S&W 625 or 625JM

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Frandy

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My next handgun just might be one of these two. I understand the differences to be external and that the JM is only available in the 4" version. Unless I decide I definitely want the 5", I'm not buying either until sort out which is my true preference. It will be a range gun and for potential self defense in the home (not that I need anything other than I currently have, but...).

So, can anyone else help me sort this out? Pros? Cons? Differences I should consider? Reasons for one over the other that might help me think this through?

Oh, and don't recommend other calibers or guns. It's one of these two revolvers I'm interested in.

Thanks!
 
Wwjd?

What would Jerry Do? :D

He knows a few things about revolvers... so I've heard.

I have the 625JM, and 627 which has the 5" barrel. They are very close in weight, but the 625 does seem to handle a little quicker. The triggers are different - grooved & smooth respectively. Both are very accurate, but if you have any inclination to carry, I'd say the only viable choice is the JM. The 627 is BIG.

Out of the box the 625JM having that grooved trigger and being the only gun I have like that was definitely different. I've gotten used to it enough now. I say go for the 625JM.
 
Welcome to the 625 club! I have three! I would suggest you look into RIMZ poly clips for range use, and save the metal ones for serious use. http://www.beckhamdesign.com He has two versions for sale, the 25 version are said to be sturdier?


Demooner tools of the nutcracker variety suck I have broken more then one of the plastic ones, and I even broke a super demooner. They need to be all aluminum. This one is the best one from Brownells; it is like a screwdriver handle!

The JM model seems to run 30 to 50 bucks more then a stock 625. You get some nice grips, I like hogues myself. You get a gold bead front sight that is easily changed out. So, aside from the little upgrades is still is a stock 625. But, the upgrades would cost you more then the 50 bucks! So in that respect it is a deal!

You will have so much fun!
 
One other factor to consider if you may be interested in shooting IDPA and perhaps other combat shooting sports...I think a 4" barrel is as long as is allowed.

I own a 5" 625 and a snubby scandium 325 (and I love them both), but am considering the purchase of a 4" 625 of some sort to use in the local IDPA matches. I plan to start out using the 325, but at 24 ozs, the shooting gets a mite painful after 100 rounds of hot loads.

Boarhunter
 
I did it...

Posted 7 non-firearm items on another board I once haunted quite a bit and managed to sell 5 of them so far. Yeah!!!! So, I spoke with Mike Tilley, the owner of PDHSC in Raleigh where I shoot (and buy!) and talked 625s. He knows 'em. Competed with 'em. Knows 'em...

I ordered a 625JM and should have it Friday. Shoot it Saturday. Even made a demooner tool tonight which I think will fit. If not, easy to make another. Rimz will be ordered as well. :D

Yeah!!!!
 
You will be happy - especially if you like those Miculek stocks - a $60-$70 item. That spring-loaded Patridge sight is easily changed for a HiViz ($35 from S&W), too. I did have to ease the sharp grooved edges of my trigger - and remove the yoke screw to buff it's sharp slot edges, both having conspired to yield a burst blister by 200 rounds at the range. Still, the hard chromed hammer & trigger are nice - as are the slightly eased ejector star entries. Did I mention my JM came with a decent trigger - improved to excellent with a Wolff reduced power hammer spring? The latter is only viable if you reload and use only Federal primers.

I ordered mine in early Feb - the very day I found it on their website. My pusher ordered it for $10 more than the price he had on his in-stock 4" & 5" 625's. The MSRP is only $27 more... but heightened demand may drive that street price up. Mine is the very best new S&W I have... much better 'out of the box' than my first 4" 625-8 in 9/02. The full moonclips are a welcome addition. I use the metal clips and nut-driver de-mooner, both from Brownell's, and endorse them. You will be pleased...

Stainz
 
Thanks Stainz and Smurf...more good info.

As for the demooner, my homemade one might work just fine, but can you be more specific about the one at Brownell's? They have 2, both from the same mfg., one of which is the more expensive "super" model. Both look like nutcrackers. Are those the ones you are referring too?

As for the grips, I've already shot 2 625s that had them and I do like them a lot! That was one consideration for getting the JM model. I can do wihtout his initials being on the, but when I shoot, who cares? :evil:
 
Excellent! That's what I'll get unless the one I made works. Mine is same principle. All I gotta do is add padding to the handle.

Oh, and the 625 has arrived. I pick it up this evening! Pictures to follow...an I sure hope a range report if I get to shoot Saturday morning. Whoooie!
 
