Any wisdom in which direction to go or an arguement for the L frame and speed loaders?

I have a 5" 625 I use for USPSA, and a 4" 686 I use for IDPA SSR. Looking over the specs for the JM and the PC, it'd be a tough call, as I could make an argument for either - or neither. Here's a good article by a very well-regarded revolver 'smith on the JM. And something that concerns me about the PC 625 is that it's listed as longer overall and heavier than the JM version, despite equal barrel lengths, and what looks like a shorter cylinder. Assuming the specs are correct, I'm wondering if the reach to the PC trigger is longer. The reach to a standard N-frame trigger is quite long enough for me, so if the PC reach is longer, it'd be a problem. I'd also prefer a full underlug to control muzzle flip.

As others suggest, if additional work is to be done to it, anyway, it makes more sense financially to find a standard 4" 625 and have it tuned. You might get lucky, too, as occasionally someone will sell their already-tuned 625.

As far as shooting a 625 in ESR or an L-frame and speedloaders in SSR, that's another tough call. I shoot SSR for a number of reasons:
1. I shoot an L-frame better than an N-frame.
2. I enjoy being able to shoot both types of guns reasonably well, and I already shoot a 625 in USPSA.
3. I like speedloaders. It takes a lot of practice to be able to reload a revolver quickly with either method, but speedloaders seem to take more effort, and I enjoy the challenge.
4. Around here, there are more SSR than ESR shooters, so there's more competition. A quick look at the 2010 Indoor National and Carolina Cup results show this as well, with 12 ESR and 22 SSR shooters in each.
5. It's fun to beat others with a speedloader-fed gun Laugh
6. Moonclipped guns are fun & fast to reload, but I'm lukewarm about having to load & unload a bunch of moonclips whenever I shoot.
7. .38spl is cheaper to reload. And since the caliber is very close to 9mm and .38super, once can often find RN cast bullets in sizes other than 158gr. IDPA HQ just lowered the PF for SSR to 105,000 from 125,000, so RN bullet versatility allows one to tailor their load further if they want.
8. Speaking of PF, ESRs is 165,000. It's the same for USPSA Major, but I can make that in a 5" barrel, whereas, I'd have to make it in a 4" gun in ESR. I don't mind shooting major (and will shoot ESR as soon as I find a 4" 625 myself) but a steady diet of it would get old. Without the slide of a semi-auto absorbing some of the recoil, all of it is transmitted into the shooter's hand, and I know a few former ESR shooters who've developed joint & bone issues from long-term and high-volume ESR shooting. Sure, one could get rubber grips with a covered backstrap, but again, the reach to an N-frame trigger is already as long as I like using rubber grips with an exposed backstrap.


Good luck with whatever you choose!

Tom