jimmyj
Member
Came across a advertisement for a Model 25 that states that .45 Colt caliber but can use .45 ACP with half moon chips (same cylinder).
Is this possible ?
Is this possible ?
.45 Colt and .45 ACP Revolver
- Thread starter jimmyj
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Pisgah
Member
Never heard of it in a S&W -- but evidently Ruger figured out a way...
American Handgunner Ruger "Convertible" Redhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP - American Handgunner.
American Handgunner Ruger "Convertible" Redhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP - American Handgunner.
Baltimoreed11754
Member
I have a Jframe that can use full moons or loose .38s. Only thing is that the chambers would have to be cut for 45colt. Your accuracy might suffer shooting the shorter loads. The correct moon clip drops into the relieved part of the cylinder while the rims of the .45 colt rest on the uncut outer edge of the cylinder. But it would shoot either. TK custom did mine.
DR505
US Veteran
You can if you modify it. TK Custom just needs the cylinder and they will cut it to use .45 ACP with clips while retaining the ability to use .45 Colt.
It sounds to me like someone modified the original 45 ACP cylinder to accept .45 Colt by drilling the step out the ACP cylinder. I imagine if you dropped an ACP round into that cylinder, it would not headspace correctly, so the only way to shoot ACP thru it now is by using moonclips, or possibly .45 Auto Rim brass.
Just my guess.
Tim
Just my guess.
Tim
One would think that S&W would turn the light bulb on and...........
just make a cylinder, to slap into their revolvers, so that would not be such a big deal, to fire different 45 cases........
Like Ruger did with it's 22 and 22 magnum single six revolver's.
Maybe it is a safety thing ??
just make a cylinder, to slap into their revolvers, so that would not be such a big deal, to fire different 45 cases........
Like Ruger did with it's 22 and 22 magnum single six revolver's.
Maybe it is a safety thing ??
STORMINORMAN
Member
A rim, is a rim...
And a rose, by any other name, is... A rose.
Cheers!
And a rose, by any other name, is... A rose.
Cheers!
DWalt
Member
Any .45 ACP revolver cylinder (swing out) can be easily modified to shoot .45 Colt and .45 ACP in clips. Modification is to simply elongate the .45 ACP cylinder chambers so the .45 Colt rounds headspace on the mouth so the rear headspace is OK. Not sure if anyone supplies such modified cylinders as standard equipment direct from the factory, but I doubt it. In the case of a Ruger SA, the cylinder face would also need to be shaved to allow enough headspace to accommodate the .45 AR and .45 ACP in clips. but it would make absolutely no sense to do it that way.
At one time, and maybe still, Ruger .45 Blackhawk SA revolvers could be supplied with two separate cylinders, one for .45 ACP (without clips) and another in .45 Colt.
At one time, and maybe still, Ruger .45 Blackhawk SA revolvers could be supplied with two separate cylinders, one for .45 ACP (without clips) and another in .45 Colt.
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shil
Member
Unless the cylinder was severely modified, I'd doubt it. Headspace?
rockquarry
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With the exception of the very heavy .45 Colt loads, one can easily tailor .45 ACP or Auto Rim handloads to approximate .45 Colt factory load performance and beyond and do it safely in an S&W 25-2 that's in good sound condition. No real need for two cylinders, different sight adjustments, etc.
As many have mentioned, after a simple machining operation to your 45 Long Colt cylinder this works just fine
Tomorrow morning I will probably be shooting just such a modified Smith & Wesson Mountain Gun. Unfortunately I am 100 miles East-South-East of you
This proposal fails on multiple issues.
Only a very small percentage of America's shooters hand load, so that will not work for the masses
Any 45ACP ammunition so hand loaded would not function properly in 45ACP chambered Auto loaders. I want my 45ACP ammunition to function in all of my 45ACP firearms
A hand loader using 45 Auto Rim would need to buy a different shell holder and different brass to add a third cartridge to his/her inventory that is intended to do what the original cartridge the revolver is already chambered for can do.
