agreed. however, if you tell people, especially cops, that its still chambered in an antique caliber instead of the modern caliber it just happens to also shoot, I would think you're less likely to be hassled with having an "unregistered handgun" if you were carrying it in the bush, say, or shooting on crown land with it. Mind you, having all the paperwork in order anyway would be smart. get my point?
Converting French MAS 1873 Revolver from 11mm to .45ACP
- Thread starter Thiopento
- Start date
agreed. however, if you tell people, especially cops, that its still chambered in an antique caliber instead of the modern caliber it just happens to also shoot, I would think you're less likely to be hassled with having an "unregistered handgun" if you were carrying it in the bush, say, or shooting on crown land with it. Mind you, having all the paperwork in order anyway would be smart. get my point?
If you just want something in .45 ACP, buy a 1911. Norinco 1911s start at $325, S.A.M. 1911s start at $395, and Iver Johnson, Springfield Armoury and Remington 1911s range from $600 to $800.
Even the Glock 21 retails for less than $600 and the SIG-SAUER P220 is only $900.
Even the Glock 21 retails for less than $600 and the SIG-SAUER P220 is only $900.
On a crusade here eh? Refer to my other reply... find a .45 antique in 45acp and I'm all ears, otherwise you're just shouting irrelevant numbers from a soap box. Yes I'm grumpy right now.
burnt_servo
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I've been playing with the numbers , a 1873 set up for 45 schofield will need the bullet seated about 100 thou deeper than the specs I could find online so it will fit into the cylinder .
if done properly the case capacity will be larger than 455 webley .
and again if done properly , it can also be set up to fire 455 too , but more than likely it would require the use of 45 colt brass with it's smaller rim , so a second step can be made to headspace the 455 round with its larger rim .
I already did.
You are actively encouraging people to rechamber antiques made of questionable metals to a modern cartridge. Think very carefully about what you are doing.
In addition to the risk of it blowing up in your hands, there is also the potential legal sh!tstorm you could be stepping into by modifiying an antique into a modern cartridge. It is possible to be charged with possession of an unregistered restricted or even prohibited, or even possession without a license. Even if no convictions arise, there is still punishment by process.
If you want an antique .45 calibre, consider an original Colt 1873 in .45 Colt. .45 Colt is still very common, and I doubt anyone would question its capabilities, or the 1873.
With that out of the way, did someone piss in your corn flakes today?
burnt_servo
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There are rumours of the RCMP trying to change the antique laws to outlaw rechambering an antique to a modern calibre while retaining its antique status. Yes, I know they're rumours, but still.
Then there's the chance of being charged by an unknowledgeable officer and put through the legal system, even if no crime was committed.
Then there's the chance of being charged by an unknowledgeable officer and put through the legal system, even if no crime was committed.
winnipegger
CGN frequent flyer
.45 colt 1873 isnt an antique (has to be registered) in Canada how is this a solution? I don't think you understand what you are lecturing about...
burnt_servo
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that is what I was getting at when he mentioned that a guy should use 45 colt . never mind the fact that 45 colt won't fit / function in a 1873
he is more than likely a troll , just spouting off half truths and innuendo .
the easiest way to spot these people , most of them are from out east , and they have a zero trader rating .
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- right in the middle of b.c.
the rcmp can not change the laws , even though they try to bend the policies as much as possible .
rumours are just that rumours . they are based on nothing .
if a police officer decides to attempt to charge you based on rumours , he is opening himself up to a lawsuit and a world of hurt .
you need to actually go do some research yourself about the firearms act and what constitutes a antique before you come back here and start spouting your gospel of half truths and innuendo .
Laws change and the fact that people Bubba perfectly good antiques to allow them to use readily available brass is appalling to many. I am confident that this isn't what they had in mind when the law was written. For that reason it is easily conceivable that the law might be changed to remove this loophole.
Most of the french 1873s you find in 45 acp were done long time ago just like the shaved webley MKIs and MKIIs
The original reason it was done was so they could kill German soldiers in WWI and WWII the French used them in Vietnam to.
