Reloading for 45 Auto Rim in S&W 1917

[Walks]

OK, I see better. I've only bought silver colored T-Grips, forgetting that Tyler makes black ones too.
Looking closer on the bottom third I see the distinctive hump that characterizes the Tyler from the Pachmayr.

WOW, I'm on the Desktop and those pictures are almost full size. I usually am on my tablet. Makes a HUGE difference in detail.


L Ross,
You can make your own Leather. It's not that hard. Heck I can even do it. All you really need is Good VEGATABLE Tanned leather.

 

[CZ93X62]

That 1950 H/E 45 ACP is a real gem. Would that such items were available in greater numbers. THIS is the kind of service-grade N-frame I would like to see S&W add to their Classics line, along with the Model 58.

 

[Walks]

CZ,
Thinking along those lines, what about N-Frame fixed-sight versions with 4" Heavy Barrels in M21&M22. Or even an M20 ?

Just Dreaming, I guess

 

[CZ93X62]

Oh, YES--4" fixed-sight heavy-barrel N-frames in 45 ACP, 44 Special, and 45 Colt. Be still, my heart.

 

[Bret4207]

I go the other way. J frame, round butt, traditional adjustable sighted, blued 32 Long/Mag/327 with barrels of 4-6"...and a lanyard ring as long as I'm dreaming! What a field gun!

 

[Walks]

Bret,
That is a Dream, but really Wonderful one.

 

[Dale53]

Bret;
You mean something like this:


That's my 631 (4" barrel "J" frame with adjustable sights and in my preferred field finish (SS) in .32 H&R Magnum. It shoots extremely well using my home cast bullets with both .32 S&W Long Cases and .32 H&R Mag cases. Starline cases for the H&R (the original Federal brass was absolute junk).

Back on topic:
I have never been a fan of fixed sighted guns as compared to adjustable sighted guns. However, I admit that I have a few exceptions (my custom 1911's which essentially shoot one, full house load, and a Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt that shoots to the sights right out of the box (and has an excellent set of fixed sights). I CAN remember a really nice Colt 1917 that had had the barrel replaced with a beautiful ribbed barrel from custom barrel maker Joseph Lamping of Cincinnati, Ohio. Joe was an artist. This was just after WW II. I suspect the original barrel had been ruined by corrosive ammo. It had been bought by my father for a ridiculously low price by today's standards (good shape 1917's, both Colt and Smith, were nearly everywhere for as low as $25.00 at that time). Unfortunately, that Colt went away in a gun trade, back in the day (which led to a S&W Model 1955 Target.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Bret4207]

If it was blue Dale, that would be the ticket! Just a personal preference, but I've never cared for stainless or nickle.

 

[CZ93X62]

You both need to BEHAVE YOURSELVES. One with the 631, the other with a Model 16.

I have a Grail Gun that mixes both, though--a 1989-made S&W Model 16-4 x 6".

The 45 Auto Rim supplies landed yesterday evening. UPS delivered at 7:30 P.M. WTH?

 

[CZ93X62]

I unpacked all of the toys from the parcel today. Got the Pachs onto the the 642 and the combo still fits in the right front pants pocket without much bulge. Mission accomplished. Also installed Pachs onto my Single Six x 7.5", and these REALLY improved things in terms of hand-feel. Little tiny plow-handle grips don't work for me--with the BHs, it's either PachPres or Bisley OEMs.

10 full-moon clips for the 625 from Wilson Combat came along for the ride, and I got those all filled out with long-in-the tooth WWB 230 JHP I have on hand (imagine that.....) I think the 625 has 5 clips included, those will get newer factory ammo of the same kind and get set aside for carry usage. These 60 clipped rounds will do the initial firing of the new gun. If something BAD occurs in a new gun, I want it happening with factory ammo on board--out of an abundance of caution.

200 pieces of Starline 45 AR brass were on board as well, with 2 HKS loaders to support their usage. The rims on the cases don't seem as thick or as wide as those I recall on my Rem brass from the early 1980s. It all fits fine in the new RCBS #8 shell holder meant for that brass. That's what matters.

 

[Walks]

I've never had a problem with the so called "plow-handled" grips on any Single Action Revolver. I guess 'cause that was the first Center Fire handgun I ever shot. It fits as well in my hand as do the Custom Made Boots I have from my days of Cowboy Shooting.
Packs don't work for me. Tried them on my 1937 when I got it. Looked wrong, so did a pair of Smith Target Grips from my 1955 Target.

