Model 25-3 in 45 colt and 45 ACP??

[Model29-26.5]

Am I understanding correctly that the 25-3 125th commemorative model will accept a 45 colt cylinder and a 45 ACP cylinder interchangeably with no re-fitting necessary?
Just swap the cylinders?

 

[Muley Gil]

Am I understanding correctly that the 25-3 125th commemorative model will accept a 45 colt cylinder and a 45 ACP cylinder interchangeably with no re-fitting necessary?
Just swap the cylinders?

Another cylinder needs to be fitted to the revolver. It is seldom just a drop-in.

Some of the M25-3 revolvers came with both cylinders.

 

[StrawHat]

IN THEORY, an ACP cylinder could fit. Timing would need to be adjusted. The b/c gap could need attention also. Those are the easy ones. The bigger issue, in my opinion, is the frame lug. There is much more room between the back of the ACP cylinder and the frame than with the long Colt cylinder. This will give the cylinder a running start at the frame lug every time you eject shells. Changing that every time you swap cylinders is not easily doable. I have thought about threading the hole for the frame lug and installing a two sided lug. A simple 1/2 turn with a wrench and you’d be good to go.

S&W had an ingenious idea for a two cartridge version. It involved swapping the extractor star. There is one of them out there! It works well but it is not going to be inexpensive!

Kevin

 

[45Smashemflat]

I have a 25-2 with both cylinders. I have not measured it, but I’ve been told it won’t take longer, heavier 45 Colt loadings. (Since it’s short enough to fit.). All factory stuff I’ve tried has worked. I have not lettered the gun, but I suspect it’s just something a previous owner just had made.

 

[Model29-26.5]

Ok. Thanks guys. If it had have been a standard simple drop in then I would have gone for a 25–3, But since I already have a –2and a few – 5’s , I don’t think I’ll mess with it.

 

[Murdock]

I found an unissued .45 Colt cylinder for my M25-2 on this board many years ago. I presume it was originally produced by S&W for the -3 guns, and this was some sort of production over run, much like the .22LR cylinders for the M53 that were available once but eventually disappeared along with the mastodons and passenger pidgeons.

Magically, the 45 Colt cylinders were made to fit the gun, so no alteration of the gun itself is really necessary, and I was able to send it back to the mother ship for proper installation. The frame lug stays the same for both cylinders, which are the same length.

The .45 ACP cylinders for the M25-2 pop up on ebay fairly often, and don't cost anything like what the -3 cyliiders would cost even if one could be found. Mine is the only one I've ever seen for sale, and I haven't seen another since.

The convertable M25-2 shown below with my convertable M48.

 

[steelslaver]

An ACP cylinder will work fine in a 25-3 with proper adjustment. Yes, the frame lug for the colt cylinder is set about .040 back farther and the acp cylinder will slide back to contact it while ejecting. But, it isn't like it is slammed into it and when you close the cylinder the rounded tip of the center pin contacting the dimple in the recoil shield will slide it back forward as it closes, Once closed the cylinder head space is held by the extractors center button, not the frame lug.

I used to have several of them set up that way. The only real distraction is the time to remove screw, remove yoke and replace.

It would be interesting to know how many, if any, actually came from the factory set up with 2 cylinders

 

[unspellable]

I have a 25-2 with both cylinders. I have not measured it, but I’ve been told it won’t take longer, heavier 45 Colt loadings. (Since it’s short enough to fit.). All factory stuff I’ve tried has worked. I have not lettered the gun, but I suspect it’s just something a previous owner just had made.

I have a 25-2 with both cylinders. The barrel shank is longer than a standard 45 Colt 25, so the 45 Colt cylinder is shorter than standard.