I Got An Itch.....Need 625 Advice

[mchech]

Having never owned a 45 acp revolver I think it is about time. I am getting too old to chase empties out of a 1911. Lately it seems all I read about is the negative comments but there has to be some positive. Please share some knowledge and pictures if possible. Thanks

 

[Cpt. Obvious]

Don't have one, but I will say that with the price level of the 625, I'd hate to think the gun is a crapper.

 

[Iowahunter]

Whats not to like about a 625/ Model 25 ? I have several and like you I get tired of chasing brass and if moon clips bother you just use Auto rim brass. Same dies as ACP just change a shell plate/holder and a ittle more options for bullets styles if you reload.

4 Screw Model 25 No Dash

 

[woody1911]

I have a 4" 625-8 that I shoot quite a bit. I love the gun - I will only say a couple of things -
1) if you decide to buy one stick with steel clips (I have had a couple of issues with Beckham RIMZ plastic speedloaders - they are easy to load but I had a round that the firing pin went through the primer due to the plastic clip holding the cartridge closer to the frame than the steel moon clips - accuracy also seemed to suffer???)
2) my front sight is becoming lose - the material around the retention pin for the sight on the barrel seems to be yielding and allowing the sight to "wiggle" - I think it will need to go back to smith at some point.

 

[Shooting4life]

Picking up brass is for suckers.

 

[ajvossman]

Just buy one. You won't regret it.you will have the same felling that you had when you shoot your first 1911.you'll be asking yourself why didn't i get one sooner.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Love my S&W's but I'm a 1911 packer for CC. I too wanted a 3" 625 badly to match my other 3" revolvers, plus I have a boatload of .45 ammo. Was going to sell off a couple of my S&W's to fund the purchase, then I realized I have 4 model 57's and a 657 that can do most anything a .45 ACP can and much more. Came to my senses and didn't sell or trade any off as I would have regretted it. Would just be another round to reload for. I've cut back back on reloading calibers to .38, 357 mag .41 mag, .223, .308, .338 Win Mags and 12 gauges. Keeps me busy on winter days when football isn't on or too cold to ride the Harley.

Actually shoot my model 34 & 17 more than the centerfires as they're really cheap to shoot. Another plus is my accuracy with my larger bored Smiths have improved from shooting them in DA mode.

The 25's and 625's I've shot, including a full lug 3" 625 shot great except for one 6" 25 and were both accurate and creampuffs with factory FMJ's. We did try out some different ammo and moon clips but it would not group well (4" groups max at 25 yards, sandbagged). Beautiful revolver, but needs a stop at a expert GS to explain the problem.

Still would like one but my next buy will be a Springfield M1A Scout Rifle to match my .308 Savage 10 FP LE sniper rifle. Like duplicating calibers for different models in common, easy to find calibers. Have been reloading for the .41 mag for close to 30 years and have a boatload of them too as they can be hard to find and are expensive when you do.

Good luck on your 625 quest!

 

[1911bphil]

If a 25/625 is too expensive, check out aRuger Blackhawk convertible. You can shoot 45 Colt, change cylinders and shoot 45ACP. The price at your LGS is probably a lot less. Just my humble opinion

 

[kennyb]

i have the 625 jm model from the performance center..it has a 5.5"barrel...a great handeling gun!

 

[Macinaw]

i have the 625 jm model from the performance center..it has a 5.5"barrel...a great handeling gun!

Before I switched to a 627 PC 8 shot for Steel Challenge I used my JM Pro Series. It has a 4 inch barrel. I think the only ones that had the 5 inch barrel where the 1989 first editions.

The 6 shot JM 625 is a fun gun to shoot. With the moon clips it makes getting brass back much easier!

Mac

 

[steamloco76]

45 ACP revolvers become an addiction of their own.
My first was a 22-4 Thunder Ranch, then I picked up a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible with the handy 4 5/8ths inch barrel. Great gun for the money, especially used. Then I found a used 625-8 5 inch at my favorite LGS. Another fine shooter and a revolver I highly recommend as worth every penny. I use the RIMZ polycarbonate moon clips in the 22-4 and 625-8 and have never had any issues. The RIMZ clips are one sided so you do need to pay attention loading them.

 

[mchech]

Thanks for the feedback and the super pictures. The 625 is now at the top of my list. I just need to figure out some trading material before I head to my dealer.

 

[scooter123]

I have a 4" 625-8 that I shoot quite a bit. I love the gun - I will only say a couple of things -
1) if you decide to buy one stick with steel clips (I have had a couple of issues with Beckham RIMZ plastic speedloaders - they are easy to load but I had a round that the firing pin went through the primer due to the plastic clip holding the cartridge closer to the frame than the steel moon clips - accuracy also seemed to suffer???)
2) my front sight is becoming lose - the material around the retention pin for the sight on the barrel seems to be yielding and allowing the sight to "wiggle" - I think it will need to go back to smith at some point.

