Any reviews on the S&W JM 625
- Thread starter tcrocker
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Tom C.
Member.
I got my 625-8JM about a year and a half ago. The only problem it had as delivered was a rough forcing cone. I cleaned that up. It has .452” throats which are perfect. I did take a Dremel tool to it to take the sharp edge off the grooves of the trigger. It shoots great.
BlindJustice
Member
Buy the full moon clips from WIlson - they are nickel plated and stronger than the carbon steel S & W ones.
Remind me what the JM has as standard features....
and if you find a source for full moon or HKS 25M
speedloader leather belt holders in cordovan let me
know.
I take my once fired .45 brass out of the FM clips and
reload em for my carry 1911.
Looking for a 25 3 inch in carbon steel myself....
Remind me what the JM has as standard features....
and if you find a source for full moon or HKS 25M
speedloader leather belt holders in cordovan let me
know.
I take my once fired .45 brass out of the FM clips and
reload em for my carry 1911.
Looking for a 25 3 inch in carbon steel myself....
earplug
Member
I have shot about 3K of hand loads in my 625 JM. Its holding up fine.
When new it had A timing problem fixed for free by S&W, then the strain screw wore its tip off after about 1K, replaced for free by S&W.
No end play, nothing to complain about aside from loose screws fixed with Loctite.
My first holster was A old duty leather style and would pop off the quick change sight. I switched to A plastic holster and all is better.
I compete in local steel matches and A little IPSC.
When new it had A timing problem fixed for free by S&W, then the strain screw wore its tip off after about 1K, replaced for free by S&W.
No end play, nothing to complain about aside from loose screws fixed with Loctite.
My first holster was A old duty leather style and would pop off the quick change sight. I switched to A plastic holster and all is better.
I compete in local steel matches and A little IPSC.
PaladinX13
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2002
- Messages
- 747
Nice gun, but be sure you really want all of the features, otherwise it might not be worth buying over the standard model (and having 'smithing work done on that). A lot of folks don't like the serrated trigger and ultimately change up the grips meaning they're paying more for a 4" barrel and a gold bead.
PaladinX13
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2002
- Messages
- 747
Double tap.
Good article on the subject:
http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/e8b998dd63b440b469dd8c5d4d262aed-150.html
http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/e8b998dd63b440b469dd8c5d4d262aed-150.html
lesjones
Member
I like mine. The matte finish is nice, and I like the front sight setup. You can swap the front sight out without tools, though the goldbead sight is nice in and of itself.
Best of all, the price is only thirty bucks or something over the regular 625. For the bead-blasted finish, wicked front sight setup, and wood grips it's easily worth that. If the grips don't suit you then 15 bucks gets you the rubber Hogue monogrips that come on the regular 625.
I sort of agree with Grant Cunningham about the trigger, though. This was my first experience with a serrated trigger and I can't say I love it so far.
Best of all, the price is only thirty bucks or something over the regular 625. For the bead-blasted finish, wicked front sight setup, and wood grips it's easily worth that. If the grips don't suit you then 15 bucks gets you the rubber Hogue monogrips that come on the regular 625.
I sort of agree with Grant Cunningham about the trigger, though. This was my first experience with a serrated trigger and I can't say I love it so far.
Stainz
Member
I bought a 625-8 in 4" when they first came out - around five years ago. I managed to shoot 10k+ rounds from it while playing at SPC over the next 1.5yr. I tried to wear it out - actually shooting the yoke screw loose (Always check it...) and dropping the yoke and cylinder on two occasions. I finally sent it home for r&r, it's b/c gap having closed and become uneven. It was fixed - gratis - and it came back like new. I sold it 6/04, planning on buying a 625MG in .45 ACP - still waiting on that. Eight months without the frugal shooting/recoiling big bore was too much - I ordered a 625JM fo $10 less than in-stock 4"/5" 625-8's 2/05 - my best value in a S&W yet.
Sure, the grooved trigger slurps... actually, it cuts. Some don't like the Miculek stocks (Send them here...). But - having the ejector star eased would cost you more than $40 MSRP difference today. Of course, the easily changed - without tools - front sight is a Godsend. Mine switches from the OEM gold beaded Patridge to the HiViz I have - and back - quite regularly. That is well worth the small cost difference. Mine came with a far better trigger than any of the same period N-frames I've bought, although I did replace the OEM springs with reduced effort Wolffs for a bit lower effort. It is well worth the cost of the new 1k pieces of Starline .45 ACP brass I bought for it... range sweepings vary too much - too many ftf's - none with the Starline. A 625 treats it's empties properly, not casting them asunder as an evil-bottom-feeder does. You can't have too-many moonclips - and the blued ones are fine - all I've ever used - never ruined one.
