Hi:
In another post it was mentioned that this model was sometimes re-chambered to ".45 Colt" ?

Is the cylinder long enough to accept a regular length .45 Colt cartridge ?

Thanks,
Jimmy

The cylinder on the early 45 colts and even the 25-3 45 colts was similar to the 45 acp cylinders. They handle most loads fine, But not things like some Kieth type SWC. I found that out when I owned a 25-3 and when I fit a reamed model 28 cylinder in a 1917.

Another thing is that 45 acp cylinders make very poor 45 colt cylinders. If yoou simply ream them longer so the rim sets against the rear of cylinder you get a HUGE headspace because the original acp round needed the .035 clips to hold them. So a 45 colt ends up with about that much excess headspace. You can ream so the colt case mouth sets on the throat ledge, but then no roll crimped 45 colts for that gun. Poor plan.
Best to replace cylinder with one normally used for rimmed cases that is chambered for 45 colt.

I would never rechamber a normal acp cylinder to 45 colt and call it good.

But, I have been playing with the idea of making and adapter ring that uses small screws to attach it to the rear of reamed acp cylinder, mostly just to experiment and see if I could do it.

Generally, there is too much headspace to simply re-chamber a .45 ACP cylinder to .45 Colt, where the Colt seats with the rim on the cylinder. There have been references to deepening the chamber just enough to headspace the .45 Colt round on the case mouth, like a ACP round. This leaves a bit of the case, just ahead of the rim, exposed. I've never seen, in person, a revolver set up this way.

Most 1917 conversions that I have seen used a different cylinder, usually a .455, rechambered to the Colt round. You also have to alter the cylinder for the frame lug fit or you can alter the lug it's self.

"But, I have been playing with the idea of making and adapter ring that uses small screws to attach it to the rear of reamed acp cylinder, mostly just to experiment and see if I could do it."

I wonder if you could open up a full moon clip and load .45 Schofield rounds?

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

On full moons for 45 schofield.
There is only .045 between the chamber walls on a S&W 45 cal chamber. I don't think that even good spring steel would be able to stay in shape at that width while only being .035 thick. Could spend some time with a dremel and a carbide burr and try to carefully open up a couple holes in a 45 acp clip and see what happens.

My thought was to make a ring like the raised portion of this cylinder which has been cut for 45acp moon clips. Then drill it and cylinder, tap cylinder holes and screw it down to cylinder. Either use flat under cut or oval trim screws to attach avter countersinking the ring for screw. Screw heads could actually stick up the thickness of a rim if not located where rim sits. I know it rinky tink, but intteresting project and I have some acp cylinders in my parts pile.


If you just wanted to fire 45 scoffield you could make a ring that only had chamber holes and a center hole for ratchet. Could just slice a .035 thick piece off an old cylinder below the ratchet cuts. open center up enough to go over ratchet. Drop in place, inserting a couple rounds would align it for the rest. Closer it up and fire away. Just don't lose it.

None of it is really worth much effort though. Pretty easy to ream a 357 or 44 special cylinder to 45 colt and fit it. You don't even have to mess with the frame lug if you machine a clearance cut on rear about .35 deep and wide outside edge of the rear of cylinder so it clears the acp lug. Even cutting it for full moon clips so it can fire both rounds isn't very hard.

I probably wasn't clear above. My thoughts were to open up a full moon clip and use it as a spacer with .45 Schofield rounds, not to clip the Schofield rounds together.

I'm in the process of moving my brass, reloading tools, etc and most of everything is packed in boxes, so I can't get to any Schofield brass at this time.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The moon clip idea would work just fine opened enough for the schofield cases to just slip in and out like the chamber mouth.

But the problem is that the shoulders in the ACP chambers are not deep enough for the longer schofield cases. With a reamer you could deepen the shoulders for the schofield to headspace on, and just enough to let the rim stick out the same distance as the ACP when in clips for reliable ignition. You'd need to taper crimp them to work best. And you could still shoot ACP with clips or Auto Rim.

Since you reload, you could shorten the schofield cases and use with the clips to work. But 45 AR brass is available and no customizing required.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819