Reaming 44 Cylinder

[Spencerivey101]

I posted a while back that I purchased a 25-5 in 45 Colt earlier this year. Seems to be unfired and at this point I have refrained shooting it myself but I did drop a bullet through the chambers to see if they are oversized. Every chamber a .452 cast bullet fell straight through without even slowing down.
So now rather than shoot an unfired gun that will possibly not give satisfying groups, or changing up my loads, I'm considering selling, or maybe buying a different blued N frame cylinder and having it reamed out to the proper throats.
I've read a few forums on the topic and even if it was something I wanted to do at home I wouldn't have the patience to do it right. Know your limits right.
So who does that kind of work at a reasonable price? Not all that worried about turnaround in today's environment.

 

[murf205]

If you know the exact size of your cylinder throats, you can size cast bullets to the size of the throats and probably have a good shooter without leading. Several cast bullet companies offer custom sizing--especially in 45 cal because of 25-5 cylinders. I have seen throats as large as.458 shoot pretty darned well when the bullet is sized accordingly. You can buy individual pin guages from Meyer Gage Co for very reasonable cost. Check out their web page. If you don't want to gamble on a project, all bets are off. If you go with a gun with a tight cylinder and having it reamed, there is a guy on the Castboolits web page called Doug Guy who does some really nice work I'm told and reasonable too.

 

[steelslaver]

I have made some 44 mag cylinders into 45 colt cylinders. It works well

Couple things.

A standard 45 colt reamer will not work. It has a .452 pilot and although it will enter a 44 mag chamber it will not enter its throat. You need a .452 reamer to open the throat first. I have a .429 to .452 reamer for that.

You can use either a non recessed or recessed 44 cylinder. If you use a recessed cylinder you end up with a recessed 45 colt. But, you must adjust the frame lug to clearance the extra rear length on the cylinder.

You usually have to do some minor fitting to make the cylinder work correctly when installed. Typical of any cylinder swap.

A Brazilian made into a pinned and recessed 45 colt using a cut down 1950 barrel

A 5" pinned and recessed 45 colt using a 25-5

a couple of 629-1 made into 4" and 5" 45 colts via reaming cylinders and replacing barrels

Next up I am going to replace this modified 1917's 45ACP cylinder with a 45 colt cylinder

Ya, I like 45 colts and I like em my way

 

[BigBill]

That 1917 cylinder looks short length wise to be in 45 LC?

 

[Doug M.]

Looks to me like "steelslaver" has the ability to do the job. Take a road trip. Montana is beautiful this time of year.

 

[steelslaver]

That 1917 cylinder looks short length wise to be in 45 LC?

It is currently an acp cylinder, that is why I labeled that photo as

Next up I am going to replace this modified 1917's 45ACP cylinder with a 45 colt cylinder

I will trim the barrel shank and install a 45 colt cylinder. But, I could use a 357 length cylinder and make it a 45 colt. Prior to the 25-5, the 25-3 and the rare 45 colt produced on a semi custom base by S&W had the short cylinder.

At one time the modified 1917 was my carry gun, I have since got 2 of the 325 scandium 45 acps. I though of modifying one of those to be my snub 45 volt and decide to use the 17 instead

 

[S-W4EVER]

That 5" 25-5 is beautiful.

 

[series guy]

Your location isn't posted but mine was done at the Diagonal Road Gun Shop in Lagrange Ohio. Andy does stellar work.

 

[Spencerivey101]

Just as a question of pure curiosity, since the 44 cylinder has a higher hardness treatment, would a 25-5 with a reamed 44 cylinder hold up better to Tier 2 loads? Still not a gun I'd ever shoot Ruger loads through, and I'd probably rarely shoot hotter than standard 250gr at 900 or so fps.

 

[Spencerivey101]

Better yet, could I get the cylinder cut for moon clips at the same time and shoot 45 colt and 45 Auto in the same gun? I know that's an extra 7k pressure psi but if it's cut from a magnum cylinder that shouldn't be a big deal right?

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I posted a while back that I purchased a 25-5 in 45 Colt earlier this year. Seems to be unfired and at this point I have refrained shooting it myself but I did drop a bullet through the chambers to see if they are oversized. Every chamber a .452 cast bullet fell straight through without even slowing down.
So now rather than shoot an unfired gun that will possibly not give satisfying groups, or changing up my loads, I'm considering selling, or maybe buying a different blued N frame cylinder and having it reamed out to the proper throats.
I've read a few forums on the topic and even if it was something I wanted to do at home I wouldn't have the patience to do it right. Know your limits right.
So who does that kind of work at a reasonable price? Not all that worried about turnaround in today's environment.

Mine had the same problem. Shot buckshot patterns with .452 dia. bullets. Bought a .454 dia. mold and all is well. If you haven't shot it. you probably won't......Sell it. Without spending any $$$ on it.

 

[M29since14]

If you're interested in shooting the gun why don't you just call S&W and ask them to sell you a new Model 25 cylinder? They might just do that. The new ones will have smaller throats. Then all you will need (hopefully) is someone to install the cylinder. Reaming a .44 Magnum cylinder just adds needless expense if you can buy a factory part.