I dont see how its a loophole you can shoot 455 MKII webley ammo in any french 1873 thats converted to 45 acp.
If the rcmp did and amendment and said no modern Cartridges then by reaming each chamber a few tho deeper the 45 acp would fall in the chamber to far and the fireing pin would not fire the Primers Yet the 455 MKII case would still function and its and antique cartridge its rim suports it perfect.
The Fiochhi MKII brass rim fits perfect in any 1873 converted to 45 acp.
455 is a antique cartridge and a much better round than the gutless 11mm French round.
That was the one poor thing about the 1873s was the gutless french round.
I would rather have one that can use 455 cases anyday. Keep in mind 98% of the antique gun collectors in Canada are shooters not guys wanting to stuff there guns in a glass case and admire it thru the glass they want to shoot them. 455 beats the 11 mm french hands down so does the 45 acp.
If you have one thats 45 acp capable, done right its also 455 MKII capable.
For thos guys that want one in original 11mm theres still lots around its not like there a rare gun like a S&W schofield where there was less than 8 thousand ever made.
There was over 337,000 1873s made eh compared to other guns thats alot.
Alot of missinformation in this thred mainly by one member.
The original reason it was done was so they could kill German soldiers in WWI and WWII the French used them in Vietnam to.
I dont see how its a loophole you can shoot 455 MKII webley ammo in any french 1873 thats converted to 45 acp.
If the rcmp did and amendment and said no modern Cartridges then by reaming each chamber a few tho deeper the 45 acp would fall in the chamber to far and the fireing pin would not fire the Primers Yet the 455 MKII case would still function and its and antique cartridge its rim suports it perfect.
The Fiochhi MKII brass rim fits perfect in any 1873 converted to 45 acp.
455 is a antique cartridge and a much better round than the gutless 11mm French round.
That was the one poor thing about the 1873s was the gutless french round.
I would rather have one that can use 455 cases anyday. Keep in mind 98% of the antique gun collectors in Canada are shooters not guys wanting to stuff there guns in a glass case and admire it thru the glass they want to shoot them. 455 beats the 11 mm french hands down so does the 45 acp.
If you have one thats 45 acp capable, done right its also 455 MKII capable.
For thos guys that want one in original 11mm theres still lots around its not like there a rare gun like a S&W schofield where there was less than 8 thousand ever made.
There was over 337,000 1873s made eh compared to other guns thats alot.
Alot of missinformation in this thred mainly by one member.
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Are you referring to when I specified the Colt 1873, also known as the Single Action Army, or are you deliberately twisting my words to imply that I said to convert a MAS 1873 to .45 Colt?
I never said it could not or should not be done, nor did I say it should be left in 11mm. I also did not say a MAS should not be converted to .455 Webley.
burnt_servo
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you are the guy saying we should be using 45 colt in a antique ........
you tell me what is wrong with that statement
SC Gun Works in Markham will likely do this for you. They converted a 1873 St. Etienne to 455 Webley for me about 5 years ago.
I remember being asked to sign a liability waiver and they required an antique status letter from the RCMP which I already had.
I remember being asked to sign a liability waiver and they required an antique status letter from the RCMP which I already had.
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What Dingus said. I've got an 1873 chambered in .45acp. 5.1 grains of Unique below a 200 grain cast lead bullet. It'll punch .452" holes through a 14" diameter pine tree, though the bullet will have slowed a tad from 700fps when it comes out the other side. What's not to like?
Reloading? In one night you can load a year's supply of antique ammo - it's not like you're going to put 500 rounds per weekend through a (beautiful, even if it is French-ugly) gun built circa 1880.
Go ahead & do it - life is short, you might as well own something that actually shoots.
Reloading? In one night you can load a year's supply of antique ammo - it's not like you're going to put 500 rounds per weekend through a (beautiful, even if it is French-ugly) gun built circa 1880.
Go ahead & do it - life is short, you might as well own something that actually shoots.
