Everyone who shoots it wants one . . .

Erich

Erich

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Ever had a gun that makes everyone who shoots it want one just like it?

I believe this 3" 625-3 Model of 1989 .45 ACP/AR has literally done that. Its action was worked over by 38/44HD45 who traded it to me (a wonderful deal that I consider an act of charity on his part), and, seriously, I can't recall a person who has shot it who didn't want one just like it.
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I mean, Gina (not a gun person) likes shooting this gun - better than any other gun she's shot. Says it's fun and asks to shoot it. The gun is accurate (a good trigger will do that, but the barrel seems to work well in this one, too) and shoots "fast." It reloads in a twinkle and hits hard with .45 AR handloads. It's my house gun.

Fam-damblyJuly80100001yyy.jpg


Fam-damblyJuly80110001yyy.jpg


Fam-damblyJuly80120001yyy.jpg


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Anyhow, anyone else have a gun like this? One that everyone who shoots it wants one just like it? I can think of a couple of them here, right off the bat . . .
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Ever had a gun that makes everyone who shoots it want one just like it?

I believe this 3" 625-3 Model of 1989 .45 ACP/AR has literally done that. Its action was worked over by 38/44HD45 who traded it to me (a wonderful deal that I consider an act of charity on his part), and, seriously, I can't recall a person who has shot it who didn't want one just like it.
icon_smile.gif
I mean, Gina (not a gun person) likes shooting this gun - better than any other gun she's shot. Says it's fun and asks to shoot it. The gun is accurate (a good trigger will do that, but the barrel seems to work well in this one, too) and shoots "fast." It reloads in a twinkle and hits hard with .45 AR handloads. It's my house gun.

Fam-damblyJuly80100001yyy.jpg


Fam-damblyJuly80110001yyy.jpg


Fam-damblyJuly80120001yyy.jpg


Fam-damblyJuly80130001yyy.jpg


Anyhow, anyone else have a gun like this? One that everyone who shoots it wants one just like it? I can think of a couple of them here, right off the bat . . .
icon_biggrin.gif
 
Same sort of gun in my case. I always get twice as many questions about it as anything else I bring out for people to shoot. Mine is the 625 Mountain Gun version which started out chambered for .45 Colt. Mine has had work done to it so that it can use .45 ACP with moon clips. And I put some better wood grips on it. It was made 1997, no lock, no MIM, firing pin on hammer. Whenever people shoot it, I hear some variation of, "where can I buy one just like this?"

Gregg
 
My 686 SSR seems to be inspiring friends to buy 357 revolvers. It has a great trigger as well.
 
Erich;
You're preachin' to the choir when you talk to me. I don't have a 625-3 but I have a 625-8 JM Special 4" and a 625-6 5" and shoot them a LOT! So, you can truthfully state that I am a 625 FAN!!

I have been buying and shooting Smith's for more years than you are old and have several "favorites". Some I just call "user friendly" (really easy to consistently hit well with them) and I must say the 625's are at least "tied with the best".

My JM has just a little bit better action than my 625-6 but frankly, I am nitpickin' here. No more than a "shade" better. The slightly longer barrel MAY make the 5" a bit easier to shoot but the jury is still out on that. I can see why you have become attached to the 3". If I run onto one of them, it just might come home with me (but actually, I have little need for a shorter barrel for my use).

I am getting a bit "long in the tooth" to start deer hunting again, but the 5" is legal for deer in Ohio and I KNOW that with the proper load (with the 452424 at about 900+) would get the job done. I have taken a half dozen deer with my .44 magnums (429421 Lyman or equivalent). All but the first one were taken with one shot (from 10 yards to 85 yards)and I have no doubt that the 625-6 would do just as well.

Incidentally, nice pictures. Thanks again for sharing with us.

Dale53
 
I don't have to shoot it to know that I want one just like it. If I ever run across one I think I may just have to take it home.
 
Very nice sixgun. I have heard that a revolver with moon clips is a faster relad than a semi-auto.

