Smith and Wesson 25-2
- Thread starter Birdmang
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orionengnr
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- Jan 3, 2005
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The 25-2 is .45 acp.
AKPastor
Member
Yep .45 acp
I have one and it is a joy to shoot. My barrel is 6.5". I haven't used it as a hunting gun, but it is my preferred camping/hiking gun. I trust it with the right loads to take care of anything I encounter in interior Alaska.
I have one and it is a joy to shoot. My barrel is 6.5". I haven't used it as a hunting gun, but it is my preferred camping/hiking gun. I trust it with the right loads to take care of anything I encounter in interior Alaska.
45 ACP and you use moon or half-moon clips. Back in the day I'd load half-moon clips by hand. Unloading the spent cartridges was really hard on my thumbs. Especially on freezing days.
Now I use full moon clips and tool I bought from Dillons. It makes all the difference.
Now I use full moon clips and tool I bought from Dillons. It makes all the difference.
Marshall
Member
Could the barrel have said ".45 Cal Model of 1950"? Is it pinned?
Read this........
Marshall
Member
Get all the info you can including the serial number.
I have a rather old example of a 25-2 - and it is probably the most accurate handgun I own. Back when I would go to 'board shoots' or "turkey shoots', I considered this gun as cheating. I also used it for bowling pin shoots, in the revolver class.
Ray
Ray
Of the old blued revolvers, the 25-2 is the 45 ACP/45AR version and the 25-5 is the one cut for thre 45 long Colt cartridge. (If the frame is mismarked, all bets are off!) I have both and like them. As for using it for hunting, it depends on where you are hunting, what you are hunting and how accuractely you can handle it. The 25-2 is a premier target revolver but a 255 grain bullet at 900 fps is going to knock down any deer on this continent.
If you handload, you can easily reach those numbers. I have full moon clips and like them. I also use the 45 Auto Rim to handload for this revolver.
If you handload, you can easily reach those numbers. I have full moon clips and like them. I also use the 45 Auto Rim to handload for this revolver.
Quoheleth
Member
I have the 25-5 in .45 Colt (aka Long Colt) and it's an absolute joy to shoot and a wonder to handle. Heft, smooth, great lines, and a nice big push of recoil - and a nice BOOM vis a vis the hypersonic crack of the .357 Magnum - great gun.
Your 25-2 in .45ACP should also be a lot of fun. The big N-frame is a grin-maker in and of itself. It's the same frame as Dirty Harry's 29. You'll catch yourself standing in front of a mirror with a (triple-checked) empty gun, glaring, and with a clenched jaw doing the Dirty Harry, "Well, do you feel lucky PUNK?" And you'll have to smile because your 25's .45 caliber drills a bigger hole than Eastwood's .429.
Q
Your 25-2 in .45ACP should also be a lot of fun. The big N-frame is a grin-maker in and of itself. It's the same frame as Dirty Harry's 29. You'll catch yourself standing in front of a mirror with a (triple-checked) empty gun, glaring, and with a clenched jaw doing the Dirty Harry, "Well, do you feel lucky PUNK?" And you'll have to smile because your 25's .45 caliber drills a bigger hole than Eastwood's .429.
Q
To differentiate between the 45ACP and the LC look at the cylinder. The LC is 'straight' while the ACP will show the slight recess to allow the rimless round to headspace properly. The LC headspaces on the rim. If you are not sure, any decent gunsmith can tell at a glance as can an experienced shooter. Dave
DickM
Member
In addition to the differences others have mentioned, the cylinder on my 25-2 in .45 ACP measures 1.54" in length; the cylinder on my 25-5 in .45 Colt is 1.65". That doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it's easily noticeable.
As dnovo mentioned, you can also look into the chambers on the cylinder - the .45 Colt does have a narrowing, as do most if not all revolvers, but it's clearly a short taper and it's about 3/4 of the way toward the front of the cylinder. The .45 ACP has a very definite sharp step for headspacing, and it's closer to halfway along the cylinder.
I'll join others in mentioning that the 25-2 is my favorite range gun and likely the most accurate revolver I own. I really don't like moon clips, so load .45 AR for it.
As dnovo mentioned, you can also look into the chambers on the cylinder - the .45 Colt does have a narrowing, as do most if not all revolvers, but it's clearly a short taper and it's about 3/4 of the way toward the front of the cylinder. The .45 ACP has a very definite sharp step for headspacing, and it's closer to halfway along the cylinder.
I'll join others in mentioning that the 25-2 is my favorite range gun and likely the most accurate revolver I own. I really don't like moon clips, so load .45 AR for it.
Deanimator
Member
I've got a 25-2 that I use for our club's annual revolver league.
I shoot the 25-2 better than I shoot my Model 14. The greater mass gives it more inertia, making my arc of movement smaller and slower.
Mine is extremely accurate.
To the best of my knowledge EVERY 25-2 was pinned.
I'd prefer my 29-2 for hunting, but I imagine a hard cast LSWC at maximum safe velocity would kill any deer you're likely to find in Missouri or Ohio. The only loads I shoot out of mine are just hot enough to cycle the action of my M1911 wadcutter gun.
I shoot the 25-2 better than I shoot my Model 14. The greater mass gives it more inertia, making my arc of movement smaller and slower.
Mine is extremely accurate.
To the best of my knowledge EVERY 25-2 was pinned.
I'd prefer my 29-2 for hunting, but I imagine a hard cast LSWC at maximum safe velocity would kill any deer you're likely to find in Missouri or Ohio. The only loads I shoot out of mine are just hot enough to cycle the action of my M1911 wadcutter gun.
Marshall
Member
You're welcome. The only reason I posted that link was because of the tag saying one thing and the revolver possibly being different. I just wanted you to know about the possibility of an actual mismarked revolver and it being worth quite a bit of money if it happens to be one. Stranger things have happened and it's not out of the realm of possibility, as seen in that thread. It's worth at least the knowledge to check it out.
AKPastor
Member
I like what several folks have said about accuracy. Every time I shoot my 25-2, I get the feeling that it shoots better than I do. I sometimes use it as my daily carry due to its accuracy. I have a great shoulder rig and I'm a big guy so I can pull it off pretty easy.
The 25-2 .in 45 ACP is an outstanding revolver. The 25-5 in .45 Colt is as well.
25-2 .45 ACP Pic
25-5 .45 Colt Pic
Notice the big gap between the front of the cylinder and the frame on the .45 ACP vs the .45 Colt. That is an easy way to tell which one it is.
25-2 .45 ACP Pic
25-5 .45 Colt Pic
Notice the big gap between the front of the cylinder and the frame on the .45 ACP vs the .45 Colt. That is an easy way to tell which one it is.
AKPastor
Member
I would imagine it would be as much of a joy to own as the 25-2
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