bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
I want to add to the stable but only in 45, I got enough of the others
School me on some revolvers that chamber 45 acp.
School me on some revolvers that chamber 45 acp.
45 ACP REVOLVERS
- Thread starter bikerdoc
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Old Dog
Member
I have no revolvers in .45 ACP currently. That may change soon. As a big fan of Jerry Miculek (love to see guys my age smoking the youngsters out there on the competition circuit), I have been lusting after a S&W 625 JM myself -- until the other day when I found a 625 Performance Center Model. Didn't care much for the colorful stocks, but the angled underlug (I just don't like the full underlugs on a lot of S&W revolvers, including the JM model), the weight, balance and feel of the thing just made me think this might be my next revolver ... the cylinder's chamfered for moon clips and the lock-up was great. I think some Kim Ahrends finger-groove stocks would look nice on this. It's just a pretty gun too. The MSRP is about $1080, but it appears to be going for just a bit over 900 in my area. I just like the idea of having a revolver that takes one of my two favorite handgun calibers.
I am NOT one who believes that the S&W quality "ain't what it used to be." In fact, I think they're making better guns now than they did back in the '90 and early '00s (especially during the Bangor Punta era). Every new Smith I've bought or handled in the past couple years has been perfect. (Well, except for the damn lock)
I am NOT one who believes that the S&W quality "ain't what it used to be." In fact, I think they're making better guns now than they did back in the '90 and early '00s (especially during the Bangor Punta era). Every new Smith I've bought or handled in the past couple years has been perfect. (Well, except for the damn lock)
Armored farmer
Member
My LGS had one of these with a 5"bbl. .45colt/.45acp would be nice imho.
S&W 625JM is my contribution. I did not care for the Miculek wooden grips, but that was an easy fix with a Hogue monogrip (no finger grooves). Ultra-smooth DA trigger and a nice SA @ under 4 lbs. It seems to be getting smoother with use. 
I reload light recoiling ammo and can shoot this pistol all day-- not much more recoil than a .22.
I replaced the gold bead with a green HiViz f/o front sight that works well for me. The quick change front sight is really nice.
Moon clips are great!
It has been unfailingly accurate and is easy to shoot very good groups. If I was better, it would easily shoot 1-hole groups out to 15 yds or more.
It's about middle of the road as to pricing new. They're very hard to find around here new or used.
My BIL just purchased a very nice 625PC 5" with an even better trigger. We hope to compare them both tomorrow! I plan to give him a run for his money!
I reload light recoiling ammo and can shoot this pistol all day-- not much more recoil than a .22.
I replaced the gold bead with a green HiViz f/o front sight that works well for me. The quick change front sight is really nice.
Moon clips are great!
It has been unfailingly accurate and is easy to shoot very good groups. If I was better, it would easily shoot 1-hole groups out to 15 yds or more.
It's about middle of the road as to pricing new. They're very hard to find around here new or used.
My BIL just purchased a very nice 625PC 5" with an even better trigger. We hope to compare them both tomorrow! I plan to give him a run for his money!
I'm pleased with my S&W 625 JM. I prefer neoprene stocks so the original wood stocks got stored away.
The new Ruger Redhawk or a convertible Blackhawk would be good choices. Ruger makes nice reliable handguns.
If you can find one, an S&W 25-2 would be another good option.
The new Ruger Redhawk or a convertible Blackhawk would be good choices. Ruger makes nice reliable handguns.
If you can find one, an S&W 25-2 would be another good option.
I have three .45 ACP revolvers: a US Army S&W M1917, a Brazilian Contract of 1937 S&W M1917, and a Model of 1950 (4th Model Hand Ejector). I love them all.
If I was looking for a target revolver, I would pick the 1950, though finding one can be challenge. An alternative would be the heavier barreled 1955 / 25-2.
If I was looking for something just to have fun with, it would be the Brazilian. My Brazilian has a flat top rear sight groove, which is a little easier to use than the groove on the US Army M1917. They can still be had for a decent price, unlike the US Army M1917s.
One thing to be aware of with older S&W .45 revolvers is that there can be issues with oversize chamber throats and lead bullets. I only shoot FMJ through mine so I have not had any issues, but I have read of poor accuracy with some of them when using .452 lead bullets.
