S&W 625-3 .45 Colt: New to Me Purchase...Paid Too Much???

Southern Shooter · June 9, 2013, 01:52 AM

I recently fell prey to my friendly LGS. I walked in to just look and chat. And, ended up dropping more cash AFTER I swore off buying for a while.

Did I pay too much???

-S&W 625-3
-.45 Colt
-"45 Cal Model of 1989" lasered on the barrel
-outside of pawl mark on the cylinder there are no other blemishes on the gun
-included was 100 handloads of 250 grain cast bullets
-Total out the door: $700.00

P.S.
The trigger on this gun is the smoothest, easiest trigger that I have ever operated.
S&W 625-3 a.jpg

S&W 625-3 b.jpg

.45 Colt 250 grain handloads.jpg

black mamba · June 9, 2013, 02:52 AM

You stole it, even without the ammo. Only a fool would shoot someone else's reloads, that's what bullet pullers are for.

mikejonestkd · June 9, 2013, 07:41 AM

Nice find!!
I paid about the same for my model 526 mountain gun in 45 colt last year.
Its a great gun, enjoy it!

carguychris · June 9, 2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Only a fool would shoot someone else's reloads, that's what bullet pullers are for.

+1, and I'd like to add a little extra emphasis to this warning because .45 Colt S&W N frames are generally NOT considered safe to fire with "+P" aka "Ruger / Freedom Arms Only" loads. (I put +P in quotations because a SAAMI pressure standard for +P does not exist for this cartridge.) The N frame was designed around a .44-caliber cartridge and the cylinder walls get kinda thin when you bore it out to .45 caliber. If you want to push the limits of the .45 Colt cartridge, this is the wrong revolver to use!

BTW yes, that's a good price- in my area, ANY really clean N frame under $750 is a good buy.

**Mike Irwin** · June 9, 2013, 01:09 PM

3 years ago I gave nearly 900 for a Model 25 4 inch.

And I felt lucky to have finally found one after looking for over a decade.

Bob Wright · June 10, 2013, 08:55 PM

I wish that chambering had been available when I was really interested in a DA .45. I had a Model 625-? in .45 ACP with 5" full lug barrel. Only bad feature was the round butt. Considered re-working a Model 629 and mating it to that barrel. I was experimenting with the .45 S&W round at the time.

Bob Wright

TMD · June 10, 2013, 09:00 PM

Quote:

-Total out the door: $700.00

Wanna make $20?

Southern Shooter · June 10, 2013, 09:50 PM

I was able to talk with the guy that loaded the bullets and I pulled a couple to verify what he said.

-250 Grain Cast Bullet
-7.5 grains of Green Dot

Anybody ever use that load?

250 grain .45 bullet.jpg

Bob Wright · June 11, 2013, 09:54 AM

Years ago a friend of mine quit shotshell loading and gave me nearly a full eight pound keg of Green Dot.

After a little experimenting I used that for loading middle of the road .41 Magnum cartridges. It worked very well and produced some accurate loads. Sorry can't give you any better data than that.

Bob Wright

black mamba · June 11, 2013, 06:57 PM

I'll repeat, I wouldn't shoot the reloads. 7.5 grains of Green Dot is a load that could accidentally be doubled in the case and still hold a bullet on top. 15 grains of Green Dot would probably blow up the cylinder.

Zhillsauditor · June 11, 2013, 08:08 PM

Yes, I would never shoot an unknown person's reloads. I would have trepidation over shooting a friend's reloads, but never someone I don't know.

spacecoast · June 11, 2013, 08:18 PM

I have a 5" 625-3 in .45 ACP that I paid $775 for almost two years ago, so I would say you did well. If yours is like mine, it's a very accurate revolver, don't be afraid to stretch it out to 25 and 50 yards.

Ozzieman · June 14, 2013, 04:10 PM

You should be OK but it’s a little stout
My number 10 Speer manual lists a
260 GR jacketed at the following
Green dot, MIN:7.2 GR MAX 7.7. GR 856 FPS Colt single action.

For a 250 Lead
Green dot, MIN 7.1 GR MAX 7.6 GR 798 FPS shot out of a Colt single action.

MLeake · June 17, 2013, 09:38 AM

Bob Wright,

A round butt is not a bad feature at all. Round to square conversion grips are readily available from most grip makers, so you can easily make it a square grip.

