chuck s
Member
Remind me to take a better photo of this old girl!
US Army Model of 1917. .45 ACP.
-- Chuck
US Army Model of 1917. .45 ACP.
-- Chuck
Why the .45 ACP in a revolver?
- Thread starter Triggernosis
- Start date
Win712
Member
Great thread everyone, it gives me a chance to again share this story. The old Model 1917 pictured below was obtained from the son of a Detroit PD, Homicide Lieutenant from the late 1920's thru the early 1950's. The son, now 80 years old, told me that his Dad aquired the Army Model 1917, 45 acp in the 1930's after being shot by a perp. The perp had been shot by the Lieutenant with a .38 special, but not stopped. He went to the .45 after this incident because, "when you hit somebody with a .45 they stayed hit". The old revolver was modified to the Homicide Lieutenant's specfications by another guy on the Detroit PD in the 1930's. The barrel was cut down, a front sight adjustable for elevation installed, a rear sight adjustable for windage, and the grip frame was rounded as were the service stocks. A set of Sanderson Grips were made for the revolver and were the ones prefered by the Lieutenant, the holster is a cut down U.S. 1917 issue that has most likely been with the gun since day one. I later learned that Lew Sanderson (grip maker) was on the Detroit PD in the late 1930's, the son told me the guy that made the grips did the modifications to the revolver. The son is the last in his family's line, so he passed his Dad's old friend on to me. I still use it today as my "truck gun", tucked between the seats, in it's old holster and covered by a cloth or as a CCW tucked in my belt. The old holster serves well for IWB carry and the old revolver conceals well (with the service grips) under an untucked shirt or jacket. Greg
Iowahunter
Member
Man......... If that gun could ony talk........
Greg,
Neat old gun - and an interesting story! Thanks,
Jerry
Neat old gun - and an interesting story! Thanks,
Jerry
These are my 45acp revolvers. The 6 inch 25-2 has a red dot scope on it now and sees much use at bowling pin matches. The 4 inch 625-3 is going with me to the S&W Winter Nationals IDPA match next month. The 2 inch 625-10 makes me feel safe in my travels. Nice 45 combo.
Pigirondan
Member
Shot my Thunder Ranch 25 today. It's just about perfect.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I used to be a rabid 1911 fan/owner until I suffered a wrist injury to my strong-side shooting side. After a surgical repair and physical therapy, I found that my wrist would "unlock" under recoil and would cause stoppages in any 1911 type pistol. As a result, I sold my 1911 and switched to a Model 625 and have never looked back.
Regards,
Dave
Regards,
Dave
james56
US Veteran
beemerphile
Member
I started reading this thread thinking... "this ought to be fun to see why people would try to make an auto cartridge work with a revolver using fiddly moon clips when there are so many good revolver calibers around." Makes sense that it started for a practical reason like common ammo and a shortage of the "proper" gun for it in time of war. However, at this point in the thread I am converted to wanting a revolver that shoots .45ACP. (my friend Relic is probably spitting coffee all over his keyboard laughing at me).
OP
Triggernosis
Member
That's exactly what has happened to me.
Though, I'm still in a conundrum over the .44 Spec. vs. .45 ACP......
CW3PA
US Veteran
.45 ACP Revolvers
As with any revolver the immediate action drill is as easy as pulling the trigger again. They're not sensitive to different bullet weights or styles. These are a few I've tried.
Then there is always the "look".
As has been said before: Hollow points might not expand at handgun velocities, but they're certainly not going to shrink.
As with any revolver the immediate action drill is as easy as pulling the trigger again. They're not sensitive to different bullet weights or styles. These are a few I've tried.
Then there is always the "look".
As has been said before: Hollow points might not expand at handgun velocities, but they're certainly not going to shrink.
Matthew
Member
As with any revolver the immediate action drill is as easy as pulling the trigger again. They're not sensitive to different bullet weights or styles. These are a few I've tried.
What bullet is that on the far right? I've never seen one shaped like that before, looks interesting.
Retired in 2001
Member
Its to remove lug nuts LOL
Evil One
Member
Texas1941
Member
"That's exactly what has happened to me.
Though, I'm still in a conundrum over the .44 Spec. vs. .45 ACP...... "
__________________
I have the same problem as our friend from North Carolina. I find that I shoot my 44 SPLs less and less and reload the 45 AR more and more. The 45 AR can easily be loaded to approx. 900 fps with a 255 gr SWC and that is the general range of my 44 SPL loads.
