S&W 45 Auto Rim

[BYJO4]

In the late 70s I bought a S&W Model 25. From the very first round fired, I realized how fine this revolver was. I sold it when Smith came out with the stainless version and bought the Model 625. Like the Model 25, it has been deadly accurate since day one and has an exceptional single action trigger pull. I took it to the range again today and had several people ask if they could shoot it. All commented on the accuracy and mild recoil. I have always used my reloads with 200 grain LSWC and auto rim brass. If you have never shot one, I suggest you try it. It will quickly become a favorite.

 

[MrBorland]

Nice gun. I love my 625, too, and can recommend it to those who haven't shot one.

Curious, though...why so smitten with .45AR? Most use moonclipped .45acp with this gun. Have you found the AR cartridge to work better or be more accurate?

 

[CSA 357]

i have a 3 inch 625-3 love it, i use acp with full moon clips

 

[BYJO4]

I prefer to use the auto rim case as opposed to loading moon clips. I doubt that there is any difference in accuracy. I just think its easier. I also use different powder weights for the auto rim and my 45 ACP. Cant get them mixed up this way.

 

[S&Wfan]

I keep a few hundred rounds of Auto Rim but prefer moon-clipped .45ACP for normal situations. I've had 25-2 and 625 S&W .45ACP revolvers and they are tackdrivers!

Here's the very last revolver I'd ever sell, a chopped barrel, custom 25-2 . . .

 

[StrawHat]

I have several S&W revolvers that handle the 45 ACP/AR. My 25-2 is very accurate with either the 235 grain SWC (Lyman 454423) or the 235 grain full wadcutter (Saeco 453). It can also handle the 255 grain SWC (Lyman 454424). My 4" revolver really likes the 280 grain SWC (RCBS 45-270).

I mostly use the ACP case and moon clips. I have some of the AR cases but need more. ACP is easy to find and easier to use.

I recently got a 255 grain RN mold (Lyman 454190) and plan to try it in both revolvers and the 25-5.

 

[Stainz]

I, too, have a 625 - an early 625JM. My plinker load 230gr FMJ RN loads are in Starline .45 ACP brass, which loads easily by hand in a Ranch Products moonclip. I load mainly .45 Colt lead in .45 AR cases. Not mentioned, important if you started out with .45 Colt, is that the short cased AR rounds are kind of 'cute' - like my .44 Russians, just with a thicker rim. The HKS #25 speedloaders are made for that thick rim, too - the cases' OAL usually doesn't extend long enough to lock up in the chambers before cartridge release, Still, it's an aid. The moonclips spoil you for speedy reloads.

Stainz

 

[MrBorland]

Here's my 625, tuned for USPSA.

I have several hundred AR cases as well, and use them now and again, but generally use moons.

 

[yhtomit]

Of my small menagerie, the 625 would probably be the last gun I'd sell in a crisis, not only because it is a joy to shoot but because (by intent) I'd rather not have too much mental investment per se in my guns -- one has a laser engraving, and others might eventually, but for now, if they were all stolen or lost in a hurricane, I would be able to largely replace them (things like Cz-75s and nothin'-special modern Savage in .22LR). 625s aren't unicorns, but they're harder to find and the price doesn't seem to drop much

Would like to add a 625 JM one day, and a 325, too.

timothy

 

[BBroadside]

SO the 25 is available in 45 ACP just like the 625? And they're both available in 45 Colt as well?

Can some dedicated Wessonian give a noob a quick rundown of the .45-caliber S&W revolvers? I am little behind.

 

[451 Detonics]

I shoot two variations on the Model 25, a 325PD and a 625 5inch.



The 625 will handle all of the rounds below (you have to have the chamber opened up for the 460 Rowland) but the 45 Super is very abusive in the 325PD. I normally carry the 325 with a full moon clip but carry the auto rim in speed strips for my reloads.

 

[StrawHat]

BBroadside SO the 25 is available in 45 ACP just like the 625? And they're both available in 45 Colt as well?

Can some dedicated Wessonian give a noob a quick rundown of the .45-caliber S&W revolvers? I am little behind.

I can provide some info but the more recent stuff is not in my ken. The following is not gospel but will get you an idea of what is/was available.

