I think I've gone and bought a Frankengun. Update! Range report post #55

[growr]

Moonclips are no big deal....still fastest way to load and unload 6. The loading of a moon clip is simple ..use a standard pair of pliers and snap them in....unloading....I use a tool I got from California Custom through Dillon...unloads 2 with every squeeze.

The often touted answer of using .45 Auto Rim seems just unneeded to me when .45 acp is SO readily available just for the picking up, why buy more brass?

Randy

 

[daddio202]

I use the plastic moon clips that are for sale. They make it very easy to load and unload moonclip. I also purchased 45 autorimmed brass by Starline and reload them and that is easy as it gets. I really like the gun you purchased. As many said it does not retain any collector value but is a cheap way to shoot 45 acp from basically a S&W 1950 target gun. For the price I would have thought long and hard and probably would have purchased it too. Enjoy and don't forget to update us on how she shoots and the accuracy of your new "Frankengun".

 

[Art Doc]

The ribbed barrel clashing and gaping with the fixed sight frame would turn me off and drive me away in about .07 seconds.

 

[Hondo44]

That was a great buy and will be a fine shooter.

No doubt you didn't buy it to put more money into for target sights. And not everyone wants target sights.

But it's a natural for a post war Micro click rear sight installation.

The long tang N frame sight with square tip (actually the K frame sight for the short barrel models is 1/16" longer than the N frame), milled into the top strap just a little farther forward than on the 1950 models and slightly deeper than shown below, will meet up with the barrel rib. It will look factory and eliminate the Frankengun look.

Actually looks better than the factory installation with the gap between the front end of the sight tang and the rear end of the barrel rib!

The snubby barreled Model 15s, 19s and 66s actually have the nicest factory sight installations extending all the way to the front of the frame.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

The ribbed barrel clashing and gaping with the fixed sight frame would turn me off and drive me away in about .07 seconds.

I don't disagree with your sentiment. When looking down the sights, I don't see it so it won't affect my shooting, and it was purchased to be a shooter. You can't get a Model of 1950 or a 25-2 for that money unless they're beat to death.

 

[walter o]

A few weeks ago i also posted about a frankin gun , I am happy to report it is a great shooter .I love it ,some craftsman put it together from at least 2 guns
! a registered magnum and a 1917" N" frame with old style adjustable sights It feels good in the hand and i'll keep and enjoy it, looks like you also have a keeper

 

[BaldEagle1313]

That was a great buy and will be a fine shooter.

No doubt you didn't buy it to put more money into for target sights. And not everyone wants target sights.

But it's a natural for a post war Micro click rear sight installation.

The long tang N frame sight with square tip, milled into the top strap just a little farther forward then on the 1950 models and slightly deeper than shown below, will meet up with the barrel rib. It will look factory and eliminate the Frankengun look.

Actually looks better than the factory installation with the gap between the front end of the sight tang and the rear end of the barrel rib!

The snubby barrelled Model 15s, 19s and 66s actually have the nicest factory sight installtions extending all the way to the front of the frame.

There's a pretty decent sized difference in the height of the rear sight assembly and the ribbed barrel. You are without doubt more knowledgeable than I on this matter, but it's hard to see how it would be safe to mill that much off the frame to get them to match up.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

...Enjoy and don't forget to update us on how she shoots and the accuracy of your new "Frankengun".

I'm pretty sure any inaccuracy will be caused by my index finger rather than a fault of the firearm itself... that's pretty much true for every firearm I own. All of them are better at their jobs than I am at the trigger.

 

[chiefdave]

. . . You can use ACP dies. . ./QUOTE]
With Auto Rim shellholder?

Yes, it goes a lot quicker with the appropriate shell holder.

 

[Hondo44]

There's a pretty decent sized difference in the height of the rear sight assembly and the ribbed barrel. You are without doubt more knowledgeable than I on this matter, but it's hard to see how it would be safe to mill that much off the frame to get them to match up.

You bring up a worthy consideration. The extra depth of the sight channel amounts to about .031" which is small relative to the top strap thickness that remains and we're dealing with low pressure cartridges. So no worries in that regard.

And the rear sight tang does not have to be exactly flush with the barrel rib to look good. In fact the factory installations are not either. It just has to be low enough to not leave a light space between the top of the frame and bottom of the sight tang.

 

[Jim Watson]

This sort of thing is fairly common.
A friend converted three (that I know of) .357s to .45 Colt. He got Bob Snapp to rechamber the cylinders which meant he had to watch his .45 OAL but he had the proper mould so it was not a real problem.

Two got NOS 1950 .45 barrels which looked fine; the serrated ribs didn't match the checkering of the M27 or the matte of the M28 but alignment was good.
The third got a 1955 barrel which did not blend, but it kicked less so he was happy.

 

[chiefdave]

This sort of thing is fairly common.
A friend converted three (that I know of) .357s to .45 Colt. He got Bob Snapp to rechamber the cylinders which meant he had to watch his .45 OAL but he had the proper mould so it was not a real problem.

