New Guy in search of a S&W 625

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Josh@KY-turbo

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Whats up everyone. I am new here as most of you figured after you read the title.

Anyway, I have been an avid 1911 shooter for several years. I have owned and host of Kimber's, Colts, Dan Wesson's, One Les Bear, and some other custom built units. I am a .45 ACP lover.

I have been looking for a S&W Model 625. I am wanting to get into some Wheel gun Shooting. I have looked at all the local gun shops in and around my area for a 625 with no luck. A Shop about 2 hours north of me has a Scandium Alloy 625 bit I am unsure of the aluminum Fram big bore revolvers. I prefer a Stainless unit but can find one.

I have seen a few on Gun Broker. Just not a big fan of the auction sites.

Any suggestions?
 
I know you want a .45 auto, but I gotta tell you, my dad used to have a 625 limited production .45 colt in stainless with a 5 inch barrel and hogue grips, and regrets selling it almost every day. He currently has the 625 Mountain Gun in .45 colt, and it's an awesome little gun as well. I'm sure the .45 ACP will be just as good as his .45 colts and they are awesome guns.
 
The state you live in may have a local gun board. If so you can always check the classifieds for it in hopes of finding one. Of course, you always have the option of asking your gun store to special order the model you want.
 
Yeah, its all a waiting game right now. Whats the typical wait time with S&W? I may just give them a call tomarrow.
 
http://www.kyshooters.com/
Maybe someone there can help you. I know that on the Michigan boards there are often a few dealers floating around who are more than happy to help you out when it comes to ordering guns. You might even find someone selling a new or more likely used one. Another site I like is www.riverofguns.com which is a site that searches a boatload of various gun forums online for different guns.
 
The 625JM is a current production 4" .45 ACP revolver. I've had mine since they were first released - five years ago. I had a standard 4" 625-8 before it - for years. The current JM version is a bargain, considering it's extras. Some of those extras over the original production 4" 625 models are: a spring-loaded front sight base for fast tool-less sight blade changes, eased charge holes for faster reloads, a modicum of a trigger job for a better out of the box trigger, a Jerry Miculek style wood grip, flash chromed hammer & trigger, etc. The trigger is grooved - and mine came sharp enough to draw a DNA sample every outting - until eased with some emery cloth.

A few points about the .45 ACP in a revolver. First, such use dates back to the 1911 rounds infancy - 1917. Physically, even though a typical 1911 weighs near what the 625JM does, the recoil with similar ammo is a bit more brisk in the revolver, as there is no mechanism to absorb some of the recoil energy as there is in a 1911. Also, there is no 'feed ramp' to contend with - you can load any bullet style. Modern such S&W revolvers require 'moonclips' for easy loading/unloading and reliable firing of the rimless .45 ACP cartridge. There is a thick rimmed '.45 Auto Rim' cartridge which will function without moonclips, but it is difficult to find. You can buy 250 round bulk boxes of brass-cased .45 ACP ball ammo at WallyWorld for <$90... even on Sundays around here!

Below are two of my top three favorite S&W revolvers:

IMG_3511.jpg

The OEM moonclips are made by Ranch Products - they'll send you 100 for $35 delivered. Those - and a nutdriver-style 'demooner' from Brownell's - and you are ready. While the OEM gold bead Patridge blade is a great bullseye sight, I like the HiViz style for plinking. It takes the .250" height variant made for the 'Classic/DX' sight base. Great revolver - excellent way into roundguns for someone with a 1911 - and lots of .45 ACP ammo. If you reload, Starline brass loads/unloads easiest - and Federal primers will give you zero ftfs with stock springs. Good luck!

Stainz

PS Besides my 627 Pro and 625JM, I also love my 4" 617 - .22 rimfire is fun!
 
+1 on the 625JM. I own one and much prefer to shoot it over my Ed Brown Kobra Carry or my Kimber Ultra CDP. The revolver with moon clips is a great addition to your .45 cal lineup.
 
