Model 14-3 or Model 25-3

[dog808man]

I have two very different scenarios. On consignment at different LGS, estate sales by family members, the owners had past away. Several guns have sold and these have been available for about a month.

The M14-3 has a Bomar rib and the sales guy pointed out a single marked chamber indicating the gun was possibly used in competition. I enjoy shooting 38 special and the sales guy said if this gun is set up correctly, it should be a good shooter. The finish is about 95%. The price is $499.

There are two 125th anniversary M25-3s. They are unfired, 99% finish, and include the cardboard boxes, papers, etc... From what I read, these are not very popular to collectors and not good shooters. The prices are one at just under $800. and one at just over $800.

I realize it's a personal preference thing on two very different options, so based on your personal preference, would you buy one of these?

 

[Mark6005]

Are you certain those are models you really want or maybe shop a little more and see what catches your eye. Not familiar with the m25 but do have an m14-3 6 inch I'm fond of. Never used for competitive shooting just a 40 year old one owner gun. It's probably nearly 90% and I paid $350 a year ago from private seller.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I have a collection of S&W .38s/.357s but no Model 14. One of my grail guns for years was a M25-5 - they're not quite as rare as hen's teeth but sure hard to find. A 25-3 in .45 Colt would be on my list, too, but not to keep as a safe queen - I'd want to shoot it. Comments about that model as a shooter might be hard to find - ask these folks:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...1-125th-anniversary-model-25-3-questions.html

 

[uberdaddy]

I sold my M14-3 (circa 75) last year for $600....I want it back! I'd buy that M14-3 right now, it won't be there long, and if I find out where you live it will be gone tonight! ;-)..... I've never owned a M25....but $800 seems high to me..

 

[Chukar60]

Anytime I see someone asking if they should buy this Smith or that Smith, my opinion is that you are obviously not interested enough in either model or you would have been asking about fair prices rather than model preferences.
Keep looking until you find something that you are willing to pay too much for. I am not suggesting over paying for anything, just saying that you will know when you find the Smith you want.

 

[dog808man]

Anytime I see someone asking if they should buy this Smith or that Smith, my opinion is that you are obviously not interested enough in either model or you would have been asking about fair prices rather than model preferences.

Thanks guys for your replies.
You are correct Chuk, I'm new to old revolvers. I didn't even know what a M14 or a M25 was until I saw them at the gun shop. I have a M10-10 (for a while) and a M28-2 on the way. Locally, old blue revolvers very rarely come up for sale and the good ones go quickly. These have been around for at least a month, along with a NIB M31-1 that I'm not interested in. I am mainly considering them because they are available and the M14 looks to be a fun shooter. I am not a collector but I may buy something (M25) if it is collectable and the price is right.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

If you are contemplating shooting the 25-3, check the mouths of the cylinder bores for size.

 

[bananaman]

If you are asking which to buy, I think that I would shy away from the 14. It may look & function well, but you can find stock guns (nice) for around $100 less. My 14-3, cost me $410 shipped & insured last August.
A model 25 is harder to come by. I bought a 25-15 in April.
It all boils down to what do you really want! Sometimes it is hard for me to make decisions! (just ask my wife) Bob

 

[Willeys]

If you are looking to shoot a lot then go for the M14-3. It is a great shooting gun. However if you get a kick out of occasionally throwing large lead bullets down range, then the M25-3 in 45 Colt is a good choice. I have both. I often shoot 38 Specials but have only once shoot a 45 Colt.

 

[jph]

I have both, actually a couple of 14s and 4 25s. I am a big fan of the 45 Colt. If you buy hot factory loads, it can be a handful. It is great to shoot for fun with cowboy action shooting ammo. That said, it is expensive to feed even if you handload. You can still find cheaper factory ammo and reloads in 38. Kind of a jump ball here. My recommendation is to buy both.

 

[Doug M.]

The sales guy could easily be blowing smoke up your kilt, but I would buy the M14 first any day of the week. It is less expensive out the door; .38 special ammo is less expensive than .45 Colt (by a lot, whether you handload or not); the 25-3 is a special model that has a cylinder the same length as the 25-2 in .45ACP, which means ammo longer than factory .45 Colt will probably not work, and 45 revolvers of that era were known for oversize cylinder throats that can impact accuracy and take a lot of annoyance to overcome. There is plenty of discussion of the issues with the older 45s, and some about the length issues in the 25-3 (the 25-5 has a longer cylinder, but is likely not suitable for hot loads) from people really know of what they speak, but you will have to do some searches of the forum. I have an M14-3, and it is a heck of a good shooter and a lot of fun. I might have a .45 Colt some day, but it is niche use I do not need to fill.

