This article on the S&W 625 accuracy has me a bit worried.

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sammy

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On Saturday I pick up a Performance Center 625 with a 4" barrel. This is my only wheel gun simply because the semi-auto's feel better in my hand. A good buddy of mine is a revolver fanatic and after shooting lots of his different model wheel guns I decided to order the 625. The main reason I got a 625 was because I shoot and reload lots of .45acp so it was a good choice for me.

A google search on S&W 625 review brought up an article that gave a very favorable review of the JM 625 with the exception of accuracy. Here is a quote from the article
[ Almost all were in the three- to four-inch range for five shot groups at 25 yards. /QUOTE] This was the kicker for me
I called the Performance Center, and a couple of guys there took a Miculek 625 and set it up in a Ransom Rest, testing with the .45 ACP ammo they had on hand, Federal Hydra-Shok and Speer Gold Dot. An hour later, I got a call back. They, too, were getting three and four inch groups at 25 yards.

It turns Out that the Performance Center puts a minimum acceptable group with this gun at four inches.

Now this has me worried. I am an accuracy junkie and would think this gun should out shoot my Baer. If the best this gun can do I am going to be disappointed to say the least.

Here is the link to the article. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_9_48/ai_89808627/?tag=mantle_skin;content

Thanks for looking, Sammy
 
I recentlly bought a S&W model 25-2 (the blued version) and have been shooting Speer 200 gr LSWC bullets with W-W 231 powder. This is the same load and bullet that I use in my Colt Gold Cup. To make a long story short, my 25-2 shoots one hole groups at 25 yards and that's with a 40 year old revolver. I suggest you try some 45 ACP target loads in your 625-2 and watch your groups shrink by half.
 
A 25/625 should be capabe of better accuracy than 4" at 25 yards. My guess is that particular 625 tested had a screwed up crown. Such turds to slip through QC now and then.

I've got a 4" Model 28 that is the same basic platform as the 625 and it is capable of stellar accuracy. I grade myself an average to slightly above average shooter, and at 25 yards two hands unsupported, I managed a 4-shot around 1.5" group in slow DA. Maybe it was 1.25", don't remember for sure. I just know that gun makes even me look good! Love it!
 
I get the impression that 25/625 accuracy is a mixed bag. Some claim theirs is a tack driver, others, not so much. Mine is so-so compared to my other revolvers. Some load development helps. Some seem to shoot cast much better than plated or jacketed ammo, too - likely due to slightly oversized throats. There may also be an ever-so-slight constriction in the barrel/frame, or the quality of the crown may be so-so.

Before worrying too much about it, I'd first take it to the range with a variety of ammo to see what it's capable of. If you don't have much trigger time with a revolver, maybe let your bud shoot some groups as well.
 
My 25-2 shoots extremely well. I had a 625 that shot pretty well, but not like my 25-2.
 
I have a 625-8 PC. The action is perfect, the trigger pull is excellent, and it is EXTREMELY accurate. My only complaint is I have to have the rear sight almost all the way right to hit the bull! I was very ticked off initially, and ready to send it back, but started reading about some others with accuracy issues and decided I could live with the sight issue for the accuracy I'm seeing.

On the other hand, I just picked up a used 325PD that is every bit as accurate as my 625. I think I'll buy non performance center guns in the future, and use the money I save to buy more reloading components.
 
I think that should read that S&W has a maximum acceptable group size of 4" (I don't know if that is true, but a minimum group size of 4" would mean that it never shoots groups less than 4", which is absurd.) IMHO, the article seems dubious and I question the whole thing, including the purported quotes by S&W. Some of the S&W "bashers" who seem to infest the gun sites these days make a game out of lying about S&W and their products.

As for your gun, why are you judging a gun you haven't even fired by the claimed experience of someone else with another gun?

Jim
 
Well Jim, I suppose you are right. I don't think I am judging the gun. It surprised me to find this article that is all.

My good friend who is revolver nut just sent back a S&W 29 classic yesterday because the barrel was over tightened, canting the front sight. I did my research before buying the gun but only found this article today. What better place to ask about this than The High Road?
Luckily my gun's barrel is straight but I forgot to look at the crown. There were 4 other people in line doing paperwork at the time and wanted to get in and out to make it easier on my FFL.

Saturday I will post picts and targets with positive results I am sure. The gun is beautiful ignoring the grips but that problem is going to be fixed soon enough.

Thanks for the impute gentlemen. Keep in mind I am a newbie when it comes to wheel guns.

Sammy
 
I've got two non-PC 625s, a 5" 625-2 Model of 1988 and a 4" 625-3 Model of 1989 and both of them are a lot more accurate than I am. I also have a pre-26 Model of 1950 that is a tack driver and a few 1917s that are all pretty darn good too.
 
Todays S&W "performance center" is not what it was in the past. Very much like the parent company.

My understanding is that it is no longer even in a sepoerate building. Instead of handfitted handguns with premium parts they now are simply cosmetic alterations of the standard production junk. TJ
 
It isn't time to panic yet. Wait until you get the gun and find out yourself.

