After decades of looking, I finally found a shooter grade Model 1950, 45 ACP revolver.
I plan to use the Saeco 453, 240 grain wadcutter boolit in this revolver. Looking to get 850-900 fps frm it.
Kevin
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After decades of looking, I finally found a shooter grade Model 1950, 45 ACP revolver.
I plan to use the Saeco 453, 240 grain wadcutter boolit in this revolver. Looking to get 850-900 fps frm it.
Kevin
It's a very classy big bore Smith. Mine has a small patch of pitting between two cylinder flutes, which is why I got it for $225 at the big Houston gun show back around 1980. I think you can reach your velocity goal easily.
Always liked that one more than the 1955...have passed on a few of them that I should not have...
Beautiful gun...have a great time with it...
The SAECO 453 does show to be a 225 grain bullet however...
I really like the 240 Keith in my .45 ARs...Lyman 452423
http://www.sixguns.com/crew/cba.htm
Bob
They are great old guns. One thing be sure to check the cylinder size. I had a 1955 that was beautiful but never shot very well. Cylinder mouths were .456-.457. Traded it for a Model of 1989 with smaller cylinder mouths that shoots like it has eyeballs.
My first big bore Smith was also a 1955 with yawning large throats. I got good performance by using the Lyman Thompson 452490GC, sized at least 0.453 over as much as 7/Unique. I think the gas check got the bullet base past the throats with no base erosion.
By good performance, I mean I could off hand hit rocks across the ranch pond (75 to 125 yards). Never put it on paper.
Most of us have in the past sold/traded a handgun or more that we feel like kicking ourselves about. One I my worst moments was in the early 1980's when I let a friend talk me out of a 1950 4" in .45 ACP. It had a super slick action on it and handled like a dream. Very accurate too. I only paid $150.00 dollars for it and shot it for 2 years in competition(combat handgun competition). My friend kept after me match after match wanting to buy it and I finally gave in and sold it to him for the same price I had paid for it. It went into his collection and I doubt if it has been shot since. I have had several .45 ACP revolver shince that one but none really came up to that one in feel and shooting abilities. I liked the old S&W long action. aw memories of the ones I let get away, james
S&W also made a fixed sight version called the Model of 1950 Military. These externally resembled the old M1917 revolver, but were produced in commercial finish, having the postwar hammer block and short action with the S- serial number prefix. Mine was part of an order produced for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and came from the estate of the former US Postmaster of Middleburg, Virginia. Grip are not the originals.
Attachment 281158Attachment 281159
I always wanted a 1950 Target, I managed a Military fixed sight model. Gave up and started with 1955 Target models. I have 3 of them presently. I’m one that hates Moons so I load AR brass for them all. I don’t size bullets and tumble lube. Used different powders at approx. 700fps.
I’ve not standardized a bullet yet. The Lyman 242gr WC shoots well, it’s been my standard for my m 25-5s / 45 Colt. Would like to use one bullet for acp revolvers / ar brass and Colt 1911s.
I need to add my " The one that got away" Tale that haunts me still. 1981 Bullhead City AZ the local TG&Y was closing its doors, yes they had a small guns and ammo section. Never went in there myself until that day. There in the cleaned out glass display case was the 150 Target lying in its red velvet lined wooden case with cleaning rod and a pile of moon clips. Price 200.00. WHY I did not give the gal a 10 dollar deposit haunts me still. I told her to hold it I would be right back. No ATM card or Credit Card in those days. Ran out the door to my Bank on the corner and came right back in about 15 minutes flat. It was gone. Dude that watched my interaction with sales clerk convinced her ( with 200.00 ) he should be allowed to buy the gun. That still chaps my hide!
My chopped and re-blued example has a 5" barrel and the chambers will pass a .452 jacketed bullet but a supposed .452 cast SWC gives a solid no go just after the nose of the bullet begins to emerge from the front of the cylinder on all 6. I figure this means I probably have .4525 to .453 to work with on all. I hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine......Attachment 281171
A revolver man of taste and refinement, also evidenced by the bronze T Grip. I have before described the 4" 44 Special 1950 Target I had made by the old MMC outfit in Deming, NM. Original factory barrel, with checkered top strap, on a 5 screw M27 , rechambered. I now have the bits to make a 45 like yours.
First to arrive, years ago, was a 5 screw M27 that had been crudely shortened. Next, I found a factory 6 1/2" 45 barrel. The barrel will be cut to 5" and top checkered to match the frame top strap. Since M27 cylinders are too short to accept many 45 Colt loads, I think a big Smith in 45 S&W (Schofield) would be an appropriate and useful upgrade from the 45 AR.