As I reload, I also bought 500 Starline .45 Auto Rim cases - they get loaded with a myriad of loads - mostly 255gr LSWC (.452" - .45 Colt lead). I regularly shoot them - and 230gr Berry's Bullets plated RN, the latter being loaded from 700-800 fps - the 255gr LSWC make ~850 fps - for better-than-.45 Colt levels. The 625JM is fun - even if I like the tapered tube/partial lug of the 625MG, which I have two of in .45 Colt, better. Admittedly, the extra mass out front keeps the muzzle down a bit better with the full lug, important when you are shooting fast. Also - keep the stronger of the trio of trigger return springs in the Wolff kit in the trigger - it speeds up your shooting - you can out pace the light springs!
One LH-ed friend bought one - and quickly sold it - his steel pinned wrist hurt from the recoil with ball ammo. I fitted a Hogue .500 Magnum grip I had bought for my 629 to my 625JM to let him try - he agreed it was a great help, even if it was too late for him - he had sold it earlier that day. That is something to remember - the padded backstrap afforded by the X-frame grips, which also fit K/L/N frames, does soften the recoil of the .45 ACP's. To some, it isn't negligible... recall that unlike a 1911, etc, there is no action to absorb some of the recoil energy... just the 43 oz mass, the grip, and you. Still, I find the Miculek grip to be a fast grab - and the recoil, again, to me, is acceptable - even with that Miculek stock. The edges of my trigger still occasionally raise a blister - usually at 120+ rounds... more crocus cloth - maybe a Dremel - is indicated there.
To me, the 625JM is a very useful firearm... definitely a keeper.
Stainz
Sure, the grooved trigger slurps... actually, it cuts. Some don't like the Miculek stocks (Send them here...). But - having the ejector star eased would cost you more than $40 MSRP difference today. Of course, the easily changed - without tools - front sight is a Godsend. Mine switches from the OEM gold beaded Patridge to the HiViz I have - and back - quite regularly. That is well worth the small cost difference. Mine came with a far better trigger than any of the same period N-frames I've bought, although I did replace the OEM springs with reduced effort Wolffs for a bit lower effort. It is well worth the cost of the new 1k pieces of Starline .45 ACP brass I bought for it... range sweepings vary too much - too many ftf's - none with the Starline. A 625 treats it's empties properly, not casting them asunder as an evil-bottom-feeder does. You can't have too-many moonclips - and the blued ones are fine - all I've ever used - never ruined one.
As I reload, I also bought 500 Starline .45 Auto Rim cases - they get loaded with a myriad of loads - mostly 255gr LSWC (.452" - .45 Colt lead). I regularly shoot them - and 230gr Berry's Bullets plated RN, the latter being loaded from 700-800 fps - the 255gr LSWC make ~850 fps - for better-than-.45 Colt levels. The 625JM is fun - even if I like the tapered tube/partial lug of the 625MG, which I have two of in .45 Colt, better. Admittedly, the extra mass out front keeps the muzzle down a bit better with the full lug, important when you are shooting fast. Also - keep the stronger of the trio of trigger return springs in the Wolff kit in the trigger - it speeds up your shooting - you can out pace the light springs!
One LH-ed friend bought one - and quickly sold it - his steel pinned wrist hurt from the recoil with ball ammo. I fitted a Hogue .500 Magnum grip I had bought for my 629 to my 625JM to let him try - he agreed it was a great help, even if it was too late for him - he had sold it earlier that day. That is something to remember - the padded backstrap afforded by the X-frame grips, which also fit K/L/N frames, does soften the recoil of the .45 ACP's. To some, it isn't negligible... recall that unlike a 1911, etc, there is no action to absorb some of the recoil energy... just the 43 oz mass, the grip, and you. Still, I find the Miculek grip to be a fast grab - and the recoil, again, to me, is acceptable - even with that Miculek stock. The edges of my trigger still occasionally raise a blister - usually at 120+ rounds... more crocus cloth - maybe a Dremel - is indicated there.