S&W has offered blued revolvers in 45 ACP since the Model 1917 was introduced in 1917. It was originally available with a 5 1/2" barrel and fixed sights. (I beleive some 1917s were offered with adjustable sights and given a different name.) Jump forward to the 1950s, S&W offers the Model 1950 in 45 ACP with a skinny barrel and adjustable sights or a heavy barreled version that became the M25-2. Also available is the M25-5 which is a heavy barreled adjustable sighted revolver chambered for the 45 long Colt. I have owned several of the -2s and -5s. The -2s have always been shooters the -5s suffered some dimensional problems that were eventually ironed out and the newer (unpinned barrel models) are all good to go.

For stainless steel revolvers, someone else needs to chime in.

My S&W 45s



top to bottom, M25-2 (45 ACP), M28-2 (reworked to 45 ACP), M25-5 (45 long Colt)

 

[BBroadside]

Thank you, StrawHat. I developed my champagne taste by picking up an ex-police model 64 from J&G Sales, and now I'm finding that the S&Ws which weren't used by police departments cost three times as much. This is not a surprise, but unfortunately I am still on a beer budget. So my dream 625 (4", 45 ACP, probably an IDPA specialist) lies off in a blurry pink future.

 

[MrBorland]

I developed my champagne taste by picking up an ex-police model 64 from J&G Sales, and now I'm finding that the S&Ws which weren't used by police departments cost three times as much. This is not a surprise, but unfortunately I am still on a beer budget. So my dream 625 (4", 45 ACP, probably an IDPA specialist) lies off in a blurry pink future.

If you come across a nice 4" 625, by all means, get it, but until then, your 64 would be a fine gun for IDPA SSR. In fact, from what I've seen, SSR is more popular than ESR.

 

[dprice3844444]

i still got my orig 1917 smith in 45

 

[BBroadside]

If you come across a nice 4" 625, by all means, get it, but until then, your 64 would be a fine gun for IDPA SSR. In fact, from what I've seen, SSR is more popular than ESR.

Oh, yeah, that would be my ignorance showing. I looked this up a while back, but until your comment I had reverted to thinking that a major power factor was important or even vital. Glancing at the rules again I see that IDPA doesn't use power factors; that would be USPSA. I don't think there any ranges around here that shoot USPSA but the idea of power factors is intriguing to my nerdy side.

So I guess I need to practice with speedloader & .38.

 

[rcmodel]

My 625-6 Mountain Gun.



rc

 

[Hanshi]

Since I have thousands of rounds of .45 acp brass, I rarely shoot the auto rim brass in my 1955 M25-2.

 

[MrBorland]

Glancing at the rules again I see that IDPA doesn't use power factors; that would be USPSA. I don't think there any ranges around here that shoot USPSA but the idea of power factors is intriguing to my nerdy side.

IDPA uses power factors as well. For ESR, it's the same as USPSA Major - 165,000. For SSR, until very recently, it was 125,000, but IDPA just lowered it to 105,000 so factory .38spl ammo can be used by those who don't reload.

So I guess I need to practice with speedloader & .38.

Yep. CompIIIs or Jetloaders, holders, dummy rounds, and a metric boatload of practice. So as not to highjack this thread, feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Or start a thread in "Competition" sub-forum. You'll get lots of feedback.

 

[Smaug]

Too bad they're so damned expensive.

I was just shooting my Para GI Expert 1911 at the range yesterday. Cursing myself a bit, as I tried to chase down the brass before some buffoon walked on it. Cursing a bit more as the heavy brass bounced off the wall, then clunked me right on the forehead.

When I switched to my Redhawk (7.5", 44 Mag) and SP-101 (3", 357 Mag) with my light handloads, it was pure bliss.

I thought I should either track down a .45 ACP revolver or another Redhawk with the 4 or 5.5" barrel. (in which case, I'd "settle" for 44 Mag again)

Don't they go for around $700 new now? I'd really like a 4-5" 25.

 

[Rodentman]

I just got a S&W Model 22, the 1917 classis .45 acp. It shoots great with 200g SWC's under 5g of Unique. No leading. I have 250 AR brass on order and probably will shoot that most often. My only other .45 is an auto.