french 1873 revolver in 45 acp
- Thread starter the_beege
- Start date
You can blow up the top strap- it's not that thick. I've seen pics of those guns blown up. They can also loosen up if fed a high pressure diet.
They were built for the pressures of 11MM French calibre, which was a weak black powder loading. (approx 12,000cup?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11mm_French_Ordnance
That's not to say that you won't get away with it for a time...but it is not recommended.
What is recommended is reloading your .45acp shells down to black powder pressure levels. The gun can certainly handle that.
As good as they are, don't forget the metallurgy from that era was not up to modern standards.
, whenever possible 
- the barrels deserve that much !....
I agree with Cantom and cyclone 100%. The '73 is a good strong pistol but it was designed for cartrdiges in the 12K psi range and built in a period when metallurgy was not nearly so advanced as it was 30 years later. Treat that old veteran with respect by downloading to blackpowder levels and enjoy it for a long, long time.
Typical responces from 4 guys who dont have or shoot a 45 acp converted french 1873 
If a webley or any gun is not rechambered in the correct way you can have trobles with any guns.
The french guns are very strong ive sold at least a dozen all pro converted to 45 acp or 455. never had any reports of problems the big thing and i have posted this before is they need to have the chamber throats opened up to .452
Some have .452 chamber throats some are tighter but most need that done Before there reamed for a 45 acp cartridge.
I agree use lead bullet ammo only as Cyclone says he is right they have wide flat rifleing like a schofield and they need lead bullets.
Also keep the loads under 800 Fps. or use a 5 gr unique load same as the 455 webley.
lotsa guys shoot factory 45 acp in webleys but id only use the wolf swc stuff as its not loaded as hot as other 45 acp.
The guns ive have sold alot of guys shoot that wolf SWC lead ammo its all under 800 fps.
The cylinder chambers walls are way thicker than any webleys.
The guns a soilid frame gun to.
Just remember any gun can blow up if its overloaded or not converted by someone that knows what they are doing.
To Answer the last posts question most have bore dia of .451 to .453
Its the chamber throats that can pose a threat if there not re chambered right.
Lots werfe converted by the french with drill bits so they could shoot 45 acp in WWI WWII and they shot hardball 45 acp ammo thru them for years them guns are still around.
So not that its a good idea i know its been done and alot.
almopst all the ones you see blowin up on the net most were from useing shortened i think its 44 40 cases with the wrong Dia bullets in ORIGNAL chambered guns not the 45 acp converted guns.
tho anything can blow up look up light smokeless loads under detenation!
more light smokeless loads (to light) a reloads have blowin up perfectly good SAA colts and other guns.
Any 1873 gun set up properly is very safe with medium to light 45 acp loads with lead bullets.
If a webley or any gun is not rechambered in the correct way you can have trobles with any guns.
The french guns are very strong ive sold at least a dozen all pro converted to 45 acp or 455. never had any reports of problems the big thing and i have posted this before is they need to have the chamber throats opened up to .452
Some have .452 chamber throats some are tighter but most need that done Before there reamed for a 45 acp cartridge.
I agree use lead bullet ammo only as Cyclone says he is right they have wide flat rifleing like a schofield and they need lead bullets.
Also keep the loads under 800 Fps. or use a 5 gr unique load same as the 455 webley.
lotsa guys shoot factory 45 acp in webleys but id only use the wolf swc stuff as its not loaded as hot as other 45 acp.
The guns ive have sold alot of guys shoot that wolf SWC lead ammo its all under 800 fps.
The cylinder chambers walls are way thicker than any webleys.
The guns a soilid frame gun to.
Just remember any gun can blow up if its overloaded or not converted by someone that knows what they are doing.
To Answer the last posts question most have bore dia of .451 to .453
Its the chamber throats that can pose a threat if there not re chambered right.
Lots werfe converted by the french with drill bits so they could shoot 45 acp in WWI WWII and they shot hardball 45 acp ammo thru them for years them guns are still around.
