GB
Member
A couple of weeks ago, my local dealer called and advised that the 625JM I had wanted came in. Went down to look at it and came away disappointed. The unit was everything I hoped it would be except for the fact that the barrel was canted. The dealer sent the gun in for adjustment and I figured it would be a couple months before I would get to make the deal and own what was/is my current "Grail Gun".
Last week I made a trip back to my home area in SE South Dakota to take care of some business and see some old friends (and I do mean old! One was 90 and the other was 92, and well into the blackness of Alzheimer's. And another who is 80 and who's wife is in early stages of it also.)
Anyway, I got home on Friday afternoon and there was a message on my answering machine (yes I still have a landline and an answering machine) saying that the dealer had received another 625 and it would be there for me to look at. I went down and checked it out and it came home with me. I won't say it is perfect but the only thing I can find wrong with it is that when it was in final assembly stage, the screws were installed with a little to much vigor and every one of them looks like they were installed with a screwdriver that was one size to small and with a little to much torque. Compared to the tweeked barrel, on the last one, this is not big deal. I can always change out the screws and I have the right screwdrivers!
It quit snowing/raining here yesterday and the sun came out to day, so off to the gravel pit with the new unit to do a little test firing. Took the 625 and my only other moon clipped gun, a 610 no dash along with a little ammo for both and a demooner tool.
Target at 25 yds. and the first rounds out of the 625 were old (1980s) Win. 230 gr. ball and then some of my 230gr handloads, which I remembered, after I had loaded 250 of them, were a little on the hot side for my Gold Cup.(Just read the loading label on the box and not my notes from my binder! Reminder to pay closer attention!) I figured that the revolver was the perfect place to use them up. All rounds shot well but the handloads were a little snappy and I was glad that I brought along my shooting gloves. I changed out the factory grips for an old set of goodyears as I knew just from the feel that the factories weren't going to be what I wanted. The overall shooting experience with the new unit was very positive!
I shot my 610 a few times with the first handloads that I have made for it and was pleased with that gun also.
I now own two "Modern" S&W revolvers. A 69 and the new 625JM and am pleased with both. I think that I am about done with the new models as there is nothing in the current lineup that I have any great desire to own. I would make an exception if they were to build a 41 mag. on a gun similar to the 69 but I don't expect that to happen in the near future. There are many new Smiths that are worth owning but most of the models are just modern versions of guns I already own.
Last week I made a trip back to my home area in SE South Dakota to take care of some business and see some old friends (and I do mean old! One was 90 and the other was 92, and well into the blackness of Alzheimer's. And another who is 80 and who's wife is in early stages of it also.)
Anyway, I got home on Friday afternoon and there was a message on my answering machine (yes I still have a landline and an answering machine) saying that the dealer had received another 625 and it would be there for me to look at. I went down and checked it out and it came home with me. I won't say it is perfect but the only thing I can find wrong with it is that when it was in final assembly stage, the screws were installed with a little to much vigor and every one of them looks like they were installed with a screwdriver that was one size to small and with a little to much torque. Compared to the tweeked barrel, on the last one, this is not big deal. I can always change out the screws and I have the right screwdrivers!
It quit snowing/raining here yesterday and the sun came out to day, so off to the gravel pit with the new unit to do a little test firing. Took the 625 and my only other moon clipped gun, a 610 no dash along with a little ammo for both and a demooner tool.
Target at 25 yds. and the first rounds out of the 625 were old (1980s) Win. 230 gr. ball and then some of my 230gr handloads, which I remembered, after I had loaded 250 of them, were a little on the hot side for my Gold Cup.(Just read the loading label on the box and not my notes from my binder! Reminder to pay closer attention!) I figured that the revolver was the perfect place to use them up. All rounds shot well but the handloads were a little snappy and I was glad that I brought along my shooting gloves. I changed out the factory grips for an old set of goodyears as I knew just from the feel that the factories weren't going to be what I wanted. The overall shooting experience with the new unit was very positive!
I shot my 610 a few times with the first handloads that I have made for it and was pleased with that gun also.
I now own two "Modern" S&W revolvers. A 69 and the new 625JM and am pleased with both. I think that I am about done with the new models as there is nothing in the current lineup that I have any great desire to own. I would make an exception if they were to build a 41 mag. on a gun similar to the 69 but I don't expect that to happen in the near future. There are many new Smiths that are worth owning but most of the models are just modern versions of guns I already own.
