PC on Model 25

[dddddmorgan]

At a local candy store is a model 25 that I have only looked through the glass at, therefore I don't know exactly what "-dash" it is.

It has an 8 3/8" barrel and the bluing appears flawless and it doesn't look like it's been fired much.

I believe Magna grips are proper for these?

Here is the kicker for me, it's 45 Colt! I love the 45 Colt and I have regretted trading off the previous 25 that I had.

Price is $600 and might be negotiable a bit.

What say you all?

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

An 8 3/8" barrel will be a 25-5.

They are great guns, but you need to be aware of the fact that the pinned barrel guns have the oversized throats. If it isn't pinned and has the three letter four number serial system, try to get them down another $50 for that barrel length. That would be a pretty fair deal in this economy.

 

[dddddmorgan]

Thanks for the head's up. I would hate to get one with oversized throats since there isn't a fix for that.

I will get over there next week, weather permitting and check in more detail.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Take a Hornady .452" jacketed bullet with you, and drop it into the chamber from the read. It should hang up in the throat. If it doesn't, and you are a shooter, I would pass on it.

 

[dddddmorgan]

Great idea! I hadn't thought about that. Will do.

 

[JoeS]

Its not true that there is no fix for that. There may be no cheap fix. I sent my 25-5 back to S&W and had them fit a new cylinder, forget what it cost, this was about a year ago, seems like it was under $200 though. Also had them do their master action job as well.

 

[BUFF]

It's not a big deal, generally, if you are a handloader, especially if you cast your own slugs.

 

[dddddmorgan]

Good points. I have never sent anything back to S&W so I'm surprised that it would be that reasonably priced.

Yes, I do handload and I have dealt with over sized chambers through cast bullets but I would rather not have to deal with it.

 

[epj]

ALL the pinned guns do not have oversized throats. My early 70's 25-2 has throats measuring just under .452. However a lot (maybe most) of the earlier guns have this problem. I had a 25-3 that shot patterns rather than groups. I didn't know about the throat issue back then and promptly got rid of the gun. If I had had this forum in 1978, I would have learned of the issue and sent it back to Smith for correction.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

ALL the pinned guns do not have oversized throats. My early 70's 25-2 has throats measuring just under .452. However a lot (maybe most) of the earlier guns have this problem. I had a 25-3 that shot patterns rather than groups. I didn't know about the throat issue back then and promptly got rid of the gun. If I had had this forum in 1978, I would have learned of the issue and sent it back to Smith for correction.

The OP is talking about a 25-5 in .45 Colt, and all of the pinned versions do have oversized throats in that caliber.

Buff is correct in that a handloader has options, but there aren't near as many as there are for guns with proper throats.