Smith Wesson 25-5 N63xxxx range Accuracy question

[S&W45Colt]

I see four inchers going for A LOT more that six inchers on GB.

They do, no question 4 inch guns are worth more and sell for more. I recently shopped for one. A 4 inch gun can be had for $750-800 IF, you are willing to work GB, GA etc daily, search the sales and are willing to give it 30-60 days until you get a deal.

Now, if you want to just buy one, it isn't worth your time to shop that hard etc, $1000 is about right for the buy today price from a LGS or GB vendor. If that's the case, 4" guns don't come along everyday, go buy the one you asked about. It's not a deal, but it's not a bad price either. Give it two years, you'll be able to sell it for a 20% gain.

JMO.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Example, I recently bought a 625 45LC Mountain Gun on for $800. It took awhile to get that deal, the average price was $1000-$1200, but I refused to pay that for it. It took me 2 months to get the deal I wanted.

 

[Yorkie Man]

The jacketed bullets didn't shoot any better than the lead bullets. I used to use the Remington 250 lead bullet and at the time they were cheap, around $4.00 per 100. This bullet had a hollow base and I bought several thousand. When I used those up I ordered another 1000 and Remington had changed them to a flat base bullet. This was when I started seeing keyholes in my groups. I checked on this forum and read about the oversize throats and measured mine. I also called S&W and they told me I had waited too long. I tried using jacketed bullets and they keyholed also, probably because they were .451.

Mike

 

[Retired W4]

I invested in a set of small hole gauges a couple years ago because of all the talk of throat size. They are the inexpensive type (not direct reading) where you measure the hole them mic the gauge. My gun is 25-5, 8 3/8" pinned barrel, nickel finish, SN: N904497. The throats measure .452. It shoots like a rifle with factory JHP ammo, so I'm assuming I have the proper size hole. I might have gotten lucky with the late serial number -5.

 

[Kestrel]

Figured I'd check in with my 25-5 since I was in the neighborhood. S/N N715XXX, dates to 1980.

The cylinder throats measure @ .457" on mine. I wasn't happy with its accuracy with jacketed bullets, but haven't had the chance to do any further testing.

 

[MP1518]

Ok Here is the update

The cylinder chambers are oversized .

He let me shoot it with one of His handloads and it shoot OK. at 25 yards. Barely OK. ( I could not hold 5 inch black off hand but I could hit 8" plates everytime DA).

The seller would take 700 .00 for the gun.

Is it safe to shoot with oversized cylinders?

 

[Laketime]

The 4" is much less common and brings more money. I got this one from a pawn shop dealer set up at a local show within the past 2 years for $550.

That is sharp looking.Nice wood!!!!!!!

 

[MP1518]

FINALLY ! Thanks everyone.

Made a deal on that 25-5 four inch.

After days of going back and forth, it came out to 700.00 total

What I got for it was :
1980 25-5 four inch barrel in at LEAST 95+ condition with hogue rubber grips, never used, minty goncalo alves S&W N frame Combat Grips and a 50rd box of Fiochi ammo.

I have few questions:

If is safe to shoot with factory cowboy loads? Silvertip W-W loads? (My cylinder throats are oversized)

Is getting a 45 ACP cylinder fitted to the gun a big project?

I need a correct owners manual, if someone has one for sale.

THANK YOU.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

There's no danger in shooting any factory ammo or quality handloads with the over-sized throats. Accuracy will be iffy at best, and down right lousy at worst,

With all the current shortages, bullets for handloading, especially in the larger sizes, are very hard to come by. If you can locate any Magtec or Winchester or Remington 250-255 grain swaged lead bullets at a Cabela's or one of the on line sources, they are all larger in diameter and have hollow bases which will slug up (obturate) and seal off the throat which increases accuracy greatly in guns with over sized throats. The Win brand (if you can find any of them) run .456", while the Rem and Magtec run .455". For paper punching, these bullets are all fine and shoot quite well, but if you hunt with your handguns, they are a poor choice.

My 4" 25-5 has correct throats as does my 25-7, but my 25-2 is afflicted with .456" throats, and requires a lot more effort to get it to shoot well.

