Too beautiful to shoot?

[airborne_zim]

Hi,

A while back I posted an idea I had about re-barreling a S&W 25-12 Heritage Edition I purchased online. (putting a S&W M22 barrel on it for IDPA)

Once I picked it up I completely trashed the re-barreling idea.

One of you kind folks suggested that I could shoot USPSA with it. I thought that I might try that out.

My problem is the more I look at it, the more I'm afraid to shoot it and risk marring its beautiful color case hardened finish.

Do you think shooting it will hurt it?

I've never had a "safe queen" in my collection, but damn if this one doesn't have me thinking about just that.

Maybe I should put it away and just buy a S&W Model 22 to go and blast paper.

 

[airborne_zim]

Hi,

A while back I posted an idea I had about re-barreling a S&W 25-12 Heritage Edition I purchased online. (putting a S&W M22 barrel on it for IDPA)

Once I picked it up I completely trashed the re-barreling idea.

One of you kind folks suggested that I could shoot USPSA with it. I thought that I might try that out.

My problem is the more I look at it, the more I'm afraid to shoot it and risk marring its beautiful color case hardened finish.

Do you think shooting it will hurt it?

I've never had a "safe queen" in my collection, but damn if this one doesn't have me thinking about just that.

Maybe I should put it away and just buy a S&W Model 22 to go and blast paper.

 

[deanodog]

It is beautiful but it is yours and not for someone else to get the enjoyment from shooting it later. Shoot it....life is short.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Sweet Loooking Revolver!!
I'd have to shoot it if it were mine!!
Moon up some 45s & Head to the range..
You know you want too..
It has a turn ring for a reason..
BTW, Were's the Lock??
Looks like Classic Grips..
NICE!!
Gary

 

[Malysh]

I had the same question Gary did -where's the lock?

 

[panamajack310]

I think most of the heritage editions are now coming with out the lock. I say shoot it and carrry it as your BBQ gun...no one will have something that cool on their side.

 

[mm6mm6]

I bet that handsome revolver would be stunning outside in the bright sun with flame belching forward from its muzzle!

SHOOT IT!

 

[colt_saa]

If you can afford more then one, then there is no reason that you should not have more then one.

Buy the 22. You can always change your mind and start shooting the 25 at a later date.

While many folks will try and convince you otherwise, there is noting wrong with owning a Smith & Wesson for the sole reason of appreciating it's beauty.

 

[moosedog]

As long as you take good care of it, there is no reason that you couldn't shoot the gun and still keep it in nice shape.

 

[patrick james]

Man, thats a nice gun.I would not shoot it.I would put it in a display case in my gun room.

 

[Allen-frame]

I have more than one N frame I don't shoot.
The not model marked 4 screws I have I have not fired.
Any Highway Patrolman,44 magnum,or model 25 will likely shoot as well as the next.
Consistently better than me, and almost boringly accurate.
While it wouldn't hurt them to shoot them, I have many others and shoot them regularly.

That Heritage is a treasure, and I would be hard pressed to shoot it.

How about a nice 25-2 in 45 a.c.p.?



Good luck ,, ,Al

 

[airborne_zim]

I should have made this a poll

So far the "shoot it" side is in the lead -- which is where I'm leaning!

It is sweet, and what's even sweeter it that it has no lock! I don't know if this makes it pre-lock but the test fire case says that S&W tested it in Sept. of 2001. So I'm guessing that it was made right before the test firing.

Mike

 

[OFT]

If you don't shoot it someone else will after you're gone. Why don't you send it to me and I'll deflower it for you.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Virtue untried is not virtue. You bought it, why not shoot it? You did not buy it as a collector's item.

 

[H Richard]

That is a beauty! I didn't think I would like the case hardened frames, but not so sure now. I am impressed that it has NO LOCK. Now you have my attention. Is this real new, like just the last couple months?

 

[S42N8]

Your weapon, your decision.

That said, you could get another one. Then, you'd have decide which one looks better...and before long, there would be three.

While that's not altogether bad (in fifty years or so, you could be the "Doc 44" of 25-12s) you probably do want to shoot it...so shoot it. Worst case, you'll need to buy another one, and then contract the first known N25-12 variant case of Nframeitis.

It's all good.

 

[TSQUARED]

Color case hardend finishes are not as durable as blued finishes. Also blued finishes ae easier to touch up. I also belive that color case finishes have a tendency to fade when exposed to light. That being said there were many old single shot rifles with color case hardened frames and some are still in pristine condition.

 

[airborne_zim]

H. Richard,

The spent case that came with the 25-12 says it was fired in Sept. 2001.

So I'm guessing that it was made in early to mid 2001.

Zim

 

[deanodog]

Shoot it and get back to us. Does it shoot as good as it looks?

 

[RonJ]

Shoot it!