Will .45ACP fire in a .455 1911...

[Mike.45]

Please don't scream Dumbass at me !! I don't plan to do this but was just wondering if this is possible.

I know some commonwealth .455 revolvers like the MkII and some Webleys were converted to .45ACP using moon clips by removing the rear of the cylinder - and was wondering if something similar, apart from changing barrels was ever done to Brit .455 1911's.

I know .455 revolvers will also chamber .450 Eley and .45 Colt (not long colt unless the chambers are reamed) but was wondering if the .445 1911s will chamber a .45 and possibly fire it.

As I say I don't plan on doing this !!

[berghi51]

Shell length of .455 Webley is longer than .45 ACP. So a .455 cartridge can't be chambered in .45 ACP barrel and a .45 ACP cartridge will enter too deeply in the chamber and so cannot be fired. The only way to shoot .45 in a .455 pistol is to change the barrel and the magazine.

[RFC1911]

Actually, have done this in one of my .455 pistols. I did swap out the extractor, which holds the .45 ACP round in position to be hit by the firing pin and prevents it from falling forward to the end of the .455 chamber.

The original .455 extractor didn't work as well in this experiment, but an extra extractor for my M1911s did fine.

I used a very light cast lead bullet load, but got a good bit of chamber fouling.

rfc1911

[Pato1]

Originally Posted by Mike.45

Please don't scream Dumbass at me !! I don't plan to do this but was just wondering if this is possible.

I know some commonwealth .455 revolvers like the MkII and some Webleys were converted to .45ACP using moon clips by removing the rear of the cylinder - and was wondering if something similar, apart from changing barrels was ever done to Brit .455 1911's.

I know .455 revolvers will also chamber .450 Eley and .45 Colt (not long colt unless the chambers are reamed) but was wondering if the .445 1911s will chamber a .45 and possibly fire it.

As I say I don't plan on doing this !!

I've never tried it but it might work with a 45acp barrel, mag and extractor replacment/change out. Might work with just the 45 barrel. Let us know if you try it.

[supervel]

Originally Posted by berghi51

Shell length of .455 Webley is longer than .45 ACP. So a .455 cartridge can't be chambered in .45 ACP barrel and a .45 ACP cartridge will enter too deeply in the chamber and so cannot be fired. The only way to shoot .45 in a .455 pistol is to change the barrel and the magazine.

And the mag. maybe loose also because the 455 frames are cut looser for the special 455 mags.

[oldcolts]

A .45 mag will work in a .455 frame. But I would not try shooting .45 ACP in a .455 barrel.

One W prefix .455 that I had came with a .45 slide and a .45 barrel. That makes the conversion simple.

The .455 cartridge is semi-rimless, which is different than the 45 ACP cartridge. I have not converted a .455 slide to .45, although it has been done a lot. Maybe it's just a matter of changing the ejector?? Many.455 slides were converted; they are commonly marked with the second 5 Xd out.

[Mike.45]

Actually, have done this in one of my .455 pistols. I did swap out the extractor, which holds the .45 ACP round in position to be hit by the firing pin and prevents it from falling forward to the end of the .455 chamber.

The original .455 extractor didn't work as well in this experiment, but an extra extractor for my M1911s did fine.

I used a very light cast lead bullet load, but got a good bit of chamber fouling.

rfc1911

Thanks for the replies guys.

rtc1911 it seems you are the only one here who has tried it - how many rounds did you fire, just one or a mags worth ?

Thanks

Mike

[RFC1911]

Less than a box of ammo.
Reliability was the greatest wth that handload.

rfc1911

[AlanDavid]

I have fired .45acp from my 1911 .455 pistol. I put about 30 or 40 rounds through it a number of years ago. I got about one malfunction for each magazine, so not very reliable.

Regards

AlanD
Sydney