1950 Target Revolver

[StrawHat]

Been looking for one of these for a long time. Found many in “collector grade” but finally found a shooter grade. I have filled the last vacancy in my ACP revolver group.



This is as I received it. The non relieved diamond target stocks were a nice touch! This one was shipped in 1956.


I removed the stocks and replaced them with a set of diamond magnas I had laying around. The same drawer had an unused Tyler T grip in it.




After we move I will get it out to the range for a shake down.

Kevin

 

[AZAndy]

That's a real beauty!

 

[Obturation]

What model/ chambering?

 

[CraigC]

Sweet, color me jealous!

 

[Dave T]

That is a Model of 1950, the tapered barrel 45 ACP. A five-screw, N-frame with original checkered target stocks.

Congratulations on an excellent acquisition!

Dave

 

[Gordon]

About the Zenith of S&W post war production IMHO .

 

[Pat Riot]

That is such a nice revolver. Great find.

 

[sigwally]

Congratulations Sir! I have basically the same gun but with the heavy barrel S&W Model 25-2. Now go get some auto rim brass and have a ball...

 

[SwampWolf]

I have basically the same gun but with the heavy barrel S&W Model 25-2.

Same here. I bought mine used but in excellent condition sixteen years ago. Mine was made in 1972 and it's one of my favorites of many revolvers. These revolvers (they were also named the "1955 Target" before 1957) were pretty much intended for serious Bullseye competition back in the day. Back in my day.

 

[sigwally]

Same here. I bought mine used but in excellent condition sixteen years ago. Mine was made in 1972 and it's one of my favorites of many revolvers. These revolvers were pretty much intended for serious Bullseye competition back in the day. Back in my day.

Back in the day??? Hey! It wasn't THAT long ago! I think I bought that 25-2 in about 1980 or maybe 1981. Lets see , that's only...ummm... 41 YEARS AGO!?? What the...Seems like it can't be. But it is...

 

[SwampWolf]

Yep, the older you get the faster it goes. I never knew old age would get me as fast as it did. "Time is man's greatest enemy".

 

[StrawHat]

That is a Model of 1950, the tapered barrel 45 ACP. A five-screw, N-frame with original checkered target stocks.

Congratulations on an excellent acquisition!

Dave

Ding, ding, ding- give that man a ceegar!!! Indeed, a Model 1950 Target Revolver as detailed in Dave T’s post. The stocks are indeed original checkered non relieved targets but not original to that revolver. They number to a different revolver. Good eye Dave!

I have been looking for one for at least 4 decades. This one had a replaced barrel outside of the factory, therefore a shooter which is fine with me.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

Congratulations Sir! I have basically the same gun but with the heavy barrel S&W Model 25-2. Now go get some auto rim brass and have a ball...

Not much need for AR brass. I have several hundred full moon clips and cartridges enough for all of them!

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

...Yep, the older you get the faster it goes...

Remember, life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.

Kevin

 

[sigwally]

Remember, life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.

Kevin

Well, let's all hope when we get to the end of the roll we can rise up and go someplace better! NOT be stranded in some unpleasant, hot , stinky place we don't want to be...

 

[StrawHat]

The Model 1950 was the first Target revolver chambered in 45 ACP by S&W. Prior to this model, all ACP Target revolvers were built as one of a kinds by the Custom Shop or by private gunsmiths. S&W recognized the demand and built a revolver to meet tha demand. 5 years later they also recognized the demand for a heavier version of this revolver and introduced the Model 1955 with a non tapered barrel. The Model 1950 continued in production until 1961. In those 11 years only 2768 were produced.

Kevin

 

[Kleanbore]

Is the revolver more accurate with real rims or clips?

 

[Gordon]

Is the revolver more accurate with real rims or clips?

In my testing and experience of 45 years with the format, and my fathers NRA competition days before that it is not so simple a question ! The load, the bullet ,the shells and the clips used are all abigger factor , gun to gun than wheter it is rimmed or un rimmed. I just sold my New Service Bull barrel and full on blueprinted gun by Cyl. and Slide 30 years ago. I used both types of ammo and experimented. I found very accurate loads for each. Same for my 1955 S&W and my other Custom built New Service Target for NRA use in the 50s . The factory .45 Auto rimmed are a weaker load than the military ball load , and most of todays hollowpoints . They are soft lead too which has some advantages (fun) and some draw backs .

 

[Kleanbore]

Thanks, Gordon.

 

[Iggy]

Nickel Model of 1950 ACP with a custom fit 45 Colt cylinder, and a five-inch barrel.

 

[nofendertom]

Auto rim or ACP accuracy ? In my 1955 Mod25-2 I found no noticeable accuracy difference in AR or ACP using the same bullet and load. Ditched the AR and only use ACP
with moon-clips.

 

[Slamfire]

Nice piece, and I think, rare!

The K series were matched for weight and size, so a shooter could transition between them without having to change hand position on the stock, or finger on the trigger.



Yours is the N frame, and I think even then the N frame grip geometry is a little larger. At the time, those were top of the line Bullseye Pistol Revolvers. The last stage in 2700 is 45. Which can be 45 LC, 45 Auto Rim, any 45 revolver. What eventually won out was the 45 ACP 1911 because you have more time to recover from recoil and aim. Shooting double action accurately is extremely hard in timed fire and rapid fire.

Here are your period customization options.

 

[sigwally]

For my 25-2 and 4 inch 625 "Model of 1988" both the rimmed .45 AR rounds and the .45 acp rounds are equal in accuracy. With maybe a slight edge to the Auto Rim. I use the Auto Rim rounds exclusively in those guns now so I don't have to deal with the full moon clips. I bought 2000 rounds of Remington Auto Rim brass about 20 years ago when Midway had a blow to sale.

 

[Walkalong]

5 years later they also recognized the demand for a heavier version of this revolver and introduced the Model 1955 with a non tapered barrel.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice piece, and I think, rare!

Yes, the OP's Pre-model number Target Model of 1950 is a nice example and I agree they are a bit rare.

I have a Model 25-2 Model of 1955 similar to Walkalong's.

I shoot only Moon clipped 45 ACP in mine and get good accuracy. A BMT Equipped moon clip loader/unloader makes working with moon clips easy. But the price of the tools may scare some folks off.

I do not need to work with another cartridge (45 Auto Rim) as I'm loading something north of 30 cartridges already. I also have a Model 22 and a Model 625 that use moon clips.