Picking up a S&W 625

A 5" would also be legal in Canada...
Gil.

Comrade Mike

One of my grail guns is a Model 27 with a 5" barrel. There's just something so right about the balance of a N frame with that particular length barrel.

There is a lot of difference between the 5" tapered barrel on a M27 and the 5" full lugged barrel on the 625. The lugged barrel will do a good job of dampening felt recoil. Not that there is a lot of recoil with the 45 ACP in an "N" frame.

If you want to shoot IDPA, you will need to get the 4" barrel. If just shooting, the 5" will suffice.

I have many ACP revolvers but the one I carry daily has a 4" tapered barrel. I am not a big fan of the full lugged barrels but I believe that is the only option on the 625.

Kevin

As far as I knew, the gun just had to fit in the official IDPA "box" that is 8 3/4” x 5 1⁄2” x 1 5/8”. I don't think there is a specific "no 5 inch barrels" rule, it's just that most 5" barreled guns won't fit in the box. IDPA was designed to be shot with your everyday carry gun, with an emphasis on concealment. Many folks find it hard to conceal anything over a 4" barrel. Instituting the "box rule" was an effort to keep people from using guns that are too large to practically conceal. Is an extra inch of barrel that much harder to conceal? Probably not, but they had to set the line somewhere.

If you just shoot IDPA for fun and aren't looking to compete at the regional/state level, you might be able to convince the Match Director to let you shoot the 5" gun. Some clubs are more lenient than others.

I had the M625 Model 1988 which S&W supposedly at the time was to be a limited production run. The accuracy was acceptable. Never got that excited about the concept. I used it with half & full moon clips plus auto-rim cases. eventually sold it.

leverwheelie said:

As far as I knew, the gun just had to fit in the official IDPA "box"...Instituting the "box rule" was an effort to keep people from using guns that are too large to practically conceal.

Click to expand...

Revolvers are exempt from IDPA's "box" rule. Otherwise, yes, it's my guess that IDPA decided revolvers with barrels longer than 4.2" weren't practical to carry, so not consistent with their mission.

If you really want to shoot a moonclipped revolver in IDPA, get the 4". If you want to shoot a 5" 625 in runNgun games, shoot ICORE or USPSA, though the hot ticket there is the 8-shot 627.

" There's just something so right about the balance of a N frame with that particular length barrel. "

I'm with Bannockburn on this. My 5" 625 is a dream to shoot - my favorite range gun. That extra inch makes the gun sit in my hand so comfortably......

I'll admit my 5" 629 classic feels better in hand than my 4" 625.

But since competition with the 625 is a very real possibility, 4" was the way too go.

Inversely, 5" is the minimum barrel length for handgun hunting in Ohio. I quickly figured I *needed* both.

If I feel like running a 5" in some other competition, I can just use speed loaders in the 629. The past few seasons I ran HKS speed loaders with a 4" M19-3 for IDPA (and once with a 681-3)

I owned a 4" and 5" heavy barrel at the same time and liked the 5" better.

I passed once on a 4" tapered barrel Mountain Gun I probably should have bought. It was some kind of commerative which didn't thrill me but if it had been just a straight revolver I'd have been all over it.

My Smith 625 Performance Center is one of my favorite guns. It doesn't have the full lug. It also doesn't have the thin Mountain Gun barrel, so you get the best of both worlds. Might cost you a bit more though.

I personally love moon clips and think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Valnar, I too really dig the moon clips.

But not until after I accumulated a bunch of them. When I only had enough to get through a partial box of 50rds at a time I thought it was mildly annoying and just opted to shoot without clips after I ran out of my preloaded ones.

I currently have enough to last a few lifetimes and bring extra clipped ammo.

Yep, if you view them as a "magazine", you soon realize it's the cheapest magazine-enabled autoloader you own.

Plus that Jerry Miculek video can convert just about anyone.

The 625 in 5" is a great revolver. I shot some great scores in PPC with it, in fact-it was my go to PPC gun. Very accurate and fast to reload, what is there not to like?

Men is a 5". Bullseye spring kit and a little polish and it is my number two favorite behind my 624. Lots of fun winning a pin match and seeing three full moon clips on the table with one loaded round left in each.

FOR MY HAND... the 5" 625 is the most perfect revolver ever made. Your mileage may vary...

My 625 3 inch snub .45 ACP is the cats meow.



Deaf

Where are you finding a 5" 625?

I am wanting one but only find the 4.2" taper barrel. I would like to find the full underlug 5" but the used ones are commanding a premium on GB.

Picked up a 5" 625-2 earlier this year, in the box at a gunshow for $650. Best revolver purchase I've made, I love that gun.

My 4 inch 1989 is excellent, but I'd REALLY love to find a 3 inch like Deaf Smith. The 3 inch barrel is my all time favorite barrel length