FinnMike
Member
Idle inquiry: has anyone had their 45 Colt MG cut for 45 ACP moon clips? Does this work? An how do the 45 Colt cases fit and fire after the conversion? Hope this does not rile anyone...
Mike
Mike
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45 Colt/45 ACP Cylinder Conversion
- Thread starter FinnMike
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I haven't had it done, but I have several revolvers I would like to have altered.
Only the inner radius of the extractor star is cut. The .45 Colt cartridge headspaces on the outer radius of the cylinder.
You can only use .45 ACPs with full moon clips. Half moons, one third moons, and .45 Auto Rim will not fit.
Only the inner radius of the extractor star is cut. The .45 Colt cartridge headspaces on the outer radius of the cylinder.
You can only use .45 ACPs with full moon clips. Half moons, one third moons, and .45 Auto Rim will not fit.
john traveler
Member
The real question you have to ask yourself is what level of accuracy are you happy with. The several .45 ACP converted .45 Colt revolvers I've had shooting access to gave only mediocre accuracy compared to the original .45 Colt caliber. That long unguided bullet jump for the .45 ACP seems to be ruinous for an otherwise bore and chamber throat compatibility.
tk custom would be the guy to do the job.
mississippi revolverman
Member
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Many years ago I got screwed in a gun purchase. Bought a used model 25 from a Police supply house. It was marked 45 acp and bill of sale read same. I had it shipped across the River to my dealer. When I picked it up he said " Hope you don't think this a 45 ACP someone changed the cylinder out to 45 LC.
Well have much arguement with the Police shop I got my money back.
Well have much arguement with the Police shop I got my money back.
Bullseye Smith
Member
I just sent my 45 colt for the conversion and it should work OK. I will write it up after I get it back and shoot it. Ones I have talked to like thiers and said it still shot better than them.
I, too, have concerns over accuracy with the longer "jump", but with a sufficient bearing surface and 4" barrel things should smooth out before the bullet leaves the barrel. Just a thought anyway, but it is an intriguing possibility for a potentially very versatile piece. Thanks, and send along a range report when yours comes back!!
Best,
Mike
Best,
Mike
I went the other way. I sent my 625-3, 3" to Cylinder & Slide. They cut a 45 Colt cylinder to fit the smaller "window" of the ACP gun. They also did an action job and put a straight blade front night sight on it. So I have both cylinders. The 45 Colt cylinder is of course somewhat shorter than the same cylinder in a gun built as a 45 Colt, but it is long enough for just about any reasonable 45 Colt load. The really long 300 gr slugs are too long, but that is OK as I never shoot anything heaver than 255 gr lead or 225 gr JHPs.
Accuracy with either cylinder is better than I am, with the ACP cylinder having just a slight advantage using Speer 230 gr FMJ. In any case the 45 Colt cylinder is plenty accurate and gives quite good groups at 25 yards.
Accuracy with either cylinder is better than I am, with the ACP cylinder having just a slight advantage using Speer 230 gr FMJ. In any case the 45 Colt cylinder is plenty accurate and gives quite good groups at 25 yards.
Andy Taylor
Member
Can I ask how much they charged you? I would love to have that for my 3" 625-4.
The whole hog cost just over $550.00, that did not include the $100.00 I paid for the 625 45 Colt cylinder, which was on sale at C&S at that time(4 years ago). Obviously almost the cost of a 625 in 45 Colt, of course just after getting the gun back, I found exactly that, a 625 3" in 45 Colt, and in rapid succession another one just like it (2 digits apart in SNs). Well what you going to do, bought both of em. I am a sucker for 3" N frames.
20nickels
Member
My understanding
is that the accuracy is dependant upon the 45 Colt chamber diameters. If it is an older gun designed for .454 boolits then accuracy with .451/.452 45 ACP boolits is going to suffer. If you convert a newer gun (1982? and up??) then accuracy is fine with ACP.
Bottom line is you still retain your 45 Colt capability and gain a commonly available popular self defense caliber for not much $$ so what do you have to lose?
