I only have one 25-5 left. When I got down to keeping one of each model I kept the 83/8". This is later model than OPs.
Non pinned barrel and front sight. I would gravitate toward the 6" pinned but the 83/8" is one of those cherries that seem to outshot the others.
I pay little attention to the issue of diameter of cylinder bores. I shoot all DIY cast, soft as possible. So long as cylinder bores isn't smaller than barrel there is no issue. Of coarse I'm not hot rodding the loads either. For Target and the 250gr traditional RNFP is perfectly capable of taking deer.