[sw282]

Need to know if 45 acp & 45 lc cylinders will interchange on the same Smith & Wesson N frame revolver. Read somewhere they will on a 25-3 frame. Theres also a 25 on GB with 45acp & 45lc cyls. Please help


282

[StrawHat]

I believe S&W made one special run of 25s with interchangeable cylinders but I may be misremembering.

Normally it takes a lot of work to get interchangeable cylinders as the cylinders are different lengths and need fitting. There is an article in one of the Gun Digests where they did fit a spare cylinder to a S&W M1917 and cut it for the 45 Long Colt cartridge.

As much fun as it sounds, even with adjustable sights, it is a pain to switch the cylinders and resight the revolver. Much easier to have a seperate revolver sighted in and ready to go.

If I can find the issue, I will post the number so you can read the article.

[Ed Harris]

Agree with StrawHat. The the extra gunsmithing work to have it done right and the hassle of rezeroing better to have a New York Reload.

[Elm Creek Smith]

On the S&W 25-2 I had, and I assume on all of them, the cylinder was much shorter than the 25-5 that chambers the .45 Colt. The back of the barrel would have to be cut and the forcing cone recut to fit a .45 Colt cylinder.

Too much trouble and expense in my humble opinion.

ECS

[rcmodel]

The cylinder stop stud in the side of the frame is further foreward on the .45 ACP gun too, due to the extra wide headspace gap at the rear of the cylinder for moon-clip clearance.

rc

[Walkalong]

On the S&W 25-2 I had, and I assume on all of them, the cylinder was much shorter than the 25-5 that chambers the .45 Colt.
Same here.

[Jim Watson]

And in case you were wondering, that dual cylinder 1917 cover gun on that 1981 Gun Digest was a C.E. Harris project.

And if you ever wonder about the thrill of a lever action .45 ACP, he knows all about that, too.

Glad to have Mr Harris aboard, one of the more level headed gunziners out there.

[StrawHat]

The cylinder stop stud in the side of the frame is further foreward on the .45 ACP gun too, due to the extra wide headspace gap at the rear of the cylinder for moon-clip clearance.

Actually it is in the same place but it is cut to acccept the ACP cylinder and not the rimmed cylinder. At one time replacements were available but I doubt if there are any out there now. I had to replace the one in my 28-2 when I reworked it.