converting a 25-5 to .45ACP

[Sportsterguy]

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.

A S&W 947 is a highly sought after revolver in 9mm, anothe bottom feeder round. The .45 ACP round has been chambered in a S&W for a long time IIC. It can go both ways and still to this day is one of the best, if not the best manstoppers available.

I do agree wth keeping the LC and just buying the .45 ACP. By the time you're done it would be an expensive project, but if you have the money what the heck. That's the beauty of owning and customizing our rvolvers.
I'm redoing a 6" no dash 57 as we speak. A purist would say what I'm doing to it would be sacreligious also.



My next S&W will be a 25 in .45 ACP. No disrespect here either sir.

Regards,

SG

 

[Frank237]

You asked to "keep the opinions comiing".

I see yet another old Smith being ruined here. There are a finite amount of them out there. Sell or keep the 25-5 and buy yourself another 25 or 625 and be done with it.

FN in MT

 

[BlackAgnes]

I think it's a great idea--here's a dual-cylinder Model 25-2 which I suspect was done at the Factory.

It's easier when you start with a Model 25-2 in .45 ACP and locate a Model 25-3 "short" cylinder.

Good luck with your project!

Tim

 

[Tom K]

You asked to "keep the opinions comiing".

I see yet another old Smith being ruined here. There are a finite amount of them out there. Sell or keep the 25-5 and buy yourself another 25 or 625 and be done with it.

FN in MT

Those who say to just sell the 8-3/8" 25-5 .45 Colt and buy another 25 in .45 ACP are ignoring the original post. amazingflapjack states that he already has a 6" 25-2, which is a .45 ACP gun. However he wants to try .45 ACP in his longer-barreled gun.

I'd say the best route would be to buy an extra .45 Colt cylinder, and have that one modified for moon clips while setting the original aside. Then you get to experiment, while keeping the gun original.

 

[gaucho1]

I believe Mr. K has voiced the best solution.

 

[epj]

The only real solution is going to involve another cylinder originally chambered for .45 Colt and of proper length to fit the frame window. Then it will have to be modified in the rear to accept moon clips and also shortened to get the proper headspace for the ACP. Then it's got to be fitted to the gun. At that point a true convertible will exost.

 

[up196]

A minor point

In my original reply, I mentioned using a cylinder of comparable length instead of a .45 Colt cylinder. While either will work, a smaller caliber cylinder can be bored so that ACP cases can be fired in it without clips, as can be done in your 25-2. If a .45 Colt cylinder is merely shortened from the rear, the ACP cases will go in too far unless a clip is used.

 

[thedane]

You said any suggestions... I wouldn't do anything. You've already got the best of both worlds. You may gain a little muzzle velocity in the 8 3/8. If you shoot better with the longer tubes, you may gain some accuracy. I don't think it's worth the trouble.

But if you do, before you do it, I would recommend trying some 230 grain .45 ACP FMJ bullets loaded in the .45 Colt case. This will simulate what it will be like to fire .45 ACP cartridges down your 25-5 barrel.

Most .45 Colt Bullets are .452 diameter vs. .451 for the .45 ACP.

The bore size in your 25-5 may be larger. Therefore, the .45 ACP .451 may not shoot as well.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best. Make sure you keep us "posted".

 

[amazingflapjack]

Well-thanks for everyone's responses. I will try to address some of the comments in a general way.
I'm not looking to "cut up an old Smith" It is also obvious that some of you have not discovered the virtues of the "moon clip," may you be enlightened. I would like to learn more about the 25-3 having a shorter cylinder,making it a good choice for this project, sounds interesting. The attraction for me in pursuing this project is first-being able to use moon clis in an 8 3/8 barreled gun, and first and a half-firing the marvelous .45 ACP from same. I have called and emailed Pinacle to no avail. If anyone has their grid coordinates, let me know and I'll send them one round for effect (just kiddin). I hope my further description helps explain my purpose. I appreciate all comments, past and future. Thanks, Flapjack

 

[amazingflapjack]