Demooner

Where I'm from a "demooner" was an angry social studies teacher screaming at the top of her very large lungs to pull up those pants or get paddled....
:scrutiny:

YMMV

I use a multitool w/ needle nose pliers attachment. It's inexpensive, always gets the case out of the clip, no damage, and can be used for other repairs. It works on my 8 shot .357 moon clip too.

HTH
 
All this talk about the Smith .45 acp revolvers got me so excited that I packed up my range bag this morning, stuck my Smith 325 in my belt holster, and headed to my buddy's indoor range, only to remember halfway there that his shop is closed on Wednesdays.... Bummer.

But tomorrow is a new day and his shop/range is open on Thursdays!

Boarhunter
 
Frandy,

John's Brownell number was correct... that's the one I have. I gave my first one to the fellow who bought my 9/02 4" 625-8 in 6/04... bought another one last Feb. I missed that 625... this one (625JM) is better. Squirt some RemOil or Breakfree in the openings and on the yoke, etc, check the sideplate screws for tightness, and dry fire the poop out of it. Unscrewing the strain screw for this is permitted - be sure to tighten it before shooting the 625, of course. You'll be amazed at how much improvement in smoothness and, to a lessor extent, trigger effort you will feel (Or, has your finger just gotten stronger??). Plan on 1,000-1,200 clicks - you cannot hurt a new S&W dry-firing it. Check the sideplate screws - especially that yoke screw - for tightness - they do loosen - or, as in my new 629-6, may come loose!

Stainz (Actually, another John...)
 
One more question....

Thanks John, more good advice. The single action on this baby is incredible. I mean it's like my 1911s!!!!! Sweet... I can see the double action will improve. It's already pretty nice.

Brand new. It needs to be dryfired, got to get to the range, oooooh, this is one solid revolver. And, it fits in my hand just beautifully. If I wasn't a married man, I'd take it to bed. Okay, okay, enough...

I loaded up the moons that came with the revolver and even tried out my tool - works like a dream, though I'm sure I'll get the one from Brownell somewhere down the road.

What a handgun!!!!!

Oh, the question... Where do I get a holster for this JM? Not sure what I want, but there doesn't seem to be much. Anything for a 4" N frame will work?
 
When you get around to ordering the nutdriver-styled demooner from Brownell's, don't forget the HKS #25 speedloaders, they fit the .45 Auto Rim's thick rims(The #25-5 fits the .45 Colt's regular rims.). To start off with .45 Auto Rims, try the 200gr JHP or 230gr LRN loads in new Remington brass (or maybe new Starline by now!), both great and reasonably priced loads from Georgia Arms. It's kind of cool to carry a pocketful of rounds that don't need a moonclip. BTW, they also have the metal moonclips.

Look to see if your ejector star is slightly relieved... mine was, it really makes it easier to load... I think!

S&W's best bargain, IMHO, of the year... big-bore fun with little bounce and requiring little moola to feed.

Stainz
 
Photo added

Hey John... Yeah, I shoot Georgia Arms whammo. I'll pick some up in Nov when I see them at the Dixie Gun Show here in Raleigh. Lancer makes a nice 230 gr ACP reduced load that is great to shoot in revolvers. I'm getting some of that from Mike Foushee this week.

Here's a quick and dirty photo I took this morning before going to work. I'll shoot higher quality images before I do my first "real" shoot at the range! This image is a bit darker (at least on my monitor here at work) than the JM actually is, but the grain in the grips is really nice...darker and grainier than a couple of others I've seen. If I had had the option, I'd have chosen these same grips. Nice! Best of all, of course, is how great they feel in the hand.

I plan to dremel/polish the outer edges of the trigger. I can see how it will dig a bit into my finger.

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Frandy,

The grooved trigger is a feature, not a bug. ;-) Like you, at first I hated them. Tore my trigger finger up. I wrapped it with electrical tape (yeah, I know that's kind of ghetto, but I didn't want a permanent change...). Once I dry fired more regularly, and less in volume, no more blistering ;-)

I thought I may have had a chamber issue - some of my .45's would chamber in the 325PD, but not in the 625JM. Off to MA it went...

WHILE it was there, no point in wasting the trip, right? Master action revolver job.

I HATE IT. Because now my 2 other PC guns feel "2nd best". It doesn't just have a good revolver trigger, it has the best revolver trigger, ever. Now my 627/327 don't feel as smooth.

My vote: Don't mess with the trigger. Use it a few time first.

On holsters, Not sure if Fobus makes one or not. I have a blade tech for the 627 that 625 fits in no problem. I think any 4" N frame holster should work.
 
The grooved trigger is a feature, not a bug.
Click to expand...

HA! Funny...