Those of us who prefer round grips don't have square to round conversion grip options; any conversion would require major metal work, and would harm resale value.

Edit: OP, I had looked for one of those for a while. You got a good deal. I would even consider trading my 629 no-dash transitional model 6" for that.

June 9, 2013, 01:52 AM	#1
Southern Shooter Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2005 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 469	S&W 625-3 .45 Colt: New to Me Purchase...Paid Too Much??? I recently fell prey to my friendly LGS. I walked in to just look and chat. And, ended up dropping more cash AFTER I swore off buying for a while. Did I pay too much??? -S&W 625-3 -.45 Colt -"45 Cal Model of 1989" lasered on the barrel -outside of pawl mark on the cylinder there are no other blemishes on the gun -included was 100 handloads of 250 grain cast bullets -Total out the door: $700.00 P.S. The trigger on this gun is the smoothest, easiest trigger that I have ever operated. S&W 625-3 a.jpg S&W 625-3 b.jpg .45 Colt 250 grain handloads.jpg Last edited by Southern Shooter; June 9, 2013 at 08:21 AM. Reason: adding trigger comment

June 9, 2013, 07:41 AM	#3
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,759	Nice find!! I paid about the same for my model 526 mountain gun in 45 colt last year. Its a great gun, enjoy it! __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

June 9, 2013, 01:09 PM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	3 years ago I gave nearly 900 for a Model 25 4 inch. And I felt lucky to have finally found one after looking for over a decade. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 10, 2013, 09:50 PM	#8
Southern Shooter Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2005 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 469	Handloaded Bullets---Load Data Question I was able to talk with the guy that loaded the bullets and I pulled a couple to verify what he said. -250 Grain Cast Bullet -7.5 grains of Green Dot Anybody ever use that load? 250 grain .45 bullet.jpg

June 9, 2013, 02:52 AM	#2
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 909	You stole it, even without the ammo. Only a fool would shoot someone else's reloads, that's what bullet pullers are for.

June 10, 2013, 08:55 PM	#6
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 3,005	I wish that chambering had been available when I was really interested in a DA .45. I had a Model 625-? in .45 ACP with 5" full lug barrel. Only bad feature was the round butt. Considered re-working a Model 629 and mating it to that barrel. I was experimenting with the .45 S&W round at the time. Bob Wright

June 11, 2013, 09:54 AM	#9
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 3,005	Years ago a friend of mine quit shotshell loading and gave me nearly a full eight pound keg of Green Dot. After a little experimenting I used that for loading middle of the road .41 Magnum cartridges. It worked very well and produced some accurate loads. Sorry can't give you any better data than that. Bob Wright

June 11, 2013, 06:57 PM	#10
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 909	I'll repeat, I wouldn't shoot the reloads. 7.5 grains of Green Dot is a load that could accidentally be doubled in the case and still hold a bullet on top. 15 grains of Green Dot would probably blow up the cylinder.

June 11, 2013, 08:08 PM	#11
Zhillsauditor Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2008 Posts: 635	Yes, I would never shoot an unknown person's reloads. I would have trepidation over shooting a friend's reloads, but never someone I don't know.

June 11, 2013, 08:18 PM	#12
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	I have a 5" 625-3 in .45 ACP that I paid $775 for almost two years ago, so I would say you did well. If yours is like mine, it's a very accurate revolver, don't be afraid to stretch it out to 25 and 50 yards.

June 14, 2013, 04:10 PM	#13
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	You should be OK but it’s a little stout My number 10 Speer manual lists a 260 GR jacketed at the following Green dot, MIN:7.2 GR MAX 7.7. GR 856 FPS Colt single action. For a 250 Lead Green dot, MIN 7.1 GR MAX 7.6 GR 798 FPS shot out of a Colt single action.

June 17, 2013, 09:38 AM	#14
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Bob Wright, A round butt is not a bad feature at all. Round to square conversion grips are readily available from most grip makers, so you can easily make it a square grip. Those of us who prefer round grips don't have square to round conversion grip options; any conversion would require major metal work, and would harm resale value. Edit: OP, I had looked for one of those for a while. You got a good deal. I would even consider trading my 629 no-dash transitional model 6" for that.