If I was looking for a target revolver, I would pick the 1950, though finding one can be challenge. An alternative would be the heavier barreled 1955 / 25-2.
If I was looking for something just to have fun with, it would be the Brazilian. My Brazilian has a flat top rear sight groove, which is a little easier to use than the groove on the US Army M1917. They can still be had for a decent price, unlike the US Army M1917s.
One thing to be aware of with older S&W .45 revolvers is that there can be issues with oversize chamber throats and lead bullets. I only shoot FMJ through mine so I have not had any issues, but I have read of poor accuracy with some of them when using .452 lead bullets.
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the Black Spot
Member
Charter arms has one in pitbull configuration
huntsman
Member
^ that's the one that intrigued me the most, I have a S&W gen3 and a Blackhawk convertible but I'd like to add a DA/SA revolver and a compact carry gun makes the most sense for me.
OP I'd recommend the .45Blackhawk convertible I'm having a blast with that gun.
OP I'd recommend the .45Blackhawk convertible I'm having a blast with that gun.
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kBob
Member
Well if you like swingle actions over those new fangled lazy man guns that you don't have to pull the hammer back on, A Ruger Blackhawk in .45ACP is still a Ruger Blackhawk. The convertible does not seem to care if you have the Long or ACP cylinder in it, it just shoots.
Never shot bullseye or groups with my Brazilian 1937/1917 and lead, but eight inch steel plates in a hurry at 15 yards never seemed to notice issues with commercial lead through the gun.
-kBob
Never shot bullseye or groups with my Brazilian 1937/1917 and lead, but eight inch steel plates in a hurry at 15 yards never seemed to notice issues with commercial lead through the gun.
-kBob
I bought a 625-2 in 1989 and it is the most accurate revolver I have ever seen. Everyone who shoots it is amazed. From a Ransom rest it will place 6 rounds in one hole at 17 yards. Bowling pins at 100 yards? All day long. For some reason they got everything right that year. The next year they went into mass production and the accuracy fell way off.
Inebriated
Member
I cast my vote for a .45 ACP single action. All the fun of a .45 ACP revolver without the need for moon clips.
cal44mag
Member
I too like my 625JM. Great workmanship. Accurate. Reliable.
A local gun store also has a Thunder Ranch 45 acp in stock and at a good price. It's a great gun and the frame is Aluminum so it's lighter.
There is also a 45 ACP Performance Center S&W that is similar to the 625JM, but maybe a slighty better action job being from the performance center.
In the past there have been some snubs from S&W in 45 ACP that are nice, but any way you slice it the N frame Smiths are "fat" and big so not the best carry guns. But for target/range the 45 ACP use they are hard to beat.
I have a older 25-2 in 45 ACP as well. It is the previous generation of the 625JM -- designed for competition and target use.
625JM
25-2
A local gun store also has a Thunder Ranch 45 acp in stock and at a good price. It's a great gun and the frame is Aluminum so it's lighter.
There is also a 45 ACP Performance Center S&W that is similar to the 625JM, but maybe a slighty better action job being from the performance center.
In the past there have been some snubs from S&W in 45 ACP that are nice, but any way you slice it the N frame Smiths are "fat" and big so not the best carry guns. But for target/range the 45 ACP use they are hard to beat.
I have a older 25-2 in 45 ACP as well. It is the previous generation of the 625JM -- designed for competition and target use.
625JM
25-2
I've read about accuracy issues with the Redhawk firing 45ACP rounds. With one cylinder for both rounds the 45ACP has a gap between the end of cartridge and the beginning of the cylinder throat.
The better bet is the 45 Colt/45ACP Blackhawk convertible. It has TWO cylinders, one for each round.
Dog Soldier
member
I have owned a S&W Mdl. 25-2 1955 Target HB. These old classics are great handguns.
gotboostvr
Member
I am a huge fan of the 25/625 series. Don't think you can go wrong.
I picked out a 625JM, and put some Ahrends RB Combats on it.
I picked out a 625JM, and put some Ahrends RB Combats on it.
