I picked my 625JM up in early February - what a deal! My dealer ordered mine for $10 over his in-stock 625-8 4" price. His next one - destined for the shelf - was ~$30 over my price. The catalog shows <$30 MSRP difference.
I shot mine again yesterday... 120 .45 ACP's and 50 .45 AR's - thus far, everything it has digested has been homebrew - with Fed primers. I did have one ACP need a second try, but this could be the poor quality range sweepings I used for brass. It really deserves some new brass. My first 625-8 4", sold last year, was 100% with it's Fed primed ACP's - in new revolver-only brass, which I stupidly gave away when I sold it. Oddly, I got nearly $50 more than I paid, inc S/T, for the new 625JM. Yeah, the JM is a bargain.
The .45 ACP/AR rounds are milder than some .45 Colt loads - but, they are still a 'big bore'. GA Arms loads some nice 200gr JHP's that may be fine for some thin-skinned hunting. The stable 43 oz launch platform, with it's smooth action, will make for an excellent follow-up shooter, too. Hunting, as I do, the wooley-mammoth steel plate, or the mean paper targets, it is a real winner. Check the handloads.com site for more suggestions re the ACP/AR loads.
They come with the spring-loaded front sight - easily changed from the gold bead supplied. Also, they have the $70 Miculek-style stocks - they are a bargain just because of them. Of course, the grooved trigger is desireable to some. The hard-chromed trigger and hammer look nice, too. And, thank you, SWM, you made me get out the magnifier, the ejector star is slightly chamfered, unlike my other N-frames. This may explain why the moonclipped ball ammo literally jumps from my hand and into place. BTW, don't expect much from the HKS #25 Speedloaders and .45 AR's... the rounds are so short that the minor interference of the HKS's axle with the springloaded end of the ejector star makes fast & sure use problematic... more like 'Bombs away!'.
I ordered the 5-packs of steel clips, the HKS 25's, and the nutdriver-style demooner from Brownell's, too... just like when I bought my first 625 (Never sell - or give away - such goodies!). It is my ugliest revolver (I really don't like satin SS or full lugs... my only 686 is the 5" half lug!), especially now since my .454 SRH is gone. It is a blast to shoot, however. And, if I run out (No way!), Wally World, et al, have 50rd boxes of ball ammo in brass for $10... not much more than .38 Special lead. It's 'Boom!' is neater than the 'KK...rack!' of a .357M, too. Did I mention it is a big bore??
Stainz