Mine 625-2 5" is a lot more accurate with soft loads than full power factory loads. But even with factory loads, it's more accurate than my GI level 1911.

Keep it in perspective though, it is an $800 gun or so, and your Baer was probably $2k+. Set your expectations reasonably. I don't think 1" at 25 yards is too much to expect.
 
My 3" 625-4 is a fantastic shooter and one of my most accurate handguns. Jerry Miculek would not use them if they were not accurate. I would guess that the one shooting 4" groups is an anomaly, and something is not right with it. Everyone puts out a lemon now and then.
 
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I owned a S&W 625 a few years ago. Accuracy just wasn't what I expected so sold the gun. There seems to be problems with the crush fit barrels on some of these.

All I can tell you is see what happens.
 
Could it be the shooter...are other people getting the same results? I would not expect equivalent groups to a $2K bear out of this revolver. Try load development work, or try several quality factory ammo types to see what this particular firearm likes. Check that the crown is cut right and the bore is clean.
 
My Model 25-2 (sequel to the 1955 Target) was made in 1972 and is one of the most accurate of the many handguns I own. Don't fret about your revolver's accuracy potential until after you shoot it. I doubt that you have any cause to worry.
 
I have used a Ransom rest with a number of S&W N-frames (using proper grip inserts) to eliminate as much as possible the human factor. A recent 625 4" gave stellar accuracy at 25 yards, with a variety of factory and reloaded rounds. Most groups were a single ragged hole very close to the X-ring. I have noticed this gun becoming even more smooth as more rounds are fired. Likely you will get the same if you know how to bench shoot a revolver.
 
Thanks for the responses folks.

Tomorrow night I will post a range report in this thread. I have 5 different loads that I have great results with in my Baer so I think this should be no different.

In looking at the way a 1911 and a revolver are designed, the revolver should be more accurate. The barrel and sights are fixed on the revolver, no moving parts at all. This gives a huge edge in accuracy to the revolver over a 1911. True, my $1300 Baer is very accurate but a top of the line revolver should match or beat it in straight accuracy. Here is a pict of a 15 yard target, offhand with my Baer. 7.4g. of Power Pistol with 230g. Golden Saber bullets. This is the best load I have found for this gun. Too expensive to shoot regularly and it beats up the gun more than I like. This is an 8 shot group on a very good day.
P1010186.jpg

My buddy's 8 shot Performance Center 5" .357 (I forget the model number) gets similar groups. I am hoping the 625 should do this or better.

Thanks for the help. This forum is the best!!

Sammy
 
I would not expect equivalent groups to a $2K bear out of this revolver.
I would! A PC 625 should easily do one to one and a half inches at 25yds from a Ransom rest. If it only mustered 4", I'd be rid of it.
 
Accuracy - Revolvers vs. Pistols.

When it comes to service grade handguns, the revolver should be the more accurate for the reasons you explained. But in practice it doesn't always work that way if a top gunsmith has tuned up the pistol. Accuracy issues in pistols are usually caused when the tilting barrel does not always return to exactly the same position when the slide goes into battery. Target pistols are fitted to eliminate the looseness deliberately built into service pistols to insure reliability under all conditions, and in any environment.

A revolver has 6 chambers, all or some of which may not be concentric with the bore. For this reason a very small rotational looseness is part of the S&W revolver system. In addition chamber throats may vary between the chambers vs. bore diameter. Neither of these factors comes into play so far as pistols are concerned.

During pre-World War Two years, NRA rules allowed spotting some points to pistol shooters over revolver competitors because 1911 pistols were less accurate then 1917 revolvers. By the late 1950's this had turned around to the point that revolvers had no special advantage.
 
It turns Out that the Performance Center puts a minimum acceptable group with this gun at four inches.

Sammy,

Thank you for the discussion.

Guess Smith has a different idea of "performance" than I do.
 
I have a 625-6, and my buddy has a 625JM.

Both will shoot ragged one hole groups when we can.

rc
 
Sammy,

I have owned three 25-2's, a 625-6 Mountain Gun, and three PC625-7's. I currently have the PC guns. I also have a Freedom Arms M83 with a 45 ACP cylinder. The FA is 50% more accurate than the PC guns, as it should be. The best group I have ever shot with it is 1.5" at 15 yards benchrested using factory ammo. I used FC ball, Win bal, FC 185gr SWC match stuff, Win RA45TP, etc. It don't matter, the gun will not do any better. The PC guns shoot 2-3" with that ammo. My 25-2's would pattern with the same factory ammo, largely due to their .457" cylinder throats, so I sold them.

Factory 45 ACP ammo was developed for pistols, not revolvers. I have not read one gun rag write-up where factory 45 ACP ammo shot well in revolvers.

However, since I am a reloader first and hate factory ammo, I am able to tune my firearms through handloading. I am able to get sub-1" accuracy from the PC revolvers using 4grs of Bullseye under a soft (12BHN) 200gr LSWC.

Anyone who proclaims that a PC625 is inaccurate based on some incompetent testing should be flogged.
 
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