rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It was on the older guns.
Not anymore, as it is machined right into the side of the frame after the 625-6 came out in 1997.
rc
S&W Mountain Gun Cylinder Work - 45 Colt/45 ACP
- Thread starter meef
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Not anymore, as it is machined right into the side of the frame after the 625-6 came out in 1997.
rc
Strawhat,
Sorry for my confusing post. I do know about the frame lug and had the gunsmith install a new one, one made for the Model 25 (45ACP). The problem I ran into is that they are not a drop in and forget part, but in fact need to be "fitted" to insure the cylinder and cartridges can close without any binding. On mine that fitting was not done to my satisfaction and the rims of the cartridges hang up from time to time on the lug. As I said, nothing I can't deal with, just frustrating from time to time in a match.
As to Jim Watson's comment about Pinnacle, that too I'm familiar with but in a 38/357. The 3" L-Comps from the Performance Center have similar cuts and with the 38 rim work fine. But the 45 Colt rim comes out a lot closer to the cylinder edge. That's not a lot of support for the Colt rim to hang on to. Now if Pinnacle has experience with carry guns modified in this fashion with no trouble, that's a good argument. Absent that, on a self defense gun, I'd be leary.
keith
Sorry for my confusing post. I do know about the frame lug and had the gunsmith install a new one, one made for the Model 25 (45ACP). The problem I ran into is that they are not a drop in and forget part, but in fact need to be "fitted" to insure the cylinder and cartridges can close without any binding. On mine that fitting was not done to my satisfaction and the rims of the cartridges hang up from time to time on the lug. As I said, nothing I can't deal with, just frustrating from time to time in a match.
As to Jim Watson's comment about Pinnacle, that too I'm familiar with but in a 38/357. The 3" L-Comps from the Performance Center have similar cuts and with the 38 rim work fine. But the 45 Colt rim comes out a lot closer to the cylinder edge. That's not a lot of support for the Colt rim to hang on to. Now if Pinnacle has experience with carry guns modified in this fashion with no trouble, that's a good argument. Absent that, on a self defense gun, I'd be leary.
keith
Jim Watson
Member
Yup. I am a lot more conservative when it comes to a carry gun.
Back in the '90s I had Art Leckie (Behlert Precision) modify several 25's, 625's, Redhawks and an Anaconda. We used the same method as Pinnacle is using nowadays. All shot to the same POA/POI with either cartridge, assuming you used the same bullet weight/velocity. Freebore was not an issue, and I never had to adjust the sights.
For the S&W, you can buy a 2nd .45 Colt cylinder and modify that one, so you can retain the original.
Art has long since passed away, so I am having Pinnacle modify a Redhawk cylinder as I type this.
For the S&W, you can buy a 2nd .45 Colt cylinder and modify that one, so you can retain the original.
Art has long since passed away, so I am having Pinnacle modify a Redhawk cylinder as I type this.
Pinnacle rechambered my S&W 360 to 9x23 and cut the cylinder for moonclips. I've seen no loss of accuracy shooting 9mm compared to .38spl even with the extra distance the bullet travels to the forcing cone and .355 bullets vs .357.
If it was mine, I'd have the moonclip conversion done. It will increase the versatility of your gun while not affecting it's performance with .45LC.
If you have questions you should call Mark at Pinnacle, he's very knowledgeable and will take the time to answer all of your concerns.
If it was mine, I'd have the moonclip conversion done. It will increase the versatility of your gun while not affecting it's performance with .45LC.
If you have questions you should call Mark at Pinnacle, he's very knowledgeable and will take the time to answer all of your concerns.
Well Jim, I've been shooting since the state of the art firearm was a blunderbus. Yet I've never owned anything in 45 Colt. It's an itch that finally just had to be scratched.
Problem is, I haven't ever had unlimited funds.
And I have these two guys who reside in my head.
One of them - the practical me - always wisely counsels "Hey, go easy there pardner. You know you don't really need that (insert whatever my latest firearm craving happens to be for that)"
The other one - the impulsive me - looks me squarely in the mind's eye and shouts, "Damn the credit card torpedoes! Full spend ahead!"
::sigh...::
Ahhh..... good, hard facts from personal experience. Just what I was fishing for.
Although back in post #16 DWFan had a very different experience regarding successfully retaining POA/POI with a gun.
I am leaning heavily towards the "buy another cylinder and keep the original" concept - if for no other reason than to maintain the ability to restore the gun to all original condition if desired.
Bingo! Two personal experience examples in a row. We're on a roll here.
My thanks to all who have posted here while I try to decide what to do with my new prize.
And I'm still listening.
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http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=152934419
Keep in mind that while new cylinders (for the same model) tend to be a drop-in fit for B/C gap and headspace, they usually need to have the ratchets on the extractor fitted for the hand on that particular revolver. It is not hard, if you know what your are doing. Otherwise, have a competent revolversmith, or the factory, do the installation.
Keep in mind that while new cylinders (for the same model) tend to be a drop-in fit for B/C gap and headspace, they usually need to have the ratchets on the extractor fitted for the hand on that particular revolver. It is not hard, if you know what your are doing. Otherwise, have a competent revolversmith, or the factory, do the installation.
For those who might be interested in the cylinder machining process and the resulting product, here's a 5 minute video that's pretty specific and informative.
http://www.moonclips.com/content/machine.asp
http://www.moonclips.com/content/machine.asp
meef - thank you...that was very interesting
Okay.... I think I've figured it out.
I found someone on another forum who had exactly the same setup I would have if I had the work done. Some of his comments to my question:
Based upon that fact and my reluctance to alter a really, really nice gun that they haven't made the way they did this one in 1997 - I'm going to leave it stock and just put on a nice Ahrends grip to replace the factory one.
Thanks to all for your input, hope this thread may be of use to someone in the future that might have a similar question.
I found someone on another forum who had exactly the same setup I would have if I had the work done. Some of his comments to my question:
The main item of interest to me in his response was the wide variation in point of impact - as has been discussed by others in this thread.
Based upon that fact and my reluctance to alter a really, really nice gun that they haven't made the way they did this one in 1997 - I'm going to leave it stock and just put on a nice Ahrends grip to replace the factory one.
Thanks to all for your input, hope this thread may be of use to someone in the future that might have a similar question.
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ReloaderFred
Member
That's the best decision, in my opinion.
Fred
Fred
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