American Handgunner Jul/Aug 2011 - Jeffersonian

Despite checking every dimension on his
vintage Smith & Wesson Model 1917 .45
ACP, Duke can’t figure out why it just
tumbles all lead-alloy bullets, as shown by
the oblong holes at right. It shoots jacketed
bullets just fine, as shown by the normal
bullet holes in the center.
Duke’s
favorite
.45 Auto Rim
handload uses
the Redding/SAECO
cast bullet #453, a
225-gr. full wadcutter.
THE
BEST EVER
REVOLVER CARTRIDGE!
Mike "Duke" Venturino
Photos: Yvonne Venturino
Has Duke Lost
His Marbles?
The .45 ACP
became a revolver
cartridge because
in 1917 the US Army
did not have enough Model
1911 pistols for WWI and so
prevailed on S&W and Colt to
adapt their big-frame revolvers to it.
What’s the best ever bigbore
revolver cartridge?
I’m not talking about
something chambered
in a bazooka-length
revolver fitted with a
bipod like I saw at SHOT Show 2011.
Nor am I talking about the sort of
revolver and cartridge you would want
in order save yourself from being eaten
by some critter or another. The sort of
revolvers I’m talking about are ordinary
sized ones you might have in a holster
or in a drawer by the bed at home.
In these pages I’ve not hesitated
64 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2011