I've fired both a 625 (steel), and a 325 (aluminum / titanium / scandium), and both were able to use full moon clips (I hate half moon clips).
Recoil was rather stout, since the weight is only about 25 ounces, compared to a significantly greater weight in the heavier steel model. Not too unpleasant, but because a revovler really doesn't soak up any recoil like a semiautomatic pistol would (locked breech mechanisms help with recoil), it's not going to be too pleasant, either.
In the end, I didn't really dislike the gun, but I had to take a long hard look at what it offered that others couldn't, and I really couldn't be convinced that I had to have one.
1) It's based on the full sized N-frame. It's not going to be a very concealable gun.
2) For a N-frame, you would want the extra mass to soak up recoil. While it's fine with milder 200 grain LSWC loads, it's not a fun gun to shoot when you're firing 230 grain +P Winchester Ranger, or something similarly stout.
This is where I really liked the 625 much better, since it's easier to shoot, and I can fire +P loads from it all day long. Firing about 50 +P loads is all that I could really handle with the 325.
All in all? I admire the job that S&W did with the scandium / aluminum alloy frames, that they make a very, very light gun, and that the J-frame sized ones are fantastic carry pieces (although really brutal on recoil).
For a full sized revolver, I really don't recommend it. It offers nothing that I would really want in a full sized revolver, especially one that shoots .45 ACP.
