.45 Auto Rim?
- Thread starter jski
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mcb
Member
I don't believe there are since S&W is taking a break from making the 625 in 45 ACP. But why would you want to use 45 AR when there are moonclips and 45 ACP. 
A S&W 625 would not be hard to find used if you look around.
A S&W 625 would not be hard to find used if you look around.
Speedo66
Member
If the S&W 625 uses .45acp with moon clips, wouldn't auto rim work?
jar
Contributing Member
Works just fine. I use 45AR in my 1917 based wheelies because I stole all the 45acp out of my moon clips to use in my new 45acp pistols. I had several boxes of 45ar from decades ago and until 45acp prices come down a little more will just re-purpose what I had on hand.
mcb
Member
Yes but OP asked about currently being manufactured and S&W is not currently making any versions of the 625 in 45 ACP. No doubt they will make another batch in a few years. I suspect with USPSA changing its rules dethroning the 625 as king of the revolver division the 625 is going to get a treatment much like the 610 has gotten. Its going to be a model that S&W makes in modest batches every few years.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Because with 45 AutoRim you don't have to mess with moon clips. That is why it was invented. Just pop the rounds into the chamber like any other revolver round, and eject them like any other revolver round.
Tallinar
Member
I came into possession of an old Webley Mk VI that my grandfather carried in Europe. It had been rechambered for .45 ACP. Several years back, my dad and I loaded up some light .45 Autorim loads for it. Was a pleasure to shoot.
The cylinder lockup on this thing is a bit looser than I'm comfortable with, or I'd probably still be shooting it. Maybe there's some work that could be done to bring it back into good order. Just haven't explored it.
The cylinder lockup on this thing is a bit looser than I'm comfortable with, or I'd probably still be shooting it. Maybe there's some work that could be done to bring it back into good order. Just haven't explored it.
Starter52
Member
Also, .45 AutoRim brass is eternal. That stuff never wears out. I've been shooting the same 200 cases for decades.
dickydalton
Member
I've got a 1917 S&W Commercial 45 AR that went to England so it's covered with British proof marks. Nice old shooter.
I have a S&W 625 that I just inherited … perfect condition. And I also just ordered AR brass from Starline. So I went to the S&W website to look up my gun and couldn’t find it. Just curious.I don't believe there are since S&W is taking a break from making the 625 in 45 ACP. But why would you want to use 45 AR when there are moonclips and 45 ACP.
A S&W 625 would not be hard to find used if you look around.
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mcb
Member
Excellent, now go over and order a pile of 625 moonclip from Ranch Products and have fun!
http://ranchproducts.com/shop.html
nofendertom
Member
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jski---Aren't the Smith 625 guns all stainless ? Since your gun has THE HOLE it might be a later Mod 25 in the CLASSIC series or one that was made for a distributor.
mcb
Member
Hard to tell from the picture is that a blue steel or stainless gun? Look under the crane what is the model number 25 or 625 and what is the dash after it? Either way S&W made both 25's and 625's with the internal lock.
The more I look at it the more it looks like a blued steel gun, and I believe all the short barrel 625 came with full underlug barrels. I would bet that is actually a S&W 25-14.
The more I look at it the more it looks like a blued steel gun, and I believe all the short barrel 625 came with full underlug barrels. I would bet that is actually a S&W 25-14.
Riomouse911
Member
Model 25-14 is my vote, too. It certainly isn’t a 625, unless its mismarked.
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
mcb
Member
Each to his own, but for a fast reloading a revolver its hard to beat the combination of 45 ACP on moonclips. You should at least buys a few moonclips and try it. Assuming you already own some 45 ACP a few moonclips are a small investment.
DC Plumber
Member
So, I have two revolvers that shoot 45 auto, a 25-2 and A 625-3 model of 1989. I also have a 1911 in 45 Auto. I bought a hundred pieces of Auto rim and it was a lot of dinking around compared to my Progressive that now loads ammo for three guns. I know it's a hard leap to take but spend $75 or so and by yourself a moon loading and unloading device and when you go to the range you will be so happy how fast you can load and reload it just takes all the hassle away. I was dead set on auto Rim brass until my buddy really worked me over and I got a tool and it is the only way to go in my opinion. I still have 100 pieces of AR brass and I load those up once in awhile with something that I don't want to change my Progressive over to and it's fine for experimenting but moon Clips are the way to go.
lee n. field
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Given that I've only ever seen one Autorim cartridge in my life, I'd say you're probably best not to go that direction.