You would only be able to fit an acp chambered cylinder if you used a 41 or 44 magnum full length non recessed cylinder for the project. Then, the cylinder would have to be reamed and an extractor for a 25-2 located and installed or the one from the doner cylinder would need some machining. In other words, a lot of expense and hassle.

Sorry for the poor picture quality, but these were taken indoors

 

[Dennis The B]

Here's a nickel model, 4" barrel, made in 1980, that I paid $650 for about eighteen months back. I think $1K is on the high side, especially with no case, etc.

 

[zonker5]

You can get an owners manual direct from S&W, they may be on their website as a downloadable file. If not, call customer service and they will send you one.

 

[Doug M.]

It should be safe to shoot with the various types of ammo you have listed; oversized throats will not create pressure problems etc. However, it is likely to be very frustrating to not get the accuracy you want. As already noted above, fitting a 45ACP cylinder has a few issues, but is doable in various ways. So is having the cylinder cut for moonclips, which does not turn my crank, but is an option. It will not un(screw) your oversize throats, so the juice ain;t likely worth the squeeze.

If it were me, I would track down a properly sized cylinder and do the swap (by yourself or with a good gunsmith, depending on your comfort level - my favorite gunsmithing tool is a checkbook). If you have to find a cylinder in another caliber and have it rechambered, feel free. This will allow you the ability to have a wide variety of modern 45LC ammo to shoot, without having the gluteal discomfort and frustration, and will also make it easier to find common sized bullets for handloading.

You aren't me, of course, so ... do what turns your crank among the options.

 

[steelslaver]

If you want to be able to shoot 45ACPs you could find a 41 or 44 mag cylinder as stock 45 ACP cylinders are to short and good 45 LC cylinders impossible to find. Have the cylinder reamed to 45 LC which will take care of your big throats. Then have the extractor and cylinder milled to take full moon clips. Then you would have one cylinder that fired both and you could keep your original cylinder as it is in case you ever sell it to a purist.

I am fixing to do a stainless 44 mag cylinder to a dual 45 and stick it and a 45 barrel I have coming on a 629 frame.

 

[blackdeuce]

Sounds like you got a great deal. You could get some standard target grips for it and sell the combat grips for some $$$. They seem to be pretty pricey. Congrats on the purchase.

 

[Art Doc]

Now that's different. Usually everybody wants to convert their 25-2 to 45 Colt. This guy wants to make his 25-5 into a 45 ACP. Am I the only one not trying to change the caliber on my 25s?

Big Larry- Mine is about 400 after yours.

 

[JSR III]

I need a correct owners manual, if someone has one for sale.

Just as a point of S&W interest, the Model 25-5 is the only model that I am aware of that has its own variation parts list (manual). All of the other models that I have parts lists for are all designated as model 10 or 12 or 13 or 27 etc. regardless of the variation number. The model 25 dash 5 is the only one with a dash model parts list. FWIW

 

[Boxhead]

I bought this one, with over sized throats, for $400 a couple of years ago at a gun show. Not a high condition piece at all, just a shooter that I was looking for. I negotiated the price down a bit due to the throats (as noted a .452" slug is a must to carry around when you are looking for a 45 Colt) then sent it off to S&W for a new cylinder. That cost $200 and it is a shooter that likes the same cast bullets my other do. You want a shooter or collector?

 

[MP1518]

UPDATE!

Finally had time to go fire that 4 inch 25-5 with supposably oversized chambers. Used Fiochi factory ammo. Fired it off the bench SA and standing double action. Very accurate! No flyers. Not like a match 1911 accurate , but at least as accurate as my Colt Commander with Federal ball ammo. What is considered a decent accuracy with 4 inch 25-5 and Fiochi factory ammo? What is considered bad accuracy due to oversized chambers on that model?

 

[Kestrel]

[...] What is considered a decent accuracy with 4 inch 25-5 and Fiochi factory ammo? What is considered bad accuracy due to oversized chambers on that model?

I'm curious as to folks' thoughts on this as well.

 

[Muley Gil]

A S&W revolver should shoot 3" or smaller groups at 25 yards, from a rest. 2 1/2" is good and 2" groups are really good.

Anything smaller, fired consistantly, is a fine shooter.

And if you AND the revover can do this offhand, well, that's great!

Just MHO, of course.