S&W 25-2 6-inch

4D5 · May 26, 2016, 08:25 PM

Found this on a recent trip to the LGS. This has been my wish list for a while.
A couple years ago I found one just like it and I passed, hoping for a better deal at the time.
Big mistake!

The asking price was a little bit high, but I made a counter offer of $1050 and the deal was done.
I may have bought a little early but not by much for an unfired 6 inch M25-2.

No box/papers/tools.

**Mike Irwin** · May 27, 2016, 06:02 AM

Nice!

.45 Long Colt?

I passed up several 6" models over the years because my Model 25 Holy Grail was a 4" in .45 Long.

I finally found one nearly 6 years ago after over a decade of searching. I over paid for it... by the time shipping and everything was factored in, it was close to $1k, but damn it I wanted it, I had the money, and I wasn't letting it slip through my fingers.

Mine was also unfired with no drag line on the cylinder, but alas, no box, papers or tools either.

When it came into the local gunshop for me to pick up, the owner said he had to fend off salivating employees with a stick.

Are you going to load for it? I was going to hold off on that for awhile... I have a .41 Magnum and a .44 Special, so I'm used to obscene prices for bigbore ammo, but the .45 Long took it to a new, and exceptionally painful, level, so I got into loading for it quickly.

Lead bullets and Universal for about 900 fps. Quite thumpy, but accurate as all get out.

steveno · May 27, 2016, 06:09 AM

a S & W M-25 2 would be 45 acp/45 autorim

4D5 · May 27, 2016, 10:12 AM

As stevno said, it's 45 ACP.

I also have a 4 inch 25-6 in LongColt

And I just recently picked up a 625-3 in ACP.

.

dgludwig · May 27, 2016, 02:27 PM

Beautiful revolver, 4D5. It's amazing to me how much these guns are bringing today but if you compare the workmanship and finish of older, classic S&W and Colt revolvers with new ones, I think the originals are a bargain.
My Model 25-2 (paid $450.00 for it in 2005/no papers,tools or box either) has a 6 1/2" barrel and I still use it at Bullseye matches.

FlyFish · May 27, 2016, 02:28 PM

Nice catch. You do see them, not often, for less - but not nearly in as nice condition. My 25-2 is probably the most accurate of the few dozen revolvers I own and would be a candidate for the last gun I part with if I ever need to start thinning the herd. I'm not a big fan of moon clips, so I load .45 Auto Rim for it.

rodfac · May 30, 2016, 08:27 AM

I had one of the '76-'81 M25's with a 4" bbl. on it. (Don't recall if it was a -2 model or not.) Cylinder throats were .457"-.458" with a 0.452" groove dia. The best I could do with it were 3-4" gps at 25 yds from a rest, and leading with factory or handloads had to be seen to be believed. By the third cylinder full, the gun was lucky to hit 6 shots in to a 6" circle.

I was living in CT at the time and took it back up to Smith & Wesson in Springfield where they told me that those were the in-spec dimensions at that time, but the gunsmiths in the factory service center readily agreed that the cylinder throats needed to be considerably smaller to expect any of the accuracy that the company's revolvers were famous for.

I sold it off for just about what I had in it and never regretted the sale. I've been leery of Smith .45 Colts ever since but understand that eventually, Smith did a better job of matching cylinder throats with groove diameters.

Conversely, I have a 25-2 in .45 ACP, bought for the princely sum of $375 in 1988. It's been a wonderful shooter for all the intervening years with .45 ACP or Auto-Rim reloads. Jacketed or hand cast, it's a 1" to 1.5" grouper for me. I've killed two deer with at less than 25 yds from a stand & is arguably one of the most accurate revolvers I've ever fired. Throats and bore are within 0.0005" of each other. Most any load of moderate velociy will do < than 2".

YMMV, Rod

SaxonPig · June 5, 2016, 08:18 AM

The 45 ACP in such a heavy gun is about like shooting a cap pistol. I bought one a few years ago with a serial suggesting a 1980 manufacture date. S&W changed the 6.5" barrels for 6" in 1978 but mine still has the 6.5" tube so they must have been using up old parts from inventory on this slow selling model.

Clark · July 5, 2016, 12:24 AM

I bought a 1972 S&W 25-2 on 9-26-2002 for $360 off a gun forum and had it shipped to a $30 FFL.

I have really enjoyed owning it.
I have settled in on using auto rim brass instead of moon or half moon clips with 45acp.

