Problems with S&W M1955 in .45 Cal.

[BigBoy99]

I recently acquire a very nice S&W M1955 in .45 Cal. From is serial number it was made in the 1955-56 time frame. I only had .45 ACP ammo and some half-moon clips so I took it to the range yesterday. It shot very well - all were in the 10 circles at ten yards. The problem I'm having is interference with the half-moon clips and the frame of the gun. I can only load one three round half-moon clip because of the projection on the frame. See pictures.

Were special smaller half-moon clips made? Was this particular revolver made to shoot .45 Auto Rimmed cartridges only? Suggestions, Comments. Thanks.

 

[Jack Flash]

Wow, I never would have expected that. Have you tried full-moon clips? They hold the cartridges from the inside so they may work ok. (See picture below).

Third-moon clips may work if all else fails.

 

[jrm53]

I use the full moon clips on my 25-2. Jeff

 

[irapollock]

Pardon my ignorance guys but doesn't 45 caliber mean the same as
45 colt?
I thought the 45 ACP gums were marked as such.
Ira

 

[oysterer]

Unburned powder under ejector star. Clean with brush and that goes away.

 

[steelslaver]

Not debri under the ejector star as you can see it is setting flush with rest of cylinder. 45 colt guns are usually marked 45 colt. 45 acp as 45 cal. The 1917 were made for the moon clips op is picturing. I am sorry to admit that I only have the full moons and have never tried the 1/2 moons in my 1955 or any of my other 45 acps.

 

[murphydog]

The standard half-moon clip has a more rounded edge that will clear the frame lug. Trying another brand or a full-moon clip as suggested above should solve the problem.

 

[S42N8]

May need to round off the leading edges of the half-moon clips, or try a polymer (RIMZ 25) full-moon that can be trimmed.

 

[Muley Gil]

Back before the full moon clips appeared, I used half moons, as that was all that was available. The half moons were easy to bend and hard to load/unload. Once the full moons made their appearance, I never looked back.

 

[Nightowl]

It appears to me that the lug has rotated. Check to see if it's loose. The cylinder and the lug face should be parallel

 

[D Brown]

After looking at the photos in the original post, I dug out my .45 Cal. Model 1950 to check on the design of the half moon clips on it. They're definitely different than those shown in the O.P. No interference with the cylinder stop, of course.

 

[Grayfox]

I think its the half moon clips that you have. Them things just don't look right. Maybe some off brand?

 

[BigBoy99]

Unburned powder under ejector star. Clean with brush and that goes away.

No powder. Note how the ejector star sits flush in the cylinder.

 

[BigBoy99]

Pardon my ignorance guys but doesn't 45 caliber mean the same as
45 colt?
I thought the 45 ACP gums were marked as such.
Ira

It is marked 45 Caliber. I doesn't say .45ACP. It certainly isn't .45 Caliber Long Colt so what would the ammunition be in not .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rimmed?

 

[BigBoy99]

I think its the half moon clips that you have. Them things just don't look right. Maybe some off brand?

I don't remember when or where I got the half-moon clips I'm using. I think the polymer full-moon clips are the way to go. I'll get a few and try them. Looks like they will solve the problem. Thanks.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Use full moon clips in this gun-also suggest that you have the cylinder bores chamfered.

 

[murphydog]

It is marked 45 Caliber. It doesn't say .45 ACP. It certainly isn't .45 Caliber Long Colt so what would the ammunition be if not .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rimmed?

Up to that time, S & W had not made a regular production gun in .45 Colt, so any revolver stamped ".45" would have been understood to mean ACP/AR. When the model 25 was finally available in .45 Colt they were stamped as such...this from a company who didn't want to put .38 Long Colt on the early M & P revolvers, and removed "Winchester" on the .32-20s. Must have caused weeping and gnashing of teeth to do that .

 

[Bakebfr480]

Shoot 45 auto rim ammo and be done with the moon clips!

 

[Wiregrassguy]

There doesn't appear to be sufficient head space. At least not as much as it should be. How big is the barrel to cylinder gap? Someone may have used head space bushings and moved the cylinder closer to the recoil shield for some reason reducing the head space and causing the cartridges/moon clip to contact the cylinder stop stud. Are you puncturing any primers? The spent cartridges in your picture show they are getting a good thumping.

Try inserting 6 ACP cartridges without the moon clip. They should head space on the chamber shoulder. If the cylinder won't close, it's not the moon clip.

 

[Jack Flash]

Guy:
If I read the OP correctly, it sounds like the cylinder closes and the revolver will function and fire normally IF only one loaded half-moon clip is inserted. But who wants a 3 shot M25?

I think MurphyDog is on to something. The half-moon clips in the OP lack the round over we usually see on the outer edges. Not to mention they look pretty darned thick! That may account for the deep primer strikes. I'm starting to believe those half-moon clips are out of spec.