So not that its a good idea i know its been done and alot.
almopst all the ones you see blowin up on the net most were from useing shortened i think its 44 40 cases with the wrong Dia bullets in ORIGNAL chambered guns not the 45 acp converted guns.
tho anything can blow up look up light smokeless loads under detenation!
more light smokeless loads (to light) a reloads have blowin up perfectly good SAA colts and other guns.
Any 1873 gun set up properly is very safe with medium to light 45 acp loads with lead bullets.
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Typical responces from 4 guys who dont have or shoot a 45 acp converted french 1873
If a webley or any gun is not rechambered in the correct way you can have trobles with any guns.
The french guns are very strong ive sold at least a dozen all pro converted to 45 acp or 455. never had any reports of problems the big thing and i have posted this before is they need to have the chamber throats opened up to .452
Some have .452 chamber throats some are tighter but most need that done Before there reamed for a 45 acp cartridge.
I agree use lead bullet ammo only as Cyclone says he is right they have wide flat rifleing like a schofield and they need lead bullets.
Also keep the loads under 800 Fps. or use a 5 gr unique load same as the 455 webley.
lotsa guys shoot factory 45 acp in webleys but id only use the wolf swc stuff as its not loaded as hot as other 45 acp.
The guns ive have sold alot of guys shoot that wolf SWC lead ammo its all under 800 fps.
The cylinder chambers walls are way thicker than any webleys.
The guns a soilid frame gun to.
Just remember any gun can blow up if its overloaded or not converted by someone that knows what they are doing.
To Answer the last posts question most have bore dia of .451 to .453
Its the chamber throats that can pose a threat if there not re chambered right.
Lots werfe converted by the french with drill bits so they could shoot 45 acp in WWI WWII and they shot hardball 45 acp ammo thru them for years them guns are still around.
So not that its a good idea i know its been done and alot.
almopst all the ones you see blowin up on the net most were from useing shortened 44 40 cases with the wrong Dia bullets in ORIGNAL chambered guns not the 45 acp converted guns.
tho anything can blow up look up light smokeless loads under detenation!
more light smokeless loads (to light) a reloads have blowin up perfectly good SAA colts and other guns.
Any 1873 gun set up properly is very safe with medium to light 45 acp loads with lead bullets.
Exactly, light to medium loads with lead bullets.
5.0 gr unique in a .45acp case and a 230 gr soft cast bullet will run 11,000 psi range and approx 700-750 fps out of a 4 in bbl. That's a nice safe load in a '73 in good condition that's been set up properly for .45acp.
Typical responces from 4 guys who dont have or shoot a 45 acp converted french 1873
If a webley or any gun is not rechambered in the correct way you can have trobles with any guns.
The french guns are very strong ive sold at least a dozen all pro converted to 45 acp or 455. never had any reports of problems the big thing and i have posted this before is they need to have the chamber throats opened up to .452
Some have .452 chamber throats some are tighter but most need that done Before there reamed for a 45 acp cartridge.
I agree use lead bullet ammo only as Cyclone says he is right they have wide flat rifleing like a schofield and they need lead bullets.
Also keep the loads under 800 Fps. or use a 5 gr unique load same as the 455 webley.
lotsa guys shoot factory 45 acp in webleys but id only use the wolf swc stuff as its not loaded as hot as other 45 acp.
The guns ive have sold alot of guys shoot that wolf SWC lead ammo its all under 800 fps.
The cylinder chambers walls are way thicker than any webleys.
The guns a soilid frame gun to.
Just remember any gun can blow up if its overloaded or not converted by someone that knows what they are doing.
To Answer the last posts question most have bore dia of .451 to .453 Its the chamber throats that can pose a threat if there not re chambered right.
Lots werfe converted by the french with drill bits so they could shoot 45 acp in WWI WWII and they shot hardball 45 acp ammo thru them for years them guns are still around.
So not that its a good idea i know its been done and alot.
almopst all the ones you see blowin up on the net most were from useing shortened i think its 44 40 cases with the wrong Dia bullets in ORIGNAL chambered guns not the 45 acp converted guns.
tho anything can blow up look up light smokeless loads under detenation!
more light smokeless loads (to light) a reloads have blowin up perfectly good SAA colts and other guns.