This thread is not talking about increasing the power of a 45ACP revolver cartridge.
This thread is not talking about using two cylinders. This thread is asking if a 45 Long Colt revolver can safely chamber and fire 45ACP as well. The answer is yes, with some machining
STORMINORMAN
Member
Well, afterall, this is a Reloading forum... Who cares about "the masses"?
It does indeed require AutoRim brass and a different shellholder to reload 45 AutoRim.
45 AutoRim is not designed for semiautomatic pistols: it was designed as an alternative in the military application of the 45acp for use in revolvers. My pre-Model 25 is designed to shoot 45acp with (or even without) moon clips OR with 45 AutoRim.
You can, indeed, safely load 45 AutoRim to (and above) standard 45 Colt (i.e., non- "Ruger Only"!) velocity and energy levels and shoot them in N-frame revolvers, with more flexibility in bullet weights & OALs than with 45acps. According to Starline, their 45 AutoRim brass is every bit as tough as their 45 Colt or 44 Magnum brass, BTW.
Not to argue, but one modified cylinder with the right moonclips might just work for all three...?
Cheers!
It does indeed require AutoRim brass and a different shellholder to reload 45 AutoRim.
45 AutoRim is not designed for semiautomatic pistols: it was designed as an alternative in the military application of the 45acp for use in revolvers. My pre-Model 25 is designed to shoot 45acp with (or even without) moon clips OR with 45 AutoRim.
You can, indeed, safely load 45 AutoRim to (and above) standard 45 Colt (i.e., non- "Ruger Only"!) velocity and energy levels and shoot them in N-frame revolvers, with more flexibility in bullet weights & OALs than with 45acps. According to Starline, their 45 AutoRim brass is every bit as tough as their 45 Colt or 44 Magnum brass, BTW.
Not to argue, but one modified cylinder with the right moonclips might just work for all three...?
Cheers!
Ok. Sorry. I'm confused. Can my .45 LC Model 25-5 shoot .45acp ammunition through it? With cylinder modifcation or without cylinder medication (eg cut for Moon Clips)? Or can I try and find a .45acp cylinder and swap it onto my gun? (I have a Model 25-5 and am yet to shoot it. Had a little trouble finding .45 LC ammo for it).
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This is opposite from what the OP was asking about.
Additionally I've never heard of such a thing & don't see how it would work for multiple reasons:
1- 45ACP cylinders are shorter than 45 Colt cylinders. A max length 45 Colt would be too long.
2- 45ACP revolvers have more shell head clearance than 45 Colt revolvers so a 45 Colt's case would be too far away from the frame breech & firing pin if it's rim was contacting the cylinder's face.
3- All factory 45 Colt ammunition is roll crimped. Roll crimped cartridges are designed to headspace on the rim, not the case mouth. A roll crimp does not allow for reliable or constant headspacing on a chamber's shoulder; a taper crimp is needed for that. 45 Colt revolver chambers don't have shoulders; 45ACP revolver chambers do.
4- A rimmed case head that's not touching the cylinder face will have unsupposed case wall.
.
Converting a 45 Colt revolver to shoot 45ACP is easier than converting a 45ACP revolver to shoot 45 Colt.
.
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rockquarry
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I concede. Since it was in the reloading section, I thought my suggestion appropriate. Maybe not.
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Nice looking Model 25 that you have there Moo Moo
Yes, you can have your original 45 Long Colt cylinder machined so that it will fire both cartridges
Finding a 45ACP cylinder to fit your existing revolver is a much, Much harder chore. Your 45 Long Colt cylinder is longer than the normal 45ACP Model 25 cylinder.
Most of the twin cylinder Model 25s are based on the shorter 45ACP cylinder. The drawback here is that depending on the projectile used, some 45 Long Colt rounds are too long for that 45ACP cylinder
I agree, this question is in the wrong Forum. Members do occasionally post to the wrong place
A question like this may have been more appropriate in the Gun Smithing Forum.
Occasionally Moderators will move a thread so that the responses do not drift too far from the Original Question that was Posted
