Model 25 discontinued?

[bucksnort18]

I know its out here somewhere, but, shy did S&W discontinue the model 25, especially the .45 ACP cartridge?

I have the feeling that they're going into a lot of plastic and stainless steel. Just wondering...

 

[GypsmJim]

S&W's web site still shows a model 25 in .45 colt.

 

[StrawHat]

Not only the Model 25-2 (back in the last century) but all the ACP revolvers have been discontinued. Why? Probably low volume of sales.

Will they be back? If I could fathom that…

Kevin

 

[stansdds]

Seems that it is still listed on their website.
Model 25 | Smith & Wesson
S&W may not be producing many of them right now as they have not been hot sellers in quite a while and especially right now when people want firearms more suitable for self-defense.

 

[martyd]

Here in Arizona Single Action & Double Action 45 Colts are in high demand and the constant ads for wanting 45 Colt brass indicates to me that it is shot a lot.

This may be why Smith still lists it on their website, popular caliber.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Seems that it is still listed on their website.
Model 25 | Smith & Wesson

The listing shows it as .45 Colt.

I know the .45 Auto versions of the M25 were pretty popular, but .45 Colt is what I'd prefer, and have. I never much cared for a revolver chambered for a rimless semiauto cartridge.

 

[Bill Lear]

The model 25-15 is still listed in the S&W catalogue. It's part of the "New Classic" models and is probably the best N-frame revolver S&W ever produced!
I love mine! The action is smoother than anything "back in the day" and even DAO pulls are smooth and light. S&W really outdid themselves with the New Classic models.

 

[stansdds]

Considering that the blue models are no longer actually blued, I don't know how attractive they are anymore to buyers.

I could certainly be wrong.

They are still blued, but certainly not the carbonia oil blueing of the 1980 and earlier S&W's nor are they the very dark blue of the 1980-2000 black oxide process. The 2000 to present black oxide process produces a very black finish, unfortunately it is prone to changing to a plum color when exposed to ammonia or ammoniated compounds. The one good thing is that chamber throats are no longer oversized for the more common 0.452" bullets used in today's 45 Colt ammo.

If I wanted a Model 25 for collector purposes, I'd look at an older one. If I wanted one for shooting purposes, the new ones are likely to be easier to get good accuracy with cast lead bullets and not have to have them custom made to an oversized diameter.

 

[bananaman]

I was happy to get my used 25-15 from a good gun show vendor. It was his personal gun. I just like 45 Colt! Have a new Blackhawk 45 Convertible also. Bob Now if I only had a 25-7 or 9??

 

[Model19man]

You are spreading false rumors, at least as far as the "old ones" being less accurate. They are not. I have never measured a throat in my life but the 25 - 5 revolvers are extraordinarily accurate. If they have larger throats it seems to have zero effect on accuracy.

They are still blued, but certainly not the carbonia oil blueing of the 1980 and earlier S&W's nor are they the very dark blue of the 1980-2000 black oxide process. The 2000 to present black oxide process produces a very black finish, unfortunately it is prone to changing to a plum color when exposed to ammonia or ammoniated compounds. The one good thing is that chamber throats are no longer oversized for the more common 0.452" bullets used in today's 45 Colt ammo.

If I wanted a Model 25 for collector purposes, I'd look at an older one. If I wanted one for shooting purposes, the new ones are likely to be easier to get good accuracy with cast lead bullets and not have to have them custom made to an oversized diameter.

 

[rockquarry]

They are still blued, but certainly not the carbonia oil blueing of the 1980 and earlier S&W's nor are they the very dark blue of the 1980-2000 black oxide process. The 2000 to present black oxide process produces a very black finish, unfortunately it is prone to changing to a plum color when exposed to ammonia or ammoniated compounds. The one good thing is that chamber throats are no longer oversized for the more common 0.452" bullets used in today's 45 Colt ammo.

If I wanted a Model 25 for collector purposes, I'd look at an older one. If I wanted one for shooting purposes, the new ones are likely to be easier to get good accuracy with cast lead bullets and not have to have them custom made to an oversized diameter.