Here is a franken-pinto in 45 Colt. 28-2 frame. 25 barrel and cylinder have no s/n's so I guess NOS parts were used. Ugly as hell but very accurate and is a great revolver for Missouri's alternative arms deer season

 

[Kinman]

If you don't already reload for .45ACP I would go straight to .45Auto Rim, do not pass go, do not collect $200. I own a few .45acp pistols but have enough ammo to last the rest of my natural life considering I shoot them rarely. Auto Rim is so much more convenient and sure-fire, moon clips have caused problems for people like a buddy of mine that lost an important state tournament because of a bent moon clip. Noone can argue about the speed of the fast reload of a moon clip but realistically its a moot point, the speed strips from Dillon are very fast and easily fit in your pocket.
If you want to go down that road you can make a simple de-mooner using a piece of 1/2" copper pipe, you simply solder a cap on one end, drop six empty cartridges down the tube or measure what that length is, cut the tube to fit all six, then take a file and remove about 1/2 of the open face, allowing it to fit over the fired round but when rocked right or left will allow the cartridge to release from the clip. If you need a picture I can put one up for you, its pretty easy if you think about it. The neat thing is all your rounds are in the tube, dump them in a bag and hop on top and go dog go.

 

[M E Morrison]

This sort of thing is fairly common.
A friend converted three (that I know of) .357s to .45 Colt. He got Bob Snapp to rechamber the cylinders which meant he had to watch his .45 OAL but he had the proper mould so it was not a real problem.

Here is a franken-pinto in 45 Colt. 28-2 frame. 25 barrel and cylinder have no s/n's so I guess NOS parts were used. Ugly as hell but very accurate and is a great revolver for Missouri's alternative arms deer season

how well has that scope mount held up?

 

[chiefdave]

how well has that scope mount held up?

It's an old Williams mount and is really well built. Hasn't shot loose after about 200 rounds.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

If you don't already reload for .45ACP I would go straight to .45Auto Rim, do not pass go, do not collect $200. I own a few .45acp pistols but have enough ammo to last the rest of my natural life considering I shoot them rarely. Auto Rim is so much more convenient and sure-fire, moon clips have caused problems for people like a buddy of mine that lost an important state tournament because of a bent moon clip. Noone can argue about the speed of the fast reload of a moon clip but realistically its a moot point, the speed strips from Dillon are very fast and easily fit in your pocket.
If you want to go down that road you can make a simple de-mooner using a piece of 1/2" copper pipe, you simply solder a cap on one end, drop six empty cartridges down the tube or measure what that length is, cut the tube to fit all six, then take a file and remove about 1/2 of the open face, allowing it to fit over the fired round but when rocked right or left will allow the cartridge to release from the clip. If you need a picture I can put one up for you, its pretty easy if you think about it. The neat thing is all your rounds are in the tube, dump them in a bag and hop on top and go dog go.

I appreciate the suggestion. If posting the picture isn't too much trouble, I'd be interested in seeing it. I haven't investigated the cost of .45 Auto Rim. I don't reload, but I already have .45 ACP out the wazoo for my autoloaders.

I spent a bit of time this morning loading half of the 50 moon clips that came with the gun, just doing it by hand while on the computer. We'll see how onerous it is to get the empties back out after the trip to the range next week.

 

[M E Morrison]

It's an old Williams mount and is really well built. Hasn't shot loose after about 200 rounds.

OK, thank you

 

[stansdds]

Yep, you bought a frankengun. It does look like a nice build and it might turn out to be a great shooter. If it shoots well, take care of it, but shoot it to your heart's content, there's no collector value to be lost.

As for ammo, I'd stay away from +P stuff and the hotter European stuff, no need in beating up such a nice looking, old revolver. Moon and half-moon clips can be difficult to deal with, especially if they get bent. If you are thinking of reloading for this piece, I'd suggest reloading 45 Auto Rim cases. Starline does make them and it eliminates those pesky clips.

Looking forward to the range report.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

This sort of thing is fairly common.
A friend converted three (that I know of) .357s to .45 Colt. He got Bob Snapp to rechamber the cylinders which meant he had to watch his .45 OAL but he had the proper mould so it was not a real problem.

Here is a franken-pinto in 45 Colt. 28-2 frame. 25 barrel and cylinder have no s/n's so I guess NOS parts were used. Ugly as hell but very accurate and is a great revolver for Missouri's alternative arms deer season

That is a cool set up ,what kind of scope mount did you use it looks like it would be very stable .I seem to be clumsy in the woods and always find a stump or root to trip over lol.Sorry I didn't see the post where you already answered this question ,still a cool set up .

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Everytime I tell my wife well this is it this is my last gun I'm going to "need" so don't worry about it every time I run across a thread like this and think man I wouldn't mind having something like that . Invariably I'll run across something and next thing I know om telling the wife this is it this is the last gun and she don't even argue anymore she just rolls her eyes and say yes I know it's the last one you'll ever "need" .She says this all started back in the 80s when you bought that big old long 44 magnum because you want to be like dirty Harry ( actualy it's a 629-1 8 3/8 but you know how girls are) then your great uncle left you that old cowboy gun ( its an old M&P in 32/20 beat up but shoots pretty good) and this last one remember you traded for it and that target gun you .Then you said but hon these laser grips cost more than the gun I traded so yea yea I know .Just go get back on the computer and you fellas tell each other how nice your guns are and look at pictures and find one more you just "need" I guess I should be happy those guys don't collect women .