S&W 625 Questions

AustinMike · June 18, 2005, 04:35 PM

Hey, gang. I just got a 625 Model of 1989 (625-3) that I bought in an auction. The thing is clean as a whistle as in near perfect condition on the finish, except for a place on the barrel where some idiot wrote "ACP" at some point and it scratched through the finish. It's only visible when the light hits it right, so no big deal. As cheap as the gun was, if that's the only thing wrong with it, I'm doing good. I shot 100 rounds today and it's straight as an arrow.

Anyway, I've got two concerns.

1) There is a rattle in the gun somewhere in the action area. It's produced by shaking the gun up and down (vertically), but not side to side. Functionality doesn't seem to be affected. Lockup is tight, no play to speak of in the cylinder. I ran it through the revolver checkout at the top of this forum (nice writeup!) The rattle can be heard in any state (hammer back, hammer down, full lockup.) It is inside the gun and is not coming from the cylinder or cylinder release. Is this normal?

2) I had a couple instances of the cylinder binding. I've got a couple theories. These are my reloads, so it could have been a couple shallow primer seats. The other thing it could have been is that *I think* these instances were only with some cast bullets (I tried some plated too.) I'm wondering if maybe some bullet lube or lead around the cases may have prevented proper head spacing. I was using brand new moon clips. Sound likely?

Thanks for the help. This looks like it's going to be a fun gun!

Brian Williams · June 18, 2005, 04:40 PM

The rattle is in all S&W Revolvers since WWII it is part of the internal safety. High Primaers can cause problems as can incompletely resized cases. Lube could be a problem but look under the extracter star for unburnt powder.

Bullrock · June 18, 2005, 04:56 PM

OK! How cheap is cheap? I paid just over $600 for my NIB 625jm. So go ahead, make me squirm...

AustinMike · June 18, 2005, 05:16 PM

Bullrock, I got won it in an auction for $430 plus $15 shipping. Seems like a real good deal, considering the condition. It was so clean, it almost looks like it's never been shot but for a few times.

Great gun you've got there. I want one o' them too!

Ozzieman · June 18, 2005, 05:38 PM

And I have had problems with slightly high primers draging a little.
I have much better luck with Federal primers than CCI or remmengtion.
Brian Williams is right about the rattle. as long as it dosent sound like ratteling bolts then it might be parts from a Hi-Point that it ate

(sorry just read a thread about how GOOD hi points are :barf:

Bullrock · June 19, 2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

as long as it dosent sound like ratteling bolts then it might be parts from a Hi-Point that it ate

Ozzieman, LMAO...

My new baby...

hap · June 19, 2005, 11:26 AM

Check your barrel-cylinder gap on that binding issue- if you don't know how
I'll post instructions for the correct method. I've seen a number of 625s
and 624s with overly tight clearances from the mid 80's period.

JoeHatley · June 19, 2005, 01:29 PM

Congrats on the new gun!!

My 625-3 had a similar "binding" problem.

Barrel to cylinder gap was just a bit tight for my dirty reloads. A couple Ron Power endshake bearings moved the cylinder back just enough that I can now run 300 rounds though before having to stop and clean.

Good Luck...

Joe

Jeffro250 · June 19, 2005, 03:02 PM

The rattle is normal...ive got 4 different smiths and they all do it. As for the binding, play around with your reloads a bit. If they are really light loads, sometimes there isnt enough pressure to keep those primers in place...sounds weird, but if you shoot wax loads with just a primer and a chunk of wax in the case youll know what i mean...very very low pressure can make em pop out too and cause binding.

AustinMike · June 19, 2005, 06:49 PM

Hap, please post those instructions. It seems like a tight gap, but given that I only had a bind twice out of a 100 rounds, I'm thinking it was probably ammo. When I reseated the clips firmly both times, the cylinder moved OK. We'll see what happens with a few more trips to the range. The action seems a little stiff over all, but I think it's just "newness." This gun was apparently not shot very much by the previous owner.

knzn · June 19, 2005, 10:04 PM

FWIW~
One possibility to be careful of is your moon clips. I know you said you were using "brand new ones" but they can cause your binding. I know there are probably more than one manufacture of trouble free moon clips, but Ranch moon clips have been good for me.

Number your moon clips with an ingraving tool (or some other way) and take note if it is one particular clip giving you the problems.

AustinMike · June 20, 2005, 08:13 AM

That's a good idea about marking the clips. These are Ranch clips. I was going to order some RIMZ plastic clips to try out as well.

