snagged on everything with a proper orange insert ramped version... Then I got rid the the JM grips for something that didn't suck. Lastly I used Purple Loc-Tite on the cylinder release screw, (backed out shooting CCW rounds and twice with .45Supers as well practically every screw on the gun including the main spring tension screw and on the side-plate screws.) The Revo was Un-"F-d" at this point and only after this point. I sold it to my brother that uses it as his "woods-rig" with .45Supers to this day! Here is a pic...
bPms6ll.jpg
 
My experience with my 625 and 325 is the exact opposite. My 325 had an absolutely horrible trigger, and any attempt to lighten it created light strikes, even after I installed an longer firing pin. My 625 PC trigger is about average for a modern S&W with no modification.
 

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