Model 25-5 questions.

[Stu1205]

I just picked up a Model 25-5 this weekend. It is bright blue
with an 8-3/8" barrel, target hammer and target trigger.
The roll marks on the sides of the barrel, the S&W symbol on the left,
and the printing on the right are all gold inlaid.
The serial number is N6979XX.
According to the SCS&W it was manufactured around 1979 - 1980.
The gun is in 95% plus condition. The down side is that it came with goodyears.

My two questions are:

1. Is there anything special about this gun with the gold inlay?
Did they come that way from S&W?

2. Which target stocks would have come with it?
Non relieved, football, or speed loader cut out?

Thanks in advance for any information you can offer.

Stu

 

[Pizza Bob]

Speculation on my part, but doubtful that the gold-filled letters came that way from the factory. It's a simple matter to take a gold, oil-based, crayon and fill in any rollmarks. Wipe off the excess and there you go. Lots of people opt to do this.

I had an early 25-5 and IIRC it had checkered, football cutout target stocks.

I'm sure that you are already aware, but you may want to check chamber throat diameters to best determine what bullet type to shoot - unless this is going to be a safe-queen.

Congratulations on your new acquisition.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[srsmyth]

My 25-5 N-6577XX came with football cutout target grips which I believe are original. I'm with Pizza Bob on the gold inlay.
Steve

 

[ameridaddy]

I bought my 69xxxx new, and it came with footballs. It has .457 throats. With .452 lead cast, it won't hardly stay on 8.5x11 target at 25 yards. I'm told .454/.455 bullets or jacketed bullets will work better, but I haven't gone there yet. Oddly, my 25-2 of same vintage has .455-.456 throats and is a tack driver with 185 gr jacketed semi wadcutters.
a beautiful gun - enjoy it!

 

[Art Doc]

I never understood why they made the 25-5 with a barrel longer than 4". Not a Magnum caliber so the longer barrels are a waste, IMO.

Somebody put nail polish or model airplane paint in the lettering.

The over sized chamber throats are a (bad thing)* on the 45 caliber Smiths.

* I almost got kicked out again...

 

[Shark Bait]

I just passed on a 4" 25-5 this weekend because the throats were .457 to .460

 

[A10]

I just passed on a 4" 25-5 this weekend because the throats were .457 to .460

Slightly off subject, but couldn't a person take a .357, .41, or .44 cylinder and have it bored to .45 with the proper throat size? Then all you'd have to do is swap the ejector and viola!

Oh, and I concur on the crayon thing.....lotsa folks in the '70s and '80s thought it looked cool. I ALMOST fell into the trap. The stuff is easy to remove though, a toothpick oughta pretty much do it!

 

[pharmer]

This 25-5 is ser# N821XXX. The grips came on it and I have no reason to believe they are not original. The gun had 3 charge holes fired when I got it but no box or accessories (Who buys a new gun, doesn't shoot it but throws away the accessories?). I don't have pin gauges but I have miked a .44 mag cartridge with an OD of .455 and it won't come near passing through. I do know it shoots Georgia Arms "Canned Heat" with a 230gr .45acp HP better than anything else ("cowboy loads" were worst). They stopped making that load last time I checked though. Enjoy. Joe

 

[steelslaver]

Slightly off subject, but couldn't a person take a .357, .41, or .44 cylinder and have it bored to .45 with the proper throat size? Then all you'd have to do is swap the ejector and viola!

Oh, and I concur on the crayon thing.....lotsa folks in the '70s and '80s thought it looked cool. I ALMOST fell into the trap. The stuff is easy to remove though, a toothpick oughta pretty much do it!

Most 357 cylinders are there short. 2 of my S&W 45 colts now sport reamed 44 mag cylinders. Works great

 

[USSR]

I never understood why they made the 25-5 with a barrel longer than 4". Not a Magnum caliber so the longer barrels are a waste, IMO.

Well, then you've never hunted deer with a 25-5 using 265gr SWCHP's at 1100fps. It may not be a magnum in name, but it kills deer with much more gusto than a .357 Magnum.

Don

 

[Art Doc]

I don't hunt. So no, I have never hunted deer with a 25-5. If I did go deer hunting with a handgun, I'd use a 44 Magnum. I suppose a hot loaded 45 Colt (perhaps stressing the thin chamber walls of the S&W) will work, but I suspect the 44 will work better and be safer.

 

[USSR]

SaxonPig,

No stress to the chamber walls of the N frame model 25. The 25-2 is rated for .45 ACP +P ammo (23k psi), and the .45 Colt loads for the 25-5 I am describing fall within that spec. A .45 Colt firing SWC's at 1000+ fps kills all out of proportion to what the energy tables say. You will never recover a bullet from a deer shot by them, as they will have a .45 caliber hole (or greater) clean thru them.

Don

 

[steelslaver]

I agree. The model 25 Colts might not be Rugers but they are still a lot stronger than what factory 45 colts are loaded to.