A S&W 25-5, Overthinking, and wisdom from CraigC...

[stanley_white]

I bought a S&W 25-5 not knowing that the N-series serial numbers likely had oversized throats.

The gun arrived and sure enough a bullet falls through each chamber of the cylinder as fast as gravity can pull it to the ground.

I read. I fretted. I asked a gunsmith if he could solve my perceived problem and he could.

Reading about oversized throats caused me to also read about the gun possibly shooting high and I thought "I bet I need a .106 rear sight blade too!"

The fretting continued.

While the gunsmith answer to the perceived problem(s) percolated in my head I read some wisdom from @CraigC who said something to the effect of "I remember when people shot guns instead of measured them."

I finally had a chance to test the 25-5 today and it did the below from a sandbag rest at seven yards. One load was a Federal 225 grain LSWCHP and the other was a 255 grain FMJ from PrecisionOne.

Bottom Line: This is good enough for my needs and I need to read and think less and shoot more.

Thank you @CraigC!

-Stan

 

[gotboostvr]

Shoot first, address problems as needed.

I've gotten in the habit of buying a new gun and immediately looking into upgrades. New triggers and sights and grips etc before even shooting it. I've imposed a 100rd+ before changing anything rule since.

 

[stanley_white]

Shoot first, address problems as needed.

I've gotten in the habit of buying a new gun and immediately looking into upgrades. New triggers and sights and grips etc before even shooting it. I've imposed a 100rd+ before changing anything rule since.

Yep.

I should no better by now, but apparently I am still ripe for a relapse.

-Stan

 

[stanley_white]

Oh, and by "test" I mean gave it to a friend to test as I am home bound due to my family's COVID19 risk calculus.



-Stan

 

[rabid wombat]

Oh, and by "test" I mean gave it to a friend to test as I am home bound due to my family's COVID19 risk calculus.



-Stan

Remember the other person’s toys problem....like golf clubs, guns, cars, and etc...they always work better in someone else's hands....just because you friend can shoot clover leafs with it does not mean it will do the same for you. We all know inanimate objects aren’t inanimate...

 

[MaxP]

I always marvel at those who buy a new revolver and immediately whip out the pin gauges, calipers, etc., and declare their disappointment at XYZ manufacturer because their brand new gun is “out of spec.” I always immediately ask: How does it shoot? This is usually met with silence as the new gun owner admits to have never shot it.

Gentlemen, shoot them first before you declare them out of spec.

 

[murf]

that oversized throat thing applies to lead bullets and barrel leading/inaccuracy. run some xtp bullets through that thing and don't worry about it.

the pic of the targets is informative, but a pic of your gun will be enjoyable [hint, hint].

luck,

murf

 

[stanley_white]

that oversized throat thing applies to lead bullets and barrel leading/inaccuracy. run some xtp bullets through that thing and don't worry about it.

the pic of the targets is informative, but a pic of your gun will be enjoyable [hint, hint].

luck,

murf

As you wish!

-Stan

 

[MaxP]

Very nice!

 

[murf]

beautimuous! that is a pinned barrel. does the cylinder have recessed chambers?

murf

 

[stanley_white]

beautimuous! that is a pinned barrel. does the cylinder have recessed chambers?

murf

Pinned but not recessed.

I don't think a 25-5 in 45LC was ever recessed.

-Stan

 

[fourteenthdee]

She's a shooter.

Not pictured in those targets is the 25 hitting its stride after the wadcutters.

 

[murf]

Pinned but not recessed.

I don't think a 25-5 in 45LC was ever recessed.

-Stan

just checking. as far as i know, the 357 magnum and 44 magnum are the only s&w revolvers (and the k22, but that doesn't count) that came pinned and recessed. i guess s&w didn't want old balloon-head cases to blow out when loaded to magnum pressures.

nice gun,

murf

 

[whughett]

The 25-9 doesn’t but both the 27-2 and the 29-4 will pass both jacketed and lead. I’ve owned and shot these for decades with out knowing that.

 

[stanley_white]

She's a shooter.

Not pictured in those targets is the 25 hitting its stride after the wadcutters.

Gentlemen -- meet my Stunt Shooter.



-Stan

 

[bangswitch]

I bought a S&W 25-5 not knowing that the N-series serial numbers likely had oversized throats.