To me, the 625JM is a very useful firearm... definitely a keeper.
Stainz
I don't mind the trigger at all, in fact I like it after smoothing it up with plumber's cloth. I took it down enough to where I don't get blisters, but there is still plenty of groove to keep my finger from sqirming left & right like I get with most triggers.
earplug
Member
Reading this thread, I have to wonder. Does the JM 625 have the Miculek spring set?
I would think yes, but I don't know what S&W would do.
Anyone have the facts?
I would think yes, but I don't know what S&W would do.
Anyone have the facts?
I no longer have the e-mail, but Kay Miculek told me they were the same springs as their other revos. The Miculek spring set is much lighter than factory and intended for competition tuned ammo, not a veriety of ammo. Nobody is shooting back. This spring set actually feels gritty when the strain screw is cranked up to allow reliable ignition with Wal-Mart Winchesters, like they are out of their sweet spot.
Stainz
Member
The JM model 625 I referred to came out 2.5 yr ago and is called the '625JM' - from their 'Champion Series', and is their SKU #160936 and located on pg 36 & 43 of their '07 catalog with an MSRP of $909.
The infamous strain screw.... one thing it aint - a DA effort adjustment! It is the screw that secures, and places the necessary pre-load on, the hammer leaf spring. Always tighten it. A side benefit is that it won't work loose as easily if you tighten it. Left 'loose', it will continue to loosen under recoil, resulting in ftf's for sure. Need less hammer whack? Get a reduced power hammer spring (Wolff).
Stainz
The infamous strain screw.... one thing it aint - a DA effort adjustment! It is the screw that secures, and places the necessary pre-load on, the hammer leaf spring. Always tighten it. A side benefit is that it won't work loose as easily if you tighten it. Left 'loose', it will continue to loosen under recoil, resulting in ftf's for sure. Need less hammer whack? Get a reduced power hammer spring (Wolff).
Stainz
BlindJustice
Member
I had some ACP and AR loaded by Reeds Ammo & Research
to this spec.
Leadhead hardcast 200 gr. SWC @ 1,025 FPS
AR in Starline brass 500 rds
ACP in new Rem. brass 350 rds
I had the brass sitting around for
20 or so years - I never got around to
handloading and sold a beautiful 25
w/6 1/2 inch Bbl. I still regret that
ANyway I'm waiting on an order to leadead
for the 225 gr. TCBB bullets and some more
Starline brass but it's out of stock
right now and a 3 week wait. On the invoice
from R.A.R when I received the ammo
order the ACP stuff had a note in parens
"Cust. Provided Grade 1 brass
R.A.R. also offers a .45 AR with the
225 gr. Barnes X bullet but no velocity
claim.
I have a chronograph on the way and
will check the velocity of the above stuff
as well as some other ACP Rem. W-W
and Blazer ammo I've got and report it
here.
FWIW - the 200 gr. @ 1,025 FPS = 470 ft. lbs
and it kicks less than 230 gr. Ball ammo
It's the load Jeff Cooper touted in the late
1970s I don't think he ever trusted HPs
to this spec.
Leadhead hardcast 200 gr. SWC @ 1,025 FPS
AR in Starline brass 500 rds
ACP in new Rem. brass 350 rds
I had the brass sitting around for
20 or so years - I never got around to
handloading and sold a beautiful 25
w/6 1/2 inch Bbl. I still regret that
ANyway I'm waiting on an order to leadead
for the 225 gr. TCBB bullets and some more
Starline brass but it's out of stock
right now and a 3 week wait. On the invoice
from R.A.R when I received the ammo
order the ACP stuff had a note in parens
"Cust. Provided Grade 1 brass
R.A.R. also offers a .45 AR with the
225 gr. Barnes X bullet but no velocity
claim.
I have a chronograph on the way and
will check the velocity of the above stuff
as well as some other ACP Rem. W-W
and Blazer ammo I've got and report it
here.
FWIW - the 200 gr. @ 1,025 FPS = 470 ft. lbs
and it kicks less than 230 gr. Ball ammo
It's the load Jeff Cooper touted in the late
1970s I don't think he ever trusted HPs
Stainz
Member
Georgia Arms did load the 230gr LRN (G45ARA $29.50/100 - 780 fps) and 200gr JHP (G45ARB $35.50/100 - 850 fps) in new .45 AR brass. They did use Rem, as it was about all that you could get until the last five years - Starline now makes it - even headstamps it 'Georgia Arms' for them. If you need the brass, Starlinebrass.com has them for $78.15/500 delivered - you can order them by phone - check their site. Same with georgia-arms.com. I've bought from both - fine folks. Oh yeah, new Starline brass may need length trimming... and they can't count - every order has included extra!