The 45 AR, like the 44 SPL, is a reloaders ctg. If you wish to stick with factory loads (and I do for PD), there are a bazillion 45 ACP factory loads available. Pop those babies in moon clips and away you go.
Though, I'm still in a conundrum over the .44 Spec. vs. .45 ACP...... "
__________________
I have the same problem as our friend from North Carolina. I find that I shoot my 44 SPLs less and less and reload the 45 AR more and more. The 45 AR can easily be loaded to approx. 900 fps with a 255 gr SWC and that is the general range of my 44 SPL loads.
The 45 AR, like the 44 SPL, is a reloaders ctg. If you wish to stick with factory loads (and I do for PD), there are a bazillion 45 ACP factory loads available. Pop those babies in moon clips and away you go.
Matthew
Member
Thanks Jim. Looks like it'd give excellent expansion - it's too bad its not a factory load. I dont want go into the whole debate over carrying reloads for CCW, but I choose not to.
I have the new reproduction model of the older 1917, the 22 with the 5 1/2" barrel, lanyard ring, case hardening, and magna style grips. I've had the 25-2 Target and did have another of the 22 Classics before. All have or had barrels longer than 5 1/2" inches.
I have 1911s too. I like having both. I've often looked at my SW 1917 reproduction .45 ACP and wondered why it's here. The case hardening was not an original idea but it looks nice. It came with 5 full moon clips and they shuck in and shuck out very easily and quickly. Yes the brass is not tossed somewhere on the ground and I like that.
I can shoot a 1911 as well as my 22 1917 Classic. The two compared are equal to me. Very different feels and appearance but equal.
In the woods I prefer taking the revolver. Only because I am one of those guys that will look 15 minutes for an ejected case and feel "unfulfilled" if it isn't recovered!
Tactically I prefer the 1911 because it's lighter (I have a Colt Lightweight Commander) and more compact. In the case of losing cases to the ground in a tactical situation I'm not worried.
I have 1911s too. I like having both. I've often looked at my SW 1917 reproduction .45 ACP and wondered why it's here. The case hardening was not an original idea but it looks nice. It came with 5 full moon clips and they shuck in and shuck out very easily and quickly. Yes the brass is not tossed somewhere on the ground and I like that.
I can shoot a 1911 as well as my 22 1917 Classic. The two compared are equal to me. Very different feels and appearance but equal.
In the woods I prefer taking the revolver. Only because I am one of those guys that will look 15 minutes for an ejected case and feel "unfulfilled" if it isn't recovered!
Tactically I prefer the 1911 because it's lighter (I have a Colt Lightweight Commander) and more compact. In the case of losing cases to the ground in a tactical situation I'm not worried.
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Why a 45 acp revolver?
1-i like em
2-with snow on the ground, don't lose any brass. No bending over to pick up brass.
3-cases are ejected fully and easily
4-the extra cylinder in the Ruger keeps ya from breaking down some loads that may have been too warm for the semi.
5-the old "flying ashtrays" loaded in AR just work nice.
1-i like em
2-with snow on the ground, don't lose any brass. No bending over to pick up brass.
3-cases are ejected fully and easily
4-the extra cylinder in the Ruger keeps ya from breaking down some loads that may have been too warm for the semi.
5-the old "flying ashtrays" loaded in AR just work nice.
Wee Hooker
Member
As long as we are talking ammo, I'll throw in that 200gr RNFP ( "cowboy") bullets work great in my 45 acp revolvers and semi's. Tapered enough to feed /chamber without hang-ups , relatively flat shooting and produce easy to see holes in paper targets.
james56
US Veteran
I agree with
"zeke", "1081" even though I have 2 original M-1917's M-625JM and I few 1911's the moon clips and half moon's are alot more fun and alot faster then speedloader's in MHO. I still love my M-686 357/38spl. Also. I carry the M-625 in a Don Hume pancake, the M-686 shoulder holster and the 1911 in a nice Desantis Speed Scabbard. I switch back and forth.
I got stuck on the 45acp when I was in the Army its a great round for the range and self defence.
"zeke", "1081" even though I have 2 original M-1917's M-625JM and I few 1911's the moon clips and half moon's are alot more fun and alot faster then speedloader's in MHO. I still love my M-686 357/38spl. Also. I carry the M-625 in a Don Hume pancake, the M-686 shoulder holster and the 1911 in a nice Desantis Speed Scabbard. I switch back and forth.
I got stuck on the 45acp when I was in the Army its a great round for the range and self defence.
