S&W 625-JM Catastrophic Failure/Accident

On firearm forums I feel like I'm in the minority; I don't have the interest or time to reload.

Threads like this solidify my desire to not pick it up.
 
The OP's last time on the forum was 7/31/2012. Obviously you can discuss anything you want, just realize you prob will not get an answer from OP.
 
I have a Hornady LnL sitting in the basement, awaiting the day when I assemble a proper reloading bench to use it on.

I suppose I should print a few KB photos, like the ones in the OP, and post them on the wall at my future reloading station to keep myself attentive.
 
Here's a commercial loading machine:

Reloading_is_simple.gif


The fifth station is the powder charging station.

The sixth station is a powder level check.

I've been handloading for 26 years now. I don't always visually inspect the case after the powder charge is dropped, and neither my Dillon 450 nor my Square-Deal B has a powder check station. The possibility is ALWAYS there that the powder charge may not be exactly what I want it to be unless I throw each charge by hand into the case, it's just a fact of life.

Beautiful gun. Sorry its gone.
 
In order to be a double charge, I would have had to have a round in the mix that didn't get any powder per the way the dillon press works -

I have four 550's and if you pull the handle twice without indexing the shell plate to get a double charge, lose the good primer in station 1 , re-size and re-prime it. You CAN double charge and not have a squib.
 
Going for worst first post ever here (lol since it's an old thread), but I've been researching S&W 625's for my first revolver purchase, and of course I am searching for the "good" and "bad" about them.

I'm looking more at the Performance Center model and Model of 1989 than the JM, but I would assume they're likely at similar risk levels for this. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

1. After reading through this thread, it seems most agree that this was a user error - not a problem with the 625's design/materials, etc. Sound correct?

2. Shooting factory .45 acp rounds, the risk of this happening is pretty small? Like 0.00001% ... or just as risky as driving home from work, etc.

I understand that these questions just may be impossible to answer, because it's such a rare concurrence and internet being what it is and all. Just looking for a warm and fuzzy that this revolver is safe and of good quality, and not well known to have some fatal flaw.

Thanks! Great forum, I'm learning a lot.
 
Going for worst first post ever here (lol since it's an old thread), but I've been researching S&W 625's for my first revolver purchase, and of course I am searching for the "good" and "bad" about them.

I'm looking more at the Performance Center model and Model of 1989 than the JM, but I would assume they're likely at similar risk levels for this. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

1. After reading through this thread, it seems most agree that this was a user error - not a problem with the 625's design/materials, etc. Sound correct?

2. Shooting factory .45 acp rounds, the risk of this happening is pretty small? Like 0.00001% ... or just as risky as driving home from work, etc.

I understand that these questions just may be impossible to answer, because it's such a rare concurrence and internet being what it is and all. Just looking for a warm and fuzzy that this revolver is safe and of good quality, and not well known to have some fatal flaw.

Thanks! Great forum, I'm learning a lot.


The gun is very good quality. it is reloader or ammo error, not the gun.I would buy one if I ran across it.

John
 
It's ammo, and not factory ammo. I have a good friend, a very knowledgeable and careful person, who has a Ruger Super Blackhawk, a very strong gun, displayed in a gun shop. Looks about like the S&W. He turned two pages when he thought he was turning one, and used a load recommended for a larger cartridge.

The photo in this thread is not about the gun.
 
Afternoon mmhoium;

That looks too damaging to be from bullet setback (but possible I guess), It's too late to check now but maybe you had a cylinder fire out of battery due to no lock up or missed lock up.

No chance you somehow dropped a double bullet?
 
As has been discussed ad nauseam, that's the result of an overcharge.

99% of the time a gun blows up "reloads" are always the subject but rarely the fault...at least according to the reloader.
 
Maybe use a cylinder from the .500.
The cylinder is in fact proofed to 71,000 psi. While testing cylinder metallurgy in development, the S&W engineers actually tried deliberately to blow one up (wondering whether the alloy would shatter or would split) using special 90,000-psi loads. The chambers bulged slightly but did not give.
 
Non cantaleur bullets tend to back out under recoil

I have several revolvers that shoot automatic ammunition. I also reload. As you know, the recoil from a revolver can back the bullets out of their shells. That's why revolver bullets have a cantaleur( a groove ) on the bullet. The mouth of the casings are then roll crimped into this groove to prevent this. Auto ammo
lacks this. Auto ammo only has a crush crimp an a smooth bullet. In the JM 625 owners manual it has a paragraph that tells you to fire 5 chambers and check the sixth for bullet backout..If you see this , you
Should stop using that ammo. By your discription , I believe this is the probable cause.
 
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Hahahaha...what a great thread for the Halloween season! For those keeping track, this ancient thread has been risen from the dead not once, not twice, but THREE times!!! :D

The mother of all necro-post threads. :eek:


(Edited to add: I don't reload. Threads like this always remind me that I'm making a good decision)
 
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