The gun arrived and sure enough a bullet falls through each chamber of the cylinder as fast as gravity can pull it to the ground.

You didn't say, what were you feeding it, .45Auto, or .45 Colt? The M25 is different in that the series number determines the cartridge used. Even dash number guns are .45Auto, odd dash numbers are .45 Colt

beautimuous! that is a pinned barrel. does the cylinder have recessed chambers?

Pinned but not recessed.
I don't think a 25-5 in 45LC was ever recessed.

as far as i know, the 357 magnum and 44 magnum are the only s&w revolvers (and the k22, but that doesn't count) that came pinned and recessed.

Only the magnum caliber revolvers had a recessed cylinder (not counting the .22RF models) That would have been the Pre-M27 and its offspring (M27, M28), the M57 and M29 N-frame guns, and the M19 and M66 K-frame guns. Both features (pinned barrel and recessed cylinder) were dropped from all models in 1982, so a particular dash number for those features can be different for different models. For instance, the M28-2, M27-2 and M29-2 were P&R, but the dash-3 was not. The M57 was P&R, but the dash-1 was not. The M66-1 was P&R, but the dash-2 was not, the M19-4 was P&R, but the dash-5 was not.

 

[Gordon]

I agree , of course if casting your own bullets then adjust the diameter

 

[25-5]

OP. I always wanted a 25-5, and got one about ten years back. I had no problem. Found out about the oversize cylinder. I got em.
I was taught early to never tell a woman her hips are too big, and applied that principal to my revolver.
It worked. I enjoy shooting it.

 

[.38 Special]

I have had revolvers which should not shoot well but did, and revolvers which should shoot well and did not. If I was in the market for an expensive used revolver which was meant to be extraordinarily accurate, I might bring along my measuring tools and pass on the gun if seemed to have something badly wrong with it. For any other revolver, I'm just going to shoot it and see what it's got to say for itself.

 

[Speedo66]

Could be worse. Undersized chambers could swage the bullet smaller than the barrel diameter, resulting in leading, poor accuracy, etc.

Fixable, but generally money involved to remedy unless you can machine the chambers yourself.

Enjoy your new gun!

 

[GooseGestapo]

My M25 Mountain Gun does indeed have slightly large throats. Shoots splendid however, with bullets sized .454”.

I fixed the shooting high by replacing front sight with slightly taller sight blade.Its in my avatar. It’s stainless, lighting makes it look dark...

 

[stanley_white]

You didn't say, what were you feeding it, .45Auto, or .45 Colt? The M25 is different in that the series number determines the cartridge used. Even dash number guns are .45Auto, odd dash numbers are .45 Colt

45 Colt by God!



-Stan

 

[bangswitch]

45 Colt by God!
-Stan

I was having a huge brain fart when I read the initial post. When I read "bullet", my mind was seeing "cartridge", and I thought, a shouldered case falls straight through the chamber? Now, THAT's an oversized chamber! In any case, what did the gunsmith have to do to corrct the problem? Find a new cylinder?

 

[stanley_white]

I was having a huge brain fart when I read the initial post. When I read "bullet", my mind was seeing "cartridge", and I thought, a shouldered case falls straight through the chamber? Now, THAT's an oversized chamber! In any case, what did the gunsmith have to do to corrct the problem? Find a new cylinder?

I pondered having the problem corrected before I confirmed whether or not there was actually a problem, which was stupid of me. Luckily, I don’t have a problem.

Since you cannot purchase 45 Colt cylinders for S&W 25s the best option was to buy a 44 Magnum cylinder for a S&W Model 29 and have it drilled from .429 to .451-.452. First, I had several reputable gunsmiths say that this project was not something they wanted to take on or that they were not equipped for this work. When I finally found someone who could do the work, the work plus the cost of the cylinder and not counting shipping to and from was going to be over $500.

And yes, I did call S&W who claimed they were not taking on work due to COVID19.

Bottom Line: Shoot first then solve a problem if there is one or else you may spend money for no reason.

-Stan

 

[cfullgraf]

I have two N-prefix serial numbered Model 25-5. Both shoot better than I and neither have ever had a pin gauge in them.

Back in the early 1980's when I was shooting IHMSA handgun silhouette I had to press my 6" Model 25-5 into service for a match. Once I figured out the hold over for the 200m rams, I hit them quite regularly during the match.