Is there no love for the 625 45acp?

[DR505]

I like 625's. I use my 3" 625-3 for my LEOSA qualifications and my 625-6 5" for fun.

 

[Bill Lear]

I never see any discussion about the 625 45 acp. It's always the 625 LC or a model 25. Both are great guns but those of us that have a 625 chambered in 45 acp need to express our love for this gun.

This is my second 625-2 and is the one I'm keeping. Like many foolish thing that I've done in my younger days I parted with my 4" 625-2 that I used in USPSA for several years and later regretted it. At least in my area you rarely see a 625 or for that mater any revolver in 45 acp so acquiring another took twenty years but it was worth it.

When I was young and shooting USPSA a good friend shot mostly revolvers and his 5" 625 45acp was his primary choice. Actually the only thing that might tempt me to trade is a 5" 625 45 acp.

Do you love your 625 in 45 acp?

I still have the original grips but like the cushioned blackstrap. It's much easier on arthritic hands a wrists.

There is always a certain bias toward the "Long Colt" over the "ACP" in revolvers. Everyone "knows" the ACP is an efficient revolver round that can make use of moon clips and such, but there is something in the mind of the "big bore purist" that favors the full-size Colt capacity as a mark of legitimate power.

Fact is, ANY and ALL revolvers that can accept moon clipped, or half-moon clipped ammo is "superior to lone cartridges from a combat standpoint. A "hot" ACP load can easily exceed 500 foot-pounds of energy which is a pretty solid smack from a near half-inch slug, and quite on par with anything from a non-magnum .45 Colt load.

 

[DR505]

There is always a certain bias toward the "Long Colt" over the "ACP" in revolvers. Everyone "knows" the ACP is an efficient revolver round that can make use of moon clips and such, but there is something in the mind of the "big bore purist" that favors the full-size Colt capacity as a mark of legitimate power.

Fact is, ANY and ALL revolvers that can accept moon clipped, or half-moon clipped ammo is "superior to lone cartridges from a combat standpoint. A "hot" ACP load can easily exceed 500 foot-pounds of energy which is a pretty solid smack from a near half-inch slug, and quite on par with anything from a non-magnum .45 Colt load.

That all depends on what firearm the .45 Colt is being fired from. One can hotrod a .45 Colt to a far greater degree than one can a .45 ACP with very large projectiles. In a S&W N frame it is often recommended to keep pressure significantly lower, in the 23,000 psi range or below to keep the revolver in good repair. This is .45 ACP +p territory.

Put a .45 Colt in a firearm designed to handle it, and you can safely run the pressure past 30,000 psi, according to various tested load data. If you wish to run a .45 ACP that hot it would likely be advisable to switch to .460 Rowland brass.

I am not a fan of pushing either cartridge that hard. If I need more horsepower I can grab a .454 or .460.

 

[Bhfromme]

The REAL question of the day is, are these rounds loaded in a moon clip or not????

Randy

No need for moonies with the 625s. Super good shooters with or without moon clips!

 

[tejano]

Mine is a 625-2 and does not require moonclips with 45 acp cases, but I have read that this is not the case with some or all of the 625-8 versions.

 

[rockquarry]

Just my experience with a 3" 625... mine will fire ACP semi-reliably about 85% - 90% of the time without clips. Accuracy deteriorates at least slightly without clips. Then you have to pick the empties out rather than eject them. I never found any of this appealing so I use Auto Rim brass, but clipped ACP works fine, too, if you like it that way.

I may have tried unclipped ACP brass in my 5" gun but don't recall the results if I did. I would guess they would be similar to the 3" revolver.

 

[YkcorCal]

My only question is WHY is the Model 625 not a standard catalog offering from 2.58" to 5" and in Performance Center???

 

[AJ]

My only question is WHY is the Model 625 not a standard catalog offering from 2.58" to 5" and in Performance Center???

A good a question as any!

 

[KurtC]

The 625 was offered in every possible configuration back in the 90's, starting with the -3.

I qualified with and carried them in 3," 4" and 5." The 4" models were always my favorite.

The "lock" killed revolver interest for a good number of years. By the time folks started accepting the lock, interest in moon clipped revolvers had waned.

 

[tjpopkin]

Mine is accurate beyond description....I have shot Bullseye matches for 50 years and the 625 is as accurate as my 945 or any other Bullseye semi auto I have owned...I love both....

 

[sodacan]

The .45 ACP round and revolvers are a match made in heaven. You can't beat moon clips for fast reloads and not having to chase brass.

Especially when you use one of these.

 

[bananaman]

Wish I had an older 1, but I don't. Do like shooting my 625 JM. Of course like any 45 revolver! Bob

 

[Kentucky Dave]

Never had the 625, but seriously kick myself for ever getting rid of this one - Model of 1955 .45ACP

 

[tejano]

Kentucky, I did the same thing more than a decade ago. Sure wish I hadn't traded it and several others, including a Jovino cut model 25.

 

[murf205]

Do I ever love my 625-3? You bet I do. If you stuff one of these in something, it's gonna leave a lasting impression!

 

[sodacan]

Two of the predecessors to the 625. Models of 1950 (pre-26) and 1955 (pre-25). Along with the 625-2, they are joined by 1917's from S&W and Colt. 45acp revolvers are my absolute favorite shooters.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Went to the range today and shot 15 full clips of ammo. I had some 185 SWC and 200 SWC loaded up. Point of aim is a bit lower than the 230 gr I was sighted in on but at 15 yds in arthritic old hands I was happy. Now I'm going to standardize on 200 SWC so it's time to raise the sight a touch.

 

[eTripper]

My 625 has always been a favorite, and the perfect augment to my Kimber Gold Match. I'm a big-fan of all revolvers chambered in autopistol calibers.

The 610's, also rock!

 

[Beemerguy53]

About 25 years ago, I bought a 625 in .45ACP, and when I shot it I realized I would never part with it.

I delivered it to Roy Fishpaw, who fashioned a beautiful set of combat grips for it in French Walnut, which it wears to this day...

 

[Rubone]

The REAL question of the day is, are these rounds loaded in a moon clip or not????

Randy

And the correct answer is yes to both. You can fire them without the moon clips but extraction isn't simple.