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Just bought a Mod:25-5, still waiting for dealer/friend to send it!
What can I look forward to with this, pros. and cons.
What can I look forward to with this, pros. and cons.
Mod:25-5
- Thread starter GussDavus
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gunblade
Member
Pros: It is a big blue Smith & Wesson .45.
Cons: You don't have it yet.
They are great revolvers. Some earlier models had some issues with oversized chamber throats...if the barrel is not pinned those problems had been corrected by then.
Cons: You don't have it yet.
They are great revolvers. Some earlier models had some issues with oversized chamber throats...if the barrel is not pinned those problems had been corrected by then.
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Beaver
Member
25-5
I had a 25-3 with the short cylinder and big cylinder throats of .456-.45?. I wanted that gun to shoot in the worst way. Maybe I didn't give the gun the chance it needed, but I was horribly disappointed in it's accuracy. I traded it for a model 18, went to my room and cried. Then....
I happened on a 25-5 6" ANIB and all my dreams were met. My gun is alpha/numeric serial #, which forum members assured me had correctly cut throats of .452-453" which drastically help accuracy.
I reload the Keith/Scoville SAA270 cast bullet from Mt. Baldy, which weigh about 285 gr., moderate doses of Unique or PowerPistol from loads printed by Brian Pearce in "Handloader". I shot a 4" group at 50yds with it one day, which is darn good shooting for this ol' boy. I also shot a feral pig with the above load, in another Smith 45 Colt, little piggy feet straight up in the air.
You will have a fine gun. The recoil is managable, and the power is formidable.
If the gun is an alpa/numeric serial #, you will not regret the purchase. I paid $695 for mine about two years ago. If the gun is N______, serial #, try to measure the throats. If they are in the .453 range, I would not hesitate to purchase the gun. I had my gunsmith buddy Stoney put a lower rear sight blade on it. which allows one to sight-in with heavier bullets better. Feel free to PM me for more of my free/questionable story. Good luck.
I had a 25-3 with the short cylinder and big cylinder throats of .456-.45?. I wanted that gun to shoot in the worst way. Maybe I didn't give the gun the chance it needed, but I was horribly disappointed in it's accuracy. I traded it for a model 18, went to my room and cried. Then....
I happened on a 25-5 6" ANIB and all my dreams were met. My gun is alpha/numeric serial #, which forum members assured me had correctly cut throats of .452-453" which drastically help accuracy.
I reload the Keith/Scoville SAA270 cast bullet from Mt. Baldy, which weigh about 285 gr., moderate doses of Unique or PowerPistol from loads printed by Brian Pearce in "Handloader". I shot a 4" group at 50yds with it one day, which is darn good shooting for this ol' boy. I also shot a feral pig with the above load, in another Smith 45 Colt, little piggy feet straight up in the air.
You will have a fine gun. The recoil is managable, and the power is formidable.
If the gun is an alpa/numeric serial #, you will not regret the purchase. I paid $695 for mine about two years ago. If the gun is N______, serial #, try to measure the throats. If they are in the .453 range, I would not hesitate to purchase the gun. I had my gunsmith buddy Stoney put a lower rear sight blade on it. which allows one to sight-in with heavier bullets better. Feel free to PM me for more of my free/questionable story. Good luck.
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if it does have large throats, try remington swaged lead bullets. i have had good luck with them in my guns. you just have to keep the load under 850-875 fps or you will get some leading. my most accurate loads with them are in the 800-825 range.
I've had this one for 3 years, appeared unfired. Didn't get anything with it so I thought "kinda used." Well my son and I put over a hundred rounds through it on Wednesday and now it's definitely broke in. Seemed to like the cowboy loads (750fps) better than the Georgia arms hp's (900 fps). Shoots better than i can aim it. Enjoy. Joe
Desert Rat 416
Member
My "late" N serial number 6" 25-5 (N8222XX pinned) is one of the two most accurate (at medium range) in my little arsenal of Smith's, and one of the most fun to shoot (recoil about like a 38). Congratulations and I hope you enjoy yours as much!
