Here's hoping the Keith bullet works better

by FOG, Monday, April 15, 2013, 06:04 (4244 days ago) @ Glen

Before I discovered it kicked too hard for me to enjoy plinking with it using 230 FMJ factory ammo and then passed it off on to you (LOL), I was toying with the idea of buying another cylinder for that 'M1917/50' by BCA.

Since I didn't know or really care about the throat dimensions, my interest was primarily spurred by the fact that at least one of the chambers showed some pitting. Even though 'hidden', this was largely a cosmetic issue with me, and I did look around for a replacement.

In the interest of posting a perhaps more informative reply, I just repeated the search on GunBroker and found a couple of possible options in the form of NOS Model 25-2 cylinders, the first of which has been there for some time now:

1) Smith & Wesson Model 25-2 .45 ACP Cylinder 45ACP

2) Smith & Wesson Model 25-2 .45 ACP Cylinder 45 ACP (nearly the same title, different location/seller)

A few caveats:
• I'm not sure a M25-2 cylinder would fit or could be fitted (which is one reason I never bought #1 above)
• You would still have to use the original prewar extractor ('ratchet'), of course
• The throats might still be oversized, perhaps even more so

Still, it might be worth inquiring about the throat dimensions (or simply giving one of these cylinders a 'shot' − LOL).

After all, it's only money.

HTH

PS: Based on my admittedly limited experience, I would still advise seating whatever bullet you're shooting so that at least a portion of the frontmost 'driving band' extends into the cylinder throats. I'd bet dollars-to-donuts my M25-2 had oversize throats, and doing so greatly improved its accuracy with Grier hard-cast bullets (which were probably .452", but I don't really recall).

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