Fitting a 45 acp cylinder to a SW 25 mountain gun?

[Wilson1911]

Hi all. I was at an IDPA match last week and someone told me I could fit a 45 acp cylinder to my 45 colt mountain gun. I would like to do this to make reloading easier and to save on money. How much do the parts and labor cost on a job like this. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jim Watson]

I doubt him.
All S&W .45 Colt cylinders (except for the 25-3 commemorative) are longer than their .45 ACP cylinders. So the barrel protrudes back through the frame less. I guess you could do it by having the barrel set back but it would be a one-way modification, you could not go back to .45 Colt. It would be hideously expensive. S&W charged me about $300 to change my 686+ from seven shots to six and that did not call for barrel work. They probably would not do it anyhow, it would require turning back the barrel shoulder and refitting it to the frame, setting the gap, and shortening the extractor rod and centerpin the same amount.

You CAN have the .45 Colt cylinder clearanced for ACP clips in a fashion that will still let you shoot the LC. Conversion from rimmed to rimless ammunition is a Permitted Modification for IDPA ESR. I have read about it but have NOT seen that conversion in action. Talk to:

http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver.asp

They say: "Moonclips and a conversion produce a clean and useful alteration making your revolver easier and quicker to reload for competition, defense, hunting & recreation.Smith & Wesson... 625 LC. $75.00 (.45 LC cylinders can be cut to shoot both ACP and LC)"

 

[Wilson1911]

Thanks Jim