This is the end result of some extras for my 45LC Mtn. Gun. It has a patridge front sight, smooth wide trigger, X-frame grips, and an action job. This 625-7 is very accurate and will handle punishing loads comfortably(for the gun as well as the shooter). Anyone else have personal touches done to their Mtn. guns? I'd like to see pictures for other ideas. Thanks.......Sprefix
(Improved?) .45 Colt Mountain Gun
- Thread starter Sprefix
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JDBarrister
Member
Total new guy questions, but can these fire, or be modified to fire .45 ACP? What would be involved?
Dale53
Member
JDBarrister;
You can't easily modify them for .45 ACP BUT you can just use .45 Cowboy Special brass and load the equivalent. For those that don't know, the Cowboy Special has a .45 Colt rim but the capacity of the .45 ACP and .45 Auto Rim. You just load them and use them in any .45 Colt revolver.
cowboy45special.com/index
Sprefix:
I really don't need ANY other revolvers. However, a good S&W Mountain Gun in an appropriate caliber IS calling my name. I looked at the recent Ohio Gun Collectors Show and unfortunately didn't see ANY (except one "Mountain Lion" that would have required me to buy an entire collection of high end S&W's). I guess I got lucky, I wasn't compelled to buy anything...
FWIW
Dale53
You can't easily modify them for .45 ACP BUT you can just use .45 Cowboy Special brass and load the equivalent. For those that don't know, the Cowboy Special has a .45 Colt rim but the capacity of the .45 ACP and .45 Auto Rim. You just load them and use them in any .45 Colt revolver.
cowboy45special.com/index
Sprefix:
I really don't need ANY other revolvers. However, a good S&W Mountain Gun in an appropriate caliber IS calling my name. I looked at the recent Ohio Gun Collectors Show and unfortunately didn't see ANY (except one "Mountain Lion" that would have required me to buy an entire collection of high end S&W's). I guess I got lucky, I wasn't compelled to buy anything...
FWIW
Dale53
Sven
Member
I was amazed how much better recoil was with a set of X-frame grips! Makes deer hunting loads much easier to shoot! But I still prefer the looks of the RB Ahrend's finger groove grips my 629MG usually wears.
Stainz
Member
I agree with Sven re the 629MG - the X-frame Hogue monogrips really transformed it. I did like the sights and hammer & trigger of the standard production 4" 629, so I replaced my 629MG with a new production 4" 629 - fitted with the X-frame Hogues for Magnums.
In 9/02, my wife shocked me with a gift - a new 625-7 MG in .45 Colt - my first-ever own S&W! I loved it - and added another such MG - a 625-6 - as a backup/user, preserving the sentimental favorite. Both have had minor trigger jobs - and lighter Wolff springs installed, the latter marrying them to my Federal-primed homebrews. Both are fine at my power levels, 255gr LSWC and Speer 250 gr Gold Dots - tickling 900 fps max, sporting Ahrends square conversion or the S&W Dymondwood rounded fg-ed Combats, the latter making a great all-weather grip. I may, as I have done on some of my other plinkers, try a HiViz sight on one of them.
The 625MG was an evil purchase... it chased away the other .45 Colts in my collection (Rugers) - the last actually getting traded for it's sibling MG. Bliss. They are just fun! You have to make your own ammo - that's how I got started reloading, just two months after getting that original .45 Colt MG.
About moonclip conversions. Unlike a true .45 ACP-only cylinder, like my 625JM, a 'converted' .45 Colt cylinder must keep a vestige of the original thickness, a ring at the cylinder's outer edge, to catch the .45 Colt rim. Thus, a .45 Auto Rim, with it's thicker rim, will not fit. It will, of course, fit a standard .45 ACP cylindered revolver, like the 625JM. I load .45 Auto Rims with .45 Colt lead - and those GDJHPs mentioned earlier - at .45 Colt levels - so I can shoot no clip .45 Auto Rim .45 Colt-ish loads in a .45 ACP revolver.
I shoot lighter loads in .45 Colt cases to full loads - using a case volume/position insensitive propellant - Titegroup. It's greatest problem - you can easily overload that cavernous case! Be careful with Titegroup. I find this a better way - for me - than switching to shorter cases, like the .45 Schofields and .45 Colt Special, as it doesn't leave a potentially dangerous, with full .45 Colt loads, ring of carbon and lead. You must clean that from your chambers before loading .45 Colt loads - especially hotter loads. YMMV.
As far as woods-stomping... here in the southeast, if a 255gr LSWC at 870+ fps won't stop a thick skinned - or that 250gr Gold Dot at the same velocity stop a thin skinned - predator, you've obviously climbed over a safety fence at the zoo - get out quickly!