June 18, 2005, 04:35 PM	#1
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	S&W 625 Questions Hey, gang. I just got a 625 Model of 1989 (625-3) that I bought in an auction. The thing is clean as a whistle as in near perfect condition on the finish, except for a place on the barrel where some idiot wrote "ACP" at some point and it scratched through the finish. It's only visible when the light hits it right, so no big deal. As cheap as the gun was, if that's the only thing wrong with it, I'm doing good. I shot 100 rounds today and it's straight as an arrow. Anyway, I've got two concerns. 1) There is a rattle in the gun somewhere in the action area. It's produced by shaking the gun up and down (vertically), but not side to side. Functionality doesn't seem to be affected. Lockup is tight, no play to speak of in the cylinder. I ran it through the revolver checkout at the top of this forum (nice writeup!) The rattle can be heard in any state (hammer back, hammer down, full lockup.) It is inside the gun and is not coming from the cylinder or cylinder release. Is this normal? 2) I had a couple instances of the cylinder binding. I've got a couple theories. These are my reloads, so it could have been a couple shallow primer seats. The other thing it could have been is that I think these instances were only with some cast bullets (I tried some plated too.) I'm wondering if maybe some bullet lube or lead around the cases may have prevented proper head spacing. I was using brand new moon clips. Sound likely? Thanks for the help. This looks like it's going to be a fun gun! Last edited by AustinMike; June 18, 2005 at 05:17 PM.

June 18, 2005, 04:40 PM	#2
Brian Williams Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2001 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 1,245	The rattle is in all S&W Revolvers since WWII it is part of the internal safety. High Primaers can cause problems as can incompletely resized cases. Lube could be a problem but look under the extracter star for unburnt powder. __________________ Brian <>< AKA Perfessr Cuius testiculos habes habaeus cardia et cerebellum When you have their full attention in your grip their hearts and minds will follow

June 18, 2005, 04:56 PM	#3
Bullrock Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 2,624	Mike OK! How cheap is cheap? I paid just over $600 for my NIB 625jm. So go ahead, make me squirm...

June 18, 2005, 05:38 PM	#5
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,325	I have a 25 And I have had problems with slightly high primers draging a little. I have much better luck with Federal primers than CCI or remmengtion. Brian Williams is right about the rattle. as long as it dosent sound like ratteling bolts then it might be parts from a Hi-Point that it ate (sorry just read a thread about how GOOD hi points are :barf:

June 19, 2005, 01:29 PM	#8
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	Congrats on the new gun!! My 625-3 had a similar "binding" problem. Barrel to cylinder gap was just a bit tight for my dirty reloads. A couple Ron Power endshake bearings moved the cylinder back just enough that I can now run 300 rounds though before having to stop and clean. Good Luck... Joe __________________ Go NRA

June 18, 2005, 05:16 PM	#4
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	Bullrock, I got won it in an auction for $430 plus $15 shipping. Seems like a real good deal, considering the condition. It was so clean, it almost looks like it's never been shot but for a few times. Great gun you've got there. I want one o' them too!

June 19, 2005, 11:26 AM	#7
hap Member Join Date: March 22, 2005 Posts: 22	Check your barrel-cylinder gap on that binding issue- if you don't know how I'll post instructions for the correct method. I've seen a number of 625s and 624s with overly tight clearances from the mid 80's period.

June 19, 2005, 03:02 PM	#9
Jeffro250 Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2004 Posts: 286	The rattle is normal...ive got 4 different smiths and they all do it. As for the binding, play around with your reloads a bit. If they are really light loads, sometimes there isnt enough pressure to keep those primers in place...sounds weird, but if you shoot wax loads with just a primer and a chunk of wax in the case youll know what i mean...very very low pressure can make em pop out too and cause binding.

June 19, 2005, 06:49 PM	#10
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	Hap, please post those instructions. It seems like a tight gap, but given that I only had a bind twice out of a 100 rounds, I'm thinking it was probably ammo. When I reseated the clips firmly both times, the cylinder moved OK. We'll see what happens with a few more trips to the range. The action seems a little stiff over all, but I think it's just "newness." This gun was apparently not shot very much by the previous owner.

June 19, 2005, 10:04 PM	#11
knzn Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2001 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 125	Regarding the cylinder binding FWIW~ One possibility to be careful of is your moon clips. I know you said you were using "brand new ones" but they can cause your binding. I know there are probably more than one manufacture of trouble free moon clips, but Ranch moon clips have been good for me. Number your moon clips with an ingraving tool (or some other way) and take note if it is one particular clip giving you the problems. __________________ knzn=kansan "For he was a man of propper wit, and the ghosty tails of the tall hills didn't scare him none." Last edited by knzn; June 19, 2005 at 10:07 PM. Reason: spelling

June 20, 2005, 08:13 AM	#12
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	That's a good idea about marking the clips. These are Ranch clips. I was going to order some RIMZ plastic clips to try out as well.