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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 07-17-2013, 03:29 PM
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Default 45 auto rim

ran into a guy at the bowling pin match and again at the 10 yd pistol bench yesterday. he shots a S&W 45 auto rim revolver with a guestimated 6" bbl. an incredible gun and shooter. witnessed a 10 shot 1 hole group smack dead center at 10 yd's, def less than 1". never saw an auto rim before. same as a 45acp with a larger rim on it? also no idea of their mfg date.
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Old 07-17-2013, 03:37 PM
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Any 45 acp revolver is also an auto rim revolver. The autorim case was loaded by Peters first I believe after WWI to avoid the need for moon clips in Colt and S&W 1917 revolvers. Starline makes autorim brass and Remington loaded autorim until the late 60s or 70s IIRC.
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Old 07-17-2013, 03:44 PM
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.45 Auto Rim cartridges have been around since shortly after WWI. The cartridge was created so surplus model 1917 revolvers would eject normally without using half moon clips.

Although factory cartridges are traditionally loaded on the mild side it’s a great reloader’s cartridge. You can reload it with your .45 ACP dies and a different shell holder. For some bullets a seater die that will roll crimp is a nice accessory. I ground down a .45 Colt seater die for a roll crimp.

.45 Auto Rim will not go in Taurus DA .45 ACP revolvers because they use a thinner moon clip.
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Old 07-17-2013, 03:57 PM
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I bought 300 pieces of some R-P virgin brass about three months ago from Midway USA. I've loaded up around 100 rounds so far.

The only down side I've seen, is that the ejector star will occasionally jump the rim in my S&W Model 625-3. They eject just fine in my Colt 1917, my S&W Model 1917, and my Model 325NG.
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Old 07-17-2013, 04:19 PM
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.45 AR is great stuff. I have a 25-2 in .45 ACP and I really dislike using moon clips, so .45 AR is just the ticket. The rim is about twice as thick as normal rimmed pistol brass, with the extra thickness in effect taking up the space that a moon clip would. You load them using regular .45 ACP data. It's probably the most accurate revolver I own and a real pleasure to shoot.
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Old 07-17-2013, 04:33 PM
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Wow, and it's so fun to reload: short, fat cases just stroke so easily in the press, and the rims make them even easier to handle than the ACP cases. It's a really great round - and I've got some smoking (and accurate) loads that I use in the 3" 625-3 that my wife likes so much.
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Old 07-17-2013, 04:43 PM
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Once I started reloading 45 auto rim I never use moon clips anymore. I have both steel and polymer but I prefer the auto rim.They seem more accurate in my 25-2.
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Old 07-17-2013, 05:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis The B View Post
[...] The only down side I've seen, is that the ejector star will occasionally jump the rim in my S&W Model 625-3. They eject just fine in my Colt 1917, my S&W Model 1917, and my Model 325NG.
Was your 625-3’s extractor chamfered with a ball extractor along with the chamber? The usual advise is to not chamfer the extractor on revolvers that are going to be used with rimmed cartridges.
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Old 07-17-2013, 05:41 PM
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I have a 25-2 and load the AR brass on my 550b. I only had to get a new conversion plate as you can use your 45 cap dies. Purchased the brass my Dillon.
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Old 07-18-2013, 12:34 AM
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He could have done close to the same with whatever you had.
"it was the shooter"
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Old 07-18-2013, 12:50 AM
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.45 AR are great if you reload.
Don't even try to find what there is in factory loads, just too much.
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Old 07-18-2013, 02:34 AM
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I've had several 1917s, a 1950 Target and a M22-4 since about 1963. I've used half-moons, full-moons, and even 1/3-moons ! I remain unconvinced of the superiority of any of them to the .45 Auto Rim.

