Model 325 Thunder Ranch Revolver thread
- Thread starter Careby
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It's actually shorter to accomodate the tactical rail. It's the same length that is on my 625-10 which I have had zero problems with in 45ACP. Cases do drop free as long as you do your part.
A little of topic but my opinion is that a mag release is there for mag retention. Once I press it, my other hand is ripping the mag out by its bottom plate. Dependence on drop free mags is for lazy americans . . . Even with big hands I have to adjust my grip to press the mag release on most guns. Europeans do one thing right when they place the mag release in the butt.
A little of topic but my opinion is that a mag release is there for mag retention. Once I press it, my other hand is ripping the mag out by its bottom plate. Dependence on drop free mags is for lazy americans . . . Even with big hands I have to adjust my grip to press the mag release on most guns. Europeans do one thing right when they place the mag release in the butt.
boycan
Member
Mine falls freely to the ground as long as I am using the moonclips, I tried some without the moonclip and all I can say is I am glad I had a strong inkpen in my pocket because those had to be removed by force? Weird HUH?
I took my new 325 TR down south to our hunt club along with about a dozen other handguns. After the morning hog hunt my buddy and I spent the warm afternoons shooting at the club range. We had Colts, Rugers, and Smiths. Admittedly most of the guns were custom or worked over by top gun smiths. By far the most accurate was my Keith #5 by Andy Horvath. By far the least accurate was the Performance shop 325 TR. I now wish I had not bought it I will have Andy re-work the action polish the trigger and hammer hopefully improve on its single action pull.I will try some other loads and get rid of the front gold bead I cannot see gold beads. This is my second and definitely my last new Smith. In hind site I should have purchased an old Smith 45 acp and had Andy re-work it cost would have been about the same but not the results. I fell for the barrel contours and the detachable rail of the new Smith.
When you are talking about accuracy please explain a little more. If this gun can't hit the front side of a barn at 25 yards then yes, this would be a huge concern. If this gun can keep all rounds on target then I'm O.K. with that. Having all the rounds go into the X ring is not something I would be too concerned with in a gunfight. what I am concerned about is this:
What is Important
<LI>Does the gun fire every single time I pull the trigger
<LI>Can I place my rounds on target quickly and accurately
<LI>Can I perform quick reloads
There are lots of personal preferences in a gun. From what I have read, the 325 Thunder Ranch wasn't developed or manufactured to be a competion target gun. From what I've seen and heard, this is a serious tool for the modern day gunfighter! I'm buying mine on Monday.
What is Important
<LI>Does the gun fire every single time I pull the trigger
<LI>Can I place my rounds on target quickly and accurately
<LI>Can I perform quick reloads
There are lots of personal preferences in a gun. From what I have read, the 325 Thunder Ranch wasn't developed or manufactured to be a competion target gun. From what I've seen and heard, this is a serious tool for the modern day gunfighter! I'm buying mine on Monday.
As far a personal defense use I would never rely on a gun with a lock, the 325 is also too big for day to day concealed carry my carry guns are a Para carry 9 (very accurate) and an old Smith bodyguard (pocket gun). It would make an interesting nightstand gun with a light and or laser attached but again I personally will not take a chance on the lock.
I purchased the 325 to play around with and I will carry different handguns in the field on hunts in the event I get a close shot at a hog or a snake not as a primary hunting gun.
Off hand we were shooting at a 10" x 12" target with a 3" bull at about 15' the 325 was all over the paper. Same target at 20 yards shooting from a sand bag all over the paper. With a 4" barrel in 45 acp this gun should be capable of grouping shots.
Len
I purchased the 325 to play around with and I will carry different handguns in the field on hunts in the event I get a close shot at a hog or a snake not as a primary hunting gun.
Off hand we were shooting at a 10" x 12" target with a 3" bull at about 15' the 325 was all over the paper. Same target at 20 yards shooting from a sand bag all over the paper. With a 4" barrel in 45 acp this gun should be capable of grouping shots.
Len
boycan
Member
I am a pretty poor shot and at 15ft my 325tr will put all six shots on a head shot. Any thing outside of probably a six inch group on my part isn't the guns fault.
I hope to get mine shooting to its potential. I started with 45 Auto rimmed Starline cases 230 grain Hornady fmj as well as plated lead bullets @ 230 gr. win primer, 5 grains of 231. Any load suggestions ? It seems there is something erratic in its performance I wonder if there is a tension problem with the barrel and shroud? The nut does not seem loose
Len
Len
scott625b
Member
Leonard,
Unless I am mistaken, the single action pull on all my Smiths is quite light. The double action pull on my competition guns has been lightened to about 4.5 to 5 pounds.
To expect your new aluminum gun to behave and shoot exactly the same as your others may disappoint you initially. But, if you can guarantee that your trigger pull and handling of the gun is exactly the same as the others you have, then maybe it is the gun and not the shooter.
