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.45LC and////or .45ACP

bamaboy473bamaboy473 Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
edited January 2012 in Ask the Experts
Some sellers of S&W Model 25s say that we can shoot either cartridge, and some say it's .45LC only.

Are there different cylinders, where some use either and some are specific to the .45LC round?

Is it possible that just about any .45LC revolver could shoot .45ACP, given the bore size of the bullets?
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Comments

  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ruger markets a 45 convertable BlackHawk single action revolver. They use two different cylinder's. Seeing that the base of the 45 Colt cartridge is 0.480', and the 45 ACP is 0.476", I don't know if the ACP could be fired in the 45 Colt cylinder of the Model 25 using moon clips or not.

    Best
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  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bamaboy473
    Some sellers of S&W Model 25s say that we can shoot either cartridge, and some say it's .45LC only.

    The first bunch lies, the second is ignorant.
    The Model 25-2 is the most common .45 ACP, the Model 25-5 is the most common .45 Colt. They are not the same and the rounds are not interchangeable.

    quote:Are there different cylinders, where some use either and some are specific to the .45LC round?

    There are .45 ACP cylinders and .45 Colt cylinders, not interchangeable in the same gun like a Ruger Convertable.

    quote:Is it possible that just about any .45LC revolver could shoot .45ACP, given the bore size of the bullets?


    Not without gunsmithing work.
    There are places that will cut a .45 Colt cylinder to take clipped .45 ACP and the gun can then be shot with either ammo.
    But that is NOT a factory option and the original S&W gun is caliber specific.

    Know what you are buying.
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  • bamaboy473bamaboy473 Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It seemed odd to me since the case heads are so different.

    Thanks for the education!
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  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse

    Not without gunsmithing work.
    There are places that will cut a .45 Colt cylinder to take clipped .45 ACP and the gun can then be shot with either ammo.
    But that is NOT a factory option and the original S&W gun is caliber specific.




    There is a headspace difference between .45 ACP on moon clips and .45 Long Colt ammo. This has to be resolved before attempting to alter a .45 Long Colt cylinder to .45 ACP with clips. Just machining the back off of the Long Colt cylinder would be a major fail, as in all likelihood reliable ignition and firing of .45 Long Colt ammo will be compromised.
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  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,367 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When Pinnacle and others cut a .45 Colt cylinder to accept clipped .45 ACP, they do not face off the whole back end of the cylinder. They cut just enough to clear a full moon clip and leave some original surface for a .45 Colt rim to headspace on normally.
    Read and see pictures at:
    http://www.pinnacle-*/revolver.asp

    Note that this works only with a full moon clip which grips the ACPs from the inside of the cylinder. The 1917 half moon clips which grip the ACPs from the outside circumference will not fit.

    Note also that a .45 Auto Rim will not work in this conversion, its thick rim will not fit because of the remaining .45 Colt dimension of the chamber mouth.

    I am not real optimistic about the accuracy of an ACP bullet that has made the jump through the LC chamber, but some people say they do ok.
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