Cast bullets in 625 JM

[bearstopper]

My 625 shoots awesome with jacketed bullets but not quite as good with the LRN Lyman bullets from the only 45 mould I have. I bid on and won a 452460 mould and am also in the market for one of the 240 gr swc moulds also. I know that rumor has it the rifling type in this gun is not as good as traditional rifling for cast bullet accuracy and that harder bullets work better in this type of gun, but wanted to see if anyone has direct insight or experience with casting for this gun.

[Stonecrusher]

With good bullet fit, everything seems to shoot well in mine with no leading. My usual pistol alloy is 50-50 COWW and pure with a little bit of tin added.

[runfiverun]

my 625 doesn't know the difference between cast and copper wrapped.
it could be because I treat it like a short 45 colt and shoot rimmed cases in it.
oh I also use a 225 rnfp boolit designed for the 45 colt.

if it gives you trouble shooting lead boolits it's time to measure some cylinders and a barrel.

[Lefty SRH]

I shoot a Lyman 452374 boolit in my 625 JM with great success. I seat it a bit long so they find the cylinder a little quicker. I use this combo for IDPA competition

[theperfessor]

I have a 5" M625. It is the most accurate big bore revolver I own and a joy to shoot. It shoots 230gr TC cast best, but it also shoots any of several 200 gr SWCs quite accurately. Even 230 gr RNs such as the 452374 shoot OK, but I think the increased bearing length of the TC type helps accuracy a bit. I've used heavier bullets but I don't push velocities and pressures - if I need a magnum revolver I'll use my 629.

I've never noticed any stripping or skidding when using air cooled clip on wheel weights, the only gas check type bullets I've used were a gift, I don't own a GC mold in that caliber. I don't think rifling depth is a problem.

Lots of powder choices to try. I generally use Bullseye or 231 w/200 gr SWCs, add Red Dot and Unique for 230 gr cast. In a time when powder choices are some times limited its nice to have options. Around here Alliant and WW powders are normally carried by the LGSs.

In my mind a DA .45 ACP revolver is the ultimate non-magnum big bore.

Bearstopper, I hope you will like yours. If it is mechanically sound and you can get the right grip (I have X-frame grips on mine, not for recoil but for fit) you'll have a fine gun with lots of gentle power and a good accuracy potential across a broad spectrum of ammo choices.

[williamwaco]

Theperfessor + 1

That is a fantastic revolver.

[bearstopper]

Love this gun. The JM grips felt a wee bit small for me which is odd considering my hands are not large but they have grown on me and now I love them. The trigger on mine is fantastic in both double and single action. Don't like the gold bead for precision shooting so I blacked it out. I have had many a revolver but this is the first one that I am completely satisfied with out of the box pending getting a good cast bullet load found. Next revolver on my list will be a short barreled Freedom Arms in 44 mag or 44 Special as it is hard to get a great out of the box revolver any other way!

[mick27]

I just got mine and found it likes my std. 45acp load for my kimber of 5.7gr/231 and a #68 H&G w/full moon clips. Haven't tried the same load in autorim brass yet. Also want to try my Miha 452423 mold.. Had all kinds of plans to try all different cast bullets and powders, but having it shoot my std load SOOO well, i haven't really tried anything else yet!!

[HATCH]

I own a few 625's. None are the JM style. All are older no-lock models.
I have only shot cast out of mine.
One of my 3 inch 625s (I have two of them) will make a ragged hole at ten yards using 230 lead round nose and unique

[fredj338]

My 625 shoots just as well with cast as jacketed. Check the cyl throats, that is where most accuracy issues start with any revolver. I shoot 0.452" in mine but the throats are 0.4515".

[NoZombies]

I can honestly say I've never tried jacketed through my 625 JM. I can also say I've never found a load that it didn't like. 452374, 452488, H&G 68 H&G 130 etc. have all shot very well over light to medium loads of bullseye or other fast powders. (never felt the need to go past medium loads in the gun)

My throats are all .452 and that's what I size my bullets to.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Mine shoots anything.
It's an older pre lock model. -4 I believe.

One ragged hole at 10 yards all day long. No leading. Everything from 200 hollow points to the 270 SAA clone loaded hot.

Great gun

[onceabull]

MY first 625 is the model of 1988..I believe that those were all 5" revolvers..Nothing but cast, some in the 45 AR cases when I finally found them,after 15 years of being ratholed after I sold the last of my 1917's..apparently i'm among the lucky ones,because I've yet to have a FTF using 45 ACP cases sans the moonies... Just y'day bought a 625-2 but can't evaluate till next week...

[Dale53]

I have a pair of 625's. One is a 5" Model 625-6 Model of 1989, the other is a Model 625-8 a 4" JM Special. They are my two most used revolvers - I favor them over any of the rest.

I mostly shoot a Mihec #68 H&G 200 gr SWC cast of a/c wheelweights+2%tin. Accuracy is better than an inch at 25 yards off a rest. I have also had pretty much the same results with my original H&G #130. I have an NOE mould for the Lyman 454424 (a 250 gr Keith) and it shoots well with it also. Neither of my revolvers have exhibited any thing less than stellar accuracy. I probably have over 10,000 rounds through them. All of my bullets have been sized at .452" and are a tight fit in the cylinder throats of both revolvers. I have a couple of friends who got JM Specials after they saw how mine shot and I had occasion to measure their throats and they are the same as mine. Smith has certainly "got those right"....

One of my revolvers will not properly handle .45 ACP without the clips and one will. I consider that a non issue. I only use .45 ACP with clips. For range use I like the RIMZ polymer/carbon fiber clips and for serious use I prefer Ranch Products Steel clips. You do need tools for the steel clips. I have recently been using auto rim cases from Starline and like those best of all when I don't need a fast reload.

I consider them some of the best revolvers Smith has produced and I have a bunch of Smiths.

Here is my 625-8 JM Special:


Here is my favorite varmint load - a Mihec 200 gr hollow point in Auto Rim cases -it will expand to about .80 caliber:



Here is the NOE 454424 (250 gr Keith) in Auto Rim cases:


This is a VERY versatile revolver!



FWIW
Dale53