Stainz
In 9/02, my wife shocked me with a gift - a new 625-7 MG in .45 Colt - my first-ever own S&W! I loved it - and added another such MG - a 625-6 - as a backup/user, preserving the sentimental favorite. Both have had minor trigger jobs - and lighter Wolff springs installed, the latter marrying them to my Federal-primed homebrews. Both are fine at my power levels, 255gr LSWC and Speer 250 gr Gold Dots - tickling 900 fps max, sporting Ahrends square conversion or the S&W Dymondwood rounded fg-ed Combats, the latter making a great all-weather grip. I may, as I have done on some of my other plinkers, try a HiViz sight on one of them.
The 625MG was an evil purchase... it chased away the other .45 Colts in my collection (Rugers) - the last actually getting traded for it's sibling MG. Bliss. They are just fun! You have to make your own ammo - that's how I got started reloading, just two months after getting that original .45 Colt MG.
About moonclip conversions. Unlike a true .45 ACP-only cylinder, like my 625JM, a 'converted' .45 Colt cylinder must keep a vestige of the original thickness, a ring at the cylinder's outer edge, to catch the .45 Colt rim. Thus, a .45 Auto Rim, with it's thicker rim, will not fit. It will, of course, fit a standard .45 ACP cylindered revolver, like the 625JM. I load .45 Auto Rims with .45 Colt lead - and those GDJHPs mentioned earlier - at .45 Colt levels - so I can shoot no clip .45 Auto Rim .45 Colt-ish loads in a .45 ACP revolver.
I shoot lighter loads in .45 Colt cases to full loads - using a case volume/position insensitive propellant - Titegroup. It's greatest problem - you can easily overload that cavernous case! Be careful with Titegroup. I find this a better way - for me - than switching to shorter cases, like the .45 Schofields and .45 Colt Special, as it doesn't leave a potentially dangerous, with full .45 Colt loads, ring of carbon and lead. You must clean that from your chambers before loading .45 Colt loads - especially hotter loads. YMMV.
As far as woods-stomping... here in the southeast, if a 255gr LSWC at 870+ fps won't stop a thick skinned - or that 250gr Gold Dot at the same velocity stop a thin skinned - predator, you've obviously climbed over a safety fence at the zoo - get out quickly!
Stainz
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Modify? Yes!
While not technically Mountain Guns I have done similar things to my 624, 24-3 and M-60.
The patridge with McGivern gold bead, target hammer and smooth combat trigger on the 44s and the same front sight on the M-60.
While not technically Mountain Guns I have done similar things to my 624, 24-3 and M-60.
The patridge with McGivern gold bead, target hammer and smooth combat trigger on the 44s and the same front sight on the M-60.
PRK 25-5
Member
Stainz
Member
The HiViz front sight really helped my fast-shooting my, in chronological order from 9/03; 6" 66, 5" h-l 686+ (Stock sights!), 625JM, 627 Pro, and 617, the last three all 4"-ers. The 617 has a green tube, the others are orange. I like them both! They were best on the 625JM and 627 Pro, as they were changed without tools in seconds.
This summer, my eyes will be old enough to collect SS benefits (62) - as will the rest of me, I suppose. Gotta try fo sights on one of my 625MGs.
Stainz
This summer, my eyes will be old enough to collect SS benefits (62) - as will the rest of me, I suppose. Gotta try fo sights on one of my 625MGs.
Stainz
aterry33
Member
So if you guys had to choose between a 625LC mountain gun and a 4" 25-5, which whould you choose and why?
Nframe
Member
45 mtn gun. I like the stainless.
I have a 625-6 45 Colt. It is my favorite revolver. I haven't modified it at all though.
I have a 625-6 45 Colt. It is my favorite revolver. I haven't modified it at all though.
stiab
US Veteran
Here's a pic of a 625-6 I acquired from the previous poster (thanks Chris!!), and in my opinion it is just about the perfect modern N frame. The original sights had to go, that black on black was no good for my aging eyes. The WO/RR is the only change I have made, other than grips, and I really like this gun...
Dale53 you said "You can't easily modify them for .45 ACP" I think I'm going to have to disagree with you there, having the cylinder mach for moon clips is super easy and then you can shoot 45lc & 45acp with moon clips. I dont see what you mean by "can't easily modify" mabye you could explain more. These guys make it look easy and when I had Mark from Pinnacle do mine it was easy.
Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing
Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com
Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing
Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com
PRK 25-5
Member
Thanks Stainz : I did replace the front sight blade with one that has a orange insert. It was an immediate improvement, but now the notch in the rear leaf is too narrow for the thickness of the front blade. I will either have to remedy with a file or buy a different rear leaf. I am hoping someone brings out a well made aperture sight as that would allow me to quickly find the target and afford a clear sight picture.
