Smiths in 45 Colt Ctg The Ultimate 25 and 625 discussion.Edited June 2014

Here's a couple of my favorite .45 LC... The best of the breed in my humble opinion... Shoots much better than I am capable.

Here's my 25-9

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Forgot to add one of my favorites... Insert "robin's eggs here!"

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I have fallen for the 45LC round, after acquiring a Governor. I can't say I enjoy the Governor that much, have enjoyed a couple of Ruger single actions I picked up, have not enjoyed Ruger double actions I looked at, and finally, today, I purchased (on-line) a new Model 25 Classic, 6.5", sight unseen, have never even held one. Am I going to be pleased when it arrives? or should I have searched for an older one?
 
I have fallen for the 45LC round, after acquiring a Governor. I can't say I enjoy the Governor that much, have enjoyed a couple of Ruger single actions I picked up, have not enjoyed Ruger double actions I looked at, and finally, today, I purchased (on-line) a new Model 25 Classic, 6.5", sight unseen, have never even held one. Am I going to be pleased when it arrives? or should I have searched for an older one?

The Classic is a good step into the world of S&W 45 Cal revolvers.

You can send the 45 Colt cylinder out to have it machined for moon clips so it can also shoot 45ACP.
Cylinder Work - Pinnacle High PerformancePinnacle High Performance

I have a 6 1/2" 5 screw 45Cal Model of 1955 and a 4" 25-5.

A 4" barrel for me is easier to shoot.

I'd like to find a 25-7 as my next acquisition or/and a 625 Mountain Gun in 45ACP.
 
I have fallen for the 45LC round, after acquiring a Governor. I can't say I enjoy the Governor that much, have enjoyed a couple of Ruger single actions I picked up, have not enjoyed Ruger double actions I looked at, and finally, today, I purchased (on-line) a new Model 25 Classic, 6.5", sight unseen, have never even held one. Am I going to be pleased when it arrives? or should I have searched for an older one?

I bought one of these from Bud's 6 months ago. The thin, tapered barrel is very light so the gun balances well, not at all muzzle heavy. The action on mine is smooth, with good staging. SA pull is very light and crisp. The blueing is not quite as deep and shiny as the older guns but still looks good. Mine did have a slight barrel constriction where it threads through the frame, a common thing on large bore revolvers that causes leading just past the threads. I got a fire lapping kit from Brownells and followed the directions It only took one series of shots with the three abrasives to remove the constriction. It now shoots lead bullets without leading problems. It's the easiest to shoot N frame I have.
 
I need a LOT more money.

S&W 25-5 & 625-6 Mountain Gun 621.jpg

In 1979 I wanted a pair of 29s for some overseas assignments. Thanks to Dirty Harry and greedy S&W distributors they were available only at ridiculously inflated prices.

I had not considered the .45 Colt. Old, 19th Century CE you know.

A colleague disabused me of my ignorance and I bought a pair of 25-5s, six-inch barrels. I was perfectly happy with the combat accuracy and never saw a reason to cut cloverleafs with them, so I couldn't tell you if they could.

Years later, after I heard about this controversy I tested mine. A 452 bullet will drop through all chambers of both guns, slowing in some. A 454 bullet will not drop through.

These were the first large caliber revolvers I owned, and I hated the grips. I was given a couple after-market ones that served me very well. As others have said, the .45 Colt does not have the recoil of the .44 Magnum, but exhibited substantial penetration and hit very hard. John Taffin later explained why, and I have had greater respect for the caliber ever since.

The only downside at the end of the '70s, early '80s, was the lack of really good ammo. I carried exclusively the handloads a colleague made for me. I don't have any more so I can't give performance data. I just remember they would pierce a car door and other sheet metal when a .45ACP would not.

In '97 I saw my first 625-6 Mountain Gun and had to have it. It has been one of my day-hike and backpacking trailguns ever since. As with the 25-5s, I hated the grips. About that time Jerry Miculek was offering his custom grips so I ordered a set. The fit was terrible, the oversize backs that extended past the grip frame cut my hands. The four-inch barrel made it a decidedly different gun.

I wound up sending the gun to Clark, who emailed me to say Jerry personally selected the grips that were fitted to the gun! One of my FAVORITE stories!

I haven't bothered to try the bullet drop test because it is as accurate as I can shoot if off-hand.

I shoot exclusively handloads, except when I use one for a CCW gun. Modern commercial ammo is, in my opinion, better than I can make. For all other uses I load 200- or 260-grain bullets to exit the 6" barrel at about 800fps or so. I just don't need more.

I am long retired from any task where I might use them in employment, and have been toying with putting a "special" barrel on one to make a blue Mountain Gun look-alike. Seeing the custom guns posted here, I'm even more tempted.

Bluntly, they are not my favorite carry guns. Among revolvers, too many others serve me better. I day-hike with the 625 only when the others I might carry instead, have been appropriated by my hiking companions. I keep the -5s out of nostalgia. They don't get to the range often, but if I'm taking one of my Colt SAA's, one of them will go along.
 
Taking a Bath in Kerosene

After having this Pre 25 Model of 1955 5 screw revolver for a few weeks and having shot it twice I decided to give it a thorough cleaning.

I purchased a gallon of K-1 Kerosene and a plastic tub to use for soaking the gun clean of dried up grease and oil that may have been still from the original factory lubrication.

I took off the grips and stripped it down except for the rear sight,trigger group hand and the cylinder.I couldn't find my cylinder tool so I left the ejector rod on rather than possibly marring it up.

After the kerosene bath for 5 days I scrubbed out the cylinder holes and bore with a 50 cal brush and reassembled starting with the last parts removed.Each piece got wiped down and oiled before putting it back in the gun.

I last did this in 1983 on my NYPD Model 10-6 so it was just like riding a bike.

All back together and working better than before the bath.
 

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Am I seeing things or are there two revolvers in these pictures?
Steve
 
The first picture is of a pistol with full underlug all the others don't have this feature?
Steve
 
Am I seeing things or are there two revolvers in these pictures?
Steve

No flash,pictures taken in natural sunlight on the patio.

Natural light is best for cleaning a gun.

Are you referring to my photos?

If mine,they're all of the same gun

#1- Revolver is disassembled and bathing in a few inches of kerosene
#2-Parts are all out of the kerosene laying on an old t-shirt
#3-Frame without moving parts
#4-Reassembled Pre 25 5 screw 45 Cal Model Of 1955
 
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I recently inherited a S&W 45 Colt CTG and was hoping you guys might be able to assist with some background?

It is labeled AYM6*** and MOD 25 5

It has a 4" Barrel with the standard S&W on one side and "45 Colt CTG" on the other side.

Thats about all I know about it so any information at all would be greatly appreciated.

Apparently I can't get the photo to work but here is a link:
20170122_095746.jpg - Google Drive
Thank you in advance!
 
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15-5, SS#N677xxx

Wsa making my regular wknd visit to the local pawn shop lokking for a S&W 357 in a snub nose. Promised this would be the only revolver I buy this year. Now the 357 will be only 357 I buy this year. I haven't gotten a chance to shoot the 25-5 45Colt but I will.
 

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I am sure I have shared these on the forum elsewhere but I will join in here with my two 25-5s. I am embarrassed to say I have never shot them. Nor have I measured the throats for size. I should shoot them but just haven't. I use my 3rd gen SAA for that......
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I just bought a Heritage Series 25-11, and a 24-5. Beautiful guns! I hope to have them in hand by the end of next week.
 

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After having this Pre 25 Model of 1955 5 screw revolver for a few weeks and having shot it twice I decided to give it a thorough cleaning.

I purchased a gallon of K-1 Kerosene and a plastic tub to use for soaking the gun clean of dried up grease and oil that may have been still from the original factory lubrication.

I took off the grips and stripped it down except for the rear sight,trigger group hand and the cylinder.I couldn't find my cylinder tool so I left the ejector rod on rather than possibly marring it up.

After the kerosene bath for 5 days I scrubbed out the cylinder holes and bore with a 50 cal brush and reassembled starting with the last parts removed.Each piece got wiped down and oiled before putting it back in the gun.

I last did this in 1983 on my NYPD Model 10-6 so it was just like riding a bike.

All back together and working better than before the bath.

In the early days Browning Arms Co. recommended diesel fuel or kerosene as a cleaner for their firearms.........
 
Repost: 45 LC. Never fired
Please notice the grips. It appears the gun was engraved for "football" type target grips but equipped with "speed loader" type grips. These are beautiful wood but I have thought to have KB make a new set of cokes for me but they would not be original. What is your opinion? I do have other target grips but none are as nice as these.
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