Most Accurate .45 ACP Revolver?

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After a 35-year break, I find myself returning to revolvers. During the past 35 years, I've used an auto-loader, either .45 ACP or 9mm. Recently, I purchased a S&W 642 for my wife, which reminded me of the very first handgun I was issued, a Det. Spl., which was not exactly a fun gun. Oddly enough, the OSI gifted me an S&W Model 19 when I served as an Army counterinsurgency officer in Vietnam. Now that was a fun gun. But I had to return to Old Reliable, the 1911 .45 ACP. In 1985, my agency switched to the 9mm. First, I had a Beretta, then I was issued the SIG P228, which is a fine 9mm. But it is still a 9mm. My personal handguns are auto-loaders in .45 ACP. I won't get away from the .45 ACP, but I'm drawn to a revolver. I prefer S&W, but I am unfamiliar with what's available for .45 ACP as my first revolver. I need to see what you wheel-gunners consider to be the most accurate, reliable .45 ACP revolver. If your choice is a discontinued model, please give me an idea what I should expect to pay for a good-to-excellent used one. Shower the opinions, but include the reason. Thanks.
 
Greeting's Sir-

First, many thanks for your service to our great country.

Now on to your question. I reck'on the Smith N' Wesson model 25 is 'bout
good as it gets in a .45 ACP revolver. Its also one that has eluded me for
many years. It has excellent adjustable target sights, is built on the famed
S&W N-frame, with target trigger and hammer. This weapon has long since
been discontinued; but can still be found in the hands of individuals. Expect
too pay somewhere between $525-600 for one LNIB~!:uhoh: :D
 
"the OSI gifted me an S&W Model 19 when I served as an Army counterinsurgency officer in Vietnam. "

Wow what a long career! I thought the OSI (or are you an AirForce officer?)was replaced by the CIA in the 50's! I was a Staff Sgt. 97B (counterintelligence agent) in Nam in 1969 and 70 for my 2nd tour.I was a linguist E-5 the 67- 68 tour.Both times got a 1911a1. I returned as an intelligence officer in 1971 . I was issued a S&W model 10 .38 snub as an officer in plain clothes. When I returned to Arlington Hall in 1972it was changed to a S&W 12 .38 which certainly helped in civvies.
I never saw an issued Model 19 until I was issued one in 1975 when I joined the DEA. The model 25 was certainly the most accurate .45acp unless you have a Douglas Bull barreled Colt New Service as I do!:)
 
Ops - I would add to Dan's comment and say the M25 Smith is about the ideal. I have a 625-6 - unfortunately a newer gun and it has the dreaded lock but that aside - lovely shooter and well accurate for me. So - not discontinued but - I'd love to find an earlier one.

It uses of course full or half moon clips which if plentiful make for some quick reloads. :) Someone recently found a nice 3" - forget who and what thread it was on right now.

Oh and welcome from me BTW :)


m625-6-01_s.jpg
 
It's not the most accurate but it's classy. I have a Webley Mark VI that was cut to allow .45ACP with moon clips.

The barrel is I think .455 and the .45 is .451 but the revolver feels better than a 1911 when I shoot it. It needs some site work as it shoots about a foot to the left and groups about 4+ inches at 25 yards. I've not had a chance to shoot it but once. :fire:

I like it well enough that I will eventually load custom rounds for it. :D

This is a gallery of thumbnails of photos.
http://mrmeval.is-a-geek.net/~jcaldwel/images/webley/images.html

It's the pistol Indiana Jones had in the third Raiders movie.
 
"...Wow what a long career! I thought the OSI (or are you an AirForce officer?)was replaced by the CIA in the 50's! I was a Staff Sgt. 97B (counterintelligence agent) in Nam in 1969 and 70 for my 2nd tour.I was a linguist E-5 the 67- 68 tour.Both times got a 1911a1. I returned as an intelligence officer in 1971 . I was issued a S&W model 10 .38 snub as an officer in plain clothes. When I returned to Arlington Hall in 1972it was changed to a S&W 12 .38 which certainly helped in civvies."

Gordon, I have had a long career. In 1969 & 1970 I was the 97B equivalent as an Army officer and later retired from the Army in 1985. I ran ops out of Cu Chi and later Tay Ninh. The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) at Ton Son Nhut AFB gave me a Model 19 as a reward for exploiting some of its intelligence. I took a couple of OSI agents with me to the field. A good time was had by all. They didn't get out much. :) I have no idea where those guys got that gun, since they didn't carry it. I didn't carry it to the field much. That wheel gun was impressive in town and other areas if I wasn't likely to get too dirty. Arlington Hall? The agency that was there has been my employer since I retired from the Army. The assets there moved to Bolling AFB in 1984 when a spanking new building was created. A Relatively short time later, Arlington Hall was torn down and given to the locals as was Cameron Station.

Appreciate the feedback about .45 ACP wheelies. The 25 and 625 seem to be the wheelgun of choice. It won't be easy to find a 25, though. I see there is a 625JM. What's the big deal functionally with the JM?
 
My Taurus 4" SS Tracker .45 ACP is very easy to shoot due to its ported barrel and "Gripper" grips which in turn makes it as accurate as I can be, but with a fixed 4" barrel my opinion is thats its hands down more accurate than any Semi-Auto.

I'm sold on the ease of using the "Stellar Clips" which also make great speed loaders. This revolver will function with or without the clips, but reloads are faster w/clips.

