Smith and Wesson 625PC: Any Good?

[LouisianaGunslinger]

Looking for a good, all steel, long lasting .45 ACP revolver. I've read up on the 625 JM and I see they have a few come out that haven't been caught by QC at S&W. So I am looking at the 625PC.

Are these ok? Any issues I should know about?

To clarify, this is the Performance Center Model, with supposedly more TLC than the JM or standard models. It's the one with the odd red white and blue stocks that would be immediately be replaced with something more appealing.

 

[rcmodel]

I have a 625-6 Mountain Gun and a friend has a 625JM.

Both have been flawless, if you overlook the excess headspace that makes loose rounds without clips mis-fire occasionally.

But thats the way they chamber them all anymore.
I doubt the 625PC would be any different.

rc

 

[MifflinKid]

I have one of those PC625s. I love it. I had been hunting for a 4" 25 or 625 in .45 ACP for several years. That it was also a round butt made it even better.

As RC wrote, the head space is too great to use loose .45 ACP rounds so you will need to use clips or .45 AutoRim cartridges. That excess head space can lead to misfires so you may need to replace the factory firing pin with a longer replacement.

Mine does best with lighter bullets. My best accuracy is with hard cast 200 grain SWCs and RNFPs.

The JM625s are a favorite of the revolver competition crowd. I wouldn't not buy one because of problems reported on the Internet. Every manufacturer produces some dogs. But S&W will fix yours if you should be so unlucky as to get one.

 

[rcmodel]

I wouldn't not buy one because of problems reported on the Internet.

+1
And for every problem gun posted about and reported over and over again?

There are about 10,000 others that work perfectly.

Nobody ever bothers to post about them and start another internet rumor about guns without problems that will still be passed down 50 years from now.

rc

 

[BYJO4]

The model 25 and 625 have a long history of being accurate along with a good action. I've have always had one of the models in my collection since the mid 70s (been shooting the 625 since the stainless came out). I don't think the performance center version will out shoot the other models. Any manufactures will have a bad one get out of the factory but S&W will stand behind the gun 100%. I have several friends that have the JM model and love it except for the grip.

 

[ClemY]

I have the 25-2, 625JM and 625PC. I like the 625PC best. Very nice accuracy. I prefer its weight and balance. I did put in a long firing pin so I can shoot without clips.

 

[TonyT]

I have both a earlier 625PC JM version with 5 1/4 in. barrel and another 625 with 5 inch barrel. Both have been very accurate and reliable.

Recently I saw a 625JM PC in a dealer stock and found it had a miserable trigger with awful wood stocks. I noticed later that the delaer sent it back to S&W for service. S&W, as most manufacturers, is under increased pressure to trim costs due to foreign competition and such mistakes will occur as much as I regret to state. Their service department will correct any defects under their warranty.

I have an older 627PC which was very acurate and reliable but displayed some resistance to opening the cylinder (I used it for com petitive pistol shoots). I thoght the problem was due to a slightly short bolt, called S&W service and explained the problem. They not only replaced the bolt with a sligtly longer oee but also refitted the ball detent with he newer style ball and returned the gun within less than 2 weeks. Now the cylinder opens with a very slight nudge. S&W's customer service is superb in my book. From a corporate perspective I would look at the cost of warranty repairs vs. the cost of first build quality.

 

[valnar]

I have an older 4" one and it might be my favorite revolver. I keep a bunch of moon clips loaded for it. After seeing the famous Miculek video, it's as every bit as handy as a 1911 with a bunch of mags, but with a smaller ammo footprint. (ie. the stripper clips of revolvers)

 

[paul105]

LGunslinger,

I bought one just like you described (funky grips and all) several months ago. Initially, I had a lot of failures to fire (both loose rounds and with moon clips). Tightened the strain screw – resulted in fewer failures but did not cure the problem. Also tried a cylinder & slide shop long firing pin, but that caused other problems (stuck firing pin, pierced primer and still had some ignition problems).