My eyes are already drawing S.S. benefits
dirtygrunt95
Member
For fast aquisition sights you might what to try the XS big dot sight. It's a white outlined tritium dot with a v notch rear sight with a white verticle line. Just make it look like a lolipop and you're good to go. Thats what I had on my mod 25 mtn gun and will probably put it on my 625.
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aterry33
Member
So as far as the moonclip conversion is concerned... First, does it have any negative effect on the revolver?
Also, just to be clear. You can still shoot (and eject) 45 LC after the conversion without putting them in moonclips?
I'm assuming you could shoot 45ACP without the moonclips but they wouldn't eject?
Also, just to be clear. You can still shoot (and eject) 45 LC after the conversion without putting them in moonclips?
I'm assuming you could shoot 45ACP without the moonclips but they wouldn't eject?
"So as far as the moonclip conversion is concerned... First, does it have any negative effect on the revolver?
Also, just to be clear. You can still shoot (and eject) 45 LC after the conversion without putting them in moonclips?
I'm assuming you could shoot 45ACP without the moonclips but they wouldn't eject?"
1) Although I haven't had it done yet, other posters on the Forum have reported nothing negative.
2) Yes, the revolver still shoots .45 Colt cartridges. Only the inner part of the ejector is machined. The rim headspaces on the outer radius of the cylinder.
3) No, you must use the full moonclips with .45 ACP, as the chambers are still full length for .45 Colt. On a revolver chambered in .45 ACP, the cylinder is machined to accept a .45 ACP cartridge and it headspaces on the mouth of the case, just like in the chamber of a 1911 or any other semi-auto.
Also, just to be clear. You can still shoot (and eject) 45 LC after the conversion without putting them in moonclips?
I'm assuming you could shoot 45ACP without the moonclips but they wouldn't eject?"
1) Although I haven't had it done yet, other posters on the Forum have reported nothing negative.
2) Yes, the revolver still shoots .45 Colt cartridges. Only the inner part of the ejector is machined. The rim headspaces on the outer radius of the cylinder.
3) No, you must use the full moonclips with .45 ACP, as the chambers are still full length for .45 Colt. On a revolver chambered in .45 ACP, the cylinder is machined to accept a .45 ACP cartridge and it headspaces on the mouth of the case, just like in the chamber of a 1911 or any other semi-auto.
How 'bout some loads--plinker to big game stopper...
Wow......,Some nice lookin' iron and some great ideas. I wrestled with the idea of the McGivern gold bead and decided to go with the basic black. A few accomplished shooter friends of mine like the McGivern, but said they lost the sight picture sometimes. I can paint the the patridge if I need to. I love the coke bottle grip. But, for a gun to be used for it's intended purpose (packing in AK), I wanted recoil absorption. Hence the X-frame grips. This brings me to the next question in the headline...........What are some of the favorite loads that find their way to your target? A friend and fellow shooter has went up to 385 gr. HC @ 1450FPS(250 rounds!!) and the gun is tight and shoots very well. I'm at 335 HC @ 1150FPS now. The same load makes 1200FPS out of my 4 5/8" 1973 Ruger Blackhawk convertible. My model of the 1989 5" gun is making 1200FPS also. I may bump up just a hair to 1200-1250FPS in the 625-7, check accuracy, and stop there for thumpers. Looking forward to feedback...........
Wow......,Some nice lookin' iron and some great ideas. I wrestled with the idea of the McGivern gold bead and decided to go with the basic black. A few accomplished shooter friends of mine like the McGivern, but said they lost the sight picture sometimes. I can paint the the patridge if I need to. I love the coke bottle grip. But, for a gun to be used for it's intended purpose (packing in AK), I wanted recoil absorption. Hence the X-frame grips. This brings me to the next question in the headline...........What are some of the favorite loads that find their way to your target? A friend and fellow shooter has went up to 385 gr. HC @ 1450FPS(250 rounds!!) and the gun is tight and shoots very well. I'm at 335 HC @ 1150FPS now. The same load makes 1200FPS out of my 4 5/8" 1973 Ruger Blackhawk convertible. My model of the 1989 5" gun is making 1200FPS also. I may bump up just a hair to 1200-1250FPS in the 625-7, check accuracy, and stop there for thumpers. Looking forward to feedback...........
aterry33
Member
Do you run into any problems, in terms of safety or accuracy, firing the shorter 45ACP round out of a longer 45LC chamber? Seems like it would take a little longer for the 45ACP to hit the forcing cone area.
Muley Gil hit it right on the head, I have had no issues with the conversion, I shoot 255 grn loads in 45lc and about 230 in acp and dont have any noticible difference in poa/poi. If you are going from barn burners to plinker you may have to adj the sight, also it depends how far you are going to be shooting. I use the acp for range time and 45lc for when I am out in the field. Be sure if you are going to be switching back and forth between the two you clean the chambers good before you do, just like going from 38spl to 357 and you should have no problems.