Can't say I'll get it done any time soon, as I don't have a gunsmith in mind with the talent and dedication of the MMC crew. I'm sure they exist, I just don't know any.
We all have our little bits and pieces to build that next dream gun. I haven;t had many done and I'm 69 but I have about 3 bushels of carefully gathered and hoarded parts....
I used to watch "American Pickers". My favorite episode was when Grandpa, about 90 years old and in a wheelchair, is rolled out. The Pickers show him something they had dug out of the depths of his collapsing barn and ask if it is for sale. The old man looks at it, then moans, "No, no, I have plans for that."
Often, the funnin' is in the wantin' and plannin'.
Knowing that none of the N frames I've had or shot really suited me, I still want another.
Robert
Yes, the Model 1950 Army was introduced at the same time as the Model 1950 Target. The Model 1950 Target was produced until 1961 and about 2768 revolvers were produced. The Model 1950 Army (the Model 1950 Military was chambered for the 44 Smith & Wesson Special.) was produced until 1966 and roughly 1000 more were produced than the Target Model.
Kevin
that is a beauty!
well done
According to my factory letter about 5000 Model 1950 Military models were produced in .45 ACP/Auto Rimmed, all contract orders to the US Postal Service.
Attachment 281283
This was acquired from a member from the classifieds. Good folks here, good transaction.......
Here is a page from the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (4th edition) telling how many of the 1950 Army were built.
I know the 2nd Hand Ejector Model of 1917, the first ACP revolver, was used by the Post Office but was not aware the Model of 1950 was.
Attachment 281427
Kevin
My family had an Appliance Repair shop/Hardware store. In the Hardware store/shop we had a Sub Post Office for several years. I can remember when the Post Men were issued Surplus 1917 revolvers right after WW II. The mailman that picked up and delivered to our sub post office, was issued one with absolutely NO training whatsoever! I am not sure he even knew which end the bullet came from:shock: Fortunately, I never heard of any accidents regarding the firearms of the P.O. Dept.
Often, as a young adult, I would close up the shop in the evening and walk home with the store log, cash bag, cradled in my arms together with a handgun in my hands (I would cradle the book, in my arms with the handgun in my right hand resting on the book in plain sight. The cops knew it (and supported the idea) and everyone in the neighborhood knew about it. It was interesting to remember that almost no one came close to me during that one mile or so walk through the neighborhood. They stayed "well clear". We had had a couple of holdups in the area, hence the need to go visibly armed.
FWIW
Dale53
I bought a Model 1955 for $385 back when revolvers were being traded for high-capacity semiautos in mass. I shoot it better than I shoot either of my 1911s. It will be the last centerfire handgun I sell when I get so old I'm culling the herd.
Outpost: A question; What are the cylinder throat dimensions on your 1950?
There was a reason the Model 1955 Target Model replaced the 1950 Target Model. The reason is the heavier barrel shot better in competition and that is what it was all about.
This is the reason the Model 1955 is more accurate; it has appropriately sized chamber throats. As Outpost75 undoubtedly knows, when fed with cast bullets that fill the throats, the Model 1950 is very accurate as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by gunther
Outpost: A question; What are the cylinder throat dimensions on your 1950?
Nope. I have two 1955 Target Models and their cylinder throats run .456 and .4565. I also have two Brazilian Navy Smiths and their cylinder throats run .455 and .4565. It was not until the Model of 1989 that Smith and Wesson got their heads screwed on straight and produced a 45 ACP revolver with .453 throats.
Outpost and Char Gar: What do you feed those oversized throats?
Very nice vintage N frame!
My first 1955 also had those yawning throats. This was in the early 70s, when good, clear advice on cast bullet technique was rare. The magazine writers were our only regular source. Even though Keith and Donaldson knew the truth, they tended to be overshadowed by newer scribes who knew not. So, I sized to 452, but found that a gas check worked pretty well to get the bullet through the throat into the barrel in fairly good shape. My 1955 was a shooter with auto rim brass and the Lyman 452490GC Thompson design.
Now, I would go with a plain base design of 454 or 455 diameter, the largest I could load and chamber.
Attachment 282677 3.5 grains of Bullseye in the .455 MkII Starline brass, 4 grains in the .45 Auto Rim or ACP, 6 grains in the .45 Colt. My bullets drop from the mold at .455" in 1 to 30 tin-lead from Roto Metals.
Man that is a nice looking boolet. Did you design that one Outpost?
gunther,
The way I did it was get an older 454424 Lyman. It dropped right about .456 which I sized to .455. Worked well.
Cat
Outpost; Catshooter: When using .456 bullets, do you size the cases, or leave them unsized?