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Load for an Old S & W .45 ACP Revolver

4K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  gwpercle 
#1 ·
I recently purchased an S & W 1937 Brazilian .45 ACP revolver. This old N-frame is in very good shape with an excellent bore and tight lockup. The double-action trigger pull is good as well. So far I have shot only ball ammo through it. Groups have been tight.

I am considering making it my house gun. My questions: What load would you recommend for defensive purposes? Will it handle +P JHPs without putting excessive stress on this pre-WWII revolver? Could I expect any expansion from standard velocity JHPs? Thanks for any suggestions. --c
 
#4 ·
You can't go wrong with Winchester Silver Tip ammo. It is not +P ammo, but should perform extremely well in your revolver. It is rated essentially the same as Military Ball, but will expand quite nicely. I have been using this ammo in my carry 45ACP and have no problems with it. It is not "the newest kid on the block", but it works as advertised!!
 
#7 ·
Thanks all. This Smith is sighted dead on at 20 yards with 230 FMJ ammo.

Question: Am I correct in assuming that any load regardless of bullet weight produced by a major company and not advertised as +P is in fact standard velocity and good to go in this revolver? --c
 
#9 ·
Good idea to stick with non +P, the old war horse is 78 years old.
I keep mine loaded with the 185 grain Winchester Silvertip hollow point load, it's a standard load and if any hp is going to expand the silvertip will. Although it is already a 45 cal. to begin with, so any expansion is just "lagniappe" .
Gary
 
#11 ·
A LONG time ago, when 1917s were $29.95 or so, I borrowed a friend's S&W. I was just starting to reload and got a little creative. I sized down some 250 grain .45 Colts to .452 and loaded them into ACP cases with 9.0 grains of Unique. That old horse pistol took a couple of cylinder loads without blowing. I'll never know why it didn't. Recoil was considerable. I quit using them in the revolver, and shot some up in a semi auto Reising--breaking the bolt in the process.

Needless to say, I quit using those boomers and started looking for a new bolt for that Reising. Found one, too.

Yeah, I'd stick to moderate loads now...

Somehow in all those years I've never actually gotten a 1917 Smith. They're a bit more expensive now.
 
#13 ·
A LONG time ago, when 1917s were $29.95 or so, I borrowed a friend's S&W. I was just starting to reload and got a little creative. I sized down some 250 grain .45 Colts to .452 and loaded them into ACP cases with 9.0 grains of Unique. That old horse pistol took a couple of cylinder loads without blowing. I'll never know why it didn't. Recoil was considerable.

Now THAT would be one STOUT 45ACP load!! I believe that you may have been a bit lucky when firing them through the old 1917 S&W. I would always rather have luck than skill.....especially in this case.
 
#12 ·
Any standard .45 ACP ammo will work fine.. it was designed for 230gr Ball.

I shoot 230gr. cast round nose bullets loaded to factory duplication levels in my 1917s. The reason I use cast lead alloy is the fact the steel in those old guns is not as hard as modern guns, and will wear more rapidly with ball than with lead. In fact, unless you shoot a lot it won't be an issue... but given the fact that a replacement barrel would be pretty difficult to find I prefer to conserve those I have.

In recent years I have been shooting some copper plated lead bullets in my old guns... for the same reasons.

FWIW

CHuck
 
#14 ·
A good factory equivalent G.I. ball load , that I have used for years is the Lyman #452374, 225 grain round nose, with 5 grains of Bullseye powder, for 815 f.p.s.
Actually any cast bullet, from 185 up, semi wadcutter or round-flat point will make a dandy load with 5 grains of Bullseye.
I have loaded Lyman # 452630, a 200 grain SWC as a general use, paper punching tin can killing load for many years with 5 gr. Bullseye.

Gary
 
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