I put the factory firing pin back in the gun and replaced the PC ribbed spring with a full power factory spring that I had taken from another gun. That cured the problem, but double action with the full power factory spring was very heavy.

I ordered a couple of aftermarket mainsprings which arrived from Brownell’s early in Jan. The first one I tried worked just fine (http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=26252/sku=080-665-220/Product/Standard-Mainspring-1-spring ). After loctiting the strain screw, a couple of sideplate screws and the front screw on the rear sight I’ve experienced no further problems. I have shot over 800 rounds since the last light primer hit W/MOON clips and all screws still tight. I’ve had a couple of loose rounds fail to fire double action in a couple of (sloppy?) chambers.

In the final analysis, it seems that the problem was a marginal mainspring for the Win LPs that I was using, and a strain screw that was not tight from the factory and would quickly work itself loose(r). Also, for 100% reliability, you probably need to use moon clips. Some folks say you need to use Federal primers with these guns, but I not satisfied until my gun will fire with any/all primers

I haven’t put this gun on paper except to verify POI, so I can’t comment on it’s accuracy.

After "The Fix", and adding some different grips, I've thoroughly enjoyed this gun.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[benderx4]

I'm a big fan of Smith's Performance Center revolvers. Smoother action, better sights, and a trigger to die for! In fact, after buying my first one, I've slowly transitioned almost all my S&W revolvers to the PC versions. The 625 is no different - shooting that big, slow bullet is VERY enjoyable from a revolver. Get yourself one and don't look back. Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[Master Blaster]

The PC model may have machined parts instead of MIM parts if this matters to you. I know thats the case with the 627PC I have. I had to do my own trigger job on it, S&W would have after I called them to complain about the lousy trigger. S&W customer service even sent me a label. But I had to take the Safety Hammer junk out anyway so I just did my own. My son age 13 loves the 627PC and I must agree with him It's one of my favorite firearms. Despite it's modern short commings Its a better gun than any of my older Smiths. I think you will enjoy the 625 PC

 

[MrBorland]

To clarify, this is the Performance Center Model, with supposedly more TLC than the JM or standard models.

I have a 5" 625 I use for USPSA. When I finally get around to buying a 4" 625 for IDPA, it'll likely be the PC version, but not for any TLC the PC might've added to it (I'll tune it anyway). Instead, I'd get it over the JM it comes with an interchangeable front sight (a very nice feature, and expensive to add) and a relatively short cylinder. Less cylinder mass means less inertia theoretically means easier to tune to pull off fast splits without having to go to a pull weight that's "on the edge" as far as reliability.

On the downside, the partial underlug may mean more muzzle flip than the JM's full underlug. And the shorter cylinder means a shorter gun & sight radius, compared to the JM version (though S&W lists the JM as shorter overall and lighter )

 

[rcmodel]

And the shorter cylinder means a shorter gun & sight radius

Actually not.

All N-Frames have the same length cylinder window..

If it has a shorter cylinder, it has a longer barrel shank sticking out to make up the differance.

625JM = Long cylinder & short barrel shank:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57894_757775_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

625PC = Short cylinder & long barrel shank:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57896_757896_757896_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

rc

 

[MrBorland]

All N-Frames have the same length cylinder window..

If it has a shorter cylinder, it has a longer barrel shank sticking out to make up the differance.

Good point. I should've been suspicious & looked a bit closer. OTOH, I wonder why the 4" PC's listed as over an inch (overall) longer than than the JM? Is the difference real?

 

[340PD]

I have a 625JM that has been flawless from day one. I bought a couple hundred moon clips from Ranch Products and I shoot 200 gr. Berry's handloads using a variety of powders. Mine is a very accurate gun. Lot's of fun to shoot.

 

[rcmodel]

Is the difference real?

I don't see how it could be.

The 625PC length has to be a mistake or typo.

The 325 Thunder Ranch with short cyl & long shank shows 9.5" / 24.1 CM.

That small difference from the 625JM 9.38" / 23.8cm is the back edge of the rubber grip used on it sticking out further.

rc