I have an old S&W model 25-5 chambered in .45 Colt and am wondering if it would be possible to fit a .45 ACP cylinder to the gun? I would like to retain the functionality of the original cylinder, so I could swap the cylinder/yoke combinations back and forth when desired.
Could I purchase/fit another .45 Colt cylinder and have it cut for moon clips? This seems like a viable solution as the cyl would be the same length, but I'm not sure about chamber dimensions, or possible other problems.
Any members have experience with this? Thanks

CT

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Fitting another .45 Colt cylinder and having it cut for full moon clips would be easier than than finding a .45 ACP cylinder, as most of the ACP cylinders are shorter than the M25-5 cylinder. Plus, the frame lug on the side is different between the Colt and ACP cylinders.

A Colt cylinder that has been milled for ACP use will still chamber .45 Colt rounds.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I was thinking of doing this recently and asked the same question about my 45 Colt Mountain Gun. The folks that responded advised against doing so, as the bullet will not stabilize as well in the longer cylinder and accuracy would suffer.
I was talked out of doing so but, I also bet there are exceptions.

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NRA Life Member
AF&AM #129

Mark Hartshorne at Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing does the moon clip conversion for $100.

Here is a Model 28 converted to 45 acp by Hamilton Bowen. I shortened a 25-5 cylinder by about .100 in the lathe & fit it to this gun






You can fit the 25-5 {long} cylinder to a 25-2, {short} cylinder gun, but you can't go the other way.

Are you EVPD or VCSD?

Ned

May I invite your attention to:

Model 25-5 Convertible

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S&WCA 1729

The question your asking has been done by myself and many other members. One recently done by tennexplorer that inspired myself to purchase a 625 cylinder, fit it, and send it it to TK Customs for moon clips. I haven't shot it yet and don't have any pictures to report on either. I did this because I didn't want to modify my original cylinder which is within spec and does not suffer from the oversized throats that many do. The current 625 cylinders throats are not oversized and I wanted to start on the right track. If you find a 25-5 cylinder for sale, it usually is for a reason and that's the oversized throats. Many also reload for this condition.

I often read similar posts and some discussing the oversized throats affecting accuracy as well as the bullet jump causing issues with accuracy as well. I doubt I'll notice and its funny because I never read about bullet jump affecting accuracy in a 38/357. At least I don't notice it when shooting 38 in my 357.

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USS ZELLARS
DD-777

(Ned.....EPD)

As always, thanks for the info guys...... Tennexplorer, sounds like the way to go is to fit another 45 Colt and have it cut for moon clips. The great thing about that is the original cylinder remains unchanged.
Now all I have to do is find a suitable cylinder. Any ideas concerning a source?

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Just located a suitable cylinder at Midway.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

When I bought mine it was on sale at Cylinder and Slide for $100 and I will thank "Tennexplorer" for that lead. I also put another order in with S&W for the center pin, springs, ejector etc....so I could swap cylinders easy without having to take them apart. The cylinder comes with ratchet and the pads will need to be fitted/filled along with the center pin.

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USS ZELLARS
DD-777

New stainless cylinder on the way.......looking forward to getting into this project. Something I've wanted to do for years. Will try to post some photos later.
Thanks again for the help and info

CT

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Fit the new cylinder without issue on Saturday......now it's off to Pinnacle for the conversion. I'll try to post some photos when it returns.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Received the stainless .45 Colt cylinder back from Pinnacle. I had an old, spare yoke (blued) that I was able to fit to the gun and cylinder assy., along with new internals and a blued extractor rod.
The stainless cylinder looks a little strange in the blued N-frame, but at least it will be easy to tell which caliber the gun is set up for......and I didn't have to modify the original cylinder.
A trip to the range is in order. Thanks to everyone for the help with this small project.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer