Ti cylinder in 625

[p40jam]

I was fortunate enough to pick up a 3" 625-3 that I intend to carry as an off-duty gun. It, like my other 625's is a tad on the heavy side. Nothing unmanageable, just a wee bit heavy.

I was thinking of having a Ti cylinder fitted to the gun in an effort to reduce weight just a bit.

Other than the nominal cost of fitting the cylinder, can anyone see any down side to this conversion?

 

[k22fan]

p40jam,

Other than carry weight the lighter cylinder in theory would lower the DA pull resistance just like taking weight off the moving parts on a bicycle. The down side is that titanium cylinders readily errode from flame cutting if their fragile surface coating is not carefully protected during cleaning. Brass tooth brushes and bronze bore brushes will remove the coating. I would swap it for an aluminum framed steel cylindered 325. That would get more weight off your belt and probably add money to your wallet as opposed to spending money on the ti cylinder because 3" 625s are bringing a premium.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[tomcatt51]

The down side is that titanium cylinders readily errode from flame cutting if their fragile surface coating is not carefully protected during cleaning. Brass tooth brushes and bronze bore brushes will remove the coating.

I ran one (Ti cylinder) in my 625 for a couple years, cleaned the chambers my usual way with a .475/.480 bronze bore brush spun in a drill motor before every match. Still looked perfect. No flame cutting or erosion.

 

[Bugs Bunny]

Great question, first thing I do when a match is over is dump that heavy boat anchor.

Can't imagine carrying one daily.

Wonder what the weigh difference would be between cylinders on the 45acp can't think it would be that much.

Don't notice the difference on the 629 3in fluted or unfluted hence I question the feasibility, same goes for the 625 45acp flutes or non seem to be close weight wise IMO

Congrats on the 625-3 3in I been looking for one for awhile.

 

[tomcatt51]

I weighed them both and don't remember exactly but it 2.5 or 3.5 oz difference. A Ti cylinder loaded with 230 ball weighed less than the SS cylinder empty. Ti is 55% the weight of SS. You can tell the difference in the trigger pull shooting fast DA, the cylinder has less inertia and the stops don't get peened, which is good. You can also tell that the gun recoils more, which is bad.

 

[Bugs Bunny]

Thanks tomcatt51 for the update, something i may ponder for future use.