I also heard years ago that the stainless Smith .45 ACPs with 4 inch barrels sold for a lot of dough because the combat shooters claimed they were the perfect gun.
 
Now that I think about it, the only 45 ACP revolver I've ever fired was a creaky old Colt 1917 that I owned about 20 years ago, and I was too young to appreciate what I had.

Fortunately, I have a 4" 625 inbound as you read this, so I'll soon join the 625 club.


Okie John
 
Sir, very nice rig. I like my 25-2 and all, but it's, well, BIG. I do wish it were handier.

Smith really should have recognized the need for shorter .45 ACP sixguns much sooner. Can you imagine if they'd offered a 4-inch 25-2 as a regular catalog item way back when? Makes my eyes roll back in my head just thinking about it.
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Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Nice pictures Erich, thanks for sharing. Luckily I secured one of them 3"ers myself a month or so ago. They are SWEET! I actually prefer shooting my 4" a bit better.

As for a gun that makes folks want one just like it, hands down it is my M82A1 Barrett.
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Hey Erick, I have one like that. It is a 686 that is cut for moon clips, 4 to 5 pound double action trigger(depends on weather). Here is a PIC. Have Fun - John
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The lady obviously has very refined tastes in revolvers, and barrel lengths. How long was it, before she slapped you aside and said "this one's mine." After the first six, or did it take twelve?
 
It's awfully purty. Love that finish, and you're obviously rigorous in your cleaning. Do you use any kind of wax on that?

The first thing I thought upon seeing a 3" .45 was, maybe this thing's too light to handle the recoil? Is it all that comfortable? And not being a .45 fan myself, I'm wondering how's that compare to a .44 magnum?
 
got the same gun.......and yup me and everyone that see's it(and I ask if they want to shoot it) love it.

I actully shoot it as well or better than my 5"
 
You're right, Erich. "Fun, Fast, Hits Hard!" What's not to like?

This may be your gun's ancestor...an M25-2 .45ACP customized in '83 by John Jovino. Glass like action, nickel, perfect balance. The popularity of these "short barrel, big bore" customs was probably instrumental in causing the factories to start producing them.

You are also correct that once someone shoots it, I have to start defending my ownership of it.
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Bob
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This is as close I have to it but it is nice and I have been pleased with it.Model 22-4 45 ACP
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Also have a 25-2 but it is big
 
Of course, Erich, you make them all look good . . .

I had to wait for the -4, but I have one in my nightstand wearing Crimson Trace.

The one that gets the most attention at the range, though, is my 586L-Comp. The ported barrel draws attention and the 7th shot downrange brings them over to have a look.
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+1 with what bettis1 said, "You're right, Erich. "Fun, Fast, Hits Hard!" What's not to like?"
Neat lookin' and great shootin'!
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HPIM2604-1.jpg
 
Gents, thanks for the kind words and for the great pix of your guns - I'm really enjoying reading folks' thoughts on this thread.
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Yep,

LONG before S&W realized what an ultimate competition and defensive gun that a short barreled, moon-clipped .45ACP revolver could be, folks took it on their own to create 'em.

John Jovino made a bunch in New York, but other gunsmiths also made their own versions of what the ultimate big "snubbie" would be.

Mine was converted in the early 1980s in Savannah! It is hands-down my best handling big bore revolver I've ever used in competition. It has a little longer barrel ( 3 1/4") and a radically narrowed, rounded and smoothed trigger. It retains it's original square butt design, which I like better anyway.

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When I stumbled across it years ago, I simply HAD to have it. BTW, in a match, it wears Hogue "Goodyears" which increase it's speed and eliminate any chance of torquing in the hand.
 
I also belong to the 625 club. My 3" 625-3 was found with slightly rough exterior but a great shooter. Can not find wood grips that perform with pachs, but keep looking. Also have a 4" M25-2, 4" 625-3, M22 TR and I like to chop 1917s. Only bad habit I have.

Tommy F
 
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