Reloading for 45 Auto Rim in S&W 1917

[CZ93X62]

No, Ric, my high school drafting said that.

However, I suspect that my DI, MSgt Prokop, knew I was headed for Viet Nam, after I selected weapons mechanic as my "job" of choice. Then after 6 months of F-100, F-105 and F-4 schooling and another 6 months at my first duty station, I said the heck with waiting and volunteered to go to Viet Nam.

And bless you for it. Thank you.

 

[Pistolero]

We always need competent hands keeping the 'chinery running properly. Thanks for being there
when it needed to be done.

Bill

 

[Bret4207]

Senior Drill Instructor Gy Sgt Gelinas (Silver Star at Khe San) was an absolutely terrifying man when you got on his bad side. I recall 2 other Drill Instructors holding him back when he went for his sword after a recruit screwed up a drill. I've always wondered how much of that was real and how much was show, or if any of it was show! Can't even begin to imagine what some of the kiddies would do when faced with that.

 

[Ian]

It couldn't be half as terrifying as charging a machine gun nest on Guadalcanal. What do the kiddies think US Marines DO, bake cakes and sing kumbaya?

 

[462]

Bret,
Whether for show, or for real, I suspect that Gunny Gelinas got his point across, and that recruit's mistake was instantly and permanently etched on his young brain.

MSgt. Prokop was, most likely, an Army paratroop retread, because he wore the only pair of Corcoran boots (albeit black) that I saw in four years of service.

Edit to add: In those four years, his were the only Air Force pant legs that i saw bloused.

 

[CZ93X62]

There are times and places that mindsets like those demonstrated by Gunny Gelinas are appropriate and necessary. We should be grateful and thankful to still have such men (and women) among us.

 

[Bret4207]

Bloused boots! That was something that always tickled me. The USMC had one way, and ONLY one way of blousing boots- you used "blousing guards", eg- elastic doohickeys sort of like a tiny garter belt that you folded your trousers excess leg up under. Experience taught you exactly how much "poof" you could get and still have it look right without ballooning out and sagging. OTOH, I saw AF, Army and even some Navy types attempt to blouse their boots by tucking the excess into their boot tops. It always looked awful. Some Army types we worked with briefly had never heard of our method and got us to pick up several blousing guards at the PX for them. Such a simple, simple thing. Of course that was 30 years ago. They probably have an electronic gizmo that does it for them now!

 

[Outpost75]

Getting back to the OP, in my fixed sight S&W and Colt M1917s the Accurate 45-240H1 with 4.5 grains of Bullseye shoots to the sights and is my .45 ACP/AR load of choice. For "shaved" Webleys in .45 ACP/AR reduce the charge to 4 grains max. In unaltered .455s using the Starline Mk2 0.76" cases cut to 3.5 grains.

 

[CZ93X62]

Ohhhhh, an un-messed-with fixed-sight 45 ACP/AR revolver qualifies for Grain Gun status in my world. The S&W Classic Series N-frames could do this, and likely won't. Not with their PC 625s and JM variants selling so well.

 

[Bret4207]

Smith had a run of newly made '17's some years back. Not sure how many or if any are still available.

 

[RBHarter]

5,000 I think . At $1200/ea they sold out in under a yr and drove up the prices of real 1917 and 1937s with them .

 

[Outpost75]

You can find original, un-Bubba'ed M1917 Colt and S&Ws in "shooter grade" condition for well under $1000


I also found an uncut .455 and a .45 Colt in the same price range!

 

[Bret4207]

I agree, you can find shooter grade 17's for not a lot compared to the hanger queen type. It comes down to what you want- a gun in a specific model/caliber that you'll take out and use or a hanger queen that never leaves home. My '17 get's found in the woods and fields. My 24-3 stays at home where it's safe. To each their own.

 

[Charles Graff]

Colt 1917 with original "War Finish'. The grips are new. I bought this onein a pawn shop a few years back for $500.00. Excellent condition inside and a great shooter.

 

[Bret4207]

I should get some original type grips for my '17 Smiff. It came with these awful plastic imitation (or maybe imitation plastic?) stags that would make a buzzard puke they were so ugly. It wears Pachmyers (sp) now but they are near as ugly. I like wood.

 

[Outpost75]

N.C. Ordnance makes good quality reproduction synthetic wood look-alike service grips for the Colt and S&W M1917 .45 service revolvers:
N.C. Ordnance "Royalwood" reproduction service grips

 

[oscarflytyer]

Thought mine was kinda ugly. feel a little better now! Pd $350. Had nasty Pachys on it. Got correct replacement wood grips and the lanyard ring. Plus the holster. Love it and shoots great!

 

[Charles Graff]

A year or two ago, I had DougGuy throat a pair of Colt 1911 barrels for me. It was a good move. I now seat 452423 out long and taper crimp about 2/3 down on the front driving band. I want the COAL just short enough to function in the mag without binding. The extra length reduces the strike area of the nose on the ramp and feeds slicker than snot on a glass door knob. The rounds also are great for 45 ACP DA revolvers in moon clips. The extra length creates more air space and reduces the pressures a smidge. The powder charge of course is 4.5/BE

I should think the mould that Outpost75 put up would do as good. However, I have four moulds for 452423 and can't justify buying a new mould when this number has worked so well for me for 58 years.

I also use it in the 45 Colt. Beyond 100 yards a heavier/longer bullet will deliver better accuracy, but hey....I don't even shoot at 100 yards anymore.

As an aside, I also use this bullet and charge in 45 Cowboy Special brass over the same charge in 45 ACP Cylinders in two SA revolvers, a Ruger and a U.S. Ptd FA. The bullet is crimped in the crimp groove of the bullet. Accuracy is excellent and the bullet hits with some very good thump.

 

[Charles Graff]

There has been mention of the Smith and Wesson Brazilian. I have owned four and two still share my home with me. There were two contracts. The first 25K were shipped to the Brazilian Navy in 1939. They were all new production and can be identifield by the numbers on the backstrap. The second 25K was shipped just after WWII and were made from left over 1917 parts and some newer pre-war parts. I have one of both. My favorite being this one I managed to con Smith and Wesson reblue. That is a long story.

The barrel and frame are left over 1917 parts but the cylinder is later commercial production. It looks good and shoots just as well.

 

[oscarflytyer]

There has been mention of the Smith and Wesson Brazilian. I have owned four and two still share my home with me. There were two contracts. The first 25K were shipped to the Brazilian Navy in 1939. They were all new production and can be identifield by the numbers on the backstrap. The second 25K was shipped just after WWII and were made from left over 1917 parts and some newer pre-war parts. I have one of both. My favorite being this one I managed to con Smith and Wesson reblue. That is a long story.

The barrel and frame are left over 1917 parts but the cylinder is later commercial production. It looks good and shoots just as well.

Mine is second Brazilian contract gun. Tell tale is the 5 digit 1918 DOM serial number w/ Brazilian crest. Also why it is ugly. Brazil/jungle/piss poor maintenance... typical of any milsurp Brazilian firearm I have seen/handled. But, good news is, not fired much/TIGHT/GOOD BORE (and luck!!!)! So ends up a cheap fun shooter. My fav type!