m-1917 cylinder problem

[fang]

Hi: I was reading on one of the posts that on the model 1917 s&w the .45 acp cases would head space in the cylinder the correct length to fire and the moon clips were only needed for ejection purposes. On my recently accuired 1917 i disassembeled it to clean it out and when i put a .45 acp shell in the cylinder it went in about a 1/4 in. farther than it should have the point of the bullett was sticking out the front of the cylinder! all 6 chambers are the same obviously i've got a problem is it an ok problem or do i have a expensive paper weight?looking in the cylinder i can see machine marks down in the chamber someone must have reamed it longer for some reason the chamber dia. is .480 is that normal? i need some help here John

 

[Hondo44]

Your 1917 has been rechambered to 45 Colt as a good percentage of 1917s were after they were sold as surplus. It's pretty common. Have you fired the your gun yet? It's not a problem.

You have a convertible that shoots both cartridges, actually it will shoot three including 45 Auto Rim. You will have to use 1/2 moon or full moon clips with 45 ACP obviously, however.

 

[john traveler]

Back in the 1950s and 1960s when surplus M1917 revolvers were not the semi-collectible items they are today, it was common to find them with the chambers reamed deeper to use with cylinder-length shotshell cartridges and half moon clips. The use of cut-down .30-06 cases loaded with shot cups and birdshot worked okay, and some owners actually reamed out the barrels to choked smoothbore for better patterns. The BATF stopped that when they ruled that a smoothbore pistol firing shotshells was an illegal shotgun. A gunsmith named Harvey actually made many of these conversions in his Lakeville gunshop until the BATF ruling.

 

[fang]

Thanks i was more than a little worried should i try to polish out the machine marks? it isnt bored all the way through cause the shell comes to a definate stop just farther than it should i don't have any .45 colt cases to try if i find one i'll try it John

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks i was more than a little worried should i try to polish out the machine marks?

No, not necessary.

 

[jdmcomp]

Not a convertible

Your 1917 has been rechambered to 45 Colt as a good percentage of 1917s were after they were sold as surplus. It's pretty common. Have you fired the your gun yet? It's not a problem.

You have a convertible that shoots both cartridges, actually it will shoot three including 45 Auto Rim. You will have to use 1/2 moon or full moon clips with 45 ACP obviously, however.

Don't think so, as the rim of the 45 with clip spaces the 45 Colt too far from the firing pin to work. Look at the thickness of the Autorim and the Colt and you can see the difference. Even if you could strike the primer it would have tremendous set back and would likely jam the cylinder quickly. Do not shoot 45 Colt in this gun.

My understanding is that some of the early pistols do not have the shoulder so that may be original. These guns used existing 45 Colt cylinders which were machined off at the rear for the 45ACP with clip. Use autorim cases if you do not want to use the moon clips.

 

[fang]

I have no problem just useing .45 acp with moon clips or auto rim cases actually i was going to get some ar cases so i could reload them a little lower i was just horrified when the case fell in and didn't stop when it was suposed to! thanks for you'r help all John

 

[Hondo44]

Don't think so, as the rim of the 45 with clip spaces the 45 Colt too far from the firing pin to work. Look at the thickness of the Autorim and the Colt and you can see the difference. Even if you could strike the primer it would have tremendous set back and would likely jam the cylinder quickly. Do not shoot 45 Colt in this gun.

My understanding is that some of the early pistols do not have the shoulder so that may be original. These guns used existing 45 Colt cylinders which were machined off at the rear for the 45ACP with clip. Use autorim cases if you do not want to use the moon clips.

jdmcomp,
It may be counter intuitive but experience is the final answer. The reason I said he could also shoot 45 Colt is because my dad has a 1917 with original cylinder that has had the chambers extended like the original poster's and 45 Colt fire reliably everytime and w/o any binding or setback of primers. I also shoot 45 ACP with clips and 45 AR in it.

Poster said his chambers still have the shoulder and he can see machine marks where the chamber was extended about a 1/4" from the original 45 ACP shoulder. The early 45 chambered cylinders bored straight thru you are referring to were the Colt New Service, I believe. They were actually "charge holes" which is the proper name for chambers without shoulders. There's controversy about early 1917s ever being made with charge holes.

 

[fang]

OK one more question is .480 the right dia. for the chambers measured at the rear where it would still be original provided they didn't enlarge them also? god only knows what peopole have done in the past and he isn't telling John

 

[Hondo44]

Yes, that's what my 1917 un-modified measures.

 

[fang]

Thanks for all the help John