I just spoke with Mark at Pinacle revolver. He said that machining the 25-5 cylinder to enable it to fire .45 ACP/moon clips and .45LC as well would be about $80.00, including pollishing the charge holes, and $7.00 shipping if I sent just the cylinder. He also said that he has customers who find 8 3/8 barrel for sale, and has him install them on their 25-2's-about $100.00. He cuts the indent for the moon clips so that the bullets sit at the same depth as the .45 LC rounds would sit, insuring no firing glitches. He sounds like a knowledgable and polite gentleman, and his prices seem very reasonable to me. Turn around is 2-6 weeks-depending when he receivesthe work, as he only does these cylinders once a month. Thanks again to those who pointed me toward this man. Flapjack

 

[spikey614]

So let me get this correctly.

I purchase another 45Lc cylinder for my S&W M25-5 45Lc and have that cut to accept the 45acp type moon clips?

The cylinder that was cut will now hold and shoot the 45acp round in 1/2 and full moon clips my M25-5 45Lc revolver.

This cut cylinder will also hold and shoot the 45Lc round without the moon clips as well?

I then may also switch the Un-cut 45Lc cylinder back and fourth anytime I want to and shoot 45Lc's alone?

Is this what I'm reading here?

Sorry, I'm a (FNG) new guy and I've been told by others that I CAN NOT in ANYWAY switch between 45Lc and 45acp in my M25-5 Lc revolver. I almost gave up on this idea until I joined the forum and read this thread. I will check with the Pinacle site later on.

 

[sw282]

si--------

 

[cobretti]

Well, I saw a 25-5 in the local toy store (on sale!) and over the next 4 days the illness spread. It was no doubt made worse by this very thread. I bought the thing tonight to feed the fever and starve the bank account, and now I can't wait to throw some lead down range. It's my 9th S&W. Oh, when will it end?

 

[TLM]

this might be somthing you would be interested it

45 LC cylinders can be cut to shoot both ACP and LC

Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com

 

[cobretti]

That's exactly why I bought it, so I could have this conversion done. That and it has the Boughman front sight on the 8 3/8" barrel. I want the look of the full cylinder window with the 25-5's longer cylinder and the option to use either round. I have several other guns in both LC and ACP, but I shoot a lot of .45 ACP and Colt .45 is hard to find and it's expensive when you do.

So can you use Winchester white box ammo with the moon clips for this conversion? I read that the rims are too narrow for steel moonclips. Will the Rimz clips work with this ammo?

 

[Calaveras Slim]

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.

to, to true 3 or more is even better. 45 Colt guns are a little scare but you can buy a M22 get what you want.

 

[surveyor_nm]

Been following this thread and thought I'd chime in with my thoughts. I've been contemplating the same type of conversion for quite some time, so here's my idea. I have a 29-2 cylinder (complete) and crane. The cylinder is too long to go into my 25-5 by just a hair. My thoughts: have the 29-2 cylinder fitted to the 25-5, then re-bored to .45 ACP, rear of the cylinder machined to the same specs as a 625-4 or 22-4 with the exception of leaving a raised rim around the outside of the cylinder that the moon clips with set into. This would leave the rim so the cylinder wouldn't slap against the cylinder stop lug and hence chew up the recoil plate. ALL machining would be done to the cylinder, NOTHING to the 25-5, that way it stays "factory". Does this make sense to anybody but me? BTW, I already have a 625-4 and a 22-4, and no, I won't have the 25-5 cut for moon clips...it stays original.

Any thoughts? Think it'll work?

Bill Mahnke SWCA #1915

 

[cobretti]

Will the new 25 cylinders from S&W work in the 25-5? Maybe use one of these for the conversion...

 

[cobretti]

Brownells carries 625 cylinders for @ $150.00...would it fit a 25-5? They have both LC & ACP, but I'm assuming they're stainless.

Between the new cylinder, fitting & machine work, it would cost almost as much as I paid for the gun.

 

[spikey614]

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.

Yeah! This is what I want to do. I want to keep what I have and just have an extra cylinder in 45acp to switch when I want to.
My 25-5 has a 4'' Un-tapered bbl. So it's not a Mountain Gun. The serial No's start with AJE. Anyone know what year that refers too?