I'm joining the wheelmen club. Just got a new to me old revolver

[n10sivern]

A while back I got to shoot a buddy's 1917 and fell in love with it. I am not a revolver fan by any means. I don't even own one currently as I have sold every one that I have ever bought. I never had any love for them. I reload a lot of 45ACP and liked the idea of having a revolver in that caliber, plus the M1917 just called my name when I shot it. I know I could have gotten one of the newer 45ACP revolvers like the 625, but I wanted a beater. Just a pistol I could plink with and throw in the truck or carry in the woods if I so desired. I've been looking online and locally for a while but the prices always seemed to be $500 and up. I just happened to find this M1917 abomination for what I think is an OK price. It was born January 1918 I believe. The sights have been mucked with and combined with the finish wear, I know it has minimal if any collector value which works out for me. I paid $325, and since it is local (an hour away) I will pick it up next week and won't have to pay any transfer fees. I may have paid too much, but it's mine now. I'll break it down once I get it, crack the case and check out the internals, look for rust, and possibly replace springs if needed and cerakote if it has rust or needs it.

Any advice for casting and reloading for my new toy. I already cast 230gr round nose Lee bullets and size to .452

[mikeyd499]

Nice find! The moon clips really aggravated me, so I found some 45 Auto Rim cases that worked better for my shooting.

[Dale53]

I am a big fan of the .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim in a revolver. I might suggest you take a look at the RIMZ full moon clips. They are polymer and easily loaded without tools. They are reasonably priced and work well for general use. http://www.ezmoonclip.com/page_4.htm

I suggest the Model 25 for your revolver.

I suggest you do NOT try loading heavy loads. The 1917's are fine for standard loads but not as strong as the modern revolvers.

My favorite bullet of the 230 gr. variety (the sights are regulated for 230 gr. Bullets), is the Lee 230 gr. TC. It is properly shaped for slick and quick reloads with full moon clips. Further, the flat nose gives good terminal effect considerably better than a round nose bullet.

Enjoy the 1917.

Dale53

[54bore]

Nice old Revo! I have always been a Revolver guy, i have owned numerous slide pistols over the years but they never stick around long with me, they make good trading stock toward a good Revolver

[DougGuy]

Size so the boolits are a light drag fit in the throats.

[sghart3578]

+1 on the Autorim cases. I have a S&W 1917 Brazilian and I shoot most of my loads with Autorim cases.

I size my bullets to .451" but .452 works also. I love that gun. I am a revolver fanatic and a S&W collector. This revolver rates very high with me.

You will love it.

[Texas by God]

Cast your bullets hard for the shallow rifling. That front sight is a wonder to behold! Enjoy that gun- I think you did fine. Best, Thomas.

[Drm50]

I just got a 24-2 myself. Just shot it a couple days ago. Shot 210 target type SWCs / unique at
approx 750fps. & 230 cast RNs at the same. Both grouped well at 25' off bags. Not sure what
bullet I'm going to use, have about 6 ACP molds & a 242gr WC, Ideal.- I want to try it.

[FergusonTO35]

Wow, you joined the wheelgun club in grand fashion!

[bedbugbilly]

If you're looking for 45 Auto-Rim brass

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-...uto-Rim-Brass/

[n10sivern]

Thanks but I have a few thousand 45acp and I'm gonna get some more moon clips. Might as well use what I have

[Scharfschuetze]

Thanks but I have a few thousand 45acp and I'm gonna get some more moon clips. Might as well use what I have

A good plan. I've never noticed any difference in accuracy between the rimmed and the rimless cases. I generally save my rimed cases for heavier than normal bullets like the designs for the 45 Colt. My normal rimless loads are loaded to shoot well in both the 1911 and the 1917 so it's easy enough to load a years worth of ammo in the winter and use the loads in both designs.

There are a couple of tool designs for removing the spent cases from the half and full moon clips, but the plastic full moon clips are the easiest to load and unload.

I hope your new/old 1917 shoots as well as this old war horse. 23 yards, double action at a sustained fire cadence for 7 cylinders using the full moon clips.

[n10sivern]

Nice pistol and good shooting!

[Scharfschuetze]

Nice pistol and good shooting!

Thanks N10,

I should have noted that the bullet was the 200 grain RCBS SWC design sized to .452" over HP38 powder and taper crimped for use in either the revolver or the semi-auto.

My 1917s shoot spot on to the point of aim with the 230 grain RN bullets, but they hit a bit low with the lighter 200 grain SWC.

I note that your new toy has a ramp front sight and that the rear sight is built up to compensate for the higher position of the front sight. We'll be looking forward to a range report soon.

I have a big loading project for the 45 Auto Rim coming up. My nephew, just back from Afghanistan, received a beautiful S&W 1917 as a welcome home gift from his Dad. We are going to have a 1917 shoot-a-thon this summer on my annual road trip through the Rocky Mountains. I promised him I'd load up a bunch of Auto Rim rounds for his new/old revolver. It should be a hoot.

[country gent]

If your going to use moon clips get the tool to load unload them. I made one a round handle with 2 levers lower part of lever pops emties out top puts full loads in them. Much easier than by hand. A great Shooting revolver. Mine was converted to 45 colt before I got it. The 625 I use full moon clips and the above tool.

[texasnative46]

n10sivern,

I shoot a S&W 1927 Brazilian in .45ACP & for me it works BEST with a 230 grain FN lead boolit in front of 5 grains of BULLSEYE or 6 grains of UNIQUE for about the same 800FPS as the standard old Army load. - Truthfully, IF 6 rounds of that load won't "do the job" successfully, you need a rifle or a shotgun, imo.
(In my long-ago days as a City Marshal, that old revolver was my daily carry piece. While I, thankfully, never had to shoot a person with it, I did stop a LARGE/VICIOUS stray dog, that was trying to have me for lunch, "in his tracks" with 1 shot from the revolver. = GYD, too.)

I load for it with ex-GI cases & in Ranch Products full-moon clips.

yours, tex

[n10sivern]

Thanks for the compliments and advice everybody.

[Beerd]

Now that is what I call one fine resolver!
..

[Scharfschuetze]

Uncle Sam armed his Doughboys pretty well in 1917 and 1918.

A few WWI US Military firearms with a Grandfather's tunic and helmet from the Great War.

[bob208]

I have both a real 1917 smith and a brazil contract. the contract is by my bed loaded with the rcbs 225 gr. cav. bullet. in acp cases in full moon clips. I also used it in ppc matches and falling plate.