Big Redhead
Member
My 6-inch 25-5 didn't shoot all that well. I'm spoiled by my Ruger 22 and 44 with which I regularly kill cottontails and squirrels. And now that my Ruger 45 has correctly-sized throats, it too shoots straight. I have more testing to do but after I got the 45 Blackhawk back from the 'smith who reamed the throats to .4525, the first 4 shots went in the same hole (5th was 1/2 inch out of the group and a called flyer). That was 22 yards standing unrested.
Jim G
Member
I just bought one last weekend. Seller said it was from 1978. He had done an excellent trigger job done on it. Indexes properly, light single action and smooth double action. Only shot it at 10 yds offhand but at that range grouped within a couple of inches for three different loads. Cowboy action load of 7.5 gr unique 200 gr bullet, stiff load of 26 gr of 296 and 250 gr lead bullet, and Corbon 300 gr loads. Yep, I know the 25-5 should not use these as a regular diet but it shot them all to the same point of impact at 10 yds with no pressure signs apparent. That was why I was trying them to see where they hit up close for last ditch bear defense in Alaska. Follow ups would be tough with this gun but I love it.
Common complaints: 25-5s are notorious for (a) large-ish cylinder exit-bores and (b) shooting high. In many cases I have seen, they could not be corrected with the shortest available rear sight blade. The only solution is to use a lighter bullet at increased velocity and see whether that will cure the problem. If it doesn't, then a taller front sight blade is the only solution. Most of my experience with them is with 4-inch guns - not sure if the longer-barrelled guns have the same POA-POI problem.
OP
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Thanks on the 25-5 feed back
I got a local dealer lined up to receive my 25-5, now just have to get my buddy/dealer in Mi. to send it. I sold/traded my Sharps and took in the Smith+cash while visiting back in Mi. last year.
Had just moved to northern Az. from Alaska in 2011 and am getting settled in. Have 20 acres to shoot on, am building a 300 yard range first thing, plus the adjacent 40 acres friends own plus state land behind. Now just got to get this draw hunting system figured out! Thanks for the info, now I am getting real anxious to get my hands on that 25.....
I got a local dealer lined up to receive my 25-5, now just have to get my buddy/dealer in Mi. to send it. I sold/traded my Sharps and took in the Smith+cash while visiting back in Mi. last year.
Had just moved to northern Az. from Alaska in 2011 and am getting settled in. Have 20 acres to shoot on, am building a 300 yard range first thing, plus the adjacent 40 acres friends own plus state land behind. Now just got to get this draw hunting system figured out! Thanks for the info, now I am getting real anxious to get my hands on that 25.....
Jim G
Member
Guss,
Let us know how it shoots. Need to do some 50 and 100 yd sand bag shooting before I will know how my 6" version really shoots but used it in a plate shoot the other day and got all five single action in 7 seconds with no previous practice, no misses and a high ride holster with a real slow draw. No brown bears that I know of to worry about down there in AZ.
Let us know how it shoots. Need to do some 50 and 100 yd sand bag shooting before I will know how my 6" version really shoots but used it in a plate shoot the other day and got all five single action in 7 seconds with no previous practice, no misses and a high ride holster with a real slow draw. No brown bears that I know of to worry about down there in AZ.
Jim G
Member
Guss,
Shot mine off bags at 25 yds. 1.5"-2" groups with 250 gr bullets. 3" groups with 200 grainers. Not noticing any of the problems noted above re accuracy. Will be interested on how yours shoots.
Jim G
Shot mine off bags at 25 yds. 1.5"-2" groups with 250 gr bullets. 3" groups with 200 grainers. Not noticing any of the problems noted above re accuracy. Will be interested on how yours shoots.
Jim G
Dennis The B
US Veteran
Bought a 4" nickel a few months ago. Made in 1980. Like Jim G., I get 2-3" groups @ 25 yards off a rest with 250gr SWC.
I've only shot mine a couple of times and that was just plinking but I can knock a gallon milk jug around with it, no problem. Man, those things FLY when you hit them with those big slugs. 
