Colt M1917 Headspace Question

[BradN]

I just bought my first revolver, a Colt M1917 serial no 38,xxx. I've read that the first 50,000 were constructed so that moon clips were necessary to achieve proper headspace. On mine, when i place a 45 acp round in a cylinder, the end sticks out nicely and it looks like the primer will end up where the firing pin hits. Does this sound like proper headspace?

 

[Jim K]

Whether your 1917 is an exception or the cylinder has been replaced, it obviously has shoulders in the chambers; if it did not, the .45 ACP round would drop in below the rear of the cylinder. You can safely fire that revolver without moon clips, but you will have to pull out the cases one at a time with a fingernail or some other tool (non-steel, please).

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

Jim is right as usual. Most of the bored-through cylinders were made between military serial numbers 1 through 30450. This is the number stamped on the butt. Most of them were replaced at a later date, so the only ones with the straight chambers are the few that somehow left the Army before they could be changed. They can be found, but they are very rare. Some fakes have been discovered where someone reamed out a stepped cylinder in a gun numbered under 30450. Collectors should be aware and careful.

 

[BradN]

Thank you for this very helpful infomation.

 

[hightech]

Dowel Rod

I use a 4†piece of ¼†dowel rod to punch out the 45acp cases that I shoot in my S&W 1917.

 

[BluesBear]

Be carefull when using reloaded .45 ammo without clips. If the cases are trimmed too short or if the crimps aren't just right the cartridge can sit a little too far into the chamber. This can create an excessive headspace condition.

I have never however, had any problem with factory fresh ACP ammo in a 1917.

And if your shooting any steel cased GI surplus ammo in moon clips I advise wiping the outside of the cases with a lightly oiled rag shortly before firing. Those old Evansville Chrysler GI steel cases can be a real witch to eject three or six at a time.
The coating on modern Wolf sreel cased ammo seems to prevent this and it works fine right out of the box.


Also for the same reason NEVER use CCI shotshells in clips. The extended cases are almost impossible to eject. I know this from embarassing experience.