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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 01-18-2013, 04:39 PM
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Default .45 ACP chambering

I've been trying to figure out if there was any Smith revolver in the up to 1961 era that was chambered for the .45 ACP without the use of moon clips? Actually in any era??
thanks,
Stu
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Old 01-18-2013, 04:58 PM
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The Model 1950 Targets and Model 1955s (model 25-2) had shoulders in each chamber that allowed .45acp cartridges to be fired without using half moon or full moon clips.
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Old 01-18-2013, 05:03 PM
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Every 1917 I ever owned had headspace shoulders in the chambers. ( 3 M1917s and 2 M1937s). And so does my M22-4.

Larry
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Old 01-18-2013, 05:11 PM
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As I understand it, the half-moon clips - which were designed and patented by one of the Wesson brothers (Joseph, I think) - were intended to facilitate simpler extraction. They were not used for headspacing purposes.
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Old 01-18-2013, 05:54 PM
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You can fire 45 ACP rounds in the 1950 Target 45 and the 1955 Target 45 without using the clips, but you have to extract each empty case individually. It works fine, just a little time consuming.

Bill
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Old 01-18-2013, 07:20 PM
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I think some of the very earliest Model 1917s in .45 ACP had bored-through chambers with no case mouth shoulder. But that did not last long. As stated, you can load the cylinder with .45 ACP rounds OK, but reloading is a bit slow, as the empties must be punched out with a stick or pried out.
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Old 01-18-2013, 07:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt View Post
I think some of the very earliest Model 1917s in .45 ACP had bored-through chambers with no case mouth shoulder. But that did not last long. As stated, you can load the cylinder with .45 ACP rounds OK, but reloading is a bit slow, as the empties must be punched out with a stick or pried out.
Only the earliest Colt 1917s lacked a head space shoulder in their chambers. S&W 1917s had head space shoulder from day one. IIRC it was not until the late 1980s that S&W changed some of their .45 ACP revolver production runs from a square cornered head spacing shoulder to a tapered entry into the chamber throats and started instructing that moon clips were required for reliable ignition. All the 1917, 25 and 625s I’ve owned have given reliable ignition without clips.

I think the more direct answer to the original question is that S&W has never made a .45 ACP revolver designed to eject without clips. However, as previously posted, the .45 ACP brass that doesn’t fall out on its own or with a giggle of the revolver is easily removed with your finger nails. Like your mother told you, in formal company, shine your shoes and watch your tongue, and at matches use your moon clips. For casually target shooting with the guys moon clips aren’t worth the bother.
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Old 01-18-2013, 11:19 PM
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One guy I shoot with uses a SA. I can reload my S&W 1917 without moon clips faster than he can his SA. Larry
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Old 01-18-2013, 11:52 PM
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I like the 45 AR for some things & can load them a little hotter then the ACP case if I want.
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Old 01-19-2013, 09:37 AM
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Thanks folks and especially k22fan, just the info I needed (as usual around here).
regards,
Stu
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