Woody, your 625 has the interchangeable front sight and it's normal for them to have some "wiggle". Good news is that you can remove the sight without any hand tools in under a second with a bit of practice. Push the sight towards the rear of the gun against the spring tension and lift it out of it's nest front first.

BTW, the dovetail base on these sights typically run a touch longer than really necessary and take a LOT of pressure to the rear to allow them to tip out of the nest. If you want to make them easier to pop out just stone the tip of the front doevetail by 0.005 to 0.008 inch, that small reduction makes them much easier to remove. One other tip is that you can peen the side of the dovetail with a center punch to reduce that "wiggle" because the raised rim of the center punch strike will tightem them up. However, you'll likely have to stone them to fit after doing the peening.

As for the current 625's, mine is the 625 JM model and the only real complaint with mine is that the serrated trigger feels like a bundle of razor blades. However, I'm a tinkerer so I've fully tuned my 625 and took care of those serrations before I fired one round.

Positives, it's distinctly accurate, I really like the Gold Bead front sight, and the recoil is VERY well balanced. I'll also note that the chambers in the cylinder on mine are so well finished that moon clips really aren't needed, I've shot many loose rounds in mine and all it takes to empty the cylinder is a firm shake. I've also found the bead blasted finish a lot easier to clean than I expected, don't know why but it cleans like it was teflon coated, with the exception of the face of the cylinder.

Negative, the trigger as previously mentioned. Fact is that I don't think that it's possible for a human being to develop calouses thick enough to stand up to these serrations, you could likely shave with them. Good news a sanding drum on a Dremel cuts them down quickly. Second negative is more personal, I found the factory grip too small and mine now wears the monogrip for the 500 Magnum.

Summation, IMO the 625 is near perfect. The only things I would change is that I'd prefer they offered a model with the blued .400 smooth target trigger and blued .400 wide service hammer. In addition it would be nice to see a package that offered both 45ACP and 45 Long Colt cylinders. Fact is that I'm slowly getting the parts together to convert my 625 to the .400 hammer and trigger set and down the road plan on looking into having a 45 Long Colt cylinder fitted to mine.

 

[Dale53]

I have a 625-6 Model of 1989 (5") and a 625-8 JM Special. They were both fine right out of the box. However, I wanted to tune them to MY preferences. I added a matched spring set from Jerry Miculek and tuned the trigger until it is 9.0 lb. dbl action and 3.0 lbs. single (my preference). They are totally reliable. One additional thing I added is Apex Tactical's longer firing pin.

Just a few bucks and I have a pair of revolvers that suit me to a "T". I shoot mine between 5000-7500 rounds a year and have three years on them. They shoot extremely well (well under 1" at 25 yards off a rest) and I have made some of the best targets of my life with these handguns.

Further, they are not ammo sensitive - nearly any reload I put in them shoots well. On one occasion, I had left overs with two different bullets and three different powder charges. Shooting the timed fire target at 25 yards, standing, I scored 100 with a high "X" count. That is pretty dern forgiving...

Here is a target I shot standing at 25 yards:

Here is my JM Special with a Simmons Red Dot:

Here is my 625-6 with a Simmons Red Dot:

As should be obvious, I am a fan. I consider these two to be the most shootable revolvers I own (and I own more than a few).

FWIW
Dale53

 

[andyo5]

I own a 625 model of 1989 with a 5" barrel. I can shoot with or without moon clips. Without moon clips, I have to remove the empties with my fingernail. I have competed with the gun and have no complaints whatsoever.

 

[mchech]

Is there a lot of difference between a 625 JM and the 625 Performance Center revolver? Most all my use is informal shooting. Only $100 difference ......... is it worth it? Thanks

 

[Jerry N.]

Is there a lot of difference between a 625 JM and the 625 Performance Center revolver? Most all my use is informal shooting. Only $100 difference ......... is it worth it? Thanks

They look different. They have different grips. The trigger is different (the PC version is smooth). For me it came down to looks and engraving. I didn't want the JM engraving and I do like the profile of the PC version. I also did believe that I would like the smooth trigger better, but I can't say for sure because I did not shoot the JM.

 

[45Wheelgun]

This is the last gun I will ever sell, 625-3 3":

A few more .45Wheelguns:

 

[CorporalDoug]

I have a 625 that I use for IDPA ESR and I love it. I had a Williams Fiber Optic front sight put on and had a trigger job done by Joe at Brush Creek Ltd. in Brighton, MI. I can't say enough good things about Joe's work. His trigger jobs are not just spring swaps like some guys do. It's all stock parts that are fitted and polished and tweaked.

I use the Ranch moon clips and have had no issues at all. Get the cylinders chamfered and the reloads will be even faster.

Buy it and you will not regret it!

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Just buy one. You won't regret it.you will have the same felling that you had when you shoot your first 1911.you'll be asking yourself why didn't i get one sooner.

I agree completely. I now have three and recently let a 625-4 with 3" bbl slip through my hands... I shoulda been on that like a chicken on a June bug!