Smith & Wesson Model 625


The Smith & Wesson Model 625, is a six-round, double-action revolver chambered for the .45 ACP using moon clips. The Model 625 is an improved stainless steel version Smith & Wesson Model 22 and a direct descendant of the Smith & Wesson M1917 revolver first issued during World War I.

Design

Based on Smith & Wesson's stainless steel N frame revolver, the Model 625 was introduced as the.45 cal Model of 1988. It was equipped with a five-inch barrel with a full-length underlug. The regular production model of the Model 625 was introduced in 1989. it was also made with three-inch and four-inch barrels. Standard offerings now only include the four-inch and five-inch barrel.
The S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun is a lightweight 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 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 snubnosed revolver version of the 625. The S&W Model 625-10 is a stainless steel update of the M1917 revolver, a popular starting gun for conversion to a "Fitz Special".
Another recent Performance Center version, the S&W Model 625 JM, was introduced in 2005. The "JM" stands for Jerry Miculek, a renowned revolver speed shooter, and is his personal design. The Model 625 JM uses a barrel with rear adjustable sights and a front gold bead black patridge sight. The Model 625 JM is finished in matte bead-blasted stainless steel. The grips are Miculek's design.
Another.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 aluminum-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. The Model 325 Night Guard has been discontinued.
An additional Smith & Wesson.45 ACP revolver is the Model 325 Thunder Ranch, which has a 4-inch barrel and a accessory rail for mounting lights and lasers.
The Model 625 in.45 ACP was the revolver used by Jerry Miculek when he set the world record for the fastest six shots, a reload, and another six shots in 2.99 seconds.

Use of moon clips

The Model 625 was designed to fire .45 ACP pistol cartridges with use with moon clips. It will head-space the.45 ACP cartridge in the chambers without use of moon clips, but since the extractor cannot engage the rimless cartridge, the empty shells must be ejected with a cleaning rod or pencil. It may also use .45 Auto Rim as they were designed for revolvers chambered in.45 ACP using moon clips.

Variants of the 625

  • S&W Model 625
  • S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun
  • S&W Model 625-2.45 ACP
  • S&W Model 625-3.45 ACP
  • S&W Model 625-4.45 ACP
  • S&W Model 625-5.45 Colt
  • S&W Model 625-6 and -9 Mountain Gun
  • S&W Model 625-7.45 Colt
  • S&W Model 625-8.45 ACP
  • S&W Model 625-9.45 Colt
  • S&W Model 625-10
  • S&W Model 625-11.45 Colt Scandium Frame Performance Center
  • S&W Model 625 JM
  • S&W Model 625-6 V-Comp.45 ACP