S&w 625-jm

[Art in Colorado]

Quick question about this. Can 45 Auto Rim be used in this revolver? How do you think it would handel cast? I heard back when the ACP Mountain Revolvers came out that the rifiling was shallow and designed for full metal jacket. No idea if this was factual. This might be my next handgun.

Thanks
Art

[Walks]

Yes,

That shallow rifling was about the 1917 models. My 625 - Model of 1989 has std rifling, just like my M27 & M25-5.

[ShooterAZ]

The S&W 625 is perfect for cast, and the 45 Auto Rim cartridge. I also have the Model of 1989 and love it.

[stubshaft]

Cast is all I feed mine.

[Jtarm]

Yes,

That shallow rifling was about the 1917 models. My 625 - Model of 1989 has std rifling, just like my M27 & M25-5.

Also the later target revolvers and the Model 22 (and it’s predecessor.)

All had shallow 6-groove rifling instead of the normal S&W 5-groove to handle military ball.

The WWI FMJs were prone to getting stuck in normal-depth rifling.

I recently bought a 625 PC and 500 pieces Starline .45 AR.

DougGuy opened up the chamber throats to .4525 (they were very tight.)

I just got lucky and found the right shell plate for my LNLAP (it’s not regular production) so I’m planning to shoot the hell out of cast .45 AR.

[Cheeto303]

I have a 625 JM that I traded a ratty Bulgarian AK for. In addition to 45 ACP and 45 AR I also use 45 GAP brass. Faster reloads with moon clips. This gun loves cast. Also have a 22-4 Thunder Ranch Model of 1950 45 ACP, loves cast also.

[Norske]

I have a S&W 1955 Target. I use full moon clips and ACP brass. I haven't had the sharp edges in the extractor star beveled, so I'll roll crimp my 45 ACP reloads that are intended for the revolver.

[Dale53]

I have a 625-8 JM Special. It is one of my absolute favorite revolvers. It gets NOTHING but my home cast bullets. It shoots really well (well under 1" at 25 yards with nearly everything I run in it). I also had a 625-6 Model of 1989 that shot just as well (my youngest son is taking very good care of it:-P, these days.

My most used load is a target load (a Mihec #69 200 gr. SWC) ahead of 4.0 grs. of Bullseye or equivalent.

Dale53

[DocSavage]

I have a 625s and use both 45 acp and 45 AR with nothing but cast bullets in them. Remington and Starline are the only sources of 45 AR brass.

[StrawHat]

I have one 625, a Mountain Gun, in ACP. But I have a bunch of blued ACP revolvers. The earlier ones do best with hard projectiles, either jacketed or hard cast lead. The modern revolvers can use a softer boolit.

Here are some of them.

Kevin

[Outpost75]

The Brazilian INA manufacture replacement barrels for the M1917, made in the 1930s, have wide lands and deep grooves like a Colt SA. I had a "sewer pipe" M1917 with washed out barrel and found an INA barrel from somebody here on the forum. I had John Taylor recylinder and rechamber the gun to .45 Colt, using an S&W Model 29 cylinder I found on GunBroker and it is one of my favorite handguns.

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Diameter of original cylnder throats on the S&W M1917 cylinder were .456"

The throats of the line-bored and rechambered M29 cylinder to .45 Colt are .453"

My S&W S-prefix .45 ACP Model 1950 throats are .455

ALL THREE of my Colt New Service revolvers in .455 Eley, .45 ACP and .45 Colt are .456"

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Quick question about this. Can 45 Auto Rim be used in this revolver? How do you think it would handel cast? I heard back when the ACP Mountain Revolvers came out that the rifiling was shallow and designed for full metal jacket. No idea if this was factual. This might be my next handgun.

Thanks
Art
I have a 625 JM and I am NOT over joyed with it, But I am not done trying to make myself like it.
As to Rifling in the 625 JM, there seems to be some produced with the traditional 5 groove S&W rifling, and some produced with 6 groove shallow rifling. Mine has the 6 groove.

Here is a interesting thread about the 625 JM, included in it, is my disappointments.
https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/smith-625-jm-info.4489/