Poor man's .45.

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Hometeached1

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I really have wanted a .45 acp revolver since I found out that they made them. I've been looking for one, but most of the ones around here are 625s and I can't afford one (stupid collage loans:fire:), so I was looking on gunbroker and saw a good amount of Brazilian 1917s for about $300. Which got me thinking (not good,) maybe I get one of those and slowly fix it up, have the barrel cut and crowned to 3", have a new front sight put on, refinish it. Hopefully I can have a nice .45 after to long to carry and enjoy. So my question to all you revolver guy's is this a good plan or should I just hold off until later and get 625?
 
Howdy

Good luck to you if you can find a Brazilian Contract S&W Model 1917 for $300. I have a couple of them, and I paid more than that, probably around $450 a few years ago. But good luck to you if you find one.

Some of the Brazilian models are pretty beat up. I have often speculated that they were just thrown into a big box without any padding when they were re-imported back into this country. I have one that has lots of dings all over it and looks like it bounced around in a box with a bunch of others on the boat ride back.

If you found one of these, it might make a good candidate for the conversion you speak of. Personally, I never modify vintage guns, but it is your money. Just a word of warning, the Brazilian Contract guns will not have the modern hammer block in them. I'm not sure if they have the old fashioned one in there or not, I have not had one open in some time.
 
You mean something like this?
P1010004_zps764fa562.jpg
This is a pre-WWI version but it sure does the trick.
 
Hometeached1 said:
have the barrel cut and crowned to 3", have a new front sight put on, refinish it. Hopefully I can have a nice .45 after to long to carry and enjoy. So my question to all you revolver guy's is this a good plan or should I just hold off until later and get 625?
Click to expand...


I predict you'll see a number of decent 625s popping up for sale in the next year or 2: The 625 has been the gun for USPSA competition, but the BoD recently approved the use of 8-shot revolvers, so it's likely these will replace the 625 the new hot setup. So, keep checking Gunbroker, as well as the BrianEnos classified (lots of competitive shooters hang out on BE).
 
So far as converting an older 1917 is concerned, don't forget that you need to add to the original cost the amount for having the additional work/refinishing done. That may bring the total cost closer to that of a model 625. Also it is far easier to put a front sight back on a ribbed barrel that's shortened then on the round "pencil" kind. For that matter the 625 will get you an adjustable rear sight for no additional cost.

In other words, do all of the math first... :uhoh:
 
Just a word of warning, the Brazilian Contract guns will not have the modern hammer block in them. I'm not sure if they have the old fashioned one in there or not, I have not had one open in some time.
Click to expand...

Thanks Drift wood, I wouldn't feel comfortable carrying a handgun that was not drop safe, I don't plan on dropping it but it will be use, so at some point it could be dropped.

I predict you'll see a number of decent 625s popping up for sale in the next year or 2: The 625 has been the gun for USPSA competition, but the BoD recently approved the use of 8-shot revolvers, so it's likely these will replace the 625 the new hot setup. So, keep checking Gunbroker, as well as the BrianEnos classified (lots of competitive shooters hang out on BE).
Click to expand...

Thanks Mr. Borland I'll keep that in mind and check out BrainEnos classifieds.
 
I think it depends in part on what you want to use it for. A Ruger SBH .45LC/.45ACP can be had NIB for just around $600 and is built like a tank. A NIB 625 can be had for a little more than that. Then you have the used 625s and 25s which you should be able to get for around $650 if you keep an eye out and are lucky.

I went the other way and am looking for a deal on another Ruger SRH in .454 Casull which I'll convert to .45 ACP. I just have to find one I can get for $600 or less. It happens, it's how I got my first one.
 
Old Fuff said:
So far as converting an older 1917 is concerned, don't forget that you need to add to the original cost the amount for having the additional work/refinishing done. That may bring the total cost closer to that of a model 625. Also it is far easier to put a front sight back on a ribbed barrel that's shortened then on the round "pencil" kind. For that matter the 625 will get you an adjustable rear sight for no additional cost.

In other words, do all of the math first... :uhoh:
Click to expand...
Yes, I thought about that. I was figuring that this whole process would be over about 1 1/2 years, as fun money came up and the idea of having a "historic" abet modified handgun is neat.
 
Just went on Gunbroker

searched for
S&W 1917 - 22 hits
most were the Model 22 Model of 1917 which were
made a few years ago modern but made to look
like 1917s in the $850+
2 Brazilian Contract 1917s $350 & $650
& some WWI 1917s which were somewhere in between

25 - some in the $800 range
but a lot of these are .45 Colt the -5s

625 - not many hits and %%700-%850

& a Rugerr New Vaquero Birdshead SA
3.75" Bbl. in .45 ACP at $800

My shooting buddy got a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt for
$ 450 from Buds and Ruger sells the .45 ACP cylinder for $150

FWIW - Love my 625 ..45 ACP 5: Bbl. w/full moon clips
and also shoot .45 Auto Rim.

