need help deciding on s&w 325

[Revolver Ocelot]

I'm currently putting my days of semi autos for anything outside of range use behind me and am in the market for a 45 acp revolver.

I have decided that I would like to get a s&w 325 of the 4" variety but need some help deciding.

the 325 pd and the 325 thunder ranch, and would like to hear your opinion on those (or others if you think there is something that will work better). And also I can't seem to find goo holsters either, I would like to carry this gun during the colder months.

Any point in the right direction is greatly appreciated.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

anyone on here own a s&w 325 that has an opinion of it?

 

[Havok7416]

I own the 610 which is the 10mm version of the 625. I realize that it's not quite the same, but I enjoy both of my 610s (one has a 4 inch barrel and the other has a 6 inch). My 4-inch is fairly heavy and I personally won't carry it because of that.

Finding moonclips for the 325 is fairly easy and loading the cylinders is a snap. Make sure to get a Demooner if you buy the gun to help you get the spent rounds out of the moonclips.

As for holsters, the gun is based off the S&W N-frame, so any holster for those should work.

Hope I answered some questions for you.

 

[Rangegod]

I have three S&W 45 ACP revolvers. A 5' 625 Model of 1989, a 4" 625 Mountain Gun and a 2.5" 325PD, which has a Titanium cylinder.

Of the three, my favorite is the Mountain Gun. It has the best combination of size, weight and handling for fast and accurate DA work.

However, if I did not live in south FL, the 325 would be my #1 carry. After I bought my 342 (Al/Ti) in 1999, I started pestering S&W to bring out a LW 45 ACP (Sc/Ti) version. The 325 is everything I'd thought it would be. Unfortunately, I found that even a light weight N-Frame is just too big for the typical Miami dress code. I do often carry either of my LW, 7 round, L-Frames, a 2.5" 386PD (Sc/Ti) or a 242 (Al/Ti) in a Simply Rugged OWB rig.

JAC

 

[aka108]

I have no idea of what a 325 is like but I do shoot a 625 with 5 in barrel. I love the thing. I found I was able to shoot it more accurately the the 1911 I owned awhile back. S&W has always made pretty nice revolvers.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

thus far I have been a ruger guy, I have found that there triggers, though longer than the s&w's, have a trigger that is much easier for me to predict.

I've considered moon clipping my gp100 but for some reason getting a 45 acp revolver just makes more sense to me (correct me if I'm wrong).

When I was looking around those two stood out the most to me in terms of practicality for what I intend to use them for but being their odd shaped barrels (and rails) they seem hard to find a reasonable holster for.

 

[pendennis]

I own a 325 Night Guard. It's a well-built revolver, and I carried for a while, finally going back to a LWT Commander.

The 325NG is accurate, light, and hits where I point it. Recoil is not bad, since it's an N frame, even though it's an alloy. I use moon clips, and have put a few rounds of .45 Auto Rim through it. I still like the moon clips overall.

I didn't care for the "Goodyears" that came on it, so I swapped them out for a set of Ahrends grooved combat grips. I carried it in a Don Hume J.I.T. slide holster.

I think they've been discontinued, so you'll probably have to search a bit. But if you want a .45ACP revolver that's eminently carryable, you'd be hard pressed to do better.

 

[orionengnr]

I owned a 325 about 6-7 years back. I was going through my Scandium phase at the time. I thought it would be the be-all, end-all revolver.

With the wooden grips, the recoil was just enough to be a negative. That was with "real" .45 SD loads, not 200 gr SWCs.

It shot well, and was fun. But I soon realized that it was more difficult to shoot (well), conceal and carry than my 3" 1911.

The mini-1911 also held two more rounds and was easier/quicker to reload, and a spare mag was easier to cart around than a speed loader that was about the diameter of a can of Coke...

The 325 found a new owner (as did, eventually, all of my Scandiums). I do have a M25 in .45LC that I like quite a bit.

 

[ghitch75]

i like my 325PD....i carry and shoot it a lot.....get one you'll like it....

 

[oldrevolverguy]

The Thunder Ranch with the removable picatanny rail meets almost every criteria I can think of for a defensive revolver. I love the gold bead front sight, it truly does pick up any light anywhere close to the shooter. The 4" barrel is ideal for holster carry, pointability and keeping velocities of hollow points up to expandable levels. I LOVE the rail. With a LaserMax Red laser and a Streamlight M3 on board it is an awesome home defense choice. With the rail removed and Hogue round butt grips the revolver conceals beautifully in the Galco Summer Special IWB. Moon clips provide the icing on the cake. My $.02 worth.

 

[jad0110]

The best N Frame holster I've found for me is the Lobo Gunleather IWB holster. I carry a 4" S&W Model 28 it with it on a Beltman bullhide gunbelt and it is relatively comfortable, though I do have to dress around it a bit.