Explain? I have two options: a) AR brass or b) 45ACP brass + moonclips. Why is one better than the other?
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
One is not better than the other, they were developed for different purposes. The Smith and Wesson Model 1917 could fire 45 ACP ammo with or without clips. The chambers were designed to headspace the ammunition on the case mouth, so if no clips were used, the extractor could not grab the spent cases. That is why the revolvers were issued with ammo with moon clips. If shooting 45ACP without clips, the ammo could be fired, however empty brass would have to be poked out of the chambers with a stick. Trust me on this, I have done it. The Colt Model 1917, on the other hand, did not always headspace the ammo on the case mouth, some of the early ones had chambers bored all the way through and without a clip to hold the ammo in place, the firing pin might shove the ammo forward without firing it. So clips were a necessity for the Colt Model 1917.
After WWI a lot of these revolvers were surplussed out. Civilian shooters might or might not have access to moon clips, so in 1920 Remington developed the 45 AutoRim cartridge, with its extra thick rim, that could be chambered in the S&W Model 1917 or the Colt Model 1917. Since the AutoRim cartridge headspaces on the rim, no clip is necessary, and the extractors can grab the rims to extract the spent brass.
Any Smith and Wesson revolver with a 6 for the first digit in the model name is a Stainless Model.
The Model 60, the 38 Chiefs Special Stainless was the first of these in 1965. This one shipped in 1975.
I went there too. It looks like S&W is not making any revolvers chambered for 45 ACP right now.
The Model 25 is a little bit quirky. Some were chambered for 45 Colt, some were chambered for 45 ACP. They are not interchangeable, each gun will only chamber one of those cartridges, not the other.
The revolver at the top of this photo is a Model 25-3, chambered for 45 Colt. It left the factory in 1977. The revolver at the bottom of the photo is a Model 1955 Target, chambered for 45 ACP. It left the factory in 1955.
The next two photos should give a comparison of the space behind the cylinder for the appropriate cartridge. Notice how there is more space behind the cylinder in this Model 1955 Target, chambered for 45 ACP.
This is the Model 25-3, chambered for 45 Colt.
This S&W Model 1917 shipped in 1918. It came with an almost full box of 45ACP loaded onto Half Moon clips. The ammo shipped in 1918 too.
Here is a photo of the same Model 1917 with some of my 45 AutoRim reloads. I use Starline brass, and 45 AutoRim can be loaded with 45 ACP data.
A close up on the space behind the cylinder. The space is about .100, which allows for the .090 thick rims of the AutoRim cartridge.
The bottom line is, if you expect to compete in any of the steel matches, which are timed, 45ACP with clips is probably a better choice because you can reload quicker with clips than popping in individual cartridges.
If on the other hand, if you don't need to reload quickly, and don't want to be bothered with stuffing ammo into clips, 45 AutoRim is an excellent choice.
As I said earlier, you can use standard 45 ACP data to load 45 AutoRim.
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lee n. field
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My point is, .45 ACP is very common. .45 Autorim, very much not. Go with what's far easier to get.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Granted, I do not recall ever seeing factory 45 AR ammo on the shelf in any gun shop.
Yes, 45 ACP is very common.
But if the shooter plans to handload, Starline makes brass for 45AR, and it is currently in stock.
Other than needing a different shell holder for 45 AR, loading it is the exact same as loading 45 ACP. The same dies can be used, but a 45 Auto Rim shell holder or shell plate will be required, the shell holder or shell plate for 45 ACP cannot be used with 45 AR.
Trust me on this, I have done it.
Yes, 45 ACP is very common.
But if the shooter plans to handload, Starline makes brass for 45AR, and it is currently in stock.
Other than needing a different shell holder for 45 AR, loading it is the exact same as loading 45 ACP. The same dies can be used, but a 45 Auto Rim shell holder or shell plate will be required, the shell holder or shell plate for 45 ACP cannot be used with 45 AR.
Trust me on this, I have done it.
Tried looking up the serial number on:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/repaired_serials/index.php
… but got: “The Serial number that you entered is not valid for this Consumer Advisory”
https://www.smith-wesson.com/repaired_serials/index.php
… but got: “The Serial number that you entered is not valid for this Consumer Advisory”
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