Just my $.02 worth,
Larry
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Old 07-18-2013, 04:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyFish View Post
.45 AR is great stuff. I have a 25-2 in .45 ACP and I really dislike using moon clips, so .45 AR is just the ticket. The rim is about twice as thick as normal rimmed pistol brass, with the extra thickness in effect taking up the space that a moon clip would. You load them using regular .45 ACP data. It's probably the most accurate revolver I own and a real pleasure to shoot.
Obviously you've never owned a Ruger Blackhawn 45 colt/45acp convertible model. You can only use 45 acp ammo in the extra cylinder. I have a 25-2 S&W that I only shoot ar in as I don't like messing with moon clips. Its the most accurate revolver I own. Also you can shoot acp's without moon clips but you have to push the empties out by hand.
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Old 07-18-2013, 08:49 AM
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def less than 1"?
Steve
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Old 07-18-2013, 02:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nframecollector View Post
[...] Ruger Blackhawn 45 colt/45acp convertible model. You can only use 45 acp ammo in the extra cylinder. [...]
There’s an easy solution. Lathe turn 0.089” off the back end of your ACP cylinder. Then you’ll have a three cartridge Black Hawk, .45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim and .45 Colt. If I owned a .45 convertible BH, unless it was an old model in collectable condition I wouldn’t hesitate.
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Old 07-18-2013, 05:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nframecollector View Post
Obviously you've never owned a Ruger Blackhawn 45 colt/45acp convertible model. You can only use 45 acp ammo in the extra cylinder. I have a 25-2 S&W that I only shoot ar in as I don't like messing with moon clips. Its the most accurate revolver I own. Also you can shoot acp's without moon clips but you have to push the empties out by hand.
I'm at a loss to understand what in my post made you think that I don't own a .45 Colt/.45 ACP, but for the record I think I do - at least I know I own a .45 Colt Blackhawk and I think there's another cylinder for it somewhere, but it didn't turn up in a quick search. Regardless, it wouldn't make a great deal of sense for Ruger to make a .45 ACP cylinder for a non-swing out cylinder/side-loading (i.e., typical single-action) revolver that could accept moon clips, which would also make it capable of accepting .45 AR, now, would it?
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Old 07-18-2013, 05:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyFish View Post
[...] Regardless, it wouldn't make a great deal of sense for Ruger to make a .45 ACP cylinder for a non-swing out cylinder/side-loading (i.e., typical single-action) revolver that could accept moon clips, which would also make it capable of accepting .45 AR, now, would it?
Moon clips aren’t the reason for shortening the rear of a BH .45 ACP cylinder. Some of us just like the Auto Rim ctg.

On the other hand there’s Hondo44 speed reloading his .45 Colt by swapping out cylinders. His full moon clip makes it less likely his ACPs will wind up scattered around the woods.
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Old 07-18-2013, 07:32 PM
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Default 1" group YES!!!

NO BS and dead center also. no I didn't measure it with a caliper, but a quarter would have covered it. he was using a rest though, but he could not do anywhere near as good with any of his other guns, so maybe the gun does shoot well a bit.

Last edited by hangnoose; 07-18-2013 at 07:45 PM.
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Old 07-18-2013, 11:00 PM
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Sorry I was asking for a definition of the acronyn def? Can't say I ever saw it before.
Steve
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Old 07-18-2013, 11:49 PM
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1" group at ten yards from a rest? Really?

Anyone with even a little shooting experience should be able to do that with most any gun. Good Grief!

Dave
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Old 07-19-2013, 12:08 AM
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Default ANYONE? REALLY?

I guess you haven't been to a public range lately. many of the general public are lucky to hit paper at 10 yards. I know it's pathetic, but true. don't believe me, just look at the target frames. and the "acronym" def is just a lazy way of typing definitely. I'm just pointing out that the 45 auto rim, a bit uncommon, seems to be a very accurate round, so climb off my back if you please.
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Old 07-19-2013, 02:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave T View Post
1" group at ten yards from a rest? Really?

Anyone with even a little shooting experience should be able to do that with most any gun. Good Grief!

Dave
Some years ago I had the enjoyment of watching a couple of
guys demonstrating their marksmanship with a 4" S&W md 66
357 mag at a local shooting range. They arrived as I was preparing to leave and I just had to stay and watch. They set
three 2 liter plastic soft drink bottles filled with colored water
in front of the bullet trap on the 25 yd pistol range and
prepared to explode them with the 357 loaded with HPs.
Shooting two handed standing from 25 yds they cut loose
taking turns. 18 shots later they had one jug leaking water
and the shooter admitted that he was aiming at another one
when he hit it. Priceless!
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Old 07-19-2013, 03:03 AM
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Default AutoRims

I like Auto Rims too!



FatBoy & LittleMan (500 S&W and 45AR)
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Old 07-19-2013, 07:35 AM
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I've been shooting ARs since purchasing my first 25-2 in about 1977...which my wife then confiscated after one cylinder full... So I found another. Right now the only .45 ACP revolver I have is a 625 Mountain Gun.

7.0 grains of Unique with a 225 Speer HP has been the most accurate load to date. Using SR4756 powder and 200 grain Speer HPs velocities approaching 1300 fps were achieved.

Buffalo Bore has standard and +P Pressure AR loads...

Bob
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Old 07-21-2013, 04:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STCM(SW) View Post
.45 AR are great if you reload.
Don't even try to find what there is in factory loads, just too much.
Agreed. It's a reloader's choice. I was going to buy a box of factory AR to shoot and use that brass. Looked at the box price. This was BEFORE all the who-ha with the ammo shortages.

In short...no thanks. It was stupid how much they wanted for a box.

Purchased 500 pieces of Starline AR brass.

TTR
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