Dad gave me a Tyler T-grip and an old pair of Magna stocks. Loved the feel in My Hand every since.

This thread makes me wanna dig out that old clunker 1917 S&W and try and find a new cylinder, that costs less then a new N-Frame.

 

[oscarflytyer]

I've never had a problem with the so called "plow-handled" grips on any Single Action Revolver. /QUOTE]

All my SAs have a smooth plow handle grip but the one I bought last week. And the checkered grip in it is awful. I have tried about everything on them. Smooth std PH is THE way to go, imho. The SA revolver is MADE to rotate in you hand. If it doesn't due to textured grips, might as well wrap sandpaper around the grips and shoot. I do have some custom grips on my Ruger flattops, and they have some beefed up areas to fit my hand, but still smooth semi-std grips.

 

[CZ93X62]

My first handgun was a Bisley Colt SA, and it resides in my safe. 1906-made 32/20 x 4-3/4", I guess it "imprinted" on me and warped my perceptions for life.

The plow-handle presents the same problem for me that the OEMs on the 642 presented--my little finger is "in the air" with nothing to do. It interferes with that lovely roll-back, which was nice in the 1851 and 1860 Colts running 70 and 130 grain RBs at 700 FPS but a bit more vigorous with the 45 Colt BP loads and far more so with Ruger-level 41 Mag and 44 Mag dosages. Bisley, please--I need hand room. Or the PachPres.

 

[Bret4207]

I have a wide but short fingered hand. SA grips tend to twist far more than roll in my hand. DA, as long as the covering on the backstrap isn't too thick, I can use most anything. I prefer something like the Houge Mono-grip or Pacs "Gripper" I think it's called. Finger grooves I can abide as long as they aren't really pronounced. I know some folks hate them, but it gives you a bit more to hold onto IMO. Factory Smith grips with a grip adapter work well for me. In the end, to each their own. Not much more subjective a subject than "what feels good" in any category!

 

[CZ93X62]

My hands are VERY LARGE. XL-sized shooting gloves are too small. I found some XXL cyclist gloves that are VERY tight on me, but do fit. (Note--these cyclist gloves look a whole lot like the shooting gloves sold for 3X as much at gun stores and online suppliers).

 

[RicinYakima]

My first out, "if the volcano goes off again" kit is below. S&W 625 Model 1989 four inch. Half moons on the right Lyman 452423's in custom made 460 Rowland brass loaded to 900 f/s, chronographed. Full moons are Rem 230 Golden Sabers or ball with 100 round of ball in boxes below. Spare grips if I need them. Oh, and a small Crown Royal bag of AR brass with more '423's loaded over 4.5 grains of Bullseye. The rest is holster and fire starter and flashlight, etc.

Always ready to go, put the strap over my shoulder and out the door. If plan A, nor plan B, nor plan C work out, and I have to go to a FEMA or Red Cross shelter, I hope to be able to cache it somewhere.

 

[CZ93X62]

If things get THAT jacked-up, FEMA and the other alphabet-soup-group .gov wonks might welcome you with open arms.

 

[Bret4207]

I wear an XL or XXL in gloves. The fingers are always too long, but the hands won't fit in most of what people consider a large glove these days. I personally think it's the same reason I take a size 11, 12 or even 13 in the cheapy Wally world sneakers I buy, but my ancient size 10 US made LaCrosse Wellingtons still fit as good as the day I got them. Shave a little here, cut a little closer there, it all adds up. That also explains why I'm not in 34 waist jeans anymore! Well, okay, maybe that doesn't cover ALL of the reason!

 

[Ian]

Bret, you and I need to split the difference and we'd both be set. My thumb and middle finger will almost touch when holding a 12-oz soda can, but that puts me in a 2X glove that is a little bit too wide. The biggest issue however is that the web of the glove fingers coincides with my second knuckles (the ones we use to knock on doors), so it's like wearing a straight jacket or tight mittens on my hands. I did find some $20 flexy synthetic-backed, split cow gloves at TSC that fit well but I wore several of the finger pads through doing fence work and the stitching on the palm reinforcement let go just like it always does on the cheap canvas/leather Wells Lamont gloves.

The Taylor's SAA .45 Colt with the 1860 Army steel grip frame is absolutely the cat's pajamas for virtually anyone above a "medium" glove size.

 

[Charles Graff]

Me, I am a medium glove guy.