Finally a S&W M25 45 Colt...

[Encore64]

Ordered a 6 1/2" one today. Admittedly, I have never been a fan of S&W revolvers. I know they are fine guns, no reason for any to defend them.

I decided 2016 was the year for me to add one to my collection. This will be the only S&W Revolver in my battery. I hope it's a good one when it arrives.

[nolongcolt]

New version or vintage?

[Encore64]

New version, Classic Series. I decided to go that route after reading the below article. I figure if it's good enough for Linebaugh, it's good enough for me.

www.handloads.com/articles/?id=12

[elvaquero]

Thanks for sharing that article by John Linebaugh. It was great reading.

[Encore64]

Jan 26, 2016 22:42:26 GMT -5 elvaquero said:

Thanks for sharing that article by John Linebaugh. It was great reading.

You are very welcome. It has always intrigued me when an out of the box revolver receives such praise from a master gunsmith.

[bushog]

That article has cost me a lot of money!

[nolongcolt]

Some of the loads he uses are hotter than my top Ruger loads. Gives me a bit more respect for the Smith of which I own a few N frames, my favorite size.

[singleaction]

A friend of mine has a 25-7. It's from was a special run. It has a mat finish, un-fluted cylinder, and a heavy 5" barrel. Looks like it's from a futuristic psy-fi post-apocalyptic flick. Scary accurate too. I've never been much into Smith's either, but a 25 and a 69 are in my future somewhere.
Matt

[edk]

John's articles got me going on N-frames about (as well as the 45 Colt) about 15 years ago. I don't seem to have the luck others do on access to a supply of plentiful and reasonably priced S&W revolvers in my area. The first one I came across was a beautiful 25-2. Brought it home to find .488" chambers and .457" throats. Beautiful as it was it had to go. Then I came into my first of two mountain guns, a 429. Everything about it was just right. After that it was a 625MG in 45 Colt and this quest was somewhat fulfilled (never say never ). It is hard to argue these fine revolvers are not the best balance to win the title of the perfect packing pistol.

[toroflow]

Does your new 25 have the lock? I would disable it if it does. The article was based on a 25-5, which was pre-lock. Shooting those heavy loads in a lock gun may bind it up (lock-wise).

[nolongcolt]

He talked about the -5 being non pinned, but most I see on GB are pinned. I guess they would be earlier -5's.

[Encore64]

I won't try to make a Magnum out of
this gun. I have sseveral 454s and heavy duty 45 Colt guns.

This gun will see absolute max of 20,000 psi loads. Probably 14,000 psi will be the norm.

[akray]

I read this article years ago and have kept my eye out for a blue 4" Model 25 without the pinned barrel and recessed cylinder ever since. These are supposed to have oversized chambers and cylinder throats but the ones without the pinned barrel are supposed to be made to tighter tolerances. I've seen some of the pinned barrel guns but I don't recall seeing any of the other ones. The search is the fun part of it anyway I suppose.

[nicholst55]

My 25-5 has 5 throats that measure .457" and 1 goes .458". I've never measured the chamber diameters, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're huge. It shoots .454" cast bullets acceptably well, but I'd like to try some larger - assuming they'll chamber. Pretty gun; too bad Smith couldn't build them right.

[Encore64]

It's my understanding that the new run of Classic guns are good shooters. Guess I will know soon enough.