Question re the Freedom Arms model 97 45 ACP

[gjn]

Is it possible to modify the 45 ACP cylinder on a Freedom Arms model 97 to accept 45 Auto Rim brass? Thank you.

[savit260]

I'm sure it could be done, but you wouldn't be able to shoot regular 45acp in it anymore... unless you had a second cylinder made.

[TERRY MURBACH]

Jan 18, 2014 8:29:15 GMT -5 savit260 said:

I'm sure it could be done, but you wouldn't be able to shoot regular 45acp in it anymore... unless you had a second cylinder made.

OH YES YOU CAN !!!

[savit260]

Jan 18, 2014 10:50:03 GMT -5 TERRY MURBACH said:

Jan 18, 2014 8:29:15 GMT -5 savit260 said:

I'm sure it could be done, but you wouldn't be able to shoot regular 45acp in it anymore... unless you had a second cylinder made.

OH YES YOU CAN !!!

in a single action?

I'd think the thick rim would be a real problem.

You'd have to remove a good bit of metal off the rear of the cylinder , correct?

[Fowler]

The 45acp headspaces off the front of the rim of the case, mouth that's why you taper crimp 45 acp rounds instead of the normal roll crimp. Milling the back of the cylinder enough to allow the rim of an auto rim case to fit has no bearing on the headspace location at the front of the chamber. Both work just fine in the same cylinder.

[savit260]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Makes sense now.

[dan]

+1 to Fowler I shoot ACP in My 45 Auto Rim revolver without using moonclips its a Smith I see no reason for the mod not to work.

[gjn]

Thank you!

[dale53]

gjn;
There is another possibility. My Ruger SS Bisley .45 ACP/.45 Colt Convertible has correct headspace, as issued, to allow the use of .45 Cowboy Special brass. I happened to have 500 Cowboy Special cases from another project and they work perfectly. The advantage of the Cowboy Special brass (over .45 ACP brass) is you can roll crimp them when using heavier bullets (the Lyman 454424 250 gr Keith or the RCBS 45-270-SAA bullets, as an example).

I, of course, have the option to use my heavier bullets in .45 Colt brass in the .45 Colt cylinder, but "just sayin'"..

In my case, I had to do NOTHING to the gun...

Just a thought...

Dale53

[gjn]

Thanks to all who responded. I recieved the following response from Hamilton Bowen to those who might find it of interest.

Dear Sir:

Thanks for your inquiry.

I do not see any particular reason why an FA M97 .45 ACP cylinder could not be modified to accept the .45 AR round, assuming the ratchet configuration is the same as on the rimmed .44 Special and .45 Colts. The chamber diameter at the rim is .526, .010 larger than on the .45 Colt per SAAMI drawings. Cannot imagine .005 would make any difference.

The only wrinkle I see is the tooling costs. Ordinarily, we use a 17/32 in. HSS endmill and spotface for the rim. Hard as FA cylinders are, not sure if such a cutter would appreciate it and might not survive the effort. Once you get above 1/2 in. in carbide, tools tend to be in 1/16 in. increments, rather than 1/32 in. which means you have to purchase a $75+ carbide endmill and spend $50--$75 have it ground to spec for the job. By the time you figure $75--$100 man/machine time to indicated and cut each chamber, your costs could be well north of $200, at least in our case.

That all said, it should work out fine if you have someone try it. I cannot recall any ordinary single-action revolver with a .45 ACP cylinder which could not be modified for the AR round. You would have to know the headspace of the ACP chamber and the gap between the standing breech and the breech-end of the cylinder in order to accurately compute the new headspace cut.

Hope this will help; thanks for your interest.

Sincerely yours,

Hamilton S. Bowen
Bowen Classic Arms Corp.

[bradshaw]

gjn.... bizarre request, if I may be so bold. The .45 ACP is a wonderful single action cartridge. Plentiful brass, solid meat all around the chamber, a dead nuts arrangement. Headspace on case mouth with taper crimped rounds. Minute recoil without threat of bullet jump. As the single action revolver is single loaded and single ejected via an ejector rod, moon clips and half moon clips are irrelevant.
David Bradshaw

[alukban]

I was wondering about that too.

I am actually looking for a 4¼" Model 97 in .45 ACP only... all the brass I want nearly for free.

[gjn]

David,

I would have to disagree. I have two S&W 625's that I use quite a bit with 45 AR brass. I find it much more convienent than moon clips and like the ability to roll crimp. I had LBT make me a mold with a good bit of the bullet out of the case and a good crimping groove. Have quite a few loaded up and would like to use them in the FA as well.

[gjn]

Here the bullet I've been using

[alukban]

THAT right there is some danged handsome ammo. Wow!