Shooting 45 Colt from a 45 ACP Cylinder - SAA

[gungate]

What would happen if you tried to shoot 45 Colt from the 45 ACP SAA cylinder? A friend of mine took his SAA to the range, he has both cylinders, and had an odd issue. The 45 Colt ammo (He says he was using the correct cylinder) expanded so much that he had a hard time removing the empties from the cylinder. He also said he could barely turn the cylinder within the gun after shooting a couple rounds. He has only shot "cowboy" ammo before this in this gun. This ammo was store bought Federal. It is not "+p" ammo.

 

[ken792]

.45 Colt/LC shouldn’t even chamber in the ACP cylinder since it’s milled with a step for the ACP case mouth to stop against without dropping too deep.

Check to see if primers are backing out or if there is excessive fouling in the Colt/LC chambers.

 

[DutchV]

Sounds like he's got the cylinders swapped.

.45 Colt is .456" at the case mouth. .45 ACP is .473"

Do the cases look like the end is stepped or swelled out? (ie, fireformed to the shorter ACP chamber) ?

 

[Bullfrog]

By 'expanding' do you mean the bullets were being pulled slightly by the recoil? That would cause problems with rotation and opening.

Sounds like an ammo problem.

 

[linkstate]

Ruger New Model Blackhawk cylinders.

.45 Colt cylinder with a .45ACP round on the left.

.45 ACP cylinder with a .45 Colt round on the right.

You would have to hammer that .45 Colt round in…

 

[Uncle Duke]

Ruger New Model Blackhawk cylinders.

.45 Colt cylinder with a .45ACP round on the left.

.45 ACP cylinder with a .45 Colt round on the right.

You would have to hammer that .45 Colt round in…

Thank you!

 

[gungate]

Ruger New Model Blackhawk cylinders.

.45 Colt cylinder with a .45ACP round on the left.

.45 ACP cylinder with a .45 Colt round on the right.

You would have to hammer that .45 Colt round in…

He just showed me a similar pic that you so he can't even chamber the wrong ammo. So that idea is out.

Not sure what is going on. The empties go in but some of them get stuck as the last like .5mm is chambering.

This is the ammo.

 

[ken792]

Sounds like he's got the cylinders swapped.

.45 Colt is .456" at the case mouth. .45 ACP is .473"

With Colt/LC, 0.456” is the max bullet diameter, not the case body diameter at the mouth.

https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SAAMI-Z299.3-2022-Centerfire-Pistol-Revolver-Approved-12-13-2022.pdf

 

[gungate]

By 'expanding' do you mean the bullets were being pulled slightly by the recoil? That would cause problems with rotation and opening.

Sounds like an ammo problem.

No - I mean I think the case might be expanding.

 

[Bullfrog]

No - I mean I think the case might be expanding.

Yes. That is clear with the later post that said the empty cases get stuck going back in.

Maybe ken's first answer is correct, build up of fouling where the case mouth is?

That could cause difficulty extracting and also reinserting the empties.

 

[linkstate]

He just showed me a similar pic that you so he can't even chamber the wrong ammo. So that idea is out.

Not sure what is going on. The empties go in but some of them get stuck as the last like .5mm is chambering.

This is the ammo.

I’ve shot a bunch of those in my Blackhawk without any issue. They are definitely warm compared to cowboy loads. You made me look them up online because they have been impossible to find for quite awhile. A fun round.

Are his cylinders clean and free of any lead or carbon buildup from the cowboy loads?

Did he save any of the cases to measure with a caliper? Measure before and after on both loads.

 

[Art3]

Any chance his previous cowboy loads had been .45 Schofield or S&W (which is like a short .45 Colt) and left a ring...like .357 going in after a bunch of .38?

 

[Biggfoot44]

Could be oversize chambers .

 

[Brickman301]

Any chance his previous cowboy loads had been .45 Schofield or S&W (which is like a short .45 Colt) and left a ring...like .357 going in after a bunch of .38?

That’s what I was thinking too. I believe they also have a round called 45 cowboy as well. It’s a 45 Colt case shortened to Schofield length or somewhere close.

 

[gungate]

Any chance his previous cowboy loads had been .45 Schofield or S&W (which is like a short .45 Colt) and left a ring...like .357 going in after a bunch of .38?

I think the ammo is correct. The below Defender box on the left is what he used before he got the Federal. I know the Federal is correct because we split a case.

 

[Biggfoot44]

That’s what I was thinking too. I believe they also have a round called 45 cowboy as well. It’s a 45 Colt case shortened to Schofield length or somewhere close.

Actually .45Colt shortened to .45acp length . But primarily , if not entirely a handloading thing .

 

[Brickman301]

Actually .45Colt shortened to .45acp length . But primarily , if not entirely a handloading thing .

Ahh, that’s right I couldn’t remember the length. And yes, that would a handloading thing for sure

 

[Magnumite]

have pics of the cases?

 

[gungate]

have pics of the cases?

 

[gungate]

I went to the range last night with my SAA and a box of that same ammo. We split a case of ammo together so it is exactly the same. I had no issues at all. I told him it is something with his gun and start with cleaning.

LOL - Yes I suck I was watching the gun trying to see anything going on and not really the target.