S&W 625-3 .45 Colt: New to Me Purchase...Paid Too Much???

[Southern Shooter]

I recently fell prey to my friendly LGS. I walked in to just look and chat. And, ended up dropping more cash AFTER I swore off buying for a while.

Did I pay too much???

-S&W 625-3
-.45 Colt
-"45 Cal Model of 1989" lasered on the barrel
-outside of pawl mark on the cylinder there are no other blemishes on the gun
-included was 100 handloads of 250 grain cast bullets
-Total out the door: $700.00

P.S.
The trigger on this gun is the smoothest, easiest trigger that I have ever operated.

 

[hoghunting]

Obviously you were happy with the gun in its condition, the ammo and the price so that's all that matters.

 

[WC145]

I'd say you did okay, $700 is a decent price and it looks like the gun is in excellent shape. Not a lot of those around, if I was in the market for a .45LC N frame I would be happy with that deal.

 

[dprice3844444]

go to gunbroker and look up smith n frames and see what they go for

 

[Baba Louie]

Great find, those '89s.

Let us know how well it shoots.

 

[HexHead]

Hmmm, I wouldn't shoot hand loads of unknown origin.

 

[bikemutt]

Around here, with 9.5% sales tax, I'd have to find one selling for $640 in order to land it for $700 OTD. That sort of deal would be virtually impossible to find at a LGS in these parts so I'd say you done good, enjoy it!

 

[savit260]

IMO $700 OTD for just the gun isn't a smoking deal, but not a bad deal either. It's about what I'd expect to pay for one of those without a ton of price haggling. Given the price of 45 Colt ammo, that makes for a better sounding deal, but I'd be I'd think LONG and hard about shooting unknown reloads. Might be worth pulling the bullets and reloading the powder yourself just to be safe.

Factoring in 100 pieces of brass/bullets/primers into the mix, I'd put that whole package into the "decent deal" category.

Nice gun.. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.!

 

[PabloJ]

If the gun is .45Colt not .45ACP you did well for yourself. The .45 Colt makes revolver very worthwhile proposition. Congratulations.

 

[bannockburn]

I think you did very well at $700 OTD for a nice Model 625 like that. I too would be quite cautious about using handloads of unknown origin. For now enjoy your new Smith with factory ammo.

 

[Hansli]

No, you did well.

 

[Gordon]

The gun in that condition would be $900+ here, IF you could find it. Real nice piece, enjoy it.

 

[Jaymo]

Ooh, full underlug.
Nice.
All the N frames I've shot had good, but average, triggers if they were factory.
The N frames I've shot that had fantastic triggers were Custom Shop guns, or had trigger jobs.
The trigger pull that you can get on an N frame with a good trigger job has to be felt to be believed.
I shot a 610 that had a trigger as you described. It made my buddy's 1990s model 629 trigger feel like a factory J frame trigger, in comparison.
Hard cast wide flat nosed bullets in the 250 grain range, running about 1,000 fps should do nicely for an all around hog hunting load for you. soft cast bullets at the same velocity would do well for deer.



My personal verdict is that if that gun had been in my local fun store, I would have bought it and run like hell, before the store owner changed his/her mind.

Just remember not to shoot the "Ruger Only" loads through it.
You can load hotter ammo than what a Colt SAA or Taurus Judge were designed to use, but not as hot as what a Ruger can handle.

That 686-like full underlug really looks good on an N frame. Ya done good.

 

[Onmilo]

$700 for a pre lock,,,, Nope, you did just fine.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Nice deal.

If it were me, I'd pull those bullets and reload them with my own powder. Even if they are good-quality loads they may have been loaded for use in a different gun, and may be hotter than the Smith would like.

 

[ghitch75]

i would have gave 700 for it......nice find!!!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I must be getting old because IMO that's a lot of money for a used M625.

I would be much more comfortable in the $500 range.

 

[420Stainless]

I've never even seen the stainless versions in .45 Colt. I don't know how common they are, but I'm thinking they aren't all that plentiful.

 

[BYJO4]

You bought a very nice revolver and the price was definitely in line.

 

[Jaymo]

I meant to say Performance Center, NOT Custom Shop.
I had Colt on the brain.

 

[Southern Shooter]

Handloaded Bullets---Load Data Question

I was able to talk with the guy that loaded the bullets and I pulled a couple to verify what he said.

-250 Grain Cast Bullet
-7.5 grains of Green Dot

Anybody ever use that load?

 

[OleReb]

I would have bought it,nice gun in a great caliber. Enjoy It!!. As for the reloads I wouldn't risk it,i don't even shoot my close friends reloads,its just not worth the risk personally.

 

[Gordon]

Nice mellow 800 fps load

 

[Lucky Derby]

I would have jumped at that. And it's good that you got to talk to the guy that loaded the ammo.

 

[Fishslayer]

In my area that beauty wouldn't have lasted long at $700. I jelly!