Unless I am mistaken, the single action pull on all my Smiths is quite light. The double action pull on my competition guns has been lightened to about 4.5 to 5 pounds.
To expect your new aluminum gun to behave and shoot exactly the same as your others may disappoint you initially. But, if you can guarantee that your trigger pull and handling of the gun is exactly the same as the others you have, then maybe it is the gun and not the shooter.
My single action breaks at 4lbs. As we were testing for accurate loads for several of our 44 specials I had a sandbag setup. It shot poorly off of the bag. The throats are about .451 a couple may be tighter. The barrel nut seem tight. I am going to try a hotter load I am not ready to give up on it YET! I will report the results.
Len
Len
My TR had 2 FTF's this weekend. I was using a EZ moonclips and a mix of factory ammo. Both FTF's happened in the same clip with visible dent in primers that failed to fire. After a second try, the round did fire.
Is this most likely an ammo issue or a firing pin issue or what?
But,I really do love this gun--it is very accurate, nice action, grip fits me perfectly and I would like it to be one of self defense handguns.
The IL is a non-issue for me, but obviously the FTF problem needs to be resolved before I rely on this gun for self defense. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Is this most likely an ammo issue or a firing pin issue or what?
But,I really do love this gun--it is very accurate, nice action, grip fits me perfectly and I would like it to be one of self defense handguns.
The IL is a non-issue for me, but obviously the FTF problem needs to be resolved before I rely on this gun for self defense. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Some people have replaced firing pins resolving a similar issue. BUT if your reloading and your primers are not seated adequately you can cause the same problem IE the primer moved forward on being struck by the firing pin. Primers should be seated about .005 below the surface
I do not use clips but 45 auto rims. I have no idea if the moon clips can cause a problem although I don't see how. Check your main spring tension screw if its been turned out it could result in light strikes.
You can try firing the factory loads if they miss fire you probably have a gun problem light strikes or perhaps a short firing pin.
Or you can measure the depth of the reloaded ammo's primers again they should be approximately .005 below the surface of the case. If you have a good set of calipers the slide that pokes out the end when it is open can be zeroed when it is flush and used to approximate primer depth. If you do not have a means of measuring depth check your loads by hand if they are flush they are not deep enough.
Len
You can try firing the factory loads if they miss fire you probably have a gun problem light strikes or perhaps a short firing pin.
Or you can measure the depth of the reloaded ammo's primers again they should be approximately .005 below the surface of the case. If you have a good set of calipers the slide that pokes out the end when it is open can be zeroed when it is flush and used to approximate primer depth. If you do not have a means of measuring depth check your loads by hand if they are flush they are not deep enough.
Len
Finally got my new 325TR to the range on Saturday. Fired approx. 75 rounds thru it using Winchester target loads. No issues at all using metal TK Customs full moon clips. I love this revolver. It was as accurate as the shooter for sure. It will be my daily carry gun in my tactical bag!
I had same problem with mix of factory ammo and steel moonclips--cylinder & slide and S&W. Sent it back to S&W. Came back and did it again, but not as frequently.
Just installed a C&S extended firing pin and will use federal match primers in my reloads to see if that will up the reliability.
gun is accurate though! I can make the holes touch out to 25 yards--basically as far as I can see and as good as I can hold.
Just installed a C&S extended firing pin and will use federal match primers in my reloads to see if that will up the reliability.
gun is accurate though! I can make the holes touch out to 25 yards--basically as far as I can see and as good as I can hold.
MY MISTAKE
I have been complaining about the erratic accuracy I discovered the problem. While I consider myself a very good hand loader I made a major mistake . I assumed the new brass was correctly sized it came in very good shape so much so all I did was bell out the mouth and reload. I just discovered the cases were not sized down enough to tightly hold the bullet after starting it I could push it down with finger pressure. Bottom line I had uneven case pull on the bullet which accounts for the shots being all over the paper. I tested it off hand with correct loads and it is shooting accurately and consistently.
I still think the finish stinks for an expensive gun and I will have Horvath work over the trigger pull but at least when its all done I know it will shoot.
Len
I have been complaining about the erratic accuracy I discovered the problem. While I consider myself a very good hand loader I made a major mistake . I assumed the new brass was correctly sized it came in very good shape so much so all I did was bell out the mouth and reload. I just discovered the cases were not sized down enough to tightly hold the bullet after starting it I could push it down with finger pressure. Bottom line I had uneven case pull on the bullet which accounts for the shots being all over the paper. I tested it off hand with correct loads and it is shooting accurately and consistently.
I still think the finish stinks for an expensive gun and I will have Horvath work over the trigger pull but at least when its all done I know it will shoot.
Len
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