smith and wesson .45 acp revolvers.

more_bullets · January 29, 2013, 08:51 AM

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!

Dan-O · January 29, 2013, 08:56 AM

Just buy 45 auto rim cases.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_Auto_Rim

jonnyc · January 29, 2013, 09:17 AM

Get plastic Rim-z moonclips.

mmb713 · January 29, 2013, 12:20 PM

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.

**Mike Irwin** · January 29, 2013, 12:27 PM

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.

Willie Sutton · January 29, 2013, 12:30 PM

^^ What Mike said.

Folks have been asking this question for years. The answer is still "No".

No-Way, Nohow.

Willie

.

**Mike Irwin** · January 29, 2013, 02:13 PM

I have heard in the old days of people staking the rims on Long Colt cases to make them work...

more_bullets · January 29, 2013, 03:41 PM

"l have heard in the old days of people staking the rims on Long Colt cases to make them work..."
Doing what now?? O_o

Willie Sutton · January 29, 2013, 07:32 PM

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...

"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

.

**Mike Irwin** · January 29, 2013, 07:55 PM

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.

more_bullets · January 29, 2013, 08:59 PM

Well that's why I asked you old timers. Figured you'd know!

MrBorland · January 30, 2013, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie Sutton

there is NO practical or safe way to use anything but .45 ACP or .45 Auto Rim in those revolvers.

.45 GAP will work, too (though factory ammo runs at about .45ACP "+P" pressure).

Viper225 · January 30, 2013, 02:51 AM

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

Rainbow Demon · January 30, 2013, 02:52 AM

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.

Magnum Wheel Man · January 30, 2013, 07:43 AM

... & 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...

January 29, 2013, 08:51 AM	#1
more_bullets Member Join Date: January 10, 2013 Posts: 67	smith and wesson .45 acp revolvers. 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!

January 29, 2013, 08:56 AM	#2
Dan-O Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2011 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 969	Just buy 45 auto rim cases. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_Auto_Rim Last edited by Dan-O; January 29, 2013 at 09:32 AM.

January 29, 2013, 09:17 AM	#3
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Get plastic Rim-z moonclips. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

January 29, 2013, 12:27 PM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	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. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 29, 2013, 02:13 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I have heard in the old days of people staking the rims on Long Colt cases to make them work... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 29, 2013, 12:20 PM	#4
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	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.

January 29, 2013, 12:30 PM	#6
Willie Sutton Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2012 Posts: 1,066	^^ What Mike said. Folks have been asking this question for years. The answer is still "No". No-Way, Nohow. Willie .

January 29, 2013, 03:41 PM	#8
more_bullets Member Join Date: January 10, 2013 Posts: 67	"l have heard in the old days of people staking the rims on Long Colt cases to make them work..." Doing what now?? O_o

January 29, 2013, 07:32 PM	#9
Willie Sutton Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2012 Posts: 1,066	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... "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 . Last edited by Willie Sutton; January 29, 2013 at 07:38 PM.

January 29, 2013, 07:55 PM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	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. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. Last edited by Mike Irwin; January 29, 2013 at 10:24 PM.

January 29, 2013, 08:59 PM	#11
more_bullets Member Join Date: January 10, 2013 Posts: 67	Well that's why I asked you old timers. Figured you'd know!

January 30, 2013, 02:51 AM	#13
Viper225 Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2009 Location: SC Missouri Posts: 663	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

January 30, 2013, 02:52 AM	#14
Rainbow Demon Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Posts: 397	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.

January 30, 2013, 07:43 AM	#15
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	... & 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... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...