Stainz
Stainz
BlindJustice
Member
Just ordered 500 .45 AR from Starline - out of stock
so it's a 2-3 week wait.
getting back to the gun...
I like the curved 'COmbat' trigger on my
625 vs the 25's target triiger for DA shooting
either one works fine for me for SA shooting.
Also the smaller hammer checkering is much
appreciated. THe 25's Target hammer checkering
was so deep and sharp it would abraid the thumb
with a quick hard cock. hmm, better watch my
strings but it hits the X-ring hah!
Everyone who has handled and checked out my
625 with Matte finish and compare to my 686
in Satin like the Matte And the 686 satin is
verra nice - in comparison to the satin on my 617
One thing I notice with the N,L, & K frame I have
is the N has a nice distinct S&W trademark stamp on the
frame below the cyl. thumb release but the L is a
bit fainter and the K is faint in comparison Do they
give less attention to the putting together of the .22
LR Revolvers?
I have Guy HOgue grips ordered for them all in
N = Rosewood with two finger grovves
L = Coco Bolo with one finger groove
and end cap
K =Coco Bolo with no finger grooves and end cap
I have a friend with a digital camera - will post some
pics when the 90 day wonders arrive.
so it's a 2-3 week wait.
getting back to the gun...
I like the curved 'COmbat' trigger on my
625 vs the 25's target triiger for DA shooting
either one works fine for me for SA shooting.
Also the smaller hammer checkering is much
appreciated. THe 25's Target hammer checkering
was so deep and sharp it would abraid the thumb
with a quick hard cock. hmm, better watch my
strings but it hits the X-ring hah!
Everyone who has handled and checked out my
625 with Matte finish and compare to my 686
in Satin like the Matte And the 686 satin is
verra nice - in comparison to the satin on my 617
One thing I notice with the N,L, & K frame I have
is the N has a nice distinct S&W trademark stamp on the
frame below the cyl. thumb release but the L is a
bit fainter and the K is faint in comparison Do they
give less attention to the putting together of the .22
LR Revolvers?
I have Guy HOgue grips ordered for them all in
N = Rosewood with two finger grovves
L = Coco Bolo with one finger groove
and end cap
K =Coco Bolo with no finger grooves and end cap
I have a friend with a digital camera - will post some
pics when the 90 day wonders arrive.
earplug
Member
Peeling plating
After reading the various posts in this 625 JM discussion, I took my revolver apart and found that my hammer's plating is peeling off.
Was a simple job to stone the plating off and polish some rough spots.
Used India stones and A nice set of ruby stones.
I instaled a Wolf reduced power trigger return spring and had a nice range session.
I'd like to find a review on A Randy Lee (?) hammer and any information on A longer after market firing pin.
I find that Federal primers work best, but primers are getting hard to buy/find when I need them. I'd like a level of reliabilty to use Winchester's if needed.
After reading the various posts in this 625 JM discussion, I took my revolver apart and found that my hammer's plating is peeling off.
Was a simple job to stone the plating off and polish some rough spots.
Used India stones and A nice set of ruby stones.
I instaled a Wolf reduced power trigger return spring and had a nice range session.
I'd like to find a review on A Randy Lee (?) hammer and any information on A longer after market firing pin.
I find that Federal primers work best, but primers are getting hard to buy/find when I need them. I'd like a level of reliabilty to use Winchester's if needed.
Stainz
Member
Looking at the S&W laser printed symbol below the cylinder release on my most recent S&W's, the 625JM stands out more than it's year or so older sibling 5" h-l 686+ and my 4/06 made 4" 629. I think it may be the flat finish on the former, compared with the gloss finish on the other two. I doubt that they would differentiate 'quality' in the K-frames. I know they don't 'discount' modern 617's in price, that is for sure - and they are heavy beasts - for .22's!
Of course, the saddest excuse for labels must be what they did on both of my 625MG's - the laser etched ".45 Colt" on the barrel of the '96 I have is nearly faded off - too much cleaning. The '01 isn't far behind it. That's sad - I like having an S&W or two with 'Colt' emblazoned on it! Maybe the tapered tube made imprinting difficult.
