S&w 625

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Nightcrawler

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I've been thinking about the S&W 625 revolver. Now, given where I am, I probably won't even be able to consider buying one for another ten months, but a boy can dream, right?

So tell me about yours. How do they shoot? Who here likes to pack an N-Frame around? You prefer the 5" or 4" barrels? How do they shoot with +P stuff? 625s get converted to .460 Rowland, so shooting .45 Super in them shouldn't be a problem either.

Oh, and while I'm up, let's see pictures! I'd really like to see some pics of that 325PD. That thing just looks boss.

Oh, yeah, what kind of grips do you like on your N-Frames?
 
Mine is a 4 inch.

625_s1.jpg


The picture shows it as it was when it was new. It now has a trigger job, Wolff reduced power springs, a Weigand Combat competition rear sight blade (looks a lot like a Bo-Mar 1911 blade), a Cylinder & Slide extended firing pin, a Jerry Miculek wood grip, and I have an EGW fiber optic front sight but haven't installed it yet.
 
Absolutely love my 625 five inch, but I'd probably like a four inch too. I expect to carry it some in the colder weather when concealment is a little easier.

The 625 shoots great, very accurate. I like Hogue rubber grips.

Thanks for serving,

Alan
 
I have found my 625 4" a joy to shoot. I have decided to leave the trigger alone as I really can't imagine wanting it to be any lighter -- it has the best trigger of any revolver I've owned. The gun is easy to shoot well.

I recommend the Rimz plastic moon clips for range practice -- they make loading and unloading very fast and easy. I suggest metal clips for other purposes.
 
I have the 4" 625. Shoots great. I added a SDM fiber optic front sight and the Weigand rear sight blade that looks more like a Bo-Mar. I use mine mostly for IDPA in a Kytac Revo-Quik holster.

sw1b.jpg
 
I traded my 5" -4 for a 5" -2. Sold my 4" -3 and am looking for a 3" gun at the moment.

They shoot nicely, are mild of recoil, and look very nice with their satin bead-blasted finish. If you want to convert to .460, make sure you get a -4 or later.
 
I have the 3 inch barrel version with Wiegand rear sight.

The gun is very accurate for a 3 inch bbl. I also use the Rimz clips.

As good as a revolver gets in my opinion!!

629 revolvers are also good choices.
 
I know a US Marshal (the one who handled the whole Waco thing, much to his regret) who packs a 625 under his sportcoat every day, and apparently has carried the same gun or one like it for most of his career (20-30 years at least)..... he may not have 17 rounds in the gun, and only have a couple speedloaders for reloads plus a backup gun somewhere, but he's a heck of a shot, and those .45s will do serious damage.

Most of the time he "knows" when it'll be dangerous and a 12ga or M4 is handy,along with many more younger marshals.....



Nice piece, wish I had one.
 
I have 2 5" 625. One is a 625-2 (first year production), and the other is a 625-5.
They are both great guns, and will shoot 1 1/2 inch groups or better at 25 yards. It all depends on the load.

I have never thought about CCWing a 625, but I have a 686. It's a weight factor that keeps me CCWing the fantastic plastic.
 
Rangegod,

What are those grips on the top N frame? Where can I find them, and how do you like them? - JM.
 
625s... My favorite gun!!! I've got 6 different ones. This V-comp could be the most accurate.

625_Vcomp_l.jpg

Joe
 
I have a 625-8 with a 4" barrel and the Miculek grips. Love it, almost my favorite Smith. I shot a box of Speer's 200gr +P through it and had no issues. The recoil is so managable in the N frame that the +P didn't make much of a difference to me.

Wish I could say the same of my Kimber Compact... not pleasent with the +p's!

If you do get metal clips, highly recommend the demooning tool brownelle sells. Has a scredriver type handle and makes stripping the brass off so much easier.
 
J.M. , The grips on his top 625 are the Ahrends grips that came factory on his 325. I did similar, threw the Ahrends on my 5" 625 and put a pair of itsy-bitsy old style "service" stocks on my 325.

Biggest gripe I have with the 325 is the hammer tang is freaking huge. No need for a gas pedal on a carry gun, I'll probably bob mine at some point. Excellent carry gun.

I think the one must have mod. for these is the Cylinder and Slide extended firing pin. They take a little fitting, but well worth it. My 625 fires reliably at 6.5lbs and the 325 darn near pounds through the primers since I left the trigger heavy for carry. Excellent reliability.
 
