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.
 
Last edited:
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)
 
Last edited:
The mother of all necro-post threads. :eek:

I don't reload. Threads like this always remind me that I'm making a good decision

1. Another reminder it's okay a few times a year to pay $420 for 1,000 rounds of factory American Eagle .38 Special and $260 for the same factory's output in 9mm.

2. Another reminder that these threads always ALWAYS eventually migrate to vociferously attacking the actions of the OP; and although no one posting but the OP was there, the OP's alleged error(s) will eventually and inevitably be stated as certain fact with numerous 'likes' adjoining. Does that just give some folks a sense of peace and order in the uncertainty?

3. The mother of all zombie threads indeed!
 
Last edited:
Jump up and down and tout the Dillion's design ( which is good I agree) but after forty plus years of reloading I can say every catastrophic failure I have seen including another shooters saa opening up about two feet from my head while I was running a timer at a cowboy match have one thing in common- they were loaded on a progressive press.
I am in the dark ages with a single stage press but it allows me to examine every case before putting a bullet in. Slow yes, but I manage to reload around 10-12k a year this way.
 
Jump up and down and tout the Dillion's design ( which is good I agree) but after forty plus years of reloading I can say every catastrophic failure I have seen including another shooters saa opening up about two feet from my head while I was running a timer at a cowboy match have one thing in common- they were loaded on a progressive press.
I am in the dark ages with a single stage press but it allows me to examine every case before putting a bullet in. Slow yes, but I manage to reload around 10-12k a year this way.

Same observation here, always a progressive involved.
 
Back
Top