The wide variety of .45 ACP is another plus for a Revolver because this Taurus will eat any and all .45 ACP, can't say that about most 45 Semi-Autos.

Here in SW Florida its even comfortable to conceal carry IWB & SOB while wearing shorts and untucked T-Shirt.

Not sure about what to expect on price, don't know if Taurus still produces them, just check online "gunbroker.com" etc. to get a feel for price then hit your local gun shows or have your local FFL dealer track down one.

I've always been a S&W/Colt shooter, but for the price & quality and warranty Taurus is hard to beat. Good Luck
 
I have had a 625JM since 2/05 - and a previous 4" 625-8 from 9/02-6/04. Believe me, they are fine revolvers, despite possessing the dreaded 'Lock'. The JM variant has a spring loaded front sight, actually a gold beaded Patridge, for quick tool-less changes (Standard 625's are pinned.). It also has the 'Jerry Miculek' wood stocks, which really grow on you - especially for a fast grab. The grooved trigger means something to some, but mine - and a friend's - were quickly eased. The hammer and trigger are hard-chromed - and the ejector star's edges are eased, making reloads of RN bullets faster. These changes come at a $28 MSRP premium over a standard rubber-gripped 4" or 5" 625.

A new S&W will also have a lifetime warranty, a great advantage. The 625's are big-bore N-frames that use easily acquired frugal ammo - great combo.

Stainz
 
There is another Miculeck 625 with more differences, the cylinder is shorter to just hold .45 ACP and the underlug is kind of sculpted which brings weight down to somewhere between the standard 625 and the Mountain Gun. Friend of mine has one and it is a fast, handy gun for IDPA. I can't tell any difference in slow fire even though the short cylinder jump is theoretically superior.
 
Monday I went out to the ranage with my most accurate .45 acp revolver, Its a ruger blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel, it has two cylinders that came with it a .45acp, and a .45 Colt. I have been surprised by this gun which I purchased about 6 months ago for $325 new in the box, it was previously owned but apparently never fired by the first owner, and is 2004 production.

I cut off one leg of the trigger return spring which dropped the pull weight of the SA only trigger to 2.5 lbs from the 6 lbs it left the factory with. I added a set of Hogue pearlite cowboy grips.

I can shoot it more acurately than any other .45 I own (several 1911s, and a taurus tracker which is also an excellent revolver), Monday I shot 4 consecutive 50 foot slow fire bullseye targets, 10 shots each and scored over 90 on each.
 
1. You can't beat an S&W Model 25-2. I alternate between one of those and a K-38 for our local DA revolver league. The only caveat is the REQUIREMENT to use Federal primers if you reload. BTW - It seems to LOVE the cheap Winchester Value Pack 230gr. ball that Walmart sells.

2. As far as Zoomies and Model 19s go, I recall reading a book on the USAF, when I was in grade school in the '60s, showing the guards at Cheyenne Mountain carrying 4" Model 19s. When I was in ROTC in the '70s and on active duty in the '80s, female Army MPs who couldn't handle the M1911A1 were issued .38 Special Ruger Police Service Sixes.
 
Among the older revolvers, the Model 25-2 is king. Mine has a 5” barrel that I consider about ideal. Among the current production revolvers, I prefer the 625-8JM. I like the removable front sight. I can live with the grooved trigger, and I changed out the grips. I don’t pay attention to the lock and it doesn’t pay attention to me.
 
All my model 25's and 625's are good shooters, but the V-comp is the best.

625_Vcomp_l.jpg

Hard to find, but worth the effort.

Good Luck...

Joe
 
.45 ACP revolvers

The 625 in 4" configuration is readily available new currently, either as a JM or standard. These guns are amazingly accurate. Some 3"ers have been made in the past and turn up occasionally. I have one customized as a carry gun. Model 25s are mostly found in 6" barrel length although a number of them were customized into short barrel PD weapons.

It all boils down to the use you intend. For target shooting, the 6" 25-2 is king. For PD, the 4" 625s are the ticket and they also are legal for IDPA ESR class.

Bob.
 
Just get a S&W 625 5" and call it a day.

46837211-M.jpg
 
EYE-CANDY IS STILL ALIVE IN A FORTY-FIVE !!!!!

I am a 45 person. :) Have never :scrutiny: looked at a revolver for a forty-five. I have done the COLT 1911, RUGER P90, and now a GLOCK 21. Nice serviceable weapons, but not much on looks. :eek: Those pic's are proof positive that looks :uhoh: are still alive with the forty-five. :cool:

Thanks for those nice one's.

Remember: Take a girl shooting - she will love you for it.
 
For sheer accuracy . . . didn't Freedom Arms make up some .454 revolvers with an extra, fitted, .45 ACP cylinder?

Considering the workmanship I've seem in the FA guns, these may well be the most accurate .45 ACP revolvers going.

(Personally, though, my S&W M25 with its 6 1/2 " barrel is pretty doggoned accurate, too.)
 
I love my Taurus Tracker 6" 45. One of the best parts is you don't have to use the stellar clip with it. You can actually just load the rounds directly in the chambers. I bought mine from CDNN for $299+tax+shipping+transfer fee. It still came out to less than $350.
 
SW 625-3, Model of 1989, 5" full lug barrel. Excellent revo and far more accurate than I am.

Chris
 
I just found and purchased a mint condition 29-2 44 magnum. After I bought it however, I wondered if I should have gone the .45acp route in a revolver instead. I only shoot 44 specials in the 29, and 45 ammo is much easier to find than 44 special.
 
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