S&W 625 for self defense?

[ulfrik]

who here thinks the s&w 625 would be good for self defens and carry?

the sustained fire power could rival a semi auto.
moon clips load even faster than speed loaders.
and if you did ever runout of moon clips you could still push out spent shells with a cleaning rod or stick.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Thats why I have a 3" one.

 

[ulfrik]

i just thought of this concept.

i have always thought of moon clip guns as sporting guns.
now that i think about it they have alot of fire power.

a model 10 in 9mm would be interesting.

 

[rich642z]

I have a 625-8 and I use the autorim loads from Buffalo Bore Ammunition comany.

 

[9mmepiphany]

a model 10 in 9mm would be interesting.

That would be the M-547

 

[ulfrik]

how many times can you re-use a moon clip? do thay bend after a wile?

can you get moon clips for traditional revolver rounds like the .38spl and .357mag?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Anything will bend if you abuse them...the M-567 above did not use moon clips to load or extract 9mm cases

The S&W L-frame and N-Frame cylinders are commonly machined to accept the use of full moon clips for use with 9mm, .38 Super, .38 spl and .357 Mag

 

[ulfrik]

"the M-567 above did not use moon clips to load or extract 9mm cases"you say

i thought the whole point of moon clips were because 9mm and .45acp have diferant rims and need the clips?

 

[tasco 74]

a friend of mine bought a smith&wesson mod 25 ,45 long colt to carry as a service weapon when he was just starting his job as a town cop here.... i questioned why not a ,357 mag an he said he liked the larger heavier bullet from the .45 colt round.................................................................

 

[9mmepiphany]

The use of full moon clips is an evolution of the half moon clip for both the S&W and Colt 1917 revolvers. They allowed the use of rimless cartridges...in this case the .45ACP...to be extracted by the revolvers extractor/star.

The M-567 used fingers to extract the cases in an attempt to do away with the clips. Full moon clips are a bit bulky to carry and are subject to flexing stresses...but they are the cheapest way to use rimless cartridges in a revolver.

The advantage of using the clips is the speed with which it can be used to reload

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

Hey the 625 is an excellent gun, its been my duty carry for a year now. I have had my life depend on this beautiful revolver numerous times. However moon clips are very, very annoying, particularly with the 625, I just use speedloaders. Their better trust me. Also if you do wind up buying it, get a custom grip. The stock ones are awful.

 

[StrawHat]

I have an 4" Model 28 I reworked to accept the 45 ACP. It has been my daily carry piece and was my duty piece. Using moon clips, you need to find the ammo that will work with your technique and revolver. Round ball usually works but some of the truncated cone styles work also. I am comfortable using Keith SWC in mine. A tool is helpful for loading and unloading the clips. I amde mine from a piece of tubing, others have used golf club shafts.

I am familiar with but have not used moonclips for rimmed cartridges preferring to use the 45 ACP cartridge. When I shoot 38 or 357 I am happy with the speedloaders.

 

[SWAddict]

The 3" barreled 625-3 or 625-4 Model of 1989 would be perfect for a self-defense gun. Very powerful and accurate. As for moonclips, if you have the charge holes chamfered, loaded full moonclips will reload quite easily into the cylinder.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Why would you think moonclips are only for sporting revolvers? The original intended use was combat. In WWI there were not enough M1911s for the military's needs. Both S&W and Colt produced versions of the M1917 revolver to suppliment the M1911s. In order for the .45ACP round to work in a revolver they invented the moonclip. That way they didn't have to supply two different cartridges for the different handguns in use.

 

[340PD]

I have a 625JM that I can reload with moonclips almost as fast as changing a magazine out in a semi auto. The moon clips are no problem if you buy enough to have a large supply of loaded ammo ready to use. Get a good moonclip tool. The only problen I see may be the "extra ammo carry situation" Moonclip loaded ammo is bulky to say the least. You need to figure out how to deal with that situation. With my 625 I do have the option to load some .45 auto rim cases that will let me use the gun without moonclips if needed.

 

[9mmepiphany]

ThunderDownUnder and StrawHat - I'm interested in which carriers you guys use for you moon clipped reloads.

I had a co-worker who was using his old Dade .38/.357 speedloader carriers

 

[jad0110]

who here thinks the s&w 625 would be good for self defens and carry?

