I would love to have a 45 ACP/AR revolver, but examples of the JM and the PC Model 25s I have seen at shops did not impress me. Add on the horror stories from folks whose assessments I trust......well, I'm not going to roll the bones on a new S&W. If I have to finish building the thing, Ruger has their swap-cylinder Blackhawks for a lot less money than the S&W, and you get a cylinder in a second caliber (45 Colt) that can be extended well past conventional 45 Colt ballistics if you are so inclined. This same trend continued with a new S&W Model 48 x 6" I was lusting in my heart for recently. Seen in the real world, the things looked strange and out of proportion, their classic lines disturbed and askew. Ruger S/A swap cylinder to the rescue--again.
In a past life, I owned a S&W Model 25-2 in 45 ACP/AR. I kept that thing around for about 2 years, but it was a PITA to create ammo for with its .456"-.457" throats and .451" grooves. back then (1980-82) I did not have the knowledge base to overcome such hurdles readily, and for darn sure did not have the disposable income to throw at getting it fixed in any event. It shot jacketed bullets pretty well, when I could afford to buy them. I thought at the time that moon clips were about as useful as a hair shirt and not half as practical, esp. when compared to the simplicity of Auto Rim brass that had (and has) HKS speedloaders made to fit and that work well. I know that the gun gamers consider such beliefs to be heresy, and that is just peachy-keen. For them.
I wonder if a loaded Auto Rim cartridge could fit--revolve--and extract from a Ruger Blackhawk convertible 45 ACP cylinder. I haven't tried it--has anyone else?