Any 1873 gun set up properly is very safe with medium to light 45 acp loads with lead bullets.
Thanks for the explanation.
Another question - how can a gun with a bore diameter of .451 to .453 shoot .452 bullets? Do they have to be hollow based?
Not sure which gun you meen but webley MKI and MKIIs most have .451 to .452 bores and guys shoot 455 bullets down them all the time.
Lead bullets will swell up a couple tho no problem. I find the french 1873s shot more accurate than the webleys.
The French 1873s have bores that are normally .452 give or take a tho so perfect for 45 acp ammo but lots guys shoot 455 ammo outa them to the ones set up in 455 are not much diffrent than the 45 acp ones.
Most guys dont know this but you can shoot fiochhi 455 outa a 45 acp converted french 1873 eh.
They have the same bores and chamber throats as a webley MKI once set up right and a 455 fiochhi case fits perfect the rim is just the right size.
I think 45 acp is better as shooting a 455 bullet down a .452 bore raises presure i think, it must.
I shoot or reload and then shoot Keith SWC sized .452 in all my MKI and MKII 455 webleys when i reload the cases . i dont use the 455 webley bullets anymore.
All the stuff i have read says dont shoot a bullet more that two tho bigger than the bore Dia (i think Keith said that) makes sence so i try not to do it.
Why Webleys have .452 bores i dont know but most do unless there 455/476 marked. then the bores are bigger and the 455 ammo makes sence.
I like the bore and chamber throats to all be the same in a perfect world thats what works best for less presure and best accuracy.
Not sure which gun you meen but webley MKI and MKIIs most have .451 to .452 bores and guys shoot 455 bullets down them all the time.
Lead bullets will swell up a couple tho no problem. I find the french 1873s shot more accurate than the webleys.
The French 1873s have bores that are normally .452 give or take a tho so perfect for 45 acp ammo but lots guys shoot 455 ammo outa them to the ones set up in 455 are not much diffrent than the 45 acp ones.
Most guys dont know this but you can shoot fiochhi 455 outa a 45 acp converted french 1873 eh.
They have the same bores and chamber throats as a webley MKI once set up right and a 455 fiochhi case fits perfect the rim is just the right size.
I think 45 acp is better as shooting a 455 bullet down a .452 bore raises presure i think, it must.
I shoot or reload and then shoot Keith SWC sized .452 in all my MKI and MKII 455 webleys when i reload the cases . i dont use the 455 webley bullets anymore.
All the stuff i have read says dont shoot a bullet more that two tho bigger than the bore Dia (i think Keith said that) makes sence so i try not to do it.
Why Webleys have .452 bores i dont know but most do unless there 455/476 marked. then the bores are bigger and the 455 ammo makes sence.
I like the bore and chamber throats to all be the same in a perfect world thats what works best for less presure and best accuracy.
A .452 bullet is going to just about slide through a .452 bore unless there is dramatic bullet upset. .452 = .452 - the same size. A .455 bullet is only going to give three thousandths of engagement to the rifling in a .452 bore - hardly enough to spin it, let alone raise pressure.
I think there is some difference of understanding on what the term "bore size" actually means.
"Bore size" properly means the barrel ID measured at the lands, which is the context you are using. I think dingus is referring to the barrel ID measured on the grooves, not the bore.
If you are after sub MOA results then you have to hold to a higher standard, but lots of guys are happy with less.
Here's a video of a canuck shooting jacketed .308 bullets in 7.62x39 which is supposed to use .311 and gets decent accuracy at 100yards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Fce82hX70&list=UU1393kyZAmWuV7S_T1FuHwA&index=4&feature=plcp
Here's a video of a canuck shooting jacketed .308 bullets in 7.62x39 which is supposed to use .311 and gets decent accuracy at 100yards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Fce82hX70&list=UU1393kyZAmWuV7S_T1FuHwA&index=4&feature=plcp
