.45ACP in French MAS 1873s

CobraGT

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So, my understanding talking to my French father-in-law (and I've seen it online as well) is that MAS 1873 revolvers were commonly reamed out to utilize .455 and .45ACP ammo provided by the Allies during WW2. So, were the French partisans using full-power smokeless-powder .45ACP loads in these things back in the day?? My father-in-law tells me that the French Resistance used whatever ammunition they could source, but this is second-hand info for him as it was HIS father that fought as a young man in the 1940s.

I don't think I'd personally want to risk firing a full-power .45ACP through my 150-year-old MAS revolver, I'm just curious as to whether the gun is built solidly enough to handle it if it was ever necessary. Modern full-power .45ACP isn't producing much more muzzle energy than the Fiocchi .455 ammo I've used for years in my RIC and more recently in the MAS, so in theory I suspect it'd be fine, though I'm not eager to try it.

I'm definitely going to source some lightly loaded .45ACP to try out though :)
 
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Full power ball ammo loaded with jacketed bullets are incredibly unsafe and will destroy your gun. If it was 1944 and you needed to shoot a German to get his MP40 it’d be worth the risk, not today. Personally I find the French resistance chamber reaming claims to be dubious, if period documents appeared showing US supply containers at any point contained .45 reamers it’d be more convincing. The 11mm French Ordnance cartridge is very weak and the guns while beautifully built are made from soft metal. The top straps are quite thin.
 
Conversion is just put an antique handgun to junk .

They can find easy set of dies in original caliber by hcollection in France too…
 
Full power ball ammo loaded with jacketed bullets are incredibly unsafe and will destroy your gun. If it was 1944 and you needed to shoot a German to get his MP40 it’d be worth the risk, not today. Personally I find the French resistance chamber reaming claims to be dubious, if period documents appeared showing US supply containers at any point contained .45 reamers it’d be more convincing. The 11mm French Ordnance cartridge is very weak and the guns while beautifully built are made from soft metal. The top straps are quite thin.

Thanks for the very useful, logical response. I've always wondered about the reported 1940s conversions as well, but I don't really doubt it, as there were many gunsmiths in France prior to the invasion by Germany...



Conversion is just put an antique handgun to junk .

They can find easy set of dies in original caliber by hcollection in France too…

Agreed, my 1873 will stay in 11mm and retain it historical status.

Not at all what the thread was about, but thanks for the responses anyway, I guess. Mine was reportedly converted way back during one of the biggest wars we've ever suffered through, which is historical in and of itself. God only knows what it was used for back in the 40's... again, historical in and of itself. So, as there's no going back from that, I'm taking advantage of it. Custom Reloading in Maple Ridge is making me some antique-safe lower-powered .45ACP rounds for my MAS - I'll let you all know how they work when I have a chance to try them out.
 
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Conversion is just put an antique handgun to junk .

They can find easy set of dies in original caliber by hcollection in France too…

Unfortunately H&C will not export center fire components without the purchaser having an import license anymore. French law has changed last year and exporting these components - including brass, bullets and reloading kits is no longer an easy matter.
 
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