Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns ACP/AR revolver

How many of you guys shoot one? I had a very scarce 3” bright finished 625 that was an absolute joy. I won lunch, supper, and an 18 pack of brews with three consecutive cylinderfuls at the range one evening when I was in college by keeping at least 5 out of 6 on an 8” black bull at 100yards. The guy doing the betting was in disbelief as well as being a slow learner.

Sadly I swapped it off on a double shotgun about 8-9 years ago, before I knew how rare it was.

The last 6 months or so have found me dying to have another. I’m being realistic and not holding out for a twin to the one I had. I am holding out for either a Model of 1988 or 1989 though, I cannot abide the lock but more importantly the frame mounted firing pin. I’m giving serious thought to swapping off my adjustable sight 1006 if I can find the right 625. I don’t shoot the 10 much and it doesn’t fit my needs as a packing around pistol.

Anybody have any good loads using cast bullets? There’s about a 90 percent chance if I end up with another one it’ll never see a jacketed bullet, most likely lots of 185-200gr SWCs since I have molds for a couple different ones.
Anybody got one they need to get swapped out of? Or know where ones at? I’m really wanting a 4” or 5” this time since I have holsters and won’t be concealing it for carry. It’ll be strictly a ranch and kicking around shooting rocks and pigs gun.

Kid,

I have a model of 1988. I like it a lot. It has grown on me. I think I shoot that revolver better than any other that I own. Keep your radar up, Kid. They are out there.

I have a blue 1955 Target 6 1/2" barrel. 25-2 I think it is. Pinned barrel and square of butt. It is my favorite revolver.

200 grain lead SWC & 4.7 grains of Winchester Super Target.

I looked at a 1955 a month or so ago. Very nice pistol but I don’t care for the 6 1/2” heavy barrel. I know that probably sounds odd since I’m looking for a 4 or 5 inch with a full lug.

Now a Model of 1950 Target would have me skinning my wallet out. They used the same barrel profile as my 38/44 Outdoorsman and I really like the way they handle. Would go great with the Outdoorsman and my 1926 Hand ejector Target 44sp that also has a skinny barrel. Sadly they’re about 3x the price of a 625 or 1955.

Thanks for the load info, I’ve never used any WST, but I might someday.

The 1955 25-2 is a really nice one.

Throats can be a bit large, so it gets fed the NOE version of the 453423 in a .454 die in either acp or ar brass.
Things get really interesting with the 300 LBT WFN; it seats shallow in the case and makes that long throat jump non existent. Plus, sized .454 or 455, it aligns without the tipping or accuracy issues of short bullets these guns can have.

The stainless newer guns are about perfect with 452 throats, but some are moon clip only with acp brass

I'm right there with you kid, though I scratched that itch with an old Brazilian contract S&W. I'm running a Bear Creek 230 grain coated flat point over enough W231 to scoot it 840 fps.

Had several over the year and then none for a while but a few years ago ended up with three...S&W 1917, S&W 625-7 PC and a Taurus Tracker 4"....

Cast bullet loads...most recent ones have been in AR cases with 7.0 grains of Unique...
Lyman/Keith 240 SWC
Magma 255 SWC
MeHic 215 solid
MeHic 205 HP

Only one chronographed is the 255 which ran 890 from a 6.5" 25-2.

Most accurate load ever was the Speer 225 JHP with 7.0 grains of Unique at 840 fps...

Good luck with your quest...these get harder and harder to find all the time...

Bob

I've got two. One like Sarge, and one stainless, pre-lock, S&W Mountain Gun.

I know what you mean TheKid, I have one too, it's a real sweetheart, ScottF here at the 'fire sent me some coated 270gr hollow points, I shoot them over 8 grs Longshot powder for around 950 fps in AR brass, a real fun revolver to shoot and have, hope you find a good clean one soon.

Very cool.

...this should hit hard....

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/811504357

A pre-lock, S&W Mountain Gun is the apex of modern ACP/AR revolvers. But I gotta tell ya, the 22-4 makes me drool.

I have a nice S&W 1917 with a 3" barrel, round butt, bobbed hammer DAO that I regularly shoot....

Back in the 1980s I knew an old guy who had carried that exact custom 1917 for like thirty years, just like you describe, except his was carried for so long that it was nearly “in the white.” He said he was getting too old to carry such a heavy gun, but didn’t want to quit carrying a big bore revolver. He bought my Charter Arms .44 Bulldog. I wish I hadn’t sold it to him.

Reed does interesting stuff in odd calibers. For instance:

https://shop.reedsammo.com/45-AutoRim-P-250g-Hollow-Point-Wad-Cutter-45AR250HPWC.htm

Buffalo Bore has a similar offering, pushing a flat point 255 grain hard cast bullet to just over 1000 FPS from a four inch barrel.

I've got a 1988 5" I used to shoot in USPSA matches when ever another revolver shooter would show up & they'd have a revolver class, which was rare.

I tried every bullet I had to get the slickest reload with full moon clips. Sure a tapered flat point or a pointy round nose would be it, I was wrong. A 230 gr. blunt round nose, H&G #34 style produced the smoothest reloads. I had good results with both Bullseye & 231/HP38. Enough of it to get 760 fps+.

If not interested in high speed reloads, the standard 200SWC, H&G #68 might be hard to beat. I've done the AR stuff a bit, a 255 LSWC @ 860 is as far as I've gone there. I've got a 45 Colt mountain gun so I see no need to push the AR.

I enjoy mine, but I don't get it out enough. If I was in the market for a 10mm S&W I'd give you a shout, but, I'm not.

I have a 625-4 in a 4inch. It’s fun to shoot . I’ve pretty much settled on 5.3 grains of HP 38 with a Missouri 200 coated bullet. Works well in my 1911’s and this revolver.
I also load a hotter load in AR brass. Hasbeen

There are 4 pre-lock M625’s on Gunbroker right now, four 4” bbl’s and one 3”. They typically sell for at least a grand, but you might find one for a shade under on a good day. They’re popular revolvers and S&W made lots of them. I prefer 45 Auto moon clips to the 45 Auto Rim, but there are AR’s on GB fairly often. I’ve owned several but have settled in the 4” as the optimum length for most purposes. I typically use lead SWC’s loaded to about 850 fps.

Log on to Gunbroker and when you find what you want, jump in to the bidding. You won’t regret it.

I have a nice Tyler Grip Adapter on it. Use it regularly to qualify for my LEOSA revolver category to satisfy that requirement. Gotta figure out which son-in-law is going to get it when I decide to let it go.