Old photo found.........

[Bob Wright]

Found an old photo, a 35mm print, of a gun from my past. This is the only stainless gun I've ever owned. Its a Model 625 in .45 ACP. It came with a round butt, I made the walnut grips to correct that fault.

Put just shy of 10,000 rounds through the gun. thought I might find a beat-up 629 and use the barrel for a .45 S&W conversion, but plans fell through.

 

[Bob Wright]

Found an old photo, a 35mm print, of a gun from my past. This is the only stainless gun I've ever owned. Its a Model 625 in .45 ACP. It came with a round butt, I made the walnut grips to correct that fault.

Put just shy of 10,000 rounds through the gun. thought I might find a beat-up 629 and use the barrel for a .45 S&W conversion, but plans fell through.

 

[deanodog]

Nice old picture. The 625 is one I always wanted and never did get. Too old now. BTW good job on the grips.

 

[catdad]

Great gun and beautiful grips, heck of a combination.

 

[boneman]

Nice looking stocks and the gun isn't shabby either. Larry

 

[Silver77]

Question for a non-625 owner, but soon to be.

Do they require moon clips?

 

[45Wheelgun]

Originally posted by Silver77:
Question for a non-625 owner, but soon to be.

Do they require moon clips?

Require? No, you can use 45 Auto Rim, or 45ACP without the moon clips, but then you have to poke the ACP rounds out with a pencil. Moon clips are cool. Fast to load, fast to unload.

Fantastic looking 45Wheelgun Bob. Great job on the grips. I wish I had that talent.

 

[Dale53]

Do they require moon clips?

Yes, if you want to use .45 ACP's in the later 625's.

I have a 625-6 (5") and a 625-8 (4") and both of them REQUIRE moon clips with .45 ACP's.

However, for range use I use RIMZ polymer clips that load and unload EASILY with just the fingers.

For "serious" use I use steel full moon clips and they really require tools to load and unload the clips.

I have lately started using Auto Rim cases (Starline) for general use and convenience. They, of course, operate just like any other revolver rimmed case.

I LOVE my 625's and they are my most shot revolvers. Super accurate and a joy to own and shoot.

S&W has changed the specs on the later 625's regarding chamber design and mine are made to the later specs (requiring moon clips with .45 ACP). This is NOT a problem for me but others may disagree.

Dale53

 

[tom turner]

I bought one about the same time as the one in the original poster's photo (pre-MIM parts and pre-frame mounted firing pin).

Back then it was no problem shooting it for fun without moonclips. I too have heard the newest ones are different and may not headspace correctly, but not with the guns made in the '90s.

I too traded off my tack-driving M625 . . . much to my later regret. That sucker was literally "automatic" at sailing coke cans, six for six shots, at 75 yards (standing/unsupported)! Wonderful gun!!!

T.

 

[Silver77]

I'm looking forward to receiving mine....I've got tons of .45 ACP. Think I'll google for the RIMZ polymer clips.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[Hoot]

Originally posted by Silver77:
Question for a non-625 owner, but soon to be.

Do they require moon clips?

Not if it's in .45 Colt.



Sorry, I just had to say that.

 

[yugolovr]

I like the grips on that fine N frame.

 

[Bob Wright]

And further:

I shot some .45 ACP without using clips, as has been stated. When emptying, I just opened the cylinder, pointed the muzzle up, and punched the ejector rod. Most of the cases fell out, leaving one or two to be pushed out with my home made ejector rod, a short piece of wooden dowel of about 1/4" diameter. Heck, I once dreamed up a spring loaded rod ejector deal that would work like a single action ejector rod, but never built one up. (Think of a retractable ball point pen.)

I had a couple of sizzlin' 185 gr. JHP loads using Accurate powder. These clocked over 1300 fps. The Accurate Arms powder representative took some of these to the lab for pressure testing. While O.K. in the 625, he advised me never to try them in an autoloader. (Why would I even consider that?)

Also, using Winchester 231 powder worked up some of the mose accurate handloads I ever concocted. I had one five shot twenty-five yard group that measured 1.565" extreme spread handheld.

But, I was interested in developing some .45 S&W loads at the time. This before the re-introduction of the .45 S&W for Cowboy Action Shooting.

Bob Wright

 

[GLL]

I have the same older gun !

Sure wish I had your grips to go with it !

OUTSTANDING work!

I also use Auto Rim only ! Why S&W changed the specs on the new cylinders so clips are REQUIRED for ACP is hard to understand !

Jerry

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Nice looking 625. Good job on the grips.
I've shot mine a good bit and it's a great revolver.

 

[Dale53]

I am not so sure that requiring full moon clips with .45 ACP's is necessarily a bad thing. I DO know one thing, my two 625's are MUCH more accurate than my father's Model 1950 target and 1955 target. This was back in the fifties so I only suspect that the cylinder throats were way oversize (a lot of the older Model 25's were).

At any rate, my "new" ones shoot REALLY well without a lot of fiddling around and I'll take modern, correct dimensions on the cylinder throats against the supposed advantages of cylinder throats headspaced to use .45 ACP's without clips. I have no intention nor need to shoot without clips.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Beaver]

Dear Sir: You should be rightfully proud of the job you did on those grips. They are absolutely gorgeous. beaver.

 

[CapNrocks]

I concur! What a splendid specimen. Man, this makes me want to customize my grips now.

Feed the obsession...