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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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Old 09-26-2018, 07:01 PM
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Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question?  
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Default Model 25-2 and 25-3 question?

Which caliber does the model 25-2 and 25-3 use? Does the 25-2 use the .45ACP and the 25-3 use the 45 Long Colt and can you shoot a .45 ACP out of the 45 Long? The 25-2 has Model of 1955 on it, I am trying to figure this out with these two guns so they can be sold later and don't want to make any mistakes as I am not familiar with this caliber/model.Thanks again for any information..
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Old 09-26-2018, 07:06 PM
Murphy's Law Murphy's Law is offline
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Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question?  
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Model 25-2 of which I have one is 45 ACP "auto rim". Can't speak for the -3 however.
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Old 09-26-2018, 07:07 PM
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Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question?  
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Yes, the 25-2 is a 45 acp and the 25-3 is a 45 Colt. Do not shoot a 45 acp from the 25-3.
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Old 09-26-2018, 07:23 PM
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Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question? Model 25-2 and 25-3 question?  
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Thank you for the quick responses..this is one gun I wasn't sure of and figured to "ask the pro's"..
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Old 09-26-2018, 09:25 PM
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The 25-3 is the first regular S&W 45 colt. The made them before the 25-3, but only as a special order or something like making some for the Canadian government. They also have a shorter cylinder than the later 45 colt models like the 25-5 which as the same length cylinder as the model 29 minus the recesses. Factory never made a recessed 45 colt.

The reason you can not fire 45 acps in a standard 45 colt is the 45 acp has no rim and headspaces on its case mouth and the 45 colt case is way longer so the step in chamber is way to deep to headspace a 45 acp. Then if you put the acp rounds in clips the clip thickness and case head above the clip are way thicker than a 45 colt rim so 45 acp in clips will not allow cylinder to close. There is a modification than can be done to allow both rounds to work in a cylinder. I have done it and its OK, but, I am happier having guns in both configurations.
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Old 09-26-2018, 11:01 PM
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If I recall correctly (and could still be wrong), even - numbers are 45acp, and odd numbers are 45 colt. I know my 25-5 meets that theory.
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Old 09-26-2018, 11:56 PM
k22fan k22fan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kraynky View Post
If I recall correctly (and could still be wrong), even - numbers are 45acp, and odd numbers are 45 colt. I know my 25-5 meets that theory.
Your even Model 25 dash numbers are .45 ACP and odd ones are .45 Colt rule works for the better known Model 25s but there are exceptions. 25-1s and Lew Horton's 3" 25-3s were .45 ACP and 25-4s were the deluxe version of the 25-3 .45 Colt Commemorative. The exceptions are all scarce Model 25s so it's a good rule for new members like Gunsquirrel.
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Old 09-27-2018, 05:36 PM
dino72ncr dino72ncr is offline
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I have a 25-2 Model 1955. It will shoot the 45 acp but cannot use hand ejector as the rim is not wide enough. The 45 colt/long colt cartridge will not chamber because of the step in the chamber. That leaves the 45 auto rim I guess. Any thoughts ?? A call to S&W produced the reply " the gun uses 45 colt" ammo !!
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Old 09-27-2018, 05:43 PM
Jim Watson Jim Watson is offline
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You put the .45 ACPs on half or full moon clips which speed the reload and enable simultaneous ejection.

The gun does NOT use .45 Colt ammunition. You obviously got an office clerk not a "gun person."
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Old 09-27-2018, 06:13 PM
dino72ncr dino72ncr is offline
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Will there be enough space to close the cylinder using the half moon clips?
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Old 09-27-2018, 06:16 PM
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Quote:
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Will there be enough space to close the cylinder using the half moon clips?
Yes, full moon and half moon are same thickness or close enough to work properly. Exactly what they are made for.
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Old 09-27-2018, 06:55 PM
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I thought the face of the cylinder had to be milled, or recessed, where the moon clips will fit.
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Old 09-27-2018, 07:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dino72ncr View Post
I thought the face of the cylinder had to be milled, or recessed, where the moon clips will fit.
This is correct for revolvers that were designed for common rimmed revolver cartridges. Model 25-2s were designed for moon clips. .45 Auto Rim cartridges are unusual in that they were designed with extra thick rims to fill the space that is there for moon clips.

Last edited by k22fan; 09-27-2018 at 07:17 PM.
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Old 09-27-2018, 09:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunsquirrel View Post
Which caliber does the model 25-2 and 25-3 use?
Both are 45 caliber.
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Old 09-27-2018, 09:57 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is offline
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Welcome to the Forum.

The Model 25, chambered in .45 ACP & .45 Auto Rim, is a direct descendant of the 1917 S&W revolver. When WW I started, the US military did not have enough 1911 semi autos on hand to arm all of the soldiers, sailors and Marines. S&W and Colt both had large frame revolvers in production. However, the .45 ACP cartridge does not have a rim. In order to extract the fired cartridges, the half moon clip, designed by S&W in 1916, was used to give the extractor star something to push against. The military issued .45 ACP cartridges pre-loaded in half moon clips, each of which held three (3) ACP rounds to those servicemen who were armed with 1917s.

Post WWI, Remington developed the .45 Auto Rim cartridge for those that did not wish to use the moon clips. This round had a thick rim to compensate for the headspace that would otherwise be filled by the moon clip. Both S&W and Colt continued to offer revolvers chambered in .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim.

After WW II, S&W updated their revolvers to a short action, as opposed to the long action that was used from the introduction of their hand ejector revolver. A fixed sight Model 1950 revolver was available in .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim. The company also offered a Model 1950 Target version ACP/AR. This handgun came standard with a 6 1/2" tapered barrel. Target shooters wanted a heavier revolver, so S&W introduced the Model 1955, which had a heavier barrel.

Now you know, the rest of the story.
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Old 09-28-2018, 08:42 AM
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A 45 Colt gun that has been cut for 45acp in clips can NOT use the original 1/2 moon style clips. Reason is the inside rear face of the cylinder is milled down the thickness of the clips and the outside rear edge is left normal so that 45 colts head space on that portion. That out side portion is where the 1/2 moons ride.

I guess you could set a cylinder up "backwards" and mill the outside portion of the face down and leave the inside so that the 45 colds head spaced on the very center of the star. Then full moons would not work.
I prefer the full moons because its like using a speed loader with no knobs to push or turn and brass pick up is simple. Every bend over and grab gets me 6 cases. At 67 with a stiff back chasing down brass is a hands and knees deal.

Here is a cylinder from a 629-1 that now has a full lug 4" 45 barrel. Has been reamed to 45 colt and cut for clips, so it fires acp or "long" colts.



Its a handy gun. Load it up with colts and then toss a loaded full moons in my jacket pocket for spare ammo during hunting season.
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Old 09-28-2018, 04:55 PM
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Thank you for all the information..it all helps!!
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Old 09-28-2018, 11:08 PM
dino72ncr dino72ncr is offline
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Thank you all for your help!!
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