Marlin .45 ACP Conversion

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  • Last Post 22 March 2017
Ed Harris posted this 12 December 2006

About 25 years ago Wayne Schwartz modified a Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum to .45 ACP for me and this worked really well.  I let Wayne talk me out of the rifle when I left Ruger and have regretted it ever since, so I've had another done.  This time I took a .45 Colt Cowboy II and sent it to John Taylor who set the .45 Colt barrel and magazine tube back, rechambered the barrel, fitted a new extractor, and reworked the lifter.  Conversion cost was $300 plus sights and return FedEx. 

It holds twelve rounds in the magazine tube, as finished with 22-1/2” barrel), is 39” overall and weighs 6 lbs. 12 ozs. I'll be using this with 230-gr. lead FN  Cowboy slugs and JHPs.  A charge of 5 grs. of Bullseye and 230-gr. LFN gives about 1000 f.p.s. in a rifle, vs. 830 in an M1911 pistol. Given the limited powder capacity and faster powders used in the .45 ACP you only get modest velocity gains in a longer at permissible chamber pressures (20,000 cup max.)  I'm not interested in seeing how hot I can load .45 ACP in a rifle, because that defeats the whole purpose of the gun, to use my handgun ammo in it, and vice-versa.  I won't load or shoot anything in this rifle that .45 ACP revolvers or an M1911 can't handle.  

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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SierraHunter posted this 22 March 2017

Ah, ok gotcha. I haven't messed with 45AR much had forgotten about the thicker rim.

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Ed Harris posted this 22 March 2017

No,

.45 Auto Rim has a thicker rim about 0.090 to make up the difference between the .45 ACP rim and the thickness of the moon clip.

.45 Cowboy Special is a .45 ACP case draw, with a .45 Schofield head turn operation having a .512” rim diameter and 0.058-0.060” rim thickness.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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SierraHunter posted this 22 March 2017

Ed, Adirondack Jack has designed the .45 Special, a rimmed cartridge that duplicates the case capacity of the .45 ACP.  As you indicated, rifles need to be modified to shoot this shorter round.  

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sghart3578 posted this 20 March 2017

Mr. Harris,

 

I read this thread with a lot of interest.  I love Marlins and I love 45 ACP, so why not combine them, right?

I have just about finished my Rhineland Arms 45 ACP Mauser project and it has been a lot of fun.  But I may end up selling it to make room for an 1894 in 45 ACP.

 

Thanks for the inspiration, I always enjoy your writings.

 

 

Steve in N CA

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Pepe Ray posted this 19 March 2017

Excellent!! Thanks for the advice AND the quick response.  The quest begins.

Pepe Ray

Only in His name.

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Ed Harris posted this 19 March 2017

John Taylor has my .45 ACP reamer.  Best compromise is to rough chamber with .38-40 reamer so that barrel has a rim seat.

This will also provide a .455 diameter throat with 7-1/2 degree forcing cone where the shoulder of the .38-40 case would be. 

Then go in behind with .45 ACP reamer to cut cylindrical case body with square mouth shoulder to headspace ACP rounds against.  

This chamber will work with either .45 ACP or .45 Cowboy.  It DOES NOT work with Auto Rim.  

Forced in and extracted rounds will look like this:

 

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Pepe Ray posted this 19 March 2017

Hi Ed,   You've probably caught the error by now but I tried the 235 number with no luck. Went to his web site and found 253 to be 

the correct combination.  I'll try Mr. Taylor next week. After my medical appointments. 

I had renewed my quest for this .45ACP/LA carb. a few years ago by buying a nice, used Marlin. Then life stepped in with a few 

curve balls and I gave the Marlin to my kid brother. Now I'm going to try again.  Since I'll need to purchase a new rifle may I ask 

which chambering you'd recommend for the conversion? 

Thanks, Pepe Ray

 

Only in His name.

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CB posted this 22 January 2009

I haven't heard of a Marlin converted to 460 Rowland, but if you can achieve the same pressures that the 44 Mag can in a rifle, then you can propbably do the conversion, but have a well talented gunsmith do the work.