 

[Tom_R]

If you are looking to get into revolvers, I would pass on both of them, and use your $800 towards a better first revolver.

$800 for a model 14 is crazy, I don't care what it was set up for. Pass on that one, IMHO. A model 25 is a good gun, but 45 COLT is not easy to come by, and it is expensive. If it was a 25-2, that shot 45acp, I'd say do it. But as noted above the sizing on the throats on the 45 caliber guns were not always quite what they should have been sometimes.

You have a model 28 on the way, that is a great revolver. One of the best, and a classic in its own right.

For your $800 I'd suggest looking for a model 19, a Model 66, a 586 or a 686. Those are all .357 magnum guns and you can VERY nice versions of them in 2.5", 4" or 6" and you won't have to spend all $800 to get there. Or save up a little bit more and get a 29 or 629 which is a 44 Magnum, which can also shoot specials.

Before you get anything check these videos from Hickock 45:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL0892FE7A09656B2B&v=GwA2oKk1i-4

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL0892FE7A09656B2B&v=FBPu2qbhiBA

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL0892FE7A09656B2B&v=2sWrLMYygNE

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S-UF6CpThdk[/ame]

 

[steelslaver]

Well, I would buy the 25-3 myself. You already have a 28 coming that will shot 38s like the 14 and 357s as well. Great guns are 28s. I am an N frame fan and my favorite caliber is the 45s. It is true that the -3 has a shorter cylinder than the later 45 colts, but should work with everything but the heavier cast bullets. It is also true it probably has large throats in the cylinder. Most of these large throat guns shot jacket bullets well and if you hand load you can always use larger diameter lead bullets

Another thing you can do with the 25-3 is have a smith cut the rear of the cylinder for full moon clips and shoot 45 acps in it as well as 45 colts. $
45 acps can be bought very resonably in bulk and are easy and inexpensive to reload. 45 colts are a potent round even in factory loads. Warmer hand loads in the 20-25,000 psi range (44 mags use the same frame and run to 36,000psi) are extremely effective on deer sized game and I wouldn't hesitate to take an elk under 100yds with one of mine.

 

[sw282]

l have a 25-3 that l shoot regularly.. lts the most accurate handgun l own. PERIOD! l bought it used off GB maybe 5 years ago and the price was right. No box or trinkets, Just a big ole 45 Colt. lts NOT a magnum and l have no intention of treating it as one. That's why they make 29s and 629s. lt will shoot any wt .452 bullet l put thru it...185 to 255gr are digested with ease..l don't know what size the throats are, but it does 10 times better than a 25-5 l had. That thing threw shotgun size patterns @ 50 yds..l also have a couple K38s..l will take the 25-3 any day

 

[dog808man]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. I'm still waiting for my 28 to get here and I think I'll wait till I put some rounds through it before thinking more about the 14 or 25. The 25 has actually been dropping in price since originally put up for consignment so if it stays up for sale and the price drops more maybe at some point it will be too good of a deal to pass up... who knows? And yeah, since I can put 38s through the M28, probably just as fun as the 14. Thanks for calming me down guys, I'll be more patient.

 

[sw282]

Forget the ''either or'' stuff dogman.

Buy them B O T H

 

[jtcarm]

If you are contemplating shooting the 25-3, check the mouths of the cylinder bores for size.

Yep.

I'm not a .45 Colt fan. S&Ws are known for oversized throats.

 

[Doug M.]

More precisely, S&Ws in .45 (I think both) made before a certain time are known for oversize throats. My recollection is that the issue was addressed at about the same time as pinned barrels went away in those models. A decent search of the forum will find one or two strings in which people who really know the arcana of that issue provide good information.

 

[spad124]

I have a 14-1 and a 25-5. The 14-4 is the most accurate revolver I have. In that way it is a joy to shoot. With the 148gr wadcutter target loads it is almost like shooting a .22LR.

My 25-5, a later version of the 25-3, is fun in a different way. It is not as accurate, but the torque from the round as the bullet engages the rifling makes it fun. If fact, I bought the 25-5 almost 30 years ago after shooting my brother's SAA .45 Colt and still have it. Regardless of whether the throat sizes on the 25-3 is "ovesized", .45 Colt is fun to shoot. A lot of SAAs have the oversized throat problem also. With the 25-5s S&W reduced the charge hole throat size to the modern standard.

Although I have more .38/.357s revolvers than other calibers and shoot many more .38/.357 each year than other rounds, I suggest that if you have the 28-2 coming you might opt for the 25-3. Its just something a little different.

If the throats on the 25-3 are oversized you can use that as justification to make an offer to the estate for less than their asking price.