I bought a used 625 for what I thought was an excellent price, virtually new. I hope to shoot it next Saturday now the weather is getting better. In playing around with it with dummy rounds i found that it did not load as smoothly as i would like so I chamfered the chambers. The acp does not have a roll crimp and the sharp edge of the case can be a bit hard to load. The trigger is already good but I will smooth that up some more when I have time and good to go!
s&w 625 question?
- Thread starter m1978
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Since the 625 headspaces on the 'moon clip', if you reload, you can 'roll crimp' your .45 ACP loads.
RCBS sells a die just for that purpose: https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/Ma...nlabel=index&productId=4294&route=C09J043N023
Mike Oxlong
You can shoot S&W 625 without moonclips. You will have to use gravity or your finger nails to get the cases out of the cylinder.
Also you don't roll crimp the cases. Just bell the cases enough so the bullet sits in the mouth, seat the bullet and then taper crimp the round.
You can shoot S&W 625 without moonclips. You will have to use gravity or your finger nails to get the cases out of the cylinder.
Also you don't roll crimp the cases. Just bell the cases enough so the bullet sits in the mouth, seat the bullet and then taper crimp the round.
Yes, I know 625s can be fired without moon clips.
But that doesn't mean that it headspaces on the case mouth.
You could probably trim the rim off of a .38 Special case and still chamber and fire it (in a Model 10).
Roll crimp .45 ACP dies are available (from RCBS - see my post above) for those individuals that want to use them.
But that doesn't mean that it headspaces on the case mouth.
You could probably trim the rim off of a .38 Special case and still chamber and fire it (in a Model 10).
Roll crimp .45 ACP dies are available (from RCBS - see my post above) for those individuals that want to use them.
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There was an article recently in either Handloader or Rifle by Brian Pearce on the 625. Apparently, while they should headspace on the case, they don't. He was kinda miffed at S&W that they didn't do this correctly. I have verified this with my own 625 PC. While it always fires with moon clips or AR brass, it doesn't always work reliably with ACP brass just dropped into the chambers. Sometimes the rounds will go off after a second strike, but not always. So, you probably can go ahead and roll-crimp to remove the case-mouth lip and just stick to moonclips. I use a Lee Factory Crimp die and crimp pretty heavily. YMMV.
I've been following this discussion with great interest. I really really want one of these but I have heard mixed reports about accuracy, particularly in the standard model. In everyones's opinion would a new 625 Performance Center model be a good gun for NRA Bullseye shooting? I want a gun that can shoot at least 3" and preferably 2" groups at 50 yards.
I've read the odd comment to that effect as well, but my skills (being a hangun newbie) are likely less than those of JohnnyMac and here's a target I shot, single action, a couple of months ago with my standard 625-8 The range was about 12 yards. (Bullet Barn 200 gr. SWC over 5.4gr of W231, CCI primer.)
I will freely admit that not all the targets I shot that day were this good, but I doubt that was the gun's fault. The Performance Center model might do better, in better hands, but I'm not complaining!
StuartI've read the odd comment to that effect as well, but my skills (being a hangun newbie) are likely less than those of JohnnyMac and here's a target I shot, single action, a couple of months ago with my standard 625-8 The range was about 12 yards. (Bullet Barn 200 gr. SWC over 5.4gr of W231, CCI primer.)
I will freely admit that not all the targets I shot that day were this good, but I doubt that was the gun's fault. The Performance Center model might do better, in better hands, but I'm not complaining!
Good shooting! Good enough that you could easily move up to 25 yards if you are holding back for training. I'm going to try working at 50 yards this summer but I'm probably going to have to use a scope because of my eyesight.
Thanks for the comments everyone...keep-em coming!