Monac
Member
Around 10 years ago, if I recall correctly, S&W did a run of what it called the Model 22 / Model of 1950. This was a square-butt fixed-sight N-frame with 4 inch lightweight barrel and a shrouded ejector rod in 45 ACP, using moon clips for ejection. It came with pre-World War II style small wooden grips. (The Model 21 / Model of 1950 was the same gun in 44 Special, without the moon clips, of course.)
I thought it was one of the handsomest revolvers I had ever seen, and finally managed to buy a used one for about $900 several years ago. I have no idea if that was a good price or not. The single-action trigger pull on mine is excellent, as light and crisp as a target gun. I don't think the previous owner had it tuned. The double action pull is good too.
I was fortunate in that it shot to point of aim for me, and despite the fact that I dislike heavy recoiling guns (32 Long is more my speed), I found it to be an excellent shooter.
The main problem with it was grips. The little factory grips were very handsome but too small for good control. I guess S&W does not make square-butt N-frames regularly anymore, so the selection of grips was more limited than for a round-butt gun. I finally settled on some old Pachmayrs, but there is room for improvement there.
As shooters, the Model 625s have all the advantages - stainless steel, adjustable sights, a heavier barrel, and a much wider selection of grips. But I simply found that the Model of 1950 re-issue appealed to me more, and it turned out to be a first-rate shooter too.
Before that, I had a Colt 1917. It had been refinished, so although it looked nice, it had no collector value. The SA trigger on it was also excellent, and I think it was definitely tuned. The DA pull was long and heavy. It shot very well, but ONLY with 230 gr FMJ - the bore was a bit rough. I finally sold it because the sights become too small to see with my aging eyes.
PS - this shows what the S&W Model 22 looks like:
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_Model_22
I thought it was one of the handsomest revolvers I had ever seen, and finally managed to buy a used one for about $900 several years ago. I have no idea if that was a good price or not. The single-action trigger pull on mine is excellent, as light and crisp as a target gun. I don't think the previous owner had it tuned. The double action pull is good too.
I was fortunate in that it shot to point of aim for me, and despite the fact that I dislike heavy recoiling guns (32 Long is more my speed), I found it to be an excellent shooter.
The main problem with it was grips. The little factory grips were very handsome but too small for good control. I guess S&W does not make square-butt N-frames regularly anymore, so the selection of grips was more limited than for a round-butt gun. I finally settled on some old Pachmayrs, but there is room for improvement there.
As shooters, the Model 625s have all the advantages - stainless steel, adjustable sights, a heavier barrel, and a much wider selection of grips. But I simply found that the Model of 1950 re-issue appealed to me more, and it turned out to be a first-rate shooter too.
Before that, I had a Colt 1917. It had been refinished, so although it looked nice, it had no collector value. The SA trigger on it was also excellent, and I think it was definitely tuned. The DA pull was long and heavy. It shot very well, but ONLY with 230 gr FMJ - the bore was a bit rough. I finally sold it because the sights become too small to see with my aging eyes.
PS - this shows what the S&W Model 22 looks like:
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_Model_22
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DC Plumber
Member
I have a 25-2 with 6.5 inch barrel. I bought it LNIB. Amazing revolver. I bought the polymer moon clips and put them through the mill during this winters indoor pistol league. A great combo. Plus I can shoot the exact same load out of my Les Baer. My progressive reloader just cranks out 45 auto ammo for these two guns.
Careful with the Ruger. I don't think it uses smith and wesson moon clips.
Careful with the Ruger. I don't think it uses smith and wesson moon clips.
OP
OP
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
that model 22 looks perfect
Blacksmoke
Member
Here is another variation. Comes with a .45 ACP cylinder.
Uberti/Cimarron, 1875 "Outlaw".
click image upload
Uberti/Cimarron, 1875 "Outlaw".
click image upload
Panzerschwein
member
The Webley's that were imported were cut for .45 ACP moon clips. Cool guns. Here is MAC shooting one:
SwampWolf
Member
If I didn't already have one, I'd be haunting the aisles of gun shows looking for a Smith & Wesson Model 25-2/1955 Target in good condition. I've been a hard-core Bullseye competitor all of my life and this revolver is one of my favorite guns of the many I have.
Blacksmoke
Member
I have heard same from others who own 25s. In fact, I never heard anyone say they wish they did not own their 25 or traded it for some other piece.
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