S&W Model 625
Encyclopedia
The Smith & Wesson
(S & W) Model 625, is a six round single & double action revolver
chambered for the .45 ACP
(also known as .45 Auto) cartridge
& .45 Colt
also known as "Long Colt" or "LC". The 625 in .45 ACP will headspace the cartridge in the chambers without use of moon clips, but since the extractor
cannot engage the rimless cartridge, moon clip
s are needed to facilitate ejection. Based on S&W's stainless steel
N (large) revolver frame, the Model 625, was introduced as the .45 CAL MODEL OF 1988, in 1988 as a limited edition model intended as an International Practical Shooting Confederation
(ISPC) commemorative. It was equipped with a 5 inch (127 mm) barrel with a full-length underlug.
The regular production model of the Model 625 was introduced in 1989. In 1991 – 1992, it was also made with 3-inch and 4-inch barrels. Standard offerings now only include the 4" and 5" barrel.
The S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun is a light weight version of the 625, with a shortened underlug and tapered barrel, and "Mountain Gun" etched on one side of the barrel. The standard Model 625 Mountain Gun fires .45 Colt
through a 4 inch (102 mm) barrel. In 2001, a limited edition was also built by the Smith & Wesson Performance Center that uses .45 ACP
ammunition. Both of these revolvers have adjustable rear sights and Hogue rubber grips.
The Model 625-10 is the newest version of this revolver from the Smith & Wesson Performance Center, introduced in 2004. It is a snub-nosed version of the 625. The S&W Model 625-10 is a stainless steel update of the Model 25, popular before World War 2 as a starting gun for conversion to a "Fitz Special"
(a concealed, contact-distance defensive gun).
Another recent Performance Center version, the S&W Model 625JM, was introduced in 2005. The "JM" stands for Jerry Miculek
, a renowned revolver speed shooter, and is his personal design. The Model 625JM uses a 4 inch (102 mm) barrel with rear adjustable sights and a front gold bead black partridge sight. The Model 625JM is finished in matte bead-blasted stainless steel. The grips are Miculek's design.
The latest .45 ACP revolver from Smith & Wesson is the Model 325 Night Guard. It is similar to the 625-10 in that the frame is an aluminun scandium blend. It has a similar grooved rear sight as the 625-10, but the front sight of the 325 Night Guard is a tritium night sight. The model 325 has a matte black finish.
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
(S & W) Model 625, is a six round single & double action revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
chambered for the .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
(also known as .45 Auto) cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
& .45 Colt
.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
also known as "Long Colt" or "LC". The 625 in .45 ACP will headspace the cartridge in the chambers without use of moon clips, but since the extractor
Extractor (firearms)
An extractor is a part in a firearm that serves to remove brass cases of fired ammunition after the ammunition has been fired. When the gun's action cycles, the extractor lifts or removes the spent brass casing from the firing chamber.-Overview:...
cannot engage the rimless cartridge, moon clip
Moon clip
A moon clip is a ring-shaped or star-shaped piece of metal designed to hold multiple cartridges together as a unit, for simultaneous insertion and extraction from a revolver cylinder...
s are needed to facilitate ejection. Based on S&W's stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
N (large) revolver frame, the Model 625, was introduced as the .45 CAL MODEL OF 1988, in 1988 as a limited edition model intended as an International Practical Shooting Confederation
International Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
(ISPC) commemorative. It was equipped with a 5 inch (127 mm) barrel with a full-length underlug.
The regular production model of the Model 625 was introduced in 1989. In 1991 – 1992, it was also made with 3-inch and 4-inch barrels. Standard offerings now only include the 4" and 5" barrel.
The S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun is a light weight version of the 625, with a shortened underlug and tapered barrel, and "Mountain Gun" etched on one side of the barrel. The standard Model 625 Mountain Gun fires .45 Colt
.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
through a 4 inch (102 mm) barrel. In 2001, a limited edition was also built by the Smith & Wesson Performance Center that uses .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
ammunition. Both of these revolvers have adjustable rear sights and Hogue rubber grips.
The Model 625-10 is the newest version of this revolver from the Smith & Wesson Performance Center, introduced in 2004. It is a snub-nosed version of the 625. The S&W Model 625-10 is a stainless steel update of the Model 25, popular before World War 2 as a starting gun for conversion to a "Fitz Special"
Belly gun
A belly gun is a short-barreled revolver, for concealed carry. It may have additional, distinctive features: shortened grip frame, absent front sight, de-spurred hammer, absent front half of the trigger guard, and large caliber....
(a concealed, contact-distance defensive gun).
Another recent Performance Center version, the S&W Model 625JM, was introduced in 2005. The "JM" stands for Jerry Miculek
Jerry Miculek
Jerry Miculek is a speed shooter and competition shooting instructor, experienced in nearly every type of firearm made. He is renowned as one of the fastest revolver shooters in the world, emptying a five-shot revolver in 0.57 seconds in a group the size of a playing card. Miculek currently holds...
, a renowned revolver speed shooter, and is his personal design. The Model 625JM uses a 4 inch (102 mm) barrel with rear adjustable sights and a front gold bead black partridge sight. The Model 625JM is finished in matte bead-blasted stainless steel. The grips are Miculek's design.
The latest .45 ACP revolver from Smith & Wesson is the Model 325 Night Guard. It is similar to the 625-10 in that the frame is an aluminun scandium blend. It has a similar grooved rear sight as the 625-10, but the front sight of the 325 Night Guard is a tritium night sight. The model 325 has a matte black finish.
Variants of the 625
- S&W Model 625 (US - Revolver - .45 ACP: .45 Target Stainless)
- S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun (US - Revolver - .45 ACP: Model of 1989 .45 Light Weight 39.5 oz (1.1 kg))
- S&W Model 625-6 & -9 Mountain Gun (US - Revolver - .45 Colt)
- S&W Model 625-10 (US - Revolver - .45 ACP: .45 Target Stainless)
- S&W Model 625JM (US - Revolver - .45 ACP: Jerry Miculek design)
External links
- Smith & Wesson Inc.
- http://www.sixguns.com/range/sw6252.htm
- http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=827