I have called around to some dealers here in KY. I have found one who still has the Scandium Alloy S&W 625 brand new for $780. N body has a Stainless Frame unit or a JM model.

What are your opinions on the Alloy frame model? I plan to shoot this gun regularly (ALOT). Is the Alloy frame unit gonna hold up or am I going to have issues with recoil and wear?
 
The only 625s that are not SS are the 625-10 (.45 ACP) and 625-11 (.45 Colt), both of which are Al/Sc alloys with dimunitive SS barrels, made by the Performance Center. The lite weight Al/Sc alloy .45s are in the 325 range - 325PD, 325NG, etc. You cannot beat SS for longevity - I would only get an alloy framed revolver for a dedicated carry gun, where weight is important. I'd hold out for a 625JM - they are out there. My 'pusher' had one on the shelf a week or two back when I last visited. I bought mine there when they were first announced - just over five years ago. It's a keeper!

Stainz
 
I've shot the 625-10, and it's not pleasant. Much prefer the all-stainless models. My 5" 625-2 makes even ME look like a marksman.
 
Trust the Auctions

I have had fine service on the internet and auctions getting firearms.
I have a two five inch and one four inch 625-8 and there all great.
Depending on you eyes and the front sight, you may pick the barrel length that suits you.
I'm a five inch plus kind of shooter.
 
I am looking at 4" Barrel guns. Eigther that or longer barrel guns and having them cut down. I am definatley gonna hold out for a Stainless Framed gun.
 
Just ordered it. They didnt have it instock until today. Having it shipped to my FFL. I will post plenty of pics when I get it.
 
Good Luck wih the new 625. I have several .45 ACP revolvers including two 625s (a 4" and a 5" both pre-lock). These guns shoot like guided missiles.
 
Anyone having any work done to thier 625's? If so who do you suggest? What kinda work did you have done?
 
Your 625JM will be a shooter right out of the box. Do check the grooved trigger for sharp edges - they'll hurt your trigger finger. I, and a friend, both had to ease ours with a strip of fine emery cloth. You'll need a demooner tool - Brownell's has a nut-drver style one for ~$15. Some folks save a few bucks and file a piece of pipe... you spent a bit on the revolver - it deserves a nicer de-mooner. I never had good luck with the scissors style de-mooners - one went back quickly, while the other one stayed - and was broken in the first week. You'll also need moonclips. The full-sized 6-holers are best obtained from the source - 'Ranch Products' - from whom they were $35/100 delivered. Nice folks.

The .45 Auto Rims can be used without moonclips. Some smaller reloading companies still make them. Georgia Arms loads new brass with both 200gr JHP and 230gr LRN bullets. They fit the HKS #25 speedloader - not the #25-5, which fits the .45 Colt's rim. Brownell's carries them, too. Neat rounds - and more nice folks at GA Arms, if still a bit overwhelmed by the component shortage and demand. You can also replace the front sight with a HiViz designed for the Classic/DX S&Ws... .250" height. I found my reloaded ammo had to be resized as it was crimped to insure easy loading - sometimes a slight bulge, not a problem with a semi-auto's slightly oversized chamber, wouldn't fully load. Not a problem with commercial ammo, of course.

Be ready for some fun... and congratulations!

Stainz
 
Nice to know.
I was looking at the Fletcher Customs S&W Revolver Competition Action/Accurizing Job. I ahave a tendancy to not leave well enough alone. As it stands I am just gonna put some rounds though the gun to get a feel for it. I will be ordering Moon Clips today.
I really appreciate all the help you all have provided. I am glad to be part of the forum.
 
I pick up the 625JM tomarrow in the AM. Just finished loading 20 TK Cutoms Moon clips by hand. That is an experience. Can wait to run some rounds though the gun this weekend.

Also picked up a Rock River Arms LAR-15 Elite Operator today while at the guns shop. Current put fitted with flip up front and rear sight and a BARSKA Multy Reticle optic sight. Gonna break them both in this week end if the weather holds out.
 
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