Myself I like the idea of converting Marlin Lever Gun to a 45 ACP, I carry a Kimber or SIG on my hip while working in the fields.

Jerry

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b52fizzle posted this 19 January 2009

has any one tried using the 460 rowland in one, or heard of it being done?

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Ed Harris posted this 05 January 2009

At 25 yards any .45 ACP personal defense load which expands reliably will do about the same in a rifle.   The Winchester 230-gr. SXT or Speer 230-gr. Gold Dot HPs would be a good choice. If you prefer a cast load, you can get standard .45 Colt ballistics with a 250-gr. semi-wadcutter such as the #454424 with 9 grs. of Blue Dot.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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aeroplane posted this 03 January 2009

I've been looking over the net for 45 acp conversion.  Have you used this gun to just target practice?   I'm looking to deer hunt with a conversion.

I live in the Left coast and hunt deer at 25 yards, can't see any further than that.

Thanks

aeroplane

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Ed Harris posted this 03 June 2008

CR wrote: hello to all you guy ,im new guy one here i like this sight,now where can i get the 45 acp conversion ,i just picked up marlin 94 in 44mag ,but i have more 45acp then 44mag/44spl  and how much is the cost and how long for this conversion thanks :) New contact number for John Taylor Machine is 235-445-4073. They just moved to a different part of the state, and are updating the website soon.   Contact him for current cost and delivery estimates.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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CR posted this 01 June 2008

hello to all you guy ,im new guy one here i like this sight,now where can i get the 45 acp conversion ,i just picked up marlin 94 in 44mag ,but i have more 45acp then 44mag/44spl  and how much is the cost and how long for this conversion thanks :)

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Palmtree posted this 25 November 2007

Ed, I wanted to let you know that I dropped my Marlin 1894 off at DRC Custom a few weeks ago for a 45 ACP conversion. David Clay is going to put his takedown conversion on it and cut the barrel to 16". I have always wanted to shoot 45 ACP rounds out of a leveraction. Thank you for all the inspiration and help.

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Pepe Ray posted this 11 August 2007

I don't think that anyone familiar with the dimensions of the two ctgs. would even bother. The AR rim is so much thicker that if it fit the Colt chamber, IE. action closed, that would indicate massive headspace problems in the arm. I understand that there has been developed a shorter 45 case for the CAS market. This may be usefull in a Colt chambered carbine, or at least worth investigating. This will NOT, however, satisfy my desire for a 45ACP chambered LA carb. Pepe Ray

Only in His name.

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jebb45 posted this 11 August 2007

;}  This just for thought....HAS ANYONE TRIED 45 AUTO RIM AMMO IN ANY OF THE 45 COLT CHAMBERED RIFLES?????    And if they have what is the results?????

Just curious!!!!

jebb45

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Palmtree posted this 02 August 2007

Thanks for the quick reply Ed, I was just wondering about the shape of the SWC lined up in the mag tube. I am going to have it chambered 45 ACP and cut the tube down to 16 1/2". Can't wait to shoot my lever after a round of IDPA with the same load. Five grains of Bullseye over a 200 SWC.

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Ed Harris posted this 02 August 2007

Yes, any LFN. SWC or JHP load suitable for an M1911 works fine in the rifle. I also shoot 255 SWCs in mine.

...and for Pepe Ray, Snapp's work was first class, top drawer, but I'm sure he is retiredd now. Believe Wayne Schwartz is retiredd too, but you might try contacting him c/o the CBA, as he is a member and may take the work. I've had John Taylor do three project rifles for me in the last few years and have been quite satisfied.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Palmtree posted this 02 August 2007

Great info on your 45 acp conversion Ed. I shoot mostly 200 grain Lead SWC's in my 1911's, with this bullet be safe to shoot in a 1894 Marlin 45 acp conversion like yours? Thanks for your time.

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Pepe Ray posted this 04 June 2007

Mr Harris; I've been anxiously waiting to converse with you on this subject (Lever action .45ACP). From various documentