Model 625 JM

[mrsig]

I found a very nice 625 JM .45 APC yesterday that looked like it was NIB. Although it did not have the original box it did have a period box and all other contents. Since you don't see many of these I picked it up at a great price.

Looking for other owners of this gun's opinion, range report, using the moon clips, etc. or any other thoughts. It really is attractive with those wood grips and gold bead site.

 

[kaaskop49]

mrsig: Congrats on your wonderful purchase. The 625JM is a great gun; I adore mine, but detest those grips! I removed them when my hand began to sting after 6 rounds. That's my hand, not the gun. Pach SB Grippers on now, they fit well.

Have fired the gun with W-W generic ball and moon clips. This combo works well. The moons are sturdy and do not tend to bend and jam the gun like the old 1/2 moons did on older ACP revolvers. Have not tried the 625 without the moons; one chamber on my M-22 (1917 repro) was cut a smidge too deeply and would not fire an ACP round. I've fired .45AR rounds headspacing on rim without a problem.

Accuracy? I shoot DA on a half-sheet of typing size paper at various ranges. I have no complaints, the gun shoots MOPP (minute-of-paper-plate). Wish I could have carried this gun when active. Stay safe, partner.

 

[Redlegvzv]

I am a relatively new S&W 625JM owner, and I really like the revolver! Very accurate and friendly to shoot. I was OK with the JM grips but decided to retire them as collector's items and replaced them with Hogue wood finger groove grips, which is what I have on all of my larger revolvers.

I was worried that I would not like using moon clips, but the .45ACP round takes very well to moon clips and the .45 moon clips are easy to moon and de-moon. For metal moon clips I use the moon clip tools shown in the above photo. You can also buy excellent polymer moon clips for the 625JM that work very well and which require no tool at all to moon and de-moon. These are great for casual range use or for that matter anything else. They can be found at Beckham Product Design.

 

[Dale53]

I am a BIG fan of the 625-8 JM Special. I also have the 625-6 with 5" barrel.

These are my most shot revolvers (5000-7500 rounds per year). Many on here have seen me state this before>)).

I have, at one time or another, bought most of the moon clip tools. As the other poster has stated, the two tools that work well are the "Deluxe Moon Clip Tool" which will both "moon" and "demoon" the clips. However, like the other poster, I prefer the "nutdriver" type of demoon tool (mine comes from Brownell's). The hands down best moon and remoon tool is the BMT
Mooner/demooner. The price is, ahem, HIGH! However, if I had seen this one first, total is only about $20.00 higher than the two tools I have suggested (along with the original poster) but it is the slickest method yet. BMT Equipped, Inc.

At any rate, I'll share the picture of my 625-8:

You will note that I have replaced the grips with Pachmayr grippers (my preference of all the grips I have tried - I have rather large hands but the base of my thumb cannot handle any hard grip and the soft grips are mandatory for me). I went to Red Dot sights when I lost most of the vision in my right eye. I now have to shoot (right handed) with my left eye. However, you don't need to feel sorry for me. After two range sessions using my left eye I was "up to speed" and was shooting at my old level with a smile on my face:

Twenty five yards, standing. Admittedly, this is one of my "best ever" targets but I did shoot a 99x100 Friday on a 40 degree day>)). That was on the timed fire target (not the smaller slow fire target). I typically average in the low nineties slowfire with my best a 97x100 last year. Not bad for a "soon to be 78 years of age, huh?">)).

Some of my best targets have been shot with my 625's.

I often use .45 Auto Rim cases (Starline direct) for range use and when using heavy bullet loads (to keep them out of my 1911's) but I have so many .45 ACP cases that I can have a couple thousand loaded ahead so I am ready for the range at the drop of a hat.

My most used bullet is home cast using a Mihec (MP Molds) mold for his version of the H&G #68 (a near perfect copy). This 200 gr SWC is arguably the best bullet for both target loads and IPSC loads. It's reputation for reliable feeding and accuracy is legendary.

These days I mostly shoot light, target loads (4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent - currently using 4.0 grs of Titegroup). These loads shoot extremely well from my revolvers.

The above sounds suspiciously like I am blowing my own horn. However, what I am trying to do is encourage those new owners of a 625 to show what can be done by an "over the hill speciman" >)).
Shoot center!
Dale53

 

[Redlegvzv]

Nice shootin'!!

 

[DRJ]

Congrats on a fine revolver. I just picked up a NIB 625 JM last week. I have not got to shoot it yet but so far I love everything about it. I worked a trade on one of my 1911's and got the 625,a 640 and a 6"nickle Python and I am a happy camper. I am a longtime shooter and have many handguns but this is my first Python and first revolver with moon clips. This 625 may become my favorite S&W. Thanks

Doyle

 

[kennyb]

i have the 625JM model from the performance center...it has the 5.5"barrel and JM grips...shoots like a champ!!i use the demooner available from brownells

 

[kaaskop49]

DRJ: Remind me never to horse-trade with you! A Python and 2 cool Smiths for a 1911? Wow! No wonder there are so few guns in LGS's nationwide. Good going! Kaaskop49

 

[DRJ]

Well you should have seen the 1911. I just have this thing for nice revolvers. It was a OK trade not earth shattering. The 625JM is nib, the Python looks great and the 640 was the nastest gun I have ever bought but cleaned up very well. Thanks

P.S. I love the feel of the JM grips.

Doyle