I also liked the recent production of the Model 22
patterned after the fixed sights 4" bbl. of the 1950 Army

I keep returning to getting a 2-2
and cutting the barrel down to 4"-5"

R-
 
BlindJustice said:
Just went on Gunbroker

searched for
S&W 1917 - 22 hits
most were the Model 22 Model of 1917 which were
made a few years ago modern but made to look
like 1917s in the $850+
2 Brazilian Contract 1917s $350 & $650
& some WWI 1917s which were somewhere in between

25 - some in the $800 range
but a lot of these are .45 Colt the -5s

625 - not many hits and %%700-%850

& a Rugerr New Vaquero Birdshead SA
3.75" Bbl. in .45 ACP at $800

My shooting buddy got a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt for
$ 450 from Buds and Ruger sells the .45 ACP cylinder for $150

FWIW - Love my 625 ..45 ACP 5: Bbl. w/full moon clips
and also shoot .45 Auto Rim.

I also liked the recent production of the Model 22
patterned after the fixed sights 4" bbl. of the 1950 Army

I keep returning to getting a 2-2
and cutting the barrel down to 4"-5"

R-
Click to expand...
Thanks for looking. I'd go with the blackhawk, but I want to also have the option to use it as a carry piece.
 
O.P. - you're welcome

That birdshaed Vaqurerro
with the round butt and 3.75" Bbl. seems
like a candidate for carry.

Some Sheriffs had a hidewawy SAA model
3" Bbl. with no ejector shourd/ejector NYC reload

Blackhawk .45 ACP/.45 Colt
as a carry piece you'd best get the 4 5/8" bbl.

My shooting buddy's Blackhawk I have fired in
.45 Colt - he got it after I mentioned I'd like one with
the .45 ACP cyl and get it converted to .45 Auto RIm
because I've got 400 or so rounds of .45 AR with
a nice accurate 200 gr. SWC Hard cast at 1,000 FPS
but it leads up my 625

ANyway I also wanted the Blackhawk to go with a
Marlin 1894 .45 Colt lever action carbine I have.

Shot the Blackhawk same day I had my 625 on Range
It's 40 oz empty, my 625 is 45 oz empty
with the shape of the grip it is different than
the S&W DA 625 - a bit more muzzle flip as the
625 has the full len. underlug.

There was also a S&W 325 TR
at $700 or so had a scratch near the thumb latch r
Scandium frame = 31 oz empty

Randall
 
Cornhusker77 said:
Picked this one up for $179 a couple years ago :D
Old 1917 Colt Army in .45 acp
GEDC1203.jpg
Click to expand...
Oh my! For just a little less than the cost of a new car, you could turn that jewel into a Fitz's special! So many beautiful guns out there and so little money. I really hate being poor!!
 
Little secret for folks wanting a .45ACP revolver:

1: Buy a copy of a Remington 1858 New Army from Cabelas. This is a Pietta cap and ball revolver. If you want a better 1858, buy one from Cimmaron, which will be Uberti manufactured. If you want TOP quality, buy a Ruger Old Army, which is the ultimate final-evolution of the Remington 1858. Any of them will be great. If you look on Gunbroker you can find the first two (Pietta or Uberti) used in the $200-$275 range.

2: Buy a conversion cylinder for .45 ACP (or .45 LC if you choose, or both).

3: Drop in the conversion cylinder and enjoy. You have a large frame, handsome, top quality revolver.


Then when you're bored with that, buy some caps, black powder, and lead balls and enjoy that too. Cost = low, fun = high. And note that we cap and ball shooters aren't too worried about the ammunition shortage.


Willie

.
 
Willie Sutton said:
Little secret for folks wanting a .45ACP revolver:





1: Buy a copy of a Remington 1858 New Army from Cabelas. This is a Pietta cap and ball revolver. If you want a better 1858, buy one from Cimmaron, which will be Uberti manufactured. If you want TOP quality, buy a Ruger Old Army, which is the ultimate final-evolution of the Remington 1858. Any of them will be great. If you look on Gunbroker you can find the first two (Pietta or Uberti) used in the $200-$275 range.





2: Buy a conversion cylinder for .45 ACP (or .45 LC if you choose, or both).





3: Drop in the conversion cylinder and enjoy. You have a large frame, handsome, top quality revolver.








Then when you're bored with that, buy some caps, black powder, and lead balls and enjoy that too. Cost = low, fun = high. And note that we cap and ball shooters aren't too worried about the ammunition shortage.








Willie





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Click to expand...






would any of these be able to handle the "Ruger only" handloads in 45colt
 
Not sure if your set on s&w but I just sold a Taurus 405 which is 40sw 5 shot wheel gun. Very nice gun but I got away from 40sw. They make other calibers, 380 and 9mm for sure. 45acp is likely one of their calibers, probably called a 455. My 40 was great as have been all of the Taurus guns I have had with the exception of a dao 85ch.
 
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