How about a 296-sized .45ACP?

[dogsoldier]

Surely NOW it's 'doable'......

 

[DCWilson]

When this has come up in the past, I think the answer has been that the diameter of the L-frame cylinder is about 1/16" too small to accommodate .45 cartridge cases safely. If you made the cylinder bigger, you'd have to enlarge the window in the frame. Before you know it, you are approaching N-frame dimensions.

Might as well just buy the bigger gun to start with. You can get a Performance Center two-inch .45.

 

[dogsoldier]

Even in a 5-shot?

 

[Erich]

Right, even in a five-shot.

The RB N-frame snubs are actually pretty easy to carry, by the way. .151" thicker on the cylinder.

You might find this excellent article by our departed friend Steve Camp to be of interest:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Smith & Wesson J, K, L and N-frame Comparisons.htm