revolver ?'s

[mattman23]

I went looking this weekend for a idpa/icore revolver.I'm looking at the 325pd and the 625jm smiths.I shoot .45 now in idpa, set up to reload it and have a 25-2 so i'm familiar with the moon clips.Good choices,pros/cons? How about holster choices? Sorry for so many questions but hate jump in and find out it just don't work for me.Thanks,Matt

[Chris]

Matt,
The S&W 625... with a four-inch barrel (can't run a longer barrel in IDPA)... is an excellent choice for IDPA (ESR) or ICORE (you can download to a 125 PF for ICORE (200 grain@650 fps)... which makes a TOTAL PUFF load in .45 ACP)... or even use the gun at 165 PF for  USPSA. As for holsters... my first choice would be a straight drop Blade-Tech... good for all three games. Since you are used to moon clips and load for .45 ACP, this is a no brainer. Have fun!
Chris Christian

[mattman23]

Thanks Chris.I thought so,but I was getting sucked into the .357 camp.Do you have any thoughts on the gold bead fs? looked good in the shop.Thanks again,Matt

[Chris]

Matt,
I'm not a fan of the gold bead front because in direct sunlight the sight picture will change if the light is hard from the side... it lights up half the gold bead more than the other (shaded) half and the POI can wander. I favor a fiber optic front.
Chris Christian

[mattman23]

Here's another one. What are your thoughts on shortining a barrel.My 25-2 has the 6" barrel and a great trigger.My father-in-law shot bullseye with it but I'd like to use it for IDPA/ICORE to keep the compation going in his memory. Someone reccomended Pinnacle custom guns to me.I hate to destroy a good gun if its a ify procedure.Thanks again,Matt.

[Chris]

Matt,
Shortening a revolver barrel is not an iffy procedure if the gunsmith has an IQ above room temperature, and has the proper tools. It is also a specifically allowed modification for IDPA. Just make sure that he cuts it... measured from the FRONT OF THE CYLINDER TO THE MUZZLE to a length of 4.2 inches or less. The barrel chop is less than a new gun and makes sense if you like the M25 you have.
Chris Christian

[mattman23]

Well Christmas came early.I ended up getting the S&W625JM.It felt the best to me,plus I love the bead blasted finish.Im ordering red and green hiviz sights tonight and my holster/moonclip carriers by the end of the week.Now I just got to wait until march for my next match !

[MasAyoob]

Enjoy, Matt!

best,
mas

[Jerome from California]

Well Christmas came early.I ended up getting the S&W625JM.It felt the best to me,plus I love the bead blasted finish.Im ordering red and green hiviz sights tonight and my holster/moonclip carriers by the end of the week.Now I just got to wait until march for my next match !

How do you like the trigger? I heard that Jerry Miculek preferred a heavier main spring. I'm not sure if that applies to production guns like 625JM.

[mattman23]

I like it so far.Ive done a lot dry fire so far.Its heavier than my 25-2,but it had work done.I hope to find out da pull weight this weekend.

[mattman23]

I've ordered my sights,and getting ready to order the bladetech holster.Any thoughts/rec on my moon clip holders? I was about to order the California Comp Works but noticed you had to buy additional caps to make idpa legal.Thanks,Matt

[mattman23]

Well its been a few range sessions with the ol 625.Revolver marksmen I am not!I'm going to swap out the wood jm grips for some Hogues.I cant seem to get good or consistant purchase.I tried some of Mas' holds from "complete book of handguns" but still cant quite get it worked out.The quest continues....

[Chris]

Mattman,
I have a box full of grips for varous revolvers, including some that took me eight hours to make... with frequent time on the range to check the fit when presenting from th holster to the target. I have reached the conclusion that small grips promote a more consistent grip & hold. My S&W guns now wear the small round butt S&W Cocobolo grips, and my Ruger GP-100s wear the factory round butt grips. I do prefer the wood (in Ruger's case the wood side panel) grips because they make gun manipulation on the reload smoother and more positive. Tacky rubber grips impede smooth gun handling. You might try that approach. You MUST have a firm and consistent grip on the revolver because of the length of the triger pull and the degree of hand movement required to execute it. You also have to be aware of your finger postion on the trigger -- pull with the first joint when targets are close & quick... pull with the finger pad when they get out beyond 15-20 yards and more precision is required.
Chris Christian

[mattman23]

Thanks Chris.I love these grips static,but cant seem to get a firm repeatablr grip shot to shot.generally my first shot is close to poa,then they go all over from there.Looks like I maybe off again next week so i plan to spend a coulple of hours working on it some more.Thanks again,Matt

[Chris]

Sounds like your grips allow you to get a good grip for the first shot... and then for some reason shift on follow up shots. IMHO the real test of a good solid revolver grip is in double taps... at 10 yards the two holes should be within three inches at a quick pace, and a lot closer at a leisurly pace. If the grips fit and don't shift in your hand the mechanical action of manipulating the long DA pull will bring the sights back to the original POA, for compact DTs. Shooting a revolver at upper levels isn't easy. If it was, a lot more shooters would do it. You can count the number of truly good IDPA/USPSA revo shooters (the shooters who can go in and whip a third to more than half of the semi shooters... and sometimes finish in the top ten in a 100 shooter match) on both hands, and maybe a few toes tossed in. It takes work. But, when you go into a IDPA/USPSA match and womp a bunch of semi-auto shooters... it's worth all the effort just to see the looks on their faces. Keep working at it. The road is long but th rewards are sweet.
Chris Christian

[mattman23]

Unfortunitly I havn't had much more time with the 625.I did have an opportunity to run some rounds through a 686 wearing hogues the other day.I shot pretty well with it.I didnt have the 625 with me.Where are the frame dimensions different between the l and n?The length of pull seemed about the same.I ve got some light loads and alot of white box to take to the range next week.I think my carpal tunnal is preventing a consistan grip on the wood grips.But we'll see I guess.  Matt

[MasAyoob]

Bore axis seems a tad higher on the N-frame, due to the deeper frame necessitated by the larger diameter cylinder.
best,
Mas

[mattman23]

Well I swapped the grips to the hogus and saw a good improvement.Its all trigger control now.Sa i could wipe out the plate rack without problem,but da missed everytime.Its coming around after a couple of hundred rds.I may try to get one of S&W 22 da's to cheapen up my learning curve.Thanks for the help guys ! Take care,Matt

[Law]

 I just got a 625 jm as well, and am planning to use it for idpa. I have only shoot one match (with an auto), and had a ? on gear namely moon clip holders and such. Thanks Phil     

[Gail]

Shoot the Moon is the brand of carrier I use, Law Dog, and I'm happy with it. If memory serves, both Brownell's and California Competition Works (last is from memory) will have what you need. Don't forget a de-mooner.

Matt, try slowing down a bit to pace through a smooth, evenly distributed DA trigger pull. Then gradually accelerate your pace. It's a classic example of "ya gotta crawl before ya walk, and walk before ya run."

best,
Mas