S&W JM 625 Revolver

I did the opposite, but only because I don't like the full underlug much. I think you're going to enjoy it. A .45ACP revolver is a bunch of fun to shoot. Get a bunch of moonclips and a tool for them if you don't already have them.

I'd be interested to hear what you think of the grip when you get it.

If1HitU said:

I went to my LGS,yesterday and order me a S&W JM 625 .45 acp revolver, will pick it up Jan.2,2018.I choose it over the PC 625. Good or bad choice?

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Until yesterday I had both guns. I bought the 625PC because its type of rifling was better for lead bullets. The JM was leading badly with its ECM rifling. Shot great though with jacketed/plated ammo. So the 625PC could be said to be more of a reloader's gun.

Good choice IMHO. I love full under lug barrels. I have a 1989 Model 625 with a 5-inch full underlug. Most fun revolver I have ever own. I almost wish USPSA had not changed the rules so I could still be shooting it as much as I use to. I still shoot the occasion USPSA club match with it just because I like it.

I don't think my 625 had the JM grip as OEM but someone had put the wood JM grip on it by the time it came to me (I am at least the third owner). I shot one match with them is switched to a Hogue grip same as I had been running on my 610. The wood grip made the knuckle at the base of my thumb very sore. I also leave the revolver in my strong hand during reloads, reloading with my weak hand, so I don't need the smooth grip to help re-grip the revolver after a reload the way Jerry Miculek and other strong hand reloaders do.

Look up Ranch Products for moonclips. TK Custom is top of the line especial for 38/357 but far more expensive than needed for a 625. The 625 is very very forgiving on moonclips (as are most revolvers chambered in rimless cartridges) and Ranch Product moonclips are supper affordable. Last time I ordered several years ago from them I bought 100 moonclips for $85.

Get a good holster and some moonclip holders and find a local USPSA or IDPA match and go show the bottom feeders how its done with a noble round gun!

I don't compete, just shoot for fun. So I'm no expert on what a competition shooter would need. But I use the RIMZ 25 and RIMZ 625 polymer moonclips. I can't remember which, but one model is softer than the other. Both can be loaded and unloaded by hand with little effort. They are indestructable. He used to boast a "drop guarantee", where he drops a loaded clip on the ground and none of the rounds popped out of the clip. Anyway, he's at http://www.beckhamdesign.com/

Good luck.

If you don't compete and have to make speed reloads, .45 AR brass is a nice option. I don't care for messing around with moon clips, so I just load .45 AR. Only difference in my loading setup with a Dillon 550 is the shell plate. I also use the .45 AR in my modified .45 ACP cylinder in my .45 NMBH. As a range gun option, the small case with small amounts of powder beats the large case with small amounts of powder.

I've been happy with my 625 JM but I do not have any experience with the 625PC.

I got a BMT Equipped mooner/demooner tool. A bit pricey but the cat's meow in efficient use of moon clips.

http://bmtequipped.com/index.php

I have a bunch of moon clips loaded before heading out to the range. When I return home, I demoon then fill each clip ready for the next range session. No physical handling of the moon clip during the process. They are all ready to go for the next range session.

I also have a Model 22 and the moon clips works with it as well.

Can't speak to the choice, but the 625 JM is very nice once you get it gripped to suit.

Brother's had a rough forcing cone but it still shoots lights out, so you might want to check that. He is also planning on chamfering the cylinders to ease moon clip function.

And ditto on the moon clips. The plastic ones work great. Bring'em loaded.




GR

The BMT mooner is the Cadillac of moonclip tools. I love their rimmed cartridge version. I have one from my 627.

For rimless moonclips I use a Deluxe MoonClipTool to put them on and a modified old hollow golf club handle to de-moon my clips. The golf club handle catches the brass into the handle. I can de-moon three clips worth and then I can pour them into the appropriate brass bucket or if they are live rounds onto the table to be reloaded onto fresh moonclips. After a USPSA match you almost always end up with a bunch of partially fired moonclips that need sorted through. The golf club de-mooner makes sorting through these quick and easy. They can be made with a dremel cut-off wheel and an old golf club with a hollow handle.


Cut the handle off at a diameter that fits comfortable over the cartridge you are de-mooning. Leave a raised portion that is about 1/4 - 1/3 of the circumference and about .10-inch high.



Slip it over the cartridge to be de-mooned and allow the raised portion to go up the outside of the cartridge and moonclip. While holding the moonclip in one hand, twist the handle and the raise portion of the golf club handle will hit the moonclip and pry the cartridge out of the clip easily. The freshly removed cartridge will fall into the handle. When the handle is full you pour it out into the appropriate container.

Plano tackle box trays make for excellent loaded moonclip containers. The low ones for 9, 40, 45, 38 Short Colt, deeper ones for 38/357. Protects the moonclips in transport and the large size trays just fit in the magazine pocket on the outside of the a Shooters Connection Tournament Bag.

I like my 625JM but changed the grips for Hogue rubber,

I had the JM version and it came with a set of Hogue rubber grips that I promptly installed. That was the most accurate revolver I have ever owned. I sold it only because I got out of .45 cal guns altogether. I regret that sale to this day.

You’ll love shooting the JM.
I, too, found the wood grips bothered my thumb knuckle and I switched to a hogue monogrip. The finger grooves were not a good fit for me, but I eventually found a hogue monogrip with no grooves. It’s perfect for me.

I hope you reload— you can load .45acp light and make that pistol into an amazing target shooter. Almost like shooting a .22!

Enjoy!

Also put a green HiViz FO front sight on mine. I preferred it to the gold dot that is stock.

625JM owners often find themselves split on the serrated trigger. JM himself prefers a serrated trigger, but many others don't.

Here's an interesting read on the 625JM, btw:
http://www.grantcunningham.com/2007/02/the-smith-wesson-model-625-dilemma/

I love my JM. I did put on a nice set of Hogue wood grips just to keep from marking up the originals. The original grips didn't bother me too much. I plan on keeping it forever.

mcb66 said:

I love my JM. I did put on a nice set of Hogue wood grips just to keep from marking up the originals. The original grips didn't bother me too much. I plan on keeping it forever.

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I like mine too because I can shoot large caliber without flinching and then score on targets like no other big bore, shooting free standing. Those who steer clear of the flinchomatics would also enjoy the 44 Specials sans moonclips.

I like the original JM grip on my 625 JM.

But a lot of people don't like it and switch it out.

Great gun in any case.

It's primarily a range gun, and for competition if I ever get into that.

But it would also be a good home defense gun.

One advantage of 45 acp is that it's just as effective as 357 Magnum in published stats, but it makes a whole lot less noise.

My wife is quite deaf, and I figure we need at least one person in the family that can hear so I want to protect my hearing.