1914 Colt .357 With Scope

[Wyatt Burp]

This is a 1914 Colt New Service .455 Eley rechambered long ago into a 7 1/2" .357. I bought it for the fun of it and thought $425 was OK. Action, bore, timing is great. I'm not a scope fan on handguns but it'll be fun to try out that way. Scope mount attached by two screws with no modification of the top strap.



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[adamkdoiron]

Interesting setup, kind of cool looking to be honest

[200Apples]

lettuce no howit cho0tz

[bczrx]

Very interesting.

I am no expert. My only knowledge is experience with my 5 Colt revolvers, and knowledge of ammo pressures.

If it were me, I'd only use .38special 'cowboy loads' [that were under 220ft/lbs of energy, and under 800 fps in speed] in this gun, just to be safe- until I had a real expert weigh in.


The .357mag came out in 1935, if I recall correctly. Colt would eventually use their .41 caliber frame for the .357mag cartridge- in 1953 with the Colt Model 357 [I have one from 1954: the Python came out in 1955 with a different barrel screwed into the 357's 'I' frame].

The cylinders and frames were heat treated differently in 1954 for the Model 357 [and in 1955 for the Python] from the treatment on the 1950s Colt Officers' Model Match [top end .38special pistol on same frame].

The 1950s OMM had the firing pin on hammer- as your does.



From knowledge of pressures:

The .455 Webley [.455 Eley]:
Max pressure: around 13000 psi
Vel: 600-760fps
ME: 210-340ft/lb

.357mag:
SAAMI Max Pressure [post 1990]: 35,000 psi.
Vel: 1100-1600 fps
ME: 470-720ft/lbs

.38special:
Max pressure[non +P]: 17,000psi
Vel:730-1000fps
ME: 195-350ft/lbs.



My concern would be with you firing .38Special +P or .357Mag rounds from a 100 year old cylinder that was heat treated to handle .455 Eley rounds, or .45colt [and 1914 .45colt was NOT as strong as the stuff we can handload and shoot through a Ruger].

The .45colt was:
Max Press: 14,000psi
Vel [at that time]: around 1000fps
ME: probably around 350-400ft/lbs at that speed.


Note, the .45colt is STILL less than half the Max Pressure allowed for the .357Mag.

So-

I'd really encourage you to stick to Cowboy loads for the .38special in this: until you get an real expert to check it out.



Don't get me wrong- I think it is WAY COOL!

I just don't want a thread of you with a shattered pistol [or hand] due to running Mag through a cylinder/frame not proofed for even modern .38Special +P ammo.