Model 25-5 questions

[Blueheeler1]

So I bought this 25-5 at an auction, spur of the moment. N6 Serial number, so 1978-80?
6 inch barrel target trigger, hammer sights. I assume the pachmyer grips are not original
Best place to get oem type wood grips? I paid 500.00 with fees, decent price?

 

[StrawHat]

I see some schmutz by the muzzle and in the cylinder. Guessing it to be removable with a good cleaning.

$500, yes a good price.

Kevin

 

[toad67]

Factory stocks are everywhere, you just need to start looking. Lots of us don't particularly care for them, as they run a little large for some, so you might want to try some out before you buy. And yes, $500 is a super good price. Nice score!
Check the classifieds often, they come up for sale regularly.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/accessories-misc-sale-trade/

 

[Pizza Bob]

Terrific price. Not to rain on your parade, but you may want to measure the cylinder throats. Early 25-5's (some use a pinned barrel as an indicator) had oversized throats. I bought one brand new when they first came out. Couldn't figure out why it patterned like a shotgun rather than grouped. Measuring the throats revealed .458" - .460". Hope that yours is OK.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Blueheeler1]

Thanks, throats seem to run .453-54. It does need a good cleaning.

 

[Model19man]

I've had several Model 25-5's all with pinned barrel. All of them were tack drivers. I wish I still had the one with the white outline / green ramp sights. Lost that one in a burglary in the late 1980's.

I think you should turn yourself in to the police. You stole that one!

 

[Goony]

Welcome to the forum. Fantastic price. Like yours, mine came to me wearing aftermarket rubber enclosing its butt (a Hogue Monogrip in my case). You'd need a letter to be sure, but so far as I can tell, many (if not most) of these were shipped with target stocks, which weren't numbered to the gun. This is relevant only if you're intent on restoring it to some semblance of its original configuration. Shown below is the correct style for these in the late 1970's period.

 

[Retired W4]

Thought I would post mine as long as we are talkin 25-5s.

 

[markeb]

You did very well. I have a 4" with the large throats, but I can hit the target on a good day.

 

[Hair Trigger]

So I bought this 25-5 at an auction, spur of the moment. N6 Serial number, so 1978-80?
6 inch barrel target trigger, hammer sights. I assume the pachmyer grips are not original
Best place to get oem type wood grips? I paid 500.00 with fees, decent price?

Great price, even without the factory stocks. Standard stocks were GA targets. I put a set of magna stocks on my M25-5 because they fit my hand a bit better, and recoil of the .45 Colt isn't all that bad.

Depending on how far into the N6 range yours is, probably 1979. My M29-2 shipped July '79, and it is N6628xx. My M25-5 is 1980 and is N8242xx.

1st pic is original stocks, 2nd pic is the magnas:

 

[Blueheeler1]

Thanks, my serial is N6597xx.
Also, I am left handed so wonder how the target stocks would work for me

 

[Pine_Worker]

You pretty much stole it, congrats!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

IN the early 80's, I had 25-5's in 4" and 6"! I didn't reload then but the shot best with a now discontinued Federal 225 grain SWC/HP that was also hollow base. Regardless of the throats you will get your best groups from SOFT LEAD bullets in the 200-230 grain range. (SWC, RN, or RNFP0 in the 700 to 750 fps velocity range.) 6.7 grains of WW231 works great with this range of bullets.

I would buy at least 2 to keep and several to sell in that price range!

Ivan

 

[Hair Trigger]

Thanks, my serial is N6597xx.
Also, I am left handed so wonder how the target stocks would work for me

Handedness shouldn't matter as much as hand size. I wear a size 8 surgical glove or a med/lg work glove, and I find the target-size stocks a handful, unless they have finger reliefs. I keep them on a couple of my magnums because they do absorb a bit of recoil, but I prefer the feel of the smaller magnas, and they give a little more room between my middle finger knuckle and the rear of the trigger guard.

 

[StrawHat]

I find factory target stocks in K or N to be just the opposite of what I think I need in a revolver stock. Where my hand is smallest, my pinky, the stocks are the widest. I modified two sets of target stocks to fit my hand when I was competing in PPC. I just took a rasp and removed what did not fit in my hand. I needed less wood at the bottom of the grip but also needed to thin them quite a bit.

I left the filler behind the guard as support for my finger.

As you can see, I rediscovered what shooters decades ago knew, Magnas or Service stocks with a grip adapter are about perfect.

As for ammunition, I have only one Model 25-5. No idea what the throats measure. I loaded a 255 grain over Unique for about 900 fps. The bullet was cast from 20/1 alloy and that load was used successfully on several Ohio white tailed deer. I prefer bullets with a longer bearing surface as I feel it helps grab the rifling more securely.

Kevin

 

[stansdds]

So I bought this 25-5 at an auction, spur of the moment. N6 Serial number, so 1978-80?
6 inch barrel target trigger, hammer sights. I assume the pachmyer grips are not original
Best place to get oem type wood grips? I paid 500.00 with fees, decent price?

For $500, I think you did great. The rubber stocks are not original. Correct S&W target stocks are no longer cheap, expect to pay $200 or perhaps more for a nice set.

 

[bananaman]

If you want nice stocks for shooting, try Herretts. My 25-15 feels great to me with them. Hot deal you got! Bob

 

[Muley Gil]

# N697079 shipped in May 1980. It is a 4" blue M25-5.

 

[AC Man]

I have a new condition 25 -5 all stock seemingly un fired 8 3/8 barrel. From what I have read and remember all cylinder issues were corrected by the 25-5. I also heard Hickock45 say the same thing FWIW.

 

[Grayfox]

Love me some N-frame .45 Colts.
I have 4" & 6" 25-5s. A 5" 25-7 and a custom 3.25" snubbie.
Generally speaking, the oversize throat problem went away right about the same time as the barrel pin was deleted. However, as with all things S&W, nothing is written in stone. All you can really do is shoot it and see how it does. Many of the oversized guns shoot very well.
If the factory target stocks are too big for you, I'll second the recommendation for Herrett's Shooting Stars. Excellent stocks.

BTW: you stole that gun! Congratulations!