Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Looking for .45 ACP Revolver, opinions?

Hi All,
I have been looking for a .45 ACP wheelgun, and have narrowed my choices to the S&W 25-2 and the 625.
Barrel length probably 3-5", not the 6".
Looked at the 1917 (Both Colt and Smith) and not really interested.

Anyone around the fire have/had one that they would share their opinions about?

Purpose- Fun use, hunting, no formal bullseye target shooting.

Ammo- For fun use, 200 gr SWC

Would appreciate any and all feedback.

thanks,
CaliRN

I have a S&W 625 of 1989 and I shoot 200 gr semi wadcutters with 6.5 grs of Unique.

A very accurate wheel gun and using full moon clips beats picking up range brass.

Doc

Go for it! Had an 8 3/8" 25-5 years ago, (yes thats the
colt, not acp) and spent many a pleasant hour plinking with
it. Shot swaged swc's over little blooper charges of Unique
or Herco. Lost my mind and used it as partial trade on a new
629 Wish now I'd kept it and just bought the 44.

Stainless always trumps blued.

Mine is an elderly S&W 25-5, that I had my gunsmith make a conversion cylinder for. I can shoot .45 Colt or .45 ACP.

Both are extremely accurate, and I usually have the .45 ACP cylinder installed. Full moon clips are a very fast way to reload.

Were it my money

Awful sweet set up there.

Have you considered the ruger blackhawk or bisley convertable? I'd be kinda partial to being able to shoot 45 acp or 45 colt outta the same gun. That and a 4 5/8" blackhawk or 5 1/2" bisley feels so good in the hand.

I have the same pistol and love mine.

That's a very nice combination.

I bought a 325 Night Guard late last year. S&W has inconsistent advertising on the barrel length, with the box saying 2.5" and the website saying 2.75". It is 2.75" from the front face of the cylinder to the end of the barrel. It only weighs 28 ounces. It has good fixed sights including a huge front night sight.

It is no trouble with 200 grain SWCs, and it worked well with Blazer 230 RN and 230 gr. Gold Dots. I also have shot a few Buffalo Bore 255 hard cast flat nose .45 Auto Rims (standard pressure, not the +P version). They are stout but not as bad as the .357 180 grain hard casts I shot out of my 3" SP101. As the weather turns nicer I will get out with the chronograph and see what kinds of velocities I am getting. If all goes well, I will retire the SP101 for general outdoor carry and bowhunting backup.

I really like the gun. The hardest thing is finding holsters. I have about 5-6 months left in my wait for a Sparks VMII. I have a Galco that is about to go down the road.

Like this...?

I did another write up on the gun in early December.
325NG Post

I bought my girl friend the S&W airlite in a 45 ACP I reload the 185 flat nose for her and I shoot the regular 240 HPs after Less showed me that I could handle it.

Its a real sweat hand gun and scares evry one we show it to becouse of that two mile wide hole in the end of it.

What holster are you using? Need a Galco Combat Master?

Sorry about the thread drift, but anybody considering a 3" N frame needs to think about holsters.

The OP doesn't mention budget, but the S&W Performance Center also has a 4" barreled scandium 325, which might be a bit easier to shoot accurately. The only one I have seen is stupidly expensive at Gander Mountain, but looks like a pretty cool deal.

At the high end of the price scale, you can surely get Freedom Arms to make a .45 ACP cylinder for either a M97, or M83.

I have a 5" S&W Model 625-6. It is one of the last revolvers that I would ever consider parting with. A sweet shooter.

How many of the afore mentioned guns require half moon clips for loading? I'd rather go with a 45 colt just to avoid having to use them.

I like the idea of a .45LC that can be used with .45ACP moon clips. I have a S&W 25-2 in .45LC and a Mod 73 (Colt Replica) in .45LC and both shoot the .45ACP very well. Kill two birds with one stone if you will.

Thanks for all the replys! I have always coveted a M25-2 and never had the $$. Now, I have a few $$ and they are scarce and expensive. Will keep looking and thanks for all your input.

I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 that I enjoy, but having another .45 that doesn't spray brass all over the countryside would be nice. All you reloaders know the misery of firing 8 and only finding 7, dang near drive you crazy, at least it does me, and then I spend a lot of time looking for the missing case when I could be shooting. A full moon, or half moon clip would be a nice way to handle things.

CaliRN

I have the 1917 S&W. It doesn't need the moon clips, like the Colt does.