How can I find (and buy) a new Model 29 in California
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cavsix
Member
Pretty much impossible, unless you bore out th ebbl and cylinder...
Just sayin'
Just sayin'
Harrison
US Veteran
I don't think you can find one in the other 50 states either, at least not in 45 caliber.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
All variations of the Model 29 will be in 44 Magnum. If you want a 45 caliber S&W you will have to select the proper model. If it's a currently manufactured revolver I would expect that S&W has run it through the ridiculous drop test required to sell handguns in CA and any gun dealer should have it or be able to get it for you. If you mean an older model no longer made, your only hope to legally purchase one in CA is to buy from an individual who has one as dealers are not allowed to sell handguns to CA residents that are not on the approved list.
You want a model 25 or a model 625. I have a model 629 that is a 45, but I reamed the cylinder and replaced the barrel to make it into the exact 45 I wanted. It uses 45 Colt or 45 acp in clips. Best advice is to move LOL
Tom_R
Member
Well first you have to decide if you want a 44, or a 45.
The Model 29 and 629 are chambered for 44 Magnum. It can also shoot 44 Special
The Model 24 and 624 are chambered for 44 Special
The Model 25 and 625 are chambered for 45
Once you have that sorted out, if it is a new Factory gun that you are looking for, your best bet would be to find a S&W Distributor in CA and have them order one for you.
The Model 29 and 629 are chambered for 44 Magnum. It can also shoot 44 Special
The Model 24 and 624 are chambered for 44 Special
The Model 25 and 625 are chambered for 45
Once you have that sorted out, if it is a new Factory gun that you are looking for, your best bet would be to find a S&W Distributor in CA and have them order one for you.
03Fatboy
Member
Also, believe the 22-4 is in 45acp and available in CA.
gwpercle
Member
You can't...it's only manufactured in 44 magnum.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I am totally confused in the n frame revolver being in 45cap and 45 long colt. I thought the m25 was in 45 long colt. Then I see the m25 listed as 45 acp?
Can the m25 shoot the 45LC & 45acp too?
Well did the m25 come in both calibers?
I'm new to the m25 so forgive me. Thanks for your help.
I'm 64 years old today so be kind to me.
Can the m25 shoot the 45LC & 45acp too?
Well did the m25 come in both calibers?
I'm new to the m25 so forgive me. Thanks for your help.
I'm 64 years old today so be kind to me.
hatchdog
Member
25-2 is a 45acp and a 25-5 is a 45 long colt. For the stainless just add a 6 in the front of the model number. Happy 64th birthday.
Different, model 25s and 625s came in either 45ACP of 45 Colt
1917 and 1937 Brazilian and the 1950 & 1955, are 45 ACP (pre model numbers)
25-2, 25-12, 25-14 are 45ACP
25-3 (short cylinder), 25-5, 25-9, 25 Classic, 25-15 are 45 Colt
I don't know about for sure about any other model numbers if they exist.
625-6 625-9 45 Colt
I think all the other 625s are 45ACP
A S&W model 25 or 625 in 45 Colt can be modified to use 45ACP in full moon clips by having the rear of the cylinder and ejector star milled with a relief cut. The 45ACP guns are not well suited for modification to 45 Colt without replacing the cylinder, cutting down the forcing cone portion of the barrel and recutting the forcing cone and modifying the frame lug, as the ejector end of the cylinder is shorter to allow the use of full moon clips and excess head space will result if reamed to 45 Colt. Their cylinders are also shorter on the barrel end and the barrel protrudes through the frame farther. This will result in the longest of the 45 Colt loadings to stick out of the front of the cylinder and it will not function with these rounds. This is also true of the 25-3 in 45 Colt as it used a shorter front length length cylinder.
Ask me how I know all this. LOL. I have 3 S&W that fire either 45, two of them started as ACP guns. I also have a 45ACP only and a 45 Colt only. You can modify most any N frame to 45, 41 and 44mag are best for the 45 Colt because of cylinder length, but it is a lot of work and S&W 45 caliber barrels are hard to find. I have been looking for another 625 barrel to make another 629 into a 45.
1917 and 1937 Brazilian and the 1950 & 1955, are 45 ACP (pre model numbers)
25-2, 25-12, 25-14 are 45ACP
25-3 (short cylinder), 25-5, 25-9, 25 Classic, 25-15 are 45 Colt
I don't know about for sure about any other model numbers if they exist.