May 26, 2016, 08:25 PM	#1
4D5 Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2002 Location: Nevada, Carson Valley Posts: 194	S&W 25-2 6-inch Found this on a recent trip to the LGS. This has been my wish list for a while. A couple years ago I found one just like it and I passed, hoping for a better deal at the time. Big mistake! The asking price was a little bit high, but I made a counter offer of $1050 and the deal was done. I may have bought a little early but not by much for an unfired 6 inch M25-2. No box/papers/tools.

May 27, 2016, 06:02 AM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Nice! .45 Long Colt? I passed up several 6" models over the years because my Model 25 Holy Grail was a 4" in .45 Long. I finally found one nearly 6 years ago after over a decade of searching. I over paid for it... by the time shipping and everything was factored in, it was close to $1k, but damn it I wanted it, I had the money, and I wasn't letting it slip through my fingers. Mine was also unfired with no drag line on the cylinder, but alas, no box, papers or tools either. When it came into the local gunshop for me to pick up, the owner said he had to fend off salivating employees with a stick. Are you going to load for it? I was going to hold off on that for awhile... I have a .41 Magnum and a .44 Special, so I'm used to obscene prices for bigbore ammo, but the .45 Long took it to a new, and exceptionally painful, level, so I got into loading for it quickly. Lead bullets and Universal for about 900 fps. Quite thumpy, but accurate as all get out. __________________ "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.

May 27, 2016, 02:27 PM	#5
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	Beautiful revolver, 4D5. It's amazing to me how much these guns are bringing today but if you compare the workmanship and finish of older, classic S&W and Colt revolvers with new ones, I think the originals are a bargain. My Model 25-2 (paid $450.00 for it in 2005/no papers,tools or box either) has a 6 1/2" barrel and I still use it at Bullseye matches. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

May 27, 2016, 02:28 PM	#6
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,723	Nice catch. You do see them, not often, for less - but not nearly in as nice condition. My 25-2 is probably the most accurate of the few dozen revolvers I own and would be a candidate for the last gun I part with if I ever need to start thinning the herd. I'm not a big fan of moon clips, so I load .45 Auto Rim for it. __________________ NRA Benefactor Life Member NRA Certified Instructor: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, PPIH, Metallic & Shotgun Shell Reloading; RSO Pemigewasset Valley Fish & Game Club

May 30, 2016, 08:27 AM	#7
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	I had one of the '76-'81 M25's with a 4" bbl. on it. (Don't recall if it was a -2 model or not.) Cylinder throats were .457"-.458" with a 0.452" groove dia. The best I could do with it were 3-4" gps at 25 yds from a rest, and leading with factory or handloads had to be seen to be believed. By the third cylinder full, the gun was lucky to hit 6 shots in to a 6" circle. I was living in CT at the time and took it back up to Smith & Wesson in Springfield where they told me that those were the in-spec dimensions at that time, but the gunsmiths in the factory service center readily agreed that the cylinder throats needed to be considerably smaller to expect any of the accuracy that the company's revolvers were famous for. I sold it off for just about what I had in it and never regretted the sale. I've been leery of Smith .45 Colts ever since but understand that eventually, Smith did a better job of matching cylinder throats with groove diameters. Conversely, I have a 25-2 in .45 ACP, bought for the princely sum of $375 in 1988. It's been a wonderful shooter for all the intervening years with .45 ACP or Auto-Rim reloads. Jacketed or hand cast, it's a 1" to 1.5" grouper for me. I've killed two deer with at less than 25 yds from a stand & is arguably one of the most accurate revolvers I've ever fired. Throats and bore are within 0.0005" of each other. Most any load of moderate velociy will do < than 2". YMMV, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73. Last edited by rodfac; May 30, 2016 at 08:41 AM.

May 27, 2016, 06:09 AM	#3
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	a S & W M-25 2 would be 45 acp/45 autorim

May 27, 2016, 10:12 AM	#4
4D5 Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2002 Location: Nevada, Carson Valley Posts: 194	As stevno said, it's 45 ACP. I also have a 4 inch 25-6 in LongColt And I just recently picked up a 625-3 in ACP. .

June 5, 2016, 08:18 AM	#8
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	The 45 ACP in such a heavy gun is about like shooting a cap pistol. I bought one a few years ago with a serial suggesting a 1980 manufacture date. S&W changed the 6.5" barrels for 6" in 1978 but mine still has the 6.5" tube so they must have been using up old parts from inventory on this slow selling model.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search