S&W 625 feedback

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sothoth

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I have two 45's, a 1911 and a Glock 30sf. At the risk of starting a fight, I have decided to sell my 1911 because I'm not a fan of the platform. It's not that I don't appreciate a 1911, it's that I've never gotten good shooting it, the takedown and cleaning is (relatively) a PITA, etc etc.

I'm considering a S&W 625 because I like that caliber (45) and I dig revolvers. Any feedback on how they shoot? I have a S&W 627 and LOVE IT. Will the 625 be similarly fun and accurate? Any other feedback on it?
 
I have a 625-6 Mountain Gun, and I love it!!

Just the speed-loading with moon clips is reason enough to own one.

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rc
 
My 625JM is outstanding! SA trigger is at 3 lbs 14 oz and very smooth in SA & DA. I agree w/RC--the moon clips are great! You won't be sorry!
 
Is the recoil easy to manage? Although I don't generally find 45s to give me much trouble, some are of course better than others. My 627 is super soft shooting probably because of the weight and ergos and hope the 625 is similar in this respect
 
Well, it don't bother me, and I'm old old man.

The .45 ACP puts out 175 ft lb less energy (539 vs 352) then the .357, so recoil is more a push then a slap.

The .45 is also MUCH easier on the ears!!

rc
 
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I have both a 625 and a 627
Both with 4" barrels
I've shot both with the same set of grips and sights.
The 627 with 38's is the lightest recoil.
The 625 with 230gr ball is a bit more.
The 627 with 357 Magnums had the snappiest recoil notably.
 
gotboostvr said:
I have both a 625 and a 627
Both with 4" barrels
I've shot both with the same set of grips and sights.
The 627 with 38's is the lightest recoil.
The 625 with 230gr ball is a bit more.
The 627 with 357 Magnums had the snappiest recoil notably.
Click to expand...


Good info. I can shoot remarkably well using the 627 and either 357 or 38 so I should be fine with 45
 
RON, false.
The moonclips only help with extraction.
My 625 works just fine without them, I'll have to flick about half the empties out with a finger nail though.
It's not inconvenient at the range unless I'm trying to work on speed.
 
My 625MG is in .45colt. No need for moon clips. Uses conventional speed loaders. No need for tedious de-mooning. Also, capability of a little bit warmer loads and significantly heavier bullets.
I do have a "shaved" Webley MK II. It uses moon clips, but not able to use factory level .45acp. It's a joy to shoot with a target load with 200 gr SWC. Ejection really is just a "snap" as the ejector reaches its limit, it snaps back into the cylinder allowing the ejected cases and clip to fall away.
Knowing the limitations of the 625 in .45acp going in, I believe you'll be a satisfied owner. I've owned a Ruger RedHawk (too heavy!), Black Hawk (too heavy, not accurate), new model Lipseys special BlackHawk (couldn't warm up to the grip).
Finally, ran across the 625 which is what I really wanted.

I believe if I had a 625 in .45acp, I'd invest in some .45AR brass.
My favorite bullet for the 625mg is the Lee 255gr RFN. I load it to duplicate the original black powder load @ ~950fps (9.0 Unique)
After 140yrs, it still WORKS. Completely penetrates deer.... Front to back!
Jeff Cooper was right. The .45acp really is enough gun.

Added; remember there are several "generations" of Mod 25's and 625's. Some have a shoulder in the chamber allowing the cases to headspace on the case neck. These can be fired w/o clips. Most however have straight through bored cylinders and require AR brass or clips. It's easy to tell by opening the cylinder and looking in the chambers (yeah, I know Smith calls them charge holes...) to see if they're bored through or have a stepped down throat.
 
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Most 625s will run without clips but many of the early production models will not - at least not reliably. Especially the first year Model of 1988 guns. The only way to tell is to try it.
 
I love my 625. Very accurate and fun to shoot. Recoil is very easy to manage with the big N frame. Mine is a JM model and it functions fine without moonclips, but I still use them for 99% of my shooting.


ahrends625_zps9585ef9b.jpg
 
The 625 is an outstanding revolver. I don't like the JM stocks but they're easily changed and that's just personal preference. My 1989 is one of my best guns. If you're going to get into this gun I highly recommend you get some sort of loader/unloader as the clips can be a pain in the posterior. Aside from that if you're a revolver lover, it's hard to imagine a better gun. A relatively low pressure cartridge with highly respectable ballistics and easily tolerable recoil. It's a bit bulky for concealed carry but for field work it's a very pleasurable gun to shoot.
 
Most however have straight through bored cylinders and require AR brass or clips.
Click to expand...
That is not the case.
All S&W .45 ACP revolvers have had headspace steps and bullet diameter chamber throats since the first 1917 was made.
Up until the MIM hammer and frame mounted firing pin.

And they all headspaced properly without clips until the frame mounted firing pins came along.
(625-6 in 1997, and 25-11 in 2001.)

Some like my 625-6 are chambered too deeply, and give misfires without clips.
My buddies 625JM is unreliable without clips also.

The only guns I'm aware of that were bored straight through were the very early Colt 1917's.

But they soon followed S&W's lead and begin properly chambering them early on during WWI.


rc
 
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Buying a 625 will probably make you sell your Semi-autos.

Less recoil, no moving mass. No chance of limp wristing. Easier to catch your cases. Variety of grips , sights, optics. ...more accurate. ...etc.

Went to the range recently and shot my 1911. I remembered how much it blows to bend down to pick up shells. I mostly shoot revolver now and remember all the Semi-autos i sold. I was fine shooting revolver and semi's up until i started to reload. Then i started shooting more. Started shooting less and less anything with a magazine in it.

You're lifestyle will dictate which way you go.
 
There are plastic clips - Rimz brand - that allow barehanded clipping and declipping.
They are not secure enough for duty or competition, though.

Get a lot of regular steel clips and one or another tool so you can unload and reload them while you suffer through the MSM "news" and then Just Shoot at the range.
 
My 625 is a top favorite for me to take to the range. I prefer to use auto rim cartridge cases versus the moon clips but occasionally still do use moon clips especially the plastic ones as they are always in alignment versus the metal versions I am familiar with. I've had a Matchdot red dot sight on the gun for a long time and have contemplated getting a 2nd 625 to use only with iron sights. 625 is a "keeper". It did go back to the factory a while back with a cracked yoke. They gladly fixed it under warranty inc freight both ways. Some episodes with light primer strikes that were cured by retightening the strain spring screw. I finally applied some blue lock tight to keep it from reacurring. Wonder if this might fit in with problems using standard acp cases without moon clips?
 
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Glad to see RCmodel's post, explains why my 625 does need moonclips. I typically use the plastic ones, very convenient for the range.
 
I bought a used 5" 625 a couple years ago. It is a dream. Nice heft, perfect balance, great SA trigger, and a great caliber. It is extremely accurate and comfortable to shoot. I use and recommend the RIMZ clips.
 
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