625

[Nightcrawler]

Hello everyone. It's been a good while since I've posted, but things have been hopping. I'm now the supervisor of the base's main gate, and I'm going to be promoted before too long.

Anyway, I'm seriously considering a S&W 625 in .45ACP when I get home. I've thought about various .357s, and have almost talked myself into them, but man...I like .45s, and no revolver will go better, I don't think, with my Colt Gov't Model than a 625.

So I've got to ask, what are you preferances in this gun? 5" or 4"? How does the 5" full underlug balance?

What kind of muzzle velocities are you getting (you've got a longer usable barrel vs. an autoloader, but the cylinder gap)? What're your favorite pet loads for this gun (both ACP and AR loads)?

How do you carry your spare moonclips? I think, for serious or duty use, a hardshelll moonclip holder would be best. If you fell, had to crawl, etc., you wouldn't want to risk bending up your moonclips. Heck, if you were an engineering whiz, you could probably design a moonclip dispenser that acted like an oversized magazine, held four clips (24 rounds), and sat nicely on the belt.

 

[fiVe]

Nightcrawler,

I have no clue as to how to answer your question, but it sure is good to hear from you!!

How are things on the other side of the globe?


R/fiVe (Oops. Didn't mean to hijack your thread....)

 

[GrandmasterB]

I have a 4" 625. If you think you would use it for IDPA competition, the 5" model is illegal, so you would have to get the 4".

The shoot a moon moonclip holders from Brownells and www.moonclips.com work very well. Bladetach also makes some, and some people recommend regular speedloader pouches where you can carry two moonclips per pouch.

I can't speak much to velocity. My 625 is a gamer gun primarily with low power loads for IDPA and 165 power factor loads for USPSA -- both of which are still lighter than typical 230gr "hardball" factory loads.

But I can say that it is one "sweet shootin' wheelgun"! I have shot faster Bill Drills with my 625 than a full blown STI wide-body, long dustcover, tungsten guide rod, 2lb trigger, Limited gun!

 

[Brian Williams]

If you are going to carry it alot look at the 325s otherwise look at the 3 or 4" 625s

 

[Lofland]

GrandmasterB, have you had any work done on your trigger?

 

[GrandmasterB]

Yes. Trigger job and cylinder holes chamfered by Teddy Jacobson, www.actionsbyt.com

 

[grendelbane]

So I've got to ask, what are you preferances in this gun? 5" or 4"? How does the 5" full underlug balance?

I recently bought a 5" 625-8. I like the way the full underlug barrel balances. If I were going to carry it on a full time basis, or as a CCW, I would seriously consider the 4" barrel instead.

My 5" clocks almost as fast as most 5" Gov't models I have tested. 800 vs. 840 fps, for example. Never had an opportunity to shoot a 4" model, so I have no experience with it.

My 625 handles +P type loads quite well. It is probably the most accurate 50 yard handgun I own. Others might do a little better closer up, but the 625 shines at 50 yards. I would like to see what it would have done when my eyes were 20 years younger.

Get one, you won't regret it.

 

[B36]

Bopught my son a 5" that he carries in a Kramer cross draw. He also has a 325. Loves both.

 

[SDC]

The "twin moonclip holders" here (https://tp-commerce.techpro.com/moonclips/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=36&cat=Holders) are interesting; they hold 2 loaded clips in the space of one, and the top one locks in the bottom one until you pull it out to use it.

 

[Atticus]

Here's mine sporting a 5" barrel (added for hunting regs). I also have a 3" for it. Both balance quite nicely, but I imagine the 4" would be about right. I don't have a chrono, but the AA load data I use indicates 1346 fps with a 185 gr Nosler HP. Oh yeah...it's a Clark Rowland conversion.
It's a little bigger than I care to carry for self defense purposes...even with the 3" on it. But it's a hoot....I love it.

 

[Ankeny]

GrandmasterB:

Wow, faster Bill Drills with a wheelgun. I assume from your user name you have a GM card? Just curious, what kind of splits are you getting? I have cranked out a lot of Bill Drills in the 1.7-1.75 range with a bottom feeder, but have never come close with a revolver.

 

[Lofland]

GrandmasterB, I really want a gun exactly like yours, it seems to be the best option for competition. I've heard great things about Teddy Jacobson's work. How much did the trigger job cost? How heavy is the DA trigger pull now? I'm wondering if the front sight is a Dawson Precision fiber-optic. What holster do you use for IPSC/IDPA? I bet that even with the trigger job, this would cost a lot less than a high-end 1911.Thanks!

 

[Maxer51tx]

I just bought a 5-inch. The gun definitely lives up to its reputation. I handled a 4-inch at a gun show this past weekend and think the shorter version balances better.

I certainly have no complaints about mine but will add a 4-inch eventually.

Regarding trigger jobs, brochure that came with mine says S&W will do the trigger, chamfer the chambers, and some other stuff for $148 with a 5-day turnaround guranteed. That's the way I plan to go. And, yes, that would be cheaper than a high-end 1911.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Good to hear from you. Sounds like your gig over there in sandy-land is going well.

I have a 5" S&W 625. It just hangs there on target, balance is perfect. That said, if I was going to CCW one I'd prefer a 4" or even a 3" model. Them N-Frames is big.

 

[Ktulu]

I have a 4" 625. If you think you would use it for IDPA competition, the 5" model is illegal, so you would have to get the 4".

Crawla, I bought mine with a 4" barrel specifically for the reason listed above. I can't comment on the 5" model but I like my 4" gun a lot.

EDIT: Upon further review all of GrandmasterB's comments mirror my experience with the gun. Except of course for the part about bill drills. I just can't shoot a DA trigger like I can a SA. I know, practice, practice, practice.

 

[GrandmasterB]

Wow, faster Bill Drills with a wheelgun. I assume from your user name you have a GM card? Just curious, what kind of splits are you getting?

Ron, I don't have a GM card. I am a lowly "C" shooter. The login name is a nickname that predates my participation in USPSA. For me, the wheelgun is just faster right now.

How much did the trigger job cost? How heavy is the DA trigger pull now? I'm wondering if the front sight is a Dawson Precision fiber-optic. What holster do you use for IPSC/IDPA?

I can't remember the details on the trigger job pricing as this was a couple of years ago. Teddy has a price list on his website. The DA pull is 7lbs and very smooth. I have read recently that Randy Lee at www.apextactical.com is doing AMAZING things with S&W triggers -- some below 3.5lbs DA!!

The front sight is the SDM fiber optic and I have the Jack Weigand rear blade too. It makes the rear sight resemble a Bo-Mar, which I like very much.

Holster for IDPA is the KyTac RevoQuick: www.kytac.com

Holster for USPSA is the Aluminator: www.aluminator.com

Oh, and as for the price -- I bought the gun used. Even after the trigger and chamfer work and the new sights, I have less than $900 in the gun + moonclips + holster + moonclip carriers, which is WAY cheaper than a "high-end" 1911.

 

[Ankeny]

GrandmasterB:

I know what you mean about a wheelgun being faster. I have actually shot a few classifiers faster with a 6.5 inch Model 610 than I did with my single stack. The difference was the first shot and the transitions. I have a 25-2 that I need to get going.