I like the grooved trigger. I just think the outside edges might be better a bit polished. But, I'll wait.

$125 for the Master action job might just be the way to go. Heck, $148 to get it back within a week sounds even better!. Dave, you'd better send all your other Smiths to MA for that work. :evil:
 
Dave, you'd better send all your other Smiths to MA for that work
Click to expand...


Whaddareyanuts? I'll burn through ammo faster a platoon of French army dropping their guns! One minute I'm thinking:

"Self, damn this is a good trigger"... Seemingly, the next minute it's "Self, where the heck did all that ammo go?"...
 
LOL! :neener:


p.s. Just found out from Smith tha the shipping wll cost me another $36. I'd better sell more lemonade this weekend.... :banghead:
 
Okay, I gotta chime in on homebrew 'trigger jobs'. The best is simple - dry-fire the poop out of your new S&W. Make sure it is clean inside - and add a little lube (oil). The best way is to flood innards with RemOil aerosol - with the sideplate removed - and add a drop of gun oil (I like Kleenbore Formula 3.) on the axles and wear surface. If you are squeamish at all, just use the little tube and get it in everywhere without removing said sideplate - hand, bolt, trigger, hammer, etc - wrap the gun in clean paper towels and shake. If any dark residue, actual metal, appears from one of the openings, repeat. Dry the outside - and dry-fire 1,000+ times, changing hands often... and wrap the blister from the sharp edges before it pops! Repeat the RemOil flush and lube, however you first did it. The trigger will be smoother... and, appear to require less effort, although your finger may just be that much stronger.

About softer hammer springs in that .45 ACP - if you use commercial ammo, and cannot insure you will have Federal primers, don't lessen the hammer spring strength! If you ever may want to compete with it - or ultimate follow-up speed shooting is important - don't change the trigger rebound spring - even Wolff and, I believe, J.M. will caution you about this. Mine has a reduced effort hammer leaf - but I reload solely with Federal primers. Don't forget, the strain screw, at the bottom front of the gripframe under the stock, secures and pre-loads the hammer leaf spring - it is not an 'adjustment' leave it tight!

My 625JM was great as-delivered - and only slightly improved after break-in with the spring change. I have had a couple of ftf's even with the Federals, but the gun was dirty - and so were the moonclips. They have all gone boom the second time, however. Any separation of the clip from the cylinder back/ejector star is liable to cause the primer to misfire, as some of it's energy is used in pushing the combo home. This can be caused by crud on the moonclip, a warped moonclip, or crud under the ejector star - particularly where the ejector rod atteaches - clean carefully. I like the nylon bristle M16 style brushes or my wife's toothbrush, depending on my mood. I soak the moonclips in lacquer thinner to remove the crud.

BTW - I love the stocks - mine look like plain Jane walnut, yours look like pao ferro - really nice. If you want a HiViz front sight, it takes the same one as the 629 classic with the spring-loaded sight mount - $35 from S&W. Have fun!

John ( aka Stainz)
 
I think i would go with teh 625jm i have a craving for one and it will problem be added to next years want list as i think im done buying for this year well see :)
 
Thanks John/Stainz... Yeah, went shooting yesterday and I'm very pleased. Shot 72 rounds of Lancer standard 230 grain FMJ and then 42 rounds of Lancer 185 grain JHP. Sighted it in nicely. When offhand, my first few shots were single action but then went to double action for most of my shoting. As I already wrote, so far I'm really pleased with this revolver. I've also dry fired what I estimate to be around 500 double-action pulls of the trigger so far. It's been recommended I use snapp caps if i'm going to dry fire a lot and though I don't know if that's a concern, I'm using snap caps in a moon clip to just to be sure and to practice quick reloading.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm definitely cleaning, lubing, and dry firing to smooth things out the best I can. I'm not going to change springs. I am going to shoot and dry fire some more and then decide if I want to spend the money for a S&W action job. I just might do that just because I want to. I'm sure some will encourage me to do so while others will tell me I'm wasting my money.

I love the grips. Mike Tilley of PDHSC (my local range/shop owner) says that the reason JM likes the smooth grips is for faster shooting. Easier to get the grip you want and while shooting and reloading, and the recoil pushes your hand into the proper position. True or not, it makes sense to me. I used to shoot my GP-100 with Hogues that I put on it. I figured it gave me a more certain grip. Well, it did, but now that I'm a bit more experienced, I'm back to the original Ruger grips and the happier for it.

As for the sight, the JM has the front sight pinned, though obviously easy to swap. The HiViz is a possibility, but the stock, gold bead front sight is pretty darn nice.

This Smith is a keeper! :D

Frandy
 
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