Bottom line is you still retain your 45 Colt capability and gain a commonly available popular self defense caliber for not much $$ so what do you have to lose?
I had Pinnacle do my 625-6 45LC. He cut the cylinder to accept moon clips. It was under $100 IIRC. I cast and handload so I was able to work up an ACP load that pretty well matches what I use in 45LC and they both shoot to the same POA. They are both very accurate loads. I have no regrets.
RufusG
Member
I have a 25-7 that's cut for moon clips. I have no idea who or how much as I traded into it. My initial impression is that it seems to be more accurate with ACP than LC, but that's from a fairly small sample of types of ammo.
jarhead1991
Member
I just got my S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt machined for .45 ACP full moon clips, I found the ACP accuracy in shooting today to be at least as good as shooting the full length .45 Colt rounds (used the same 230gr SWC plated bullets, with the same powder load). I had heard that I should expect accuracy to be worse for the ACP rounds due to the longer jump in the Colt chamber, but I’m not finding that to be the case (this is a new production 625).
I had TK Custom do the machining work and after talking with the guy on the phone (extremely knowledgeable), he recommended having it machined for a thinner full moon clip than standard so that there wouldn’t be any possible issue with shooting the higher pressure .45 Colt rounds in it by minimizing the unsupported area of the case head.
I think having the conversion done makes the S&W 625 MG in .45 Colt an extremely versatile shooter and I’m very glad that I had the work done…
I had TK Custom do the machining work and after talking with the guy on the phone (extremely knowledgeable), he recommended having it machined for a thinner full moon clip than standard so that there wouldn’t be any possible issue with shooting the higher pressure .45 Colt rounds in it by minimizing the unsupported area of the case head.
I think having the conversion done makes the S&W 625 MG in .45 Colt an extremely versatile shooter and I’m very glad that I had the work done…
Hi Mike,
This has to be one of the most popular and reoccuring topics on the forum. Because there are several tried and true possibilities to accomplish what you ask about, the one best for you depends on your reason for considering this conversion. Some methods better from an accuracy stand point and others from a cost standpoint. Do you also use a 45 semi auto that you'd want to share ammo with? Or is it just the uniquness of having the dual cartridge capability?
Jim
Jim - I've reloaded and shot 1911s for years, so have thousands of cases and a long history of ACP use. I like the thought of shooting the ACP in moons without having to do alot of 45 Colt reloading. And of course it is a neat application, and at $100 or so is an inexpensive modification.
Mike
Mike
Mike,
I'm with you.
On 3/13/09 Clark Custom Guns said that they can convert a .45 Colt (25 or 625) to shoot .45 Colt, .45 ACP, and 460 Rowland from the same cylinder. The ACP and Rowland would require moon clips. Price is about $100.
But a Smith cylinder is so easy to change out at the range or in the field. I would probably opt for an extra 45 ACP cylinder converted from a smaller caliber (and of 45 Colt length if my gun had the longer 45 colt cylinder originally). That way shoulders could be cut in the chambers at the 45 ACP depth that would eliminate the bullet 'jump' from the ACP case to the .452-.453 chamber mouths for better accuracy. Also the cylinder could use the existing cylinder stop in the corner of the frame window. An added benefit is that I could also use 45 AR rounds just in case I wanted to. Pricier though with the cost of an additional cylinder.
I'm with you.
On 3/13/09 Clark Custom Guns said that they can convert a .45 Colt (25 or 625) to shoot .45 Colt, .45 ACP, and 460 Rowland from the same cylinder. The ACP and Rowland would require moon clips. Price is about $100.
But a Smith cylinder is so easy to change out at the range or in the field. I would probably opt for an extra 45 ACP cylinder converted from a smaller caliber (and of 45 Colt length if my gun had the longer 45 colt cylinder originally). That way shoulders could be cut in the chambers at the 45 ACP depth that would eliminate the bullet 'jump' from the ACP case to the .452-.453 chamber mouths for better accuracy. Also the cylinder could use the existing cylinder stop in the corner of the frame window. An added benefit is that I could also use 45 AR rounds just in case I wanted to. Pricier though with the cost of an additional cylinder.
