converting a 25-5 to .45ACP

[amazingflapjack]

I have a 25-5 8 3/8 that I would like to convert to .45ACP. I have a 25-2 6 inch that I could use for parts exchange-making it a .45 LC with the exchanged cylinder, but I would rather not change that gun, as it is a very good one. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks,Flapjack.

 

[Beemer-mark]

Sell it and buy a 25 in 45 acp.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Sell it and buy a 25 in 45 acp.

I agree!!!! Don

 

[AkRay]

The first step in converting your 45 Colt to 45 ACP is to sell it. The second step is to put the proceeds towards an ACP revolver. I agree with the guys above.
Actually, I would probably just keep the 25-5 and go find a 25-2 to keep it company. The only thing better than having a good Smith & Wesson is having two good Smith & Wessons.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I have 2 25-2's and they are great, that's why I think being able to send an ACP out of an 8 3/8 barrel would be interesting. I know S&W made some with both cylinders, but I am not aware of anything in an 8 3/8. flapjack

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Don't forget that the cylinder length is different between the M25-2 and the M25-5. You would have to have the M25-5 set back to fit the .45 ACP cylinder.

There is the option of having your .45 Colt altered to also chamber .45 ACPs in full moonclips. Then you could have your dual cartridge revolver.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

The only reasonable way to do that would be to have the cylinder cut for moon clips which would allow use of 45acp ammo in the clips or 45 Colt without.

 

[amazingflapjack]

m-25 conversion

Now that sounds interesting! Thank you both. I am wondering if our good friends a S&W would do that work, and how much they would charge? thanks, flapjack

 

[Joni_Lynn]

No, S&W doesn't do that, at least not that I know of. I can't remember who does but I'm sure someone will be along soon that will give up a few names.

 

[Beemer-mark]

I didn't mean my answer (to sell it) to sound so "short". I just wish I could afford to make an offer for it. To me it sounds sacreligious to convert a wheel gun an Automatic Colt Pistol round. Espicially a S&W.

 

[amazingflapjack]

m-25 conversion

I didn't really appreciate the .45ACP round until I shot it out of a S&W revolver. flapjack

 

[one eye joe]

I'd bet that Cylinder & Slide would fit a .45ACP cylinder to your revolver so that you would be able to switch cylinders back and forth. I'm a HUGE fan of the .45ACP caliber (carried a Colt 1911 almost daily since 1968 ) Recently I acquired a 4'' Model of 1989 (a 625-3 ) in .45ACP. It's fast becoming my favorite S&W (and I have MANY ) It shoots one ragged hole groups at 50' off a rest. I think that kind of accuracy is due in part to the excellence in design of .45 SWC target ammo that dominates Bullseye competition. Have the work done, you won't regret it......Read what amazingflapjack said above---he's on the money ! !

 

[BUFF]

"I'd bet that Cylinder & Slide would fit a .45ACP cylinder to your revolver so that you would be able to switch cylinders back and forth."

Nope, at not at least realistically. The M-25-5 cylinder is much longer than the M-25-2 cylinder. If you just installed a .45 ACP cylinder of the same vintage, your barrel/cylinder gap would be about .10" or more.

If you were willing to spend the money and were intent on using the barrel and cylinder of the M-25-5, you would have to shorten the cylinder and the rear of the barrel as well as the barrel's shoulder.

Modifying the M-25-5 cylinder to use ACP moon clips is the only realistic option.

 

[max]

Unless you have a mountain of 45 acp, I wouldn't do it. You can load the Colt down to acp levels.

 

[Muley Gil]

"To me it sounds sacreligious to convert a wheel gun an Automatic Colt Pistol round. Espicially a S&W."

You are missing out on some great guns. S&W invented the means for revolvers to use and eject .45 ACP rounds back in 1916. I've owned and shot numerous 1917s, 1950s, 1955s, and M625s over the years and they have all been really good guns.

Hre's the link to a company that does the .45 Colt/ .45 ACP with full moonclips conversion.

Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing

 

[Waldo]

I have both .45 Colt Model 25-5 and .45ACP Model 25-2 revolvers. I mostly shoot .45 Auto Rim in my Model 25-2. I also have a Ruger Blackhawk with 2 cylinders, a .45 ACP and a .45 Colt. What caliber I shoot, and out of what gun on any given day depends on my psyche. However I think an 8&3/8s Model 25 with 2 cylinders would be extremely neat. Maybe the thing to do would be to find a cylinder in .44 or .41 or .357 and have it bored out to fit .45 ACP, and then fitted to your Model 25-5. I think if you have the money you could probably find a gunsmith to make a cylinder from scratch.

 

[one eye joe]

I'm with you, Muley Gil ! ! I wish I had tried an S&W .45ACP wheelgun 50 years ago. Oh well---better late than never.....

 

[up196]

The only reasonable way to do that would be to have the cylinder cut for moon clips which would allow use of 45acp ammo in the clips or 45 Colt without.

I don't think this will work. If the cylinder will close with .45 ACP rounds in a clip or with .45 Auto Rim cases, there will be too much head space to work with .45 Colt in the same cylinder. You could have a second .45 Colt (or comparable length) cylinder altered to ACP/Auto Rim and make them interchangable, but each cylinder would be either Colt or ACP/Auto Rim.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Thanks to everyone, and please keep the comments comming. Great idea to have the cylinder cut to take moon clips, and thanks to war eagle for the web adress for custom work. As many have shared, I was late in trying .45 ACP revolvers. I had an aversion to the 1911 after my military experience, but browning didn't make any junk, the army just turned it into junk. I recently read that the the 1911's we had in 1969 were all made before 1943! Well, guess where thay had been before we got them. They rattled so much that it was scary to carry one, and they were a lot of bad incidents where peole were badly injured or killed, so I just had a knee jerk reaction at even the mantion of anything associated with that cartridge or pistol. I carried a model 10 M&P-in the Army! But I have seen the light. I have read some forums where folks complained about difficuly with moon clips going into the cylinders. Just have S&W chamfer those charge holes, they did the last gun I sent in, not long ago, for $30.00. I have a 625 and two 25-2's and they are all chamfered-the difference is remarkable. Along with this, I use a factory crimp die that makes the the right diameter and just makes a better bullet. Thanks-flapjack

 

[Schofieldkid81]

Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing these guys offer what you are talking about, Personally i would prefer a second cylinder in 45 acp- that way you could keep your 25-5 in an unaltered condition, just in case you have to sell it later.