Question on throat reaming

[Tommy Kelly]

My son is coming to ream out the throats on my 2 45's one is a straight 45 the other is a convertable. Should I ream all 3 cylinders or just the 2 colt cylinders and leave the acp cylinder alone since it is supposed to use smaller diameter bullets.

 

[45Colt_Man]

I ream both cylinders. I don't use the ACP's often but I load 230gr .452 dia lead in them.

Dana

PS they were about .450 before reaming as I recall.

 

[RUFFBIRD]

I ream both cylinders. I don't use the ACP's often but I load 230gr .452 dia lead in them.

Dana

PS they were about .450 before reaming as I recall.

Agree, ream both if you want to shoot lead.....
I did both cylinders on my convertable!

 

[Tommy Kelly]

We cut all three cylinders. They turned out nice and a cast bullet sized 452 fit thru with very little pressure. My son reamed them and did it by hand and all came out smooth and slick looking. I will give them a try in a few days.

 

[Dale53]

I recently reamed six cylinders (three convertibles, one mine and the other two a couple of friends). They shoot much better now and we are all three a bunch of "happy campers".

FWIW
Dale53

 

[TomC321]

I have reamed a number of them, both .45 Colt and .45 ACP. Some were really tight, and some were somewhat oddly shaped, but the reaming helped all of them. I didn’t ream one, a 7 ½” SS NMBH .45 ACP cylinder. It measured .451” with pin gages, and shot mil ball so well I didn’t think I should mess with it.

 

[edlmann]

Should I ream all 3 cylinders or just the 2 colt cylinders and leave the acp cylinder alone since it is supposed to use smaller diameter bullets.

Since WWII, .45 Colt pistols have had .452 barrels, same as ACP.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

Yes but ruger doesn't make all 45 cylinders to .452 like they should be. The bbl's are 452 but the cylinder throats are tighter than that

 

[JNewell]

Should I ream all 3 cylinders or just the 2 colt cylinders and leave the acp cylinder alone since it is supposed to use smaller diameter bullets.

Since WWII, .45 Colt pistols have had .452 barrels, same as ACP.

He was referring to Ruger cylinders chambered for .45 [Long] Colt.

 

[Grampie not Grumpie]

On my .45 Colt Vaquero (original model) The throats were all way too small. A .451 200 gr. jacketed bullet wouldn't even begin to pass through and a .452 cast lead would sit on top. I reamed the cylinder throats to .4525" and have been very pleased with the results.

I received the Vaquero as a 50th wedding present from my wife last Aug. The gun was made in 1999 and I have wondered what the pressures were when the previous owner shot it with the tight throats.

Grampie not Grumpie,

 

[edlmann]

Should I ream all 3 cylinders or just the 2 colt cylinders and leave the acp cylinder alone since it is supposed to use smaller diameter bullets.

Since WWII, .45 Colt pistols have had .452 barrels, same as ACP.

He was referring to Ruger cylinders chambered for .45 [Long] Colt.

The point I was trying to make was that the .45 ACP and .45 Colt SHOULD use the same size bullet. Both cylinders should be reamed to .4525 as recommended here.