My 625-5" has proven to be reliable and accurate. (Last Sunday, I found out that the gunsmith who did the trigger job on the 625 was in a motorcycle accident so I took the last target of the day, put six shots into one hole and signed it as a get well card.)
I rely on the 625 as my daily companion. (+P Gold Dots)
BTW you can run through an awful lot of ammo in a hurry with moonclips.
Steve
 
I just bought a 5" 625-6 last Monday and love it. The previous owner had the trigger worked on. It feels very close to the same as my 686. In single action, the trigger pull is probably right at 2 lbs. The recoil is wonderfully light with it. It sports Hogue monogrips and I can't see myself going to something else, as that's what I have on my 686.

I've got to join in with those who praise the Rimz moonclips. I picked some up the other day and absolutely love them. They are so much easier to load and unload than the metal ones. If you do use the metal ones, buy the Brownell's demooner that was mentioned earlier. I bought one of them from to save my fingers from the metal moonclips. It makes the job a lot easier, but still not as easy as using the Rimz clips.

I'd post a pic, but my phone camera isn't very good at taking pics.

Frank
 
Ok, I need to jump in here.

What's the difference between the 625-6, 625-4, 625-2 etc?

I am looking at a 625-6 5" this weekend. Are these generally good? What's a good price?
 
halvey,

Responding to your post:

"Ok, I need to jump in here.

What's the difference between the 625-6, 625-4, 625-2 etc?

I am looking at a 625-6 5" this weekend. Are these generally good? What's a good price?"

From the Supica and Nahas book:

625-1 Production not found or known
625-2 1989 Marked Model of 1988
1989 Marked Model of 1989
1989 Marked "Bowling Pin 88", 5" full lug, 2,500 manufactured
625-3 1989 Longer stop notch in cylinder
625-4 1990 45 Colt Caliber
625-5 1991 625 Classic in 45 Colt, 5" barrel, 1,500 manufactured
1992 Discontinue 2" and 4" barrel
625-6 1993 Change rear sight leaf; drill and tap; change extractor; Hogue grips
1995-96 Delete square butt configuration
1996 Begin shipments in blue plastic boxes
1997 Change thumb piece; ship Master trigger locks
625-7 1998 Change in frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud: eliminate serrated tangs; change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin; change to MIM trigger; change internal lockwork in 45 ACP caliber

Hope this helps

Alan
 
I wish they would make the 325 with a 4 inch tube. I just sold my 610 in 10mm. I plan on replacing it with either a 625 or one of those performance center 8 shot 357 mags (628 I believe) I can't decide.
Pat
 
I have two of the 625-2 5" models. One is a 1988 and the other is a 1989, I also have two of the much older 25-2 target models. All are excellent guns, the 625-2 models do require the use of moon clips because S&W didn't want to hold the tolerances tight enough for the cases to headspace on the lip in the cylinder. (This was told to a friend who has a 625-2 3" named snubzilla)

There was never a 625 or 625-1. S&W capitalized on the fame and name recognition of the 25-2 target revolver and named the model of 1988 the 625-2. The 1988 model is roll stamped. The 1989 model was laser engraved and has a patridge style front sight. A few years later S&W came out with the 625-5 in .45 Colt. I have not kept track of the model designations since then. (Thanks for the excellent post documenting those model numbers and production quantities. Excuse me while I go kick myself for selling my 625-5 back in 1994 when I bought a condo)

All of mine shoot great. Shooting off hand and double action I have no problems making quarter to half dollar sized holes in the target at 10 to 15 yards.
 
I bought my 4" 625-8 nearly two years ago... for steel plate challenge. Easy follow-ups due to the mass and low recoil. I am not much for competition (Sour grapes - I really slurped at it!), so I eventually sold mine earlier in the summer. I had just gotten it back from S&W after noting it's closing B/C gap... and after only 6k-8k rounds! It was a fun shooter... and, I had 66 moonclips loaded most of the time... easy to shoot up ammo in that thing, as I had replaced the hammer spring (Leave the trigger return spring stock for rapid follow-ups!) and reloaded using softer Federal primers. I also reloaded & shot the neat .45 Auto Rims.

Why did I sell it? It was ugly to me... with that satin finish and full lug. I love the tapered tubes, partial lugs, and bright SS of my 625 (.45 Colt) and 629 Mountain Guns. Yeah, I regretted selling it... In fact, I went straight to a neighboring gunshop to buy another one new the same week, the buyer of mine having knowingly paid me more than a new one due to the 'action', grips, and clips, etc. The 625-8 they had in their case for many moons was gone, of course. My wife noted the 'extra' $ and we went on a vacation, where we both got food poisoning... should've kept that gun! I really want a 625 MG in .45 ACP, but they are rarae...

Stainz

PS My friend also bought a new 625-8 last year... and a new 325PD earlier this year. That 325PD has a brutal recoil! He traded it, with less than fifty rounds through it - even after trying new shooting gloves.
 
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