Smith & Wesson Revolver Question

[dgalletti]

Hello I'm new to the S&W forum, and looking to purchase my first revolver.

I currrently have a Ruger 22 & 9 .

Looking for guidence on purchasing either::

Model 625 JM (45ACP) or Model 686 SSR (357 Mag)...

Price break is about the same...yes I know the ammo is much more expensive for the 45 ACP..

Just looking at the Pistol aspect only.

Thank you,
dgalletti

 

[Pizza Bob]

Standard answer is to buy them both. Both are great revolvers to try your hand at IDPA. The 625 will get you educated about pistol calibers in revolvers and the use of moon clips (if you decide to go that way, PM me and I'll send along an essay that will save you some time and effort).

The SSR was conceived as an IDPA revolver for that division. They could have just made it a .38 Spl, but they would have been depriving themselves a large customer base that wants the duality of .357/.38.

Both are great guns. A .45 in an N-frame is just the ultimate for me - YMMV. If I were facing this decision it would be the .45 ACP, but in the PC version, rather than the JM. Search the forum to discover the differences - the PC is a little more spendy, but worth it.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[jack the toad]

Welcome.
Either gun would be a good choice. As to which one, that'd be your call as both are fine revolvers. I guess it might help to decide if you had any specifics in mind. I haven't checked lately but is .45 ACP ammo that much more than .357 mag?

 

[Jingles]

If I were only going to buy one it would be the 686. Both are fine guns but you get the option of shooting.38 special with the 686. .45 and .357 gets pretty hard on the hand and wallet if you shoot a lot. .38 special you can shoot all day long.

 

[steelslaver]

I don't think 45 acp is more expensive than 357. You can buy 45acp in bulk for some pretty decent prices. At or near the same prices as 38 special. But, then there is an ammo plant right down the road from my brother's place so maybe I am spoiled.

I am also a big bore fan and would go with the 625 myself.

 

[dgalletti]

Thank you everyone on your quick responses...the only thing Im toying about is the moon clips...not sure if I want to slow my process down at the range. I hear its a pain to load and unload.

 

[robert1804]

Both are fine revolvers. Sounds like you may not reload, in that case I suggest the 686. Even if ammo cost is not an issue, a 38/357 revolver has lots more choice in ammo, from light target .38's to full .357 mags. Factory .45 ammo tends to have a fairly common "kick" to it since the automatics it's made for have a small pressure and velocity window needed to cycle an automatic.The 625 JM will need a bunch of moon clips and a moon/de-moon tool unless you reload and can use .45 AR (rimmed) brass. The 625JM is more a reloaders gun.

 

[twodog max]

I have the 686SSR and it is my favorite 357 and I have several. I am not interested in competition shooting so mine is for everyday carry and for that use it is a great fit for my purposes. Since I reload factory ammo costs are a mystery to me.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Thank you everyone on your quick responses...the only thing Im toying about is the moon clips...not sure if I want to slow my process down at the range. I hear its a pain to load and unload.

There are several quality moonclip tools that make the process easy. You may want to buy extra clips so that you go to the range with that sessions ammo pre-loaded into clips.

 

[Inusuit]

As others have suggested, if you pick the .45 ACP, get a moon clip tool. Makes is easy and you won't bend the clips putting in or taking out. .45 ACP is cheaper than .357 where I shop.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Hands down -- Get the 357 , it's versatile will shoot 38spl also and it 's not so big and heavy like the 625. you won't regret it . The cost of 38spl is much cheaper than 45acp . The 357 is a real fine proven cartridge .

 

[steelslaver]

Don't sweat the moonclip deal at the range. I have over 50 of them as they are not that expensive. Load them up at the house and take loaded clips to the range. Brass oick up is simple, you get all six pieces in one bend over and grab. Loading the clips isn't hard. I kind of roll the brass in on a piece of hardwood or the like. Pop them out with a tool I made, but a little time with a piece of pipe, tubing, golf club handle and a grinder and you have a handy dandy.

 

[cjwils]

Just so you know, with the 625 in 45 ACP, moon clips are good, but you don't totally need them. You can push (with a pencil or some such) or pull (with your fingernails perhaps) the empty 45 ACP cases out of the cyinder.

 

[H Richard]

The principal question again is; "what do you plan to do with it?". If just primarily informal paper punching and a SD gun for the house, either one would do well, but the versatility and cost of the ammo for the 686 would probably a better choice. If you plan to get into participation in competition, the 645 might be the better item. Put some thought into what you will be doing with it before spending a lot of money.

 

[Neumann]

The 686SSR is a Pro line revolver, set up for service pistol competition - 6 rounds, 4" barrel. I've handled several, and the triggers have all been very smooth and light (< 13 # DA). .357 Magnum is by far the most flexible caliber in a revolver.

The comparable 625 would be the PC, not the JM. The JM has a standard action (not Pro or PC), and a serrated trigger. The trigger will chew up your finger inside of 50 rounds. The full length lug lends a nice amount of forward weight, but I prefer the tapered lug of the PC version.

Another option is the 325 Thunder Ranch, which is a PC graduate with a scandium frame and two-piece barrel. At 31 oz, it is a nice woods carry weight, and only a little snappy with .45 ACP.

The slow velocity and consistent ignition properties of .45 ACP make every round a target round, with an excellent reputation for accuracy. It's not a bad carry piece either.

I looked long and hard between the JM, PC and Thunder Ranch, but decided on the PC. It arrives tomorrow. I have other PC revolvers, so it's not exactly a pig in a poke choice.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

To each their own, but I would pick the 686.

 

[Neumann]

To each their own, but I would pick the 686.

So would I, for the first revolver anyway. I kind of skipped over that evaluation.

I like the 686 SSR, and there's not much you could do to improve a Pro or PC trigger. It runs about 9.5# DA and 3.5# SA. The SSR is designed for service pistol competition. It is also a very fine revolver for general use. I might have an SSR, but prefer a +7 round 686, and presently own a 4" and 3" model (for carry). I have a 625 Pro, which is an SSR on steroids - N-frame, 4", 8 rounds, tapered lug.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Price break is about the same...yes I know the ammo is much more expensive for the 45 ACP

Them days are gone .45 A.C.P. is cheaper than you think and you don't even have to buy reloads.
To your question, I've never cared for the .357 even if it is a very versatile round because you can do carbines and .38 special.

At the same time having now own a revolver that's capable of shooting the A.C.P., had it been the only caliber round I could shoot out of it I would have never bought it.

The only advantage moon-clips have is quicker reloads, that's all. And I hope you understand you can not just put rounds into that gun. You have to use moon-clips.

We had a guy on here a couple of weeks ago who ruin his performance center 9mm revolver because he didn't understand that.

So, to answer your question if you can get by using those stupid moon-clips you'll have a blast shooting .45 A.C.P. out of that 40 + oz. tank.

 

[steamloco76]

I am the proud owner of a 625-8 in .45 ACP along with two other .45 ACP revolvers. They are great fun at the range and very accurate with standard 230 grain ball ammo. They also make a good protection piece with JHP ammo. For range use, I use the RIMZ brand polymer moon clips. They are super easy to load and fairly inexpensive. They are my choice for any use except self defense or competition where good steel clips are more secure.
Even without the moon clips, the 625 is easy to unload with either a flick of a fingernail or a push with a pencil.

 

[dgludwig]

QUOTE: "... And I hope you understand you can not just put rounds into that gun. You have to use moon-clips..."

As others have said, you don't have to use moon-clips; you can just poke spent cartridges out with a pencil. Or you can use .45 ACP AutoRim cases.