Re “Smith & Wesson Wheelgun in 45 ACP:We’d Buy the M625,”
February-March 2026
The S&W 625, a smooth-handling 45-caliber revolver, will also fire 45 GAP rounds, if one can still find them. Moon clips in 1⁄3, 1⁄2, and full-size counts are still available at Ranch Products. I visited their website, and they make those clips in 9mm, 10mm, 45 ACP, and 38 Special. The 1⁄3 moon clips will lay flat in several belt pouches available in the market place. They are, of course, a tad slower to load than a full-moon clip but are more convenient to carry.
I have found it is easiest to load a moon clip if the round is placed on a flat, semi-hard surface such as a magazine or newspaper while pressing the clip into the groove on the case. Demooning is easy if one makes a demooner. For 45 ACP, use a 6-inch piece of half-inch schedule 40 PVC. Cut the PVC lengthwise about a half inch and then cut circumference wise to reach the longitudinal cut and remove the piece cut out. By placing the expended cartridge in the pipe and twisting the edge of the PVC against the moon clip, the empty case is easily removed. An end cap on the other end of the piece of PVC will prevent the empties from falling on the floor. A wine bottle cork trimmed to fit in the half-inch hole is an alternative method of preventing the cases from falling on the floor. The 10mm S&W revolver will fire 10mm Auto rounds and also fire 40 S&W rounds using moon clips. With 10mm making a comeback, the problem of finding ammo is currently a non-issue. Personally, I think if I were to invest in either revolver today, I would choose the 10mm over the 45 just because of the ability to fire both 10mm and 40 S&W. The 45 ACP demooner will also work on the 10mm and 40 S&W. There may be a smaller-size PVC pipe that will fit the 10mm more snugly, but because the one I made for the 45 works on the 10mm, I haven’t bothered to investigate that. — C.E.
Hey C.E.: Thank you for sharing all that experience. I bet a bunch of readers will build your de-mooning device. — Todd Woodard
Re “Firing Line, My Colt Is Too Tight,”
April-May 2026
Todd: Tom’s letter regarding his Python problems reminded me of my own issues with a new S&W 686 Plus that I purchased in 2023. When I first shot it double action, the cartridges did not fire because of light primer strikes. Also, the rear of the barrel (forcing cone area) was rough and unfinished.
I sent it back to S&W for repairs. When they returned it, all my issues were fixed. But now the gap between the front of the cylinder and the rear of the barrel was 0.013 inch. S&W said they consider .004 to .010 to be within spec. Consequently, I sent it back again. When they returned it, the gun had a new barrel and the gap was 0.004. I am very satisfied with it now. But as your reader Tom observed, why is the customer doing the QC? — Steve
Hey Steve: Maybe because in the market-wide sense, it’s cheaper for the customer to do the QC and repair the guns that are affected, rather than spending extra money across all the guns Smith & Wesson made. — tw
Re “Tactical 30-30 Lever-Actions: We Test Marlin and Rossi,”
February/March 2026
Dear Todd: I came close to your test of the current Marlin 30-30 and the Rossi in this issue. I got one of the Marlin/Remington Dark 30 rifles in 2020-21, one of the last made before Remington’s bankruptcy. It lived up to the poor billing. The magazine would double feed and jam up the rifle, and when it did fire, the accuracy wasn’t that great. It turned out to be an orphan rifle. Remington was out of business, Marlin/Ruger wouldn’t fix it, no parts were available, and Midwest gunsmiths wouldn’t touch it. So it became a safe queen until I was able to unload it at a gun show.
So I searched for a replacement and came up with the Triple Black Rossi, in the same set up as reviewed. The Rossi is a keeper. The peep sight is great, but I always wanted a scout-type rifle, but not a bolt action, so it has a scout scope now, and it works well at 4x to 6x magnification.
I’m sure the new Marlin/Ruger is a good rifle, but with a straighter stock I’m sure it needs a cheek riser. I never found that necessary with the Rossi, with its greater drop and a scout scope. I wonder if the lost screw on the rail would have increased the accuracy enough to even both rifles out in your tests? I guess I’m old school enough to not care for the M-Lok forearm and skeletonized stock on the Marlin/Ruger. I do like the improvements on the lever actions, with the threaded barrel, larger loops, and the longer rails.
I also own a Dark Henry in 30-30 Winchester, but I do not like it so much. The 20-inch barrel with a suppressor makes it too unwieldy and front heavy. Also, the magazine can’t be loaded with a suppressor installed, and it has a short rail, only on the receiver, limiting scope selection, and forget a scout scope. Also, the iron sights aren’t as good. In my book, a buckhorn can’t hold a candle to a peep sight.
Thanks for your reviews. I do like the longer/larger magazine layout, and your tests are hitting close to home. Robert Sadowski’s review of the Walther PP in 32 ACP and 380 ACP was great in the April-May 2026 issue. I have always been a fan of them since the 1980s when the West Germans liquidated the country’s police pistols, which were imported here and sold for $150. Keep up the good work, and thanks again for you and your testers’ great job. — Mike
Re “Taurus 85 38 Special Takes On a Heritage Roscoe Snubbie,”
April-May 2026
I enjoyed the comparison between the Taurus 85 and the Heritage Roscoe. I’ve had an 85 for many years and shoot it often enough to be proficient. The hottest loads I’ve used are Hornady self-defense rounds. Are they considered +P or a regular load? They don’t say so on the box, and I’m just judging by recoil because I don’t have a chrony. I was wondering if the Taurus 85 is rated to shoot +P or is it just common knowledge that I don’t know? Thanks for a magazine that’s worth the price. — Robert
Hey Robert: The older Taurus Model 85 revolvers are not designed to shoot +P ammunition on a regular basis. The occasional +P round probably won’t cause a failure, but they can increase wear and tear of critical components. Some of Hornady’s 38 Special rounds are +P rated, such as the 90311 load with a 110-grain FTX bullet. But most are not, such as the same Critical Defense round but the 90310 product number, as the graphic of Hornady 38 Special loads at left shows. Generally, if the packaging doesn’t say +P, you can check the company’s website or ask customer service. — tw
