S&W Model 625 conversion....

[mic214]

I have had a 5" Model 625-8 in .45acp that has been a "Safe Queen" for several years. The pistol shoots great, but the long barrel was a bit much for packing around.

Recently Midway was offering 4" Mountain Gun barrels, so I picked one up and had a barrel swap done on my old 625. What a difference the shorter, lighter barrel makes for the balance and handling! I was able to test fire it after the work was done and it shot a just tiny bit high and to the right at 10 yards, so I will need to adjust the sights a click or two.

My next plan is to remove the safety plug, add a Hogue lanyard screw to the grip and maybe replace the front sight with a red ramp. I am also looking at holsters to pack this beauty around the woods in....any suggestions?

Here is a "Before" pic:



Here is the "After" pic:

 

[RugRev]

When available those barrels I find quite useful, too. Couldn't get another 686 MTN GUN some years back and S&W had them listed so ordered one for a 686 I had laying around which took a number of ounces off the full underlug 4" bbl. Have done the same in the past to a 629 with great results. If you can't buy what you want build your own.

 

[56hawk]

Is that a blued barrel? It looks awfully dark.

 

[rcmodel]

looking at holsters to pack this beauty around the woods in....any suggestions?

Tom Threepersons from El Paso Saddlery.
http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-65-12-1920-tom-threepersons-2-to-7-12-barrels.aspx

rc

 

[mic214]

No, it's a stainless barrel, but the angle and the lighting do make it look dark. The barrel is actually a little brighter than the frame of the 625, so the colors don't match 100%. I think I will have the frame bead blasted to match the barrel.

El Paso Saddlery is high on my list to check out for holsters. I am also looking at Lobo holsters as well...

Here is a pic from another angle:

 

[56hawk]

Ah, it looks a lot better in that picture.

 

[1KPerDay]

I think I will have the frame bead blasted to match the barrel.

More like you should have the barrel bead blasted to match the frame. The barrel is brushed, the frame is blasted. Nice rig.

 

[BYJO4]

I also think it would look better if the barrel was bead blasted to match frame.

 

[Fishslayer]

Maybe convert to .460 Rowland?

 

[Nullcone]

Eh, preferred the "before"... non red-ramp included.

Enjoy your FrankenMountainGun!

 

[Kernel]

Like what you did, though a lot of shooters consider a full-lug 5" ideal on the 625. Somewhere there’s 8-3/8” Smith gathering dust in the safe begging for a conversion. I bet you could sell that baby off for decent coin and offset some of your expenses. Personally, I'd take that partridge sight of the 5-incher and put it on the 4, if it's not to high. Never liked ramped sights, especially when they have red inserts.

 

[edrice]

I have the Galco DAO (Dual Action Outdoors) holster for my 625 Mountain Gun - http://www.opticsplanet.net/galco-dao126-holster.html (Doesn't come with the belt) I also had the same model holster for my 4" Redhawk but sold both of those, but I do like these holsters. I like it because it offers some versatility by being either strong side or cross-draw. My 625 is the .45 Colt but I had the cylinder reamed for moonclips so I can also fire .45 ACP.

I once replaced the barrel on a 6" Security-Six with a 4" and do like the balance much better now too. It just seemed a little unwieldy before. Then I sold the 6" barrel on gunbroker to offset the cost.

 

[22/22mag]

Don't stop now if you have some extra cash left laying around you can have Clark Customs Guns convert an extra cylinder for .460 Rowland ,then you can fire .460 Rowland .45 acp .45 auto rim .45 Super ..

 

[Loosedhorse]

.460 Rowland

Hmmm.

.45 ACP (what's marked on the 625's barrel) has a SAAMI pressure limit of 21k psi. That puts the maximum proof load at under 31k.

.460 Rowland is 40k.

I note that, as you say, Clark Custom does this conversion. I'm sure they know something that I am missing. However, I think we all know that 625s in .45 Colt are NOT supposed to be fired with .45 Colt "+P" rounds (which is why they are called "Ruger only" loads), and the SAAMI max of those loads is only 27.5k, I believe.

So, I am puzzled. But I think I can guess what S&W would say if you asked them about converting a 625 to .460 Rowland. Not sure why Clark's answer is different.

 

[mic214]

I have been packing this 625 around for the last couple of days in an old Safariland holster that I have. The light 4" Mountain Gun barrel sure makes it a joy to carry! I have 60 full moon clips for it, but I will be getting some half moon clips as they are easier to carry in the pockets of my hiking vest.

The gun smith that did the barrel work said that he could match the barrel and frame finish with a quick trip to his bead blasting booth, so I will have that done down the road.

 

[StrawHat]

In the 70s I wanted a 4" N frame in 45 ACP. Never could find one but did have a 28-2 with a 4" barrel. I was able to get the barrel rebored and rifled to .452 and installed a 45 ACP cylinder and frame lug. Simialr to your Stainless revolver (including the two tone finish) but mine is blue. I have carried it in either a Bianchi 5BH or Safariland equivalent for years. I also have a Simply Rugged pancake holster I really like for this revolver.

This is an older photo, with a set of factory grips. For carrying, I use a different set.



The lower revolver is the same one with the carry grips in place.



With the skinny barrel and smaller grips, it is a joy to carry and has been my American Express revolver since I built it. I use full moons with it but have recently discovered the joys of the 45 AR casing.

 

[TonyT]

Those full underlugs on the factory barrels add a lot more weight up front than I prefer. I am able to tolerate 4 inch barrels with the underlug and barely so ythe 5 inch models but I cannot use the revolvers with 6 inch underlug barrels. The PC modifies the barrels on some of their 5 inch barreled guns to rewmove weight from the sides of the barrel and reduce the amount of the underlug.

 

[CD8226]

Your 45 could be a twin to my 624 44 Special. Really like the 625 but had an old 6.5 Model 1950 years ago. I sold it because the 44 was easier to carry and just as accurate. Wish I had it back now though.