The older guns shoot fine, you just have to use the right diameter cast bullet, usually about .456". I don't know about jacketed bullets - maybe a .452" bullet will work with the oversized throats, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to use a jacketed bullet in a .45 Colt gun. They offer no advantage over a properly fit cast bullet.

 

[stansdds]

I see no evidence that what is on these guns is black oxide. Fe3O4 doesn't care how it got there - it has the same chemical stability whether it was from salts, slow rust conversion, whatever. The current "blue" is something else.

You are spreading false rumors, at least as far as the "old ones" being less accurate. They are not. I have never measured a throat in my life but the 25 - 5 revolvers are extraordinarily accurate. If they have larger throats it seems to have zero effect on accuracy.

Maybe y'all are right. I'm just an old coot, what do I know? Maybe it's past time for me to ride off into the sunset and let the young provide all the answers.

 

[DR505]

The older guns shoot fine, you just have to use the right diameter cast bullet, usually about .456". I don't know about jacketed bullets - maybe a .452" bullet will work with the oversized throats, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to use a jacketed bullet in a .45 Colt gun. They offer no advantage over a properly fit cast bullet.

The two 25-9s I have are quite accurate shooters. They have the consistent throats that are normally found in the later production 25-5 and newer. Good revolvers.

 

[jaymoore]

Considering that the blue models are no longer actually blued, I don't know how attractive they are anymore to buyers.

I could certainly be wrong.

My 25-15 has a fantastic bluish black finish. Rather more attractive than some of my older revolvers. It looks like one of my 29-5 Classic Hunter's finishes. (I've bought that .44 revolver twice just because it looks good. Sold it once because it isn't the best shootin' thang on the planet.)

 

[LostintheOzone]

Judging from the number of people who post here who can't fathom the idea of a revolver that uses a pistol cartridge and moon clips, I would guess S&W took that to heart and stopped building those. I have one and like it but at the time I bought it there were no 4'' S&W 44 Specials being built. The 625 requires additional support and isn't the easiest to load for.

The fact that the 625 and 25 (45 ACP) has been discontinued will start those models on their way to being more expensive in the used market. You can count on it. I see it already with the 625.

 

[surfgun]

If one wishes to shoot ACP out of a S&W .45 Colt cylinder, just have it cut for full moon clips.

 

[Model19man]

Maybe y'all are right. I'm just an old coot, what do I know? Maybe it's past time for me to ride off into the sunset and let the young provide all the answers.

Guess I am an old coot too. Retired and on fixed income - bought all my "New" S&W revolvers in the 1980's. When I had extra cash and they were what I wanted. I also wanted a Colt New Frontier - they were always just outside my comfort level as far as price.

 

[jaymoore]

"Attractive" as in desirable to purchase, not attractive as in pretty.

I have read more than a few S&W aficionados very turned off by the new finish's supposed inability to be cleaned with common gun products.

If the internet had been around in the 1970s or '80s, folk would have been in an uproar over the lack of S&W quality control back then, too. I was given a big swag of parts by a former S&W rep. when we were working for Glock in the late '80's. He needed them just to keep the grousing down at the various PDs he visited, trying to drum up sales. It's come in handy for me quite a bit since....

I remember the reaction to the new 29-3s. Couldn't hardly give one away to a "Smith guy". For some reason I liked the new 25-5s and got one as soon as I turned 21. For some reason I still like 'em but shoot more .44 as it does better at long range.

 

[Narragansett]

I have a 25-2 that I have yet to use, and it is probably going to go the way of several of my other guns soon. I remember when I ordered a 45acp M25 in the 80's, it took 2 years to get.

I too imagine they will climb in price if discontinued. I mean what is not to like about the 45 acp?

 

[KurtC]

I know its out here somewhere, but, shy did S&W discontinue the model 25, especially the .45 ACP cartridge?

I have the feeling that they're going into a lot of plastic and stainless steel. Just wondering...

I thought all S&W revolvers were discontinued in 2001?