625-6 625-9 45 Colt
I think all the other 625s are 45ACP
A S&W model 25 or 625 in 45 Colt can be modified to use 45ACP in full moon clips by having the rear of the cylinder and ejector star milled with a relief cut. The 45ACP guns are not well suited for modification to 45 Colt without replacing the cylinder, cutting down the forcing cone portion of the barrel and recutting the forcing cone and modifying the frame lug, as the ejector end of the cylinder is shorter to allow the use of full moon clips and excess head space will result if reamed to 45 Colt. Their cylinders are also shorter on the barrel end and the barrel protrudes through the frame farther. This will result in the longest of the 45 Colt loadings to stick out of the front of the cylinder and it will not function with these rounds. This is also true of the 25-3 in 45 Colt as it used a shorter front length length cylinder.
Ask me how I know all this. LOL. I have 3 S&W that fire either 45, two of them started as ACP guns. I also have a 45ACP only and a 45 Colt only. You can modify most any N frame to 45, 41 and 44mag are best for the 45 Colt because of cylinder length, but it is a lot of work and S&W 45 caliber barrels are hard to find. I have been looking for another 625 barrel to make another 629 into a 45.
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Tom_R
Member
Tom_R
Member
Thank You for that information.
Question for you, if I may, just to kind of boil it all down.
If a Smith and Wesson afficianado, say someone like, I don't know, me, wanted a 25 or a 625 that could shoot both .45acp and .45LC, which gun should we start with, and what exactly should we have done to it?
It sounds like should start with a Revolver originally chambered for .45LC which would be one of the following:
- 25-3 (short cylinder)
- 25-5
- 25-9
- 25 Classic
- 25-15
- 625-6
- 625-9
This would enable use of pretty much all .45acp loads, and most .45LC loads, except for ones with super long casings, because the relief cuts for the moon clips now places the round too far forward, and the nose will stick out the front.
Do I essentially have that summarized correctly? I think it makes sense to me.
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Tom_R
Member
Not quite my Birthday, but thank you sir, and right back at you as well!
Cal44
Member
I'll assume asking for a 45 was a typo.
So, assuming you want a new 29 classic 44 mag, then I suggest you put a WTB ad on the calguns.net site.
There are lots of dealers on that site who might have what you want somewhere in the state.
Failing that, you may find someone who has spotted a 29 in a LGS somewhere who can refer you to the shop.
So, assuming you want a new 29 classic 44 mag, then I suggest you put a WTB ad on the calguns.net site.
There are lots of dealers on that site who might have what you want somewhere in the state.
Failing that, you may find someone who has spotted a 29 in a LGS somewhere who can refer you to the shop.
Find an ffl that will do SSE. Then find the revolver anywhere in the US that will sell to a Kalifornian thru their FFL. When it gets here you will wait 10 days and then receive the Single Shot only revolver. Your ffl will have modified it and will supply you the removed parts. You can then legally have it converted back to DA/SA. I have two smiths going thru this process as I type.
Also keep in mind too that with the passage of AB1964 and signage into law by Governor Brown, the SSE (single shot exemption) goes away on 1/1/2015... so time is running out.
Close, but if you start with a 45 Colt gun and have the cylinder relieved for 45ACP in full moons, you can fire any full length 45 Colt in it, except for the model 25-3 which had a shorter cylinder and more barrel protrusion into the frame like the ACP models. In other words the ACP cylinders (and the 25-3) are shorter on the muzzle end as well as the ACP cylinders being shorter on the extractor end to make space for the full moon clips.
The way the relief cut mod works is from the ratchet out across the extractor star and past where it's tips meet the cylinder are milled down appox .030. This provides a relief so the moon clip holding the ACP rounds goes in far enough for he proper headspace when cylinder is in battery. It also leaves a original height band around the rear of the cylinder's rear face so that when 45 Colt rounds are inserted the outside of their rims are held in the correct headspace. If this rim or ring was not there the 45 colt rims could go to deep into the cylinder giving you excess head space and probable light firing pin strikes and failure to fires. It does leave a .030 portion of the case in front of the rim that is not surrounded by cylinder. This is not a problem with modern cases and I have had no problems with heavy 45 Colt loads with this modification. I would not do this with the now virtually extinct balloon head cases. If you saw a modern case in half length wise you will see this area is much thicker than the case mouth area. It is not much different than the unsupported areas of an automatic round cause by the feed ramp in their chambers. Actually it is a shorter amount.
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