455 HE Question

[glowe]

Flashback Wednesday!

Years ago I bought a Smith 455 (from Old Town Station) that had been sent back to Smith & Wesson in 1927 and converted into 45 Colt, target sights installed front and rear. Never thought to see if it would still shoot .455. I'll have to dig it out and check.
SWCA 892

I bet it is in these pages of OTSD #43 & #44 catalog, including one that I bought. This 2005 catalog makes is twenty years ago!! Jim must have gotten hold of a bunch of these guns and sold them over several catalogs until all gone.

 

[glowe]

Couple more pages. I noted that about 20% of these guns were converted to another caliber.

 

[Model19man]

The 1917's in 45 acp are easier to get ammo for .You can poke around and even find 45 Auto-Rim if you don't like moon clips .
I prefer the S&W 1917 ... in either caliber .
If you reload ... then the 455's ammo is no problem ...
a little poking around will get you reloading dies and cases .
Fiocchi is still producing 455 ammo or at least they were .
I reload and cast bullets so a reasonably priced S&W 455 would be right up my alley !
Good Luck with your quest ,
Gary

Fiocchi still makes the ammo but it isn't cheap. This box sold at Ray's in Dallas maybe 6 years ago......

 

[22hipower]

I bet it is in these pages of OTSD #43 & #44 catalog, including one that I bought. This 2005 catalog makes is twenty years ago!! Jim must have gotten hold of a bunch of these guns and sold them over several catalogs until all gone.

Thanks for posting that. Interesting to see another engraved 2nd Model MKII at page 35. Can't be too many of those.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[alwslate]

I have one that was originally chambered in .455. It has had the rear face of the cyl shaved to shoot .45 ACP or Auto Rim. The left side of the barrel near the frame has been stamped 45 AR.

 

[Jack Flash]

There was an earlier comment that if the cylinder was cut for .45 ACP, then headspace for the .455 Mk I/II will be excessive.

Someone somewhere makes a steel adapter to solve this problem. Could be someone here has the link.

 

[alwslate]

There was an earlier comment that if the cylinder was cut for .45 ACP, then headspace for the .455 Mk I/II will be excessive.

Someone somewhere makes a steel adapter to solve this problem. Could be someone here has the link.

I solved the "problem" of the cyl being shaved by shooting my gun with cast bullet handloads in Auto Rim brass

 

[glowe]

. . . or you can shoot uphill.

 

[StrawHat]

…

Assuming we're talking about the MKIIs, even if modified for 45 ACP I would avoid using it as those MKIIs were not built for a diet of the higher pressure 45 ACP.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
…

Speaking to the S&W revolvers chambered for the 455 cartridges, they were not heat treated so 45 ACP should not be used at all. The ACP round would be akin to firing proof loads, every shot.

Kevin