I got rid of my last ftf's by gifting my non-Starline .45 ACP range-sweepings brass - and loaded ammo - to others. The previous 625 came after I had divested myself of my evil-bottom-feeding .45 ACP's - except for a Marlin 'Camp .45', which was a convenient disposal unit for undesired brass - it tossed it's empties into another time zone. That was gone when I bought the 625JM, so I ordered 1k of new Starline bass 2/05 for $108, I think. With their latest increase (4/07), that is now $130 - $22 increase in 2+ yr. That's ~20% increase, inc s/h... the brass isn't the reason ammo makers 'had' to double their price in the last year.
Sorry you have to wait for your AR brass. Incidently, I got a wild hair some time back and tried the AR brass with 255gr LSWC and both with the ACP's taper crimp and borrowing my .45 Colt's roll crimp ring... and my max, not recommended, load of 5.3gr Titegroup - chrono-ed 884+/-11 fps tapered; 887+/-18 fps roll crimped! Roll crimping in that neat crimp ring barely increased the mv, but the higher SD was probably due to the varying case lengths (I still haven't length sized them!). I taper crimp .45 ACP/AR's now. BTW, the Fed primers showed no pressure signs.
As Federal primers have 'dried up' in most parts, I switched to Win SP primers for my SPC gun - a JM PC627 V-Comp - with my softest trigger. I have loaded and shot over 1k of my plate poppers with the newer, reportedly 'softer', Win SP primers - with zero ftf's. Hopefully, new Win stock in LP primers will behave similarly... if not, I have a box full of standard OEM hammer springs! When/if my 625JM trigger action starts worsening, I'll take a look at that hammer wear areas... for now, it's fine... or so I decree it!
Stainz
Of course, the saddest excuse for labels must be what they did on both of my 625MG's - the laser etched ".45 Colt" on the barrel of the '96 I have is nearly faded off - too much cleaning. The '01 isn't far behind it. That's sad - I like having an S&W or two with 'Colt' emblazoned on it! Maybe the tapered tube made imprinting difficult.
I got rid of my last ftf's by gifting my non-Starline .45 ACP range-sweepings brass - and loaded ammo - to others. The previous 625 came after I had divested myself of my evil-bottom-feeding .45 ACP's - except for a Marlin 'Camp .45', which was a convenient disposal unit for undesired brass - it tossed it's empties into another time zone. That was gone when I bought the 625JM, so I ordered 1k of new Starline bass 2/05 for $108, I think. With their latest increase (4/07), that is now $130 - $22 increase in 2+ yr. That's ~20% increase, inc s/h... the brass isn't the reason ammo makers 'had' to double their price in the last year.
Sorry you have to wait for your AR brass. Incidently, I got a wild hair some time back and tried the AR brass with 255gr LSWC and both with the ACP's taper crimp and borrowing my .45 Colt's roll crimp ring... and my max, not recommended, load of 5.3gr Titegroup - chrono-ed 884+/-11 fps tapered; 887+/-18 fps roll crimped! Roll crimping in that neat crimp ring barely increased the mv, but the higher SD was probably due to the varying case lengths (I still haven't length sized them!). I taper crimp .45 ACP/AR's now. BTW, the Fed primers showed no pressure signs.
As Federal primers have 'dried up' in most parts, I switched to Win SP primers for my SPC gun - a JM PC627 V-Comp - with my softest trigger. I have loaded and shot over 1k of my plate poppers with the newer, reportedly 'softer', Win SP primers - with zero ftf's. Hopefully, new Win stock in LP primers will behave similarly... if not, I have a box full of standard OEM hammer springs! When/if my 625JM trigger action starts worsening, I'll take a look at that hammer wear areas... for now, it's fine... or so I decree it!
Stainz
New thread on 625JM hammer flaking off chrome thread;
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3603262#post3603262
end hijack
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3603262#post3603262
end hijack
BlindJustice
Member
I'm out of here for a while for happy hour....
Hey for the Leadhead 200 gr SWC @ 1,025
they were 42 cents a loaded round. just over $21 a box.
GB sure is pricey
Hey for the Leadhead 200 gr SWC @ 1,025
they were 42 cents a loaded round. just over $21 a box.
GB sure is pricey
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