I have no experience with the 625, or moonclip equipped revolvers. But I do carry an N Frame, specifically a 4" S&W Model 28 IWB. It can be done, with the right gear (gunbelt and holster) and with proper attire (slighly loose in the waist pants and a baggy shirt with patterns).

I use a 1.5" Beltman bullhide belt and a Lobogunleather IWB rig. Certainly not an everyday carry gun for me, but I carried it pretty frequently until a recent health issue busted me down to carrying "only" a 4" Ruger Police Service Six as my big gun.

moon clips load even faster than speed loaders.

I'd have to agree (for most folks), though with a little practice speedloaders aren't far behind.

 

[Steve C]

Any of the N frames are a bit large for concealed carry but in a belt holster, night stand or glove box they're fine SD weapons. No one's going to disparage a .45 ACP for self defense. The advantage to a revolver is that they're not ammo sensitive and more reliable than a semi auto after the first round.

 

[Dobe]

I have read that the earlier 625 JMs had problems with chrome peeling from the hammer. Is this still a factor?

 

[S&Wfan]

The HUGE .451 diameter holes of that big ol' N framed .45ACP revolver would be quite a deterrent to most thugs. Diaper change time indeed!!! Here's mine . . .

Before S&W got smart and offered a 3" version of the 625, folks were forced to convert their own. Yep, here's mine, from 1980 . . . a moon clipped Model 25-2 6 1/2" barreled .45ACP target revolver, custom converted to a 3 1/4" self defense revolver. Quite a fine weapon indeed before S&W got wise . . .

 

[Prosser]

Jerry Mic....

 

[Stainz]

You can get blued steel moonclips for $35/100 delivered from Ranch Products. I have two .223 metal ammo boxes I usually keep full - 105 clips in 5 layers of 21, each layer separated by a piece of hardboard (Put a finger hole near a corner for easier removal!). I also have 30 more in two Gladware boxes for range bag carry. Admittedly, my loads are slightly detuned, the 230gr FMJ's making 790 fps from my 625JM's 4" tube. They are for plinking - metal plate pinging - but should suffice for defending the homestead. That's 240 'clips - 1,440 rounds ready to go... how many mags do you keep loaded for your 1911's? Here is my 625JM surrounded by 105 loaded 'clips:



If you get a 25/625 in .45 ACP, you'll also need a demooner - the Brownell's nutdriver-style demooner works great and is ~$18. Yeah, a piece of water pipe can be notched and wrapped in electrical tape and function, but the nutdriver will store the stripped empties, too, while you reach for your ziploc bag to tote the empties in. It looks a lot better at the range, too - proper range decorum, etc.

As far as the 625JM... mine was ordered and bought in early 2/05 - when it was first announced. I have tried to wear it out... but have experienced no flaking on the trigger or hammer chrome. In fact, it still looks and functions as it did when it was new. Great revolver - a bargain, too, considering it's standard features. Great Zombie protection. Fast to reload. A bit big & heavy for carry.

Stainz

 

[StrawHat]

9mmepiphany

ThunderDownUnder and StrawHat - I'm interested in which carriers you guys use for you moon clipped reloads.

I had a co-worker who was using his old Dade .38/.357 speedloader carriers

I can't answer for ThunderDownUnder but for duty carry I used the speedloader cases issued by my dept. I was able to carry four reloads in a case designed to carry two 357 reloads. For street carry, either in my pocket (one reload) or straddling my belt and secured with a piece of velcro. Neither was perfect but if I thought I'd need more rounds, I'd want a different weapon.

 

[StrawHat]

Steve C
...Any of the N frames are a bit large for concealed carry...

Many of us carry N frames every day with no problems. You learn how to dress properly and carry yourself. Not unlike carrying any forearm. You adapt to what you carry. I use a Bianchi 5BH or Safariland equivalent but soon will be switching to a Pancake holster. For me, the N frame carries as well as a K frame and offers a better cartridge.

 

[DrLaw]

I used to carry a Model 27 concealed without a problem when I was a police officer.

However, I would go with the .45LC version of the Model 25 (or variations) as opposed to the .45 ACP. You can load the .45LC to go through a car, or just take down a person.

As for the 9mm. I have a Model 940, the 9mm concealed hammer model similar to the 640. The thing kicks like a mule, especially with the Micheal's boot grips it came with. Definitely low on my practice schedule.

The Doc is out now.