sw 1917

There seems to be some doubt. I have seen:
S&W didn't start heat treating cylinders until the 1920s.
The 1917 government contract specified heat treatment.

I wouldn't push my luck. If you guessed wrong, you could damage a Significant Historical Artifact and Valuable Collector's Item.
I don't need to do anything with a sixgun that I can't get done with standard pressure .45 ammo anyhow.

Concur with Jim's advice. Best stick to standard ammo in those old guns. For one thing, ya never know what they've been through in nearly a century.

I had a 1937 Brazilian Smith for a few years and enjoyed it a lot. I handloaded and only shot milder ammo in it loaded with 200 grain lead bullets. The Chronograph insisted they were cookin' along at around 800-810 fps. They were mild and accurate, and would surely ruin your day if ya caught one amidships.

S&w 1917

In my opinion (every body has one...) an original 1917 or a 1937 Brazilian is too old to be shooting hot loads through. I would never shoot any Buffalo Bore ammo in mine. I have a 1937 Brazilian contract and only shoot handloaded 200 grain lead Auto Rims through it. The 1917/37 is a large (N) frame revolver that is pretty strong but I don't think that it is a good idea to fire hot ammo through a 76+ year old revolver. Save those loads for the model 25/625s.

my 1937 - yes, I have the original grips but these are so much more comfortable to shoot with.

The older revolvers do well handling the original ammunition for which they were built. I reload and prefer lead bullets so I have several loads that are similar to the original GI issued stuff. I also have some unusual loads that improve the ballistics. For example, a 235 grain full wadcutter at 850 fps. The full caliber hole is impressive.

As for Corbon and Buffalo Bore, what do they say about using their ammo in the old revolvers?

damienph,

Thanks a lot buddy, now my shirt is soaked from all the drool, now I have to go change .

Gorgeous gun, just wonderful!

I agree with the majority. I wouldn't test it. Pick up a modern M25/625 if you want to shoot the hot stuff.
Or go all the way and get a .45 Colt Redhawk & have the cylinder machined to accept ACP in moon clips.

Edited to add: I follow this advice myself. I have a .44 Hand Ejector Second Model made in 1921. It gets fed standard loads. I also have a M624 from 1985. It sees some warm .44SPL loads when the mood hits me. No reason to beat the old girl up.

Bezoar said:

ive seen good 230-270 grain autorim loads that would be ideal for hunting, and some fun times.

i cant find any kidn of used or new model 25 at a reasonable cost. but a used 1917 is 28 minutes from home.

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What are you hunting that 230 grains of bullet at 850 fps won't handle? As for the 1917, always a good buy.

One for the statistical wonks...

Given these were developed from the .44 Hand Ejector pistols (I know, they weren't .44 Magnum!) what are the numbers of the OP's "...modern world of ammunition offerings" and "...the buffalo bore or corbon stuff..." compared to the old .44 and .44 Russian that these were happy with?

The best bet would be to use standard pressure ammo, as others have already pointed out. While a few +P rounds might function OK, more than a few could cause headaches. The std stuff is potent enough, anyway.

My 1917 was my grandfather's sidearm in WW1 and there's no way I'd risk damaging it.

buffalo bore or corbon stuff safe for it?

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Buffalo Bore offers "standard" pressure ammo in 38 special and .357 Magnum rounds, so I believe that they would have the same offering in .45 caliber. As for +P ammo, I would stay away from that in your revolver.

If a standard 45ACP/AR won't do it, you need a bigger gun.




I never have heard any reports of anybody shot with one saying, "That didn't hurt, c'mon, shoot me again!!"

Iggy, That is one fine 1917. I really like the stag grips with the S&W escutcheons. Nice!!

I'm not shooting any +p in mine, I agree that a cylinder or two prolly wouldn't hurt but why, I don't shoot +p in my modern 45s

Bezoar said:

white tail.

im told a 357 magnum pushing a 158 grain or heavier bullet at 1200 fps or more is insufficient, and ive seen threads were a 45acp popinga 230 grain bullet at 800 is "25 yards at best" but a 44 special tossing the same bullet weight, shape, hardness, and velocity is "50-70 yards"

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That sounds more like the shooter is only capable of hitting at those distances. A good handgunner will be able to dramatically increase those yardages. Shooting the load of your choice is the only way to determine how far away you will be comfortable using it on game. Practicing on paper is okay but get out in the field where you have to guess the distance and the size of the target (rocks, stumps, tin cans, etc.). This will help you develop the distance to which you are accurate. When hunting, I try to get as close as I can. Sometimes, that isn't as close as I would like. Then, practice pays off.

Agreed!

I have an 1917 rebuilt @ Aniston Arsenal in WWII. It was never re-issued.

I also have a very nice Brazilian 1937.

The 1917 is almost 100 years old. The 1937 is the second contract, flat top frame. Some early 1937's had left over round top 1917 frames.

I respect the older steels and treat them accordingly.

I only shoot lead bullets over 5 grains of Herco w/ a Std. Primer.

S&w 1917

Mine was my grandfather's sidearm in WWI as a sergeant with the AEF, and he bought it when he was mustered out. My Father carried it as a privately-owned weapon as a B-24 pilot in WWII. Fortunately he never had occasion to use it in anger. I carried it as an infantry lieutenant in Viet Nam, and I DID use it, and in more than one instance. It has a pitted barrel, the blueing looks crappy, and the cylinder has turned plum. It is still my go-to home defense weapon, and I shoot it frequently. Range use is 230 grain FMJ over 4.2 grains of Hodgdon Clays, self-defense load is Federal 180 grain Hydroshock. It has never failed us when needed, and while it is 96 years old, it holds an honored and respected position in my pantheon of handguns.

I think the old rule(s) of thumb used by the handgun hunters were:
1.) No smaller than .40".
2.) No lighter than 200 grains.
3.) No slower than 1000 f/s (at muzzle).

A .357 Will launch a 200 grain projectile probably 20% faster, but is iffy based on its bore diameter. A .45 ACP exceeds the bore diameter constraint handily, and will just meet the mass & velocity requirements if pushed right to the edge. I might go afield after whitetail with either of these, but I wouldn't use the latter cartridge in an M1917 S&W revolver. It's sorta like taking a well cared-for M1-Garand and hot-loading it into an 8-round .300 H&H. Not a good idea.

Be NICE to these old guns! They've EARNED courteous treatment from their owners.

JDBoardman said:

Mine was my grandfather's sidearm in WWI as a sergeant with the AEF, and he bought it when he was mustered out. My Father carried it as a privately-owned weapon as a B-24 pilot in WWII. Fortunately he never had occasion to use it in anger. I carried it as an infantry lieutenant in Viet Nam, and I DID use it, and in more than one instance. It has a pitted barrel, the blueing looks crappy, and the cylinder has turned plum. It is still my go-to home defense weapon, and I shoot it frequently. Range use is 230 grain FMJ over 4.2 grains of Hodgdon Clays, self-defense load is Federal 180 grain Hydroshock. It has never failed us when needed, and while it is 96 years old, it holds an honored and respected position in my pantheon of handguns.

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Thank you, your father, & your grandfather for your service to our country.
Glad to hear you are taking care of that 1917 that has taken care of three generations of your family. Your heir should appreciate it.

Many deer get killed with 38 Special loads and smaller. Put the ACP where it belongs and get ready to dress out your deer.

I found a S&W 1917 languishing in a local pawn shop many years ago. She had a rough life, pitted and filthy. I bought and sent to a gunsmith for some mechanical repairs. Hated to do it but ended up having it refinished it was in such bad condition. He recommended very light loads if I shoot it as he thought modern ammo would be dangerous in this particular model.

I have shot modern defensive rounds that were not marked +P in a Brazilian I call "Carmon" and when it was a car gun carried such in the gun, BUT for normal shooting either a 230 grain lead round nose at GI velocities or a 200 grain LSWC a bit faster but not silly.

Took third in a revolver shoot against steel and man on man in my little club once with it and the 200 grain SWCs. One of my favorite revolvers and like my other two favorites a S&W N frame.

-kBob

I have a Colt New Service in .45 Colt. The New Service was the basis of the Colt M1917. Colts were heat treated fairly early (around 1903) and are very robust guns. I shoot loads equal to .45 ACP +P loads in my Colt, with no ill effects.

I wouldn't have any qualms about shooting .45 ACP +P in a S&W M1917 on an occasional basis.