Smith & Western 45 hand ejector

by Bob Hatfield , Thursday, March 02, 2023, 14:12 (631 days ago)
edited by Bob Hatfield, Thursday, March 02, 2023, 14:16

My uncle and a lot of other hillbillies used to call a Smith and Wesson a "Smith and Western."

I've piddled with just about every basic handgun caliber and this past weekend I went to the National Gun Day gun show at Louisville KY. I sold an Enfield NO.1 MIII, a Colt 1927 Sistema, and a 6-inch M&P from the 1930's. I was looking for a 1917 Colt or Smith. A shooter not a looker. My budget out of principal was around $800. Found a few that were too good and too high in price. Found a few Brazilians that weren't worth what they wanted and looked rough.

I had plenty of spending money with me, but I'm a tightwad in my later years and it was looking like I was going to talk myself out of buying a 45 revolver when I saw a shiny one back in a display case. Timing was excellent. Lock up was perfect. The bore was gobbed off with copper from hardball, but I could see really good rifling only as usual very shallow.

I took this one home with me. 1937 Brazilian contract. Been absorbing all I can about reloading for it. I used a .454 plug gage that I had, and it fits snugly in each chamber. So it looks like I'll need .454 boolits. I powder coated some Lee .452 200 Gr. RNFP and got them close to throat diameter. I have them loaded in auto rim cases over 5.6 grains of 231. Tomorow I'll load a few .452 255 grain RNFP Lee bullets over 6 grains of Unique and try them out. I used NO.2 alloy. I'll take a variety of ammo to the range in a day or two and see what this revolver is capable of. I just hope it's not one of those projects that I always going back to the drawing board. LOL

Bob