So I won an auction for a shooter 1955. I saw the damage below the cylinder in the pictures but figured I might get a shooter for a decent price. When I received it the cylinder number didn't match the yoke and butt number (#166xxx) so I'm thinking what the ... Then I find that a loaded moonclip won't allow it to close! I went to Bills Gunshop and range today and we figured out it was re-cylindered for 45 Long Colt. just happened to have 150 or so rds of 45LC in my SUV so I shot 72 rds to try it out. It shoots better than me. Since I was carrying, I put 2 magazines through my Compact Sig Sauer. It's better than me also. The big question is how/should I get a 45 ACP cylinder for it?

Attached Images

	15353_4.jpg (54.2 KB, 255 views)
	15353_5.jpg (73.5 KB, 186 views)

This is the 7 yard target

Attached Images

20160321_125922.jpg (45.3 KB, 119 views)

That cylinder came off a .455. You can see the crossed pendants on the face, that is a military mark.

__________________
George Jamison

You might check Gunbroker under "parts", or even check with S&W.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I wonder if any modifications were made to the barrel to fit the cylinder or if the 455 cylinder is the same length as the 45 ACP?

__________________
No life story has happy end.

The cylinder is definitely longer than a 45ACP. According to my gunsmith, the barrel gap is .001. The gap at the back is too tight for moonclips; the barrel measures to 6 7/16ths.

It also appears that the cylinder stop has been filed on to accommodate this cylinder - the stop for a .45ACP cylinder would protrude further forward. If you can get a .45ACP cylinder to fit, it will slop back and forth some when open because of this. Best leave it as it is, as a good shooter. And if it is a modified .455 cylinder as gjamison suggests, don't try to hot-rod it any. Stick with SAAMI .45 Colt pressure loads and you'll be within the .455 parameters.

Could you have that cylinder modified for moon clips?

Considering how well it handles the 45LC, and I have Brazilians to shoot, the cost and possible problems arising, that isn't economically feasible.

I agree that keeping it as is, is the best result. That just leaves me with the problem that I only have about 80 LC rds and thousands of 45 ACP.

I agree-and after having the cylinder cut for clips, I would shoot 45 winchester mag brass loaded to regular 45 colt specs. This would account for the long distance an ACP has to travel out of the cylinder on its way to the forcing cone, and provide a much better result than firing ACP's . I have done this with a 25-5-and it is a great gun, and of course, still shoots 45 colt. The 45 win mag is like a very long 45 acp case-about an 1/8 inch shorter that a 45 colt-so it is similar to shooting a 44 spl out of a 44 mag cylinder. I virtually never shoot anything out of my 25-5 but moon clips loaded with 45 win mag loads. Press on safely.

Any opinions on the street value of this modified Model 1955 Target? I thought $600+ for a bubba'd Model 1955 wasn't out of line as I would have a shooter.

You should consider bookmarking Find Guns for Sale and Gun Values | GunWatcher.com as an excellent source for what folks are paying online.

I should have mentioned its 12 rds.

The way that cylinder was modified for .45 LC, you can also shoot .455 Webley MkI and MKII in it. But, I'm not sure why you'd want to. I also suspect the .45 ACP is too high a pressure for that cylinder.

__________________
Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629