smith and wesson .45 acp revolvers.

M

more_bullets

New member
This may be a dumb question, but do any of you know if you can trim down a 45 colt case, load it like a 45 acp and use it in a s&w 625? I assume they are the same diameter just longer and with a rim. (so you don't need moon clips). Like I said, maybe a dumb question but just thought I'd ask!
 
I don't know for sure but 45 Colt cases that far down might be too thick to seat bullets as the case tapers toward the case head. An easier and better solution would be to order 45 Auto Rim cases from Starline.
 
No. The .45 Colt's rim isn't nearly thick enough.

In the M1917, the .45 ACP was originally meant to be used with clips that went into the extractor groove. In essence, this gave the cartridge a REALLY thick "rim."

The .45 Colt has a rim thickness of .060; the .45 Auto Rim has a thickness of .0825.
 
I have heard in the old days of people staking the rims on Long Colt cases to make them work...


You can probably drop them over a washer the thickness of a moon clip, too... :rolleyes:


"Doing what now?? O_o"

He's talking about an emergency fix of deliberately taking a hammer and a punch and mangling the rim of a cartridge so that it sits proud enough in the chamber that the firing pin will strike the primer. It's NOT something to go try at home.



Imagine Cave-Man with a hammer, punch, and cartridge:

"Uhh... Duh... Me take hammer and punch and HIT cartridge..."

<slips>... BANG!!...

"Me go to hospital now to get fingers sewn back on..."


OP: No matter what esoterica the old dogs like Mike and Willie are yipping about, there is NO practical or safe way to use anything but .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rim in those revolvers. I shoot a Model 25-2 a lot... it's the S&W 1955 Target Model .45ACP. I have had it for 35 years. Trust me, Pup: 35 years ago when I was but a whelp I was asking the same thing, and it's just not gonna happen. Listen to the old dogs. It's chambered in .45 ACP. Shoot that in it. If you're not satisfied with that, sell it any buy something else.

Willie

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For Christ's sake, Willie, im not suggesting that anyone put a rim on a stick of dynamite and give it a go.

Over the years, especially during the depression and World War 2 people went to some considerable lengths to get ammo that was usable in their guns, even if they had to be really inventive about it at times. remind me not to tell you about how people use to use friction tape.

And yes, the washer method WAS used.
 
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Willie Sutton said:
there is NO practical or safe way to use anything but .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rim in those revolvers.
Click to expand...

.45 GAP will work, too (though factory ammo runs at about .45ACP "+P" pressure).
 
The 625 chambered in 45acp in factory trim will fire 45acp, 45acp +P, 45 Gap, and 45 Super using Moon Clips.
It will fire 45AR (Automatic Rim) without moon clips.

My 3" 625-3 Power Custom Combat was rechambered years ago to also shoot 460 Rolland which is a little longer than standard 45acp, and made from the heavier brass of the 45 Winchester Magnum shortened to the correct length.

If you start with a 625 or RedHawk in 45 Colt, you can have the cylinder cut for 45acp using Moon Clips. When done this way the 45 Colt will still head space on the outside uncut area of the cylinder.
Done this way it will not shoot 45AR however.
I believe TK does this conversion.
http://www.moonclips.com/

Bob
 
Handloaders have used thin washers to take up slack of rims of cartridge cases formed from certain older US cases (Win .348 ?) to fit such odd ball cartridges as the Murata or Mauser 11mm.
Some Enfield owners use either thin rubber O-rings or curls of monofilament line to hold the cashead back against the bolt face to allow fire forming a shoulder without stretching an annular ring in the case.

Availability of .45 Auto-Rim cases makes this academic.
 
... & last I checked, Midway still had 45 Auto Rim cases, & maybe even ammo... this in this climate where you can't buy anything even remotely popular, make the Auto Rim attractive in it's own right

I have a Colt 1917, & reciently came across 1000 new auto rim cases... rather than sell the extras, I'm switching over my 30 Carbine Blackhawk to 45 Auto Rim... pretty goofy huh...:o
 
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