I rescued a 625-3

[joeldworkin307]

I was at a local range and they had a collection of revolvers on consignment. One was a 625-3 with a 5 inch barrel that had a decent trigger job, a bobbed and lightened hammer, and had been converted to double action only. Came with a bag full of moon clips and a demooning tool. It looked so lonely among all the 357s and 38s so it came home with me. It had a 4 inch brother but one of the ROs took it as soon as it came in. Anyone here seen this kind of work done before? Was it common for competition guns? How much should I ask if I'm planning to sell or trade it?

 

[huthike]

Once you shoot it, you won't want to sell it. One of my favorite revolvers.


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[mojave30cal]

Nice snag! I hate bobbed hammers.

 

[dmthomp32]

Looks like an awesome purchase. Already has the modifications anyone could need or ask for!

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[Protocall_Design]

Fiber optic front, bobbed hammer, lighter action is pretty universal in competition circles. I would keep it and shoot it. If you want to sell it, look for people shooting matches with a revo, or put it on Gone Broker.

 

[sodacan]

The 625 is a great gun, but it looks better with all of its appendages. It's the top one in the photo for the uninformed. LOL.

 

[joeldworkin307]

I do need to shoot it before I make any decisions. I don't imagine I'll come across one like this again.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Great gun! Get a standard hammer and trigger installed and be happy.......BTW I have the 3" and 4" and they are fantastic........One day if a 5" comes along at a decent price I'll get it too.

 

[tominboise]

I have the 4" and 5" versions. They are hands down, my favorite centerfires to shoot. No chasing brass, super accurate, just all around fun.

 

[M29since14]

I just had my 5-inch 625 to the indoor range last week. I bought it here, from a forum member who had taken it to Nelson Ford for an action job. I'm not sure why he sold it but I'm happy to have it. That 625 is just about my favorite "indoors revolver." I can take it and a 1911 - and use the same ammo for both. Very handy, IMO.

I'm sure you'll like that gun. If the hammer bothers you, get an unmodified one. A good cleaning and you should be all set! Congratulations on your new .45!

 

[AzShooter]

I had one like that and unfortunately sold it. I shot a lot of competitions with it. The bobbed hammer let me get the action down to below 5 pounds double action. I never shot it single action.

The 625 is the fastest revolver to reload. It's very accurate and I shot my fastest Steel Challenge match with one. Even with my 8 shooters I haven't been able to break it. With only 6 shots I had to make every one count and never had to reload. I could count the number of moons that had 6 shots fired and knew when I screwed up.

Keep it and shoot it for a while. See if you like it. If you don't need to sell it for the money clean it and take it out every once in a while. You will not be disappointed.

 

[DR505]

Nice revolver. I have the 3" and 5" versions...still need a 4". I just qualified for my retired LE permit today with my 3" 625-3. Bought it last week.

 

[Dale53]

I have a 625-8 JM Special that I have put THOUSANDS of home cast bullets through it. It is one of the most satisfying revolvers I have owned. After buying the 4" and shooting it, I had a chance to pick up an "Estate" 625-6 with 5" barrel at the OGCA gun show for a favorable price. It turned out to be as desirable as my 4" revolver.

These are really fine revolvers both "On the Range and in the Field"!

FWIW,
Dale53

 

[StrawHat]

All of the ACP revolvers are great. I prefer the unlugged barrels but for the right price could bring home one of the heavy ones. I am having one converted to DAO right now

Kevin

 

[joeldworkin307]

Well I took it out and shot it this past weekend and I learned three things:

1) MAN IT THUMPS! Trigger pull is at or under 5 lbs and this thing is a cannon.
2)The sights are way off to the right and I didn't bring a screwdriver.
3) The previous owner drilled a hole behind the trigger for an overtravel stop and I didn't notice it when I bought the gun. I'll have to find out the thread pitch and put a new screw in or just fill the hole.

All in all it's a fun gun, but I'm not in love. Maybe I'll try again next week and see if I don't like it more over time.

 

[YkcorCal]

I have an Apex Tactical Specialties S&W 625-8 JM 4" .45ACP "bobbed hammer" double action only revolver. The reason the hammer spur is removed is to allow a higher grip on the gun via bore alignment in fast double action shooting which a stock hammer spur will interfere with. Jerry Charles Miculek Jr. the fastest revolver shooter discuses this in his videos. Happy shooting your great find!

My Apex Tactical Specialties S&W 625-8 JM 4" .45ACP is my pride and joy not for sale at any price ever!!!

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
The 5 inch ,along with the 3inch, are the super secret ,don't tell
everyone , experts choice m-25's...
If you look, many go Coco over any 3inch and many over the 5inch.
They are just "Right".
If you want , have the bobbed hammer replaced and add a little more main spring weight, and you have an great general purpose gun.
Hunting /home defense/range.
that will out group most of the "Good" shooters here..........
I DON'T like a bobbed hammer on anything other than a pocket gun.
It removes half the abilities of the gun.
Buy your clips in bulk[ranch products] get or make tools to
load / unload the clips.
A small number of auto rim cases [ for special loads /no moon clipd]
And you will never look back.
Ps If you don't want it ,, look me up.......

 

[Protocall_Design]

You can load 185gr. or 200gr. bullets over a light target charge of powder and the recoil is very low, accuracy still fine. The 45 doesn't need to be a thumper for target shooting.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Those .45 ACP Smiths are great. This is a 625-2 Model of 1988 (5-incher) that I modified with new round-to square conversion Ahrends stocks, a red ramp front sight, and the old-style cylinder release. Nelson Ford did his magic on the action, and it is now the smoothest DA revolver I own, even out-classing my Python. It's a joy to own and shoot.

John

 

[Jimmy4570]

Had the great fortune to pick up a 4" 625-3 in 1998 from an estate sale, NIB, for the princely sum of $250. It's the revolver that, shooting GAT 200 gr. SWCs over 5.2 gr of SuperTarget, refined my trigger cocking shooting while stationed at FT Huachuca. Got so that I could wear out a bright blue painted fifth wheel at 200 yds from prone with that piece. Would love a 4" blue target model from the 50's with the pencil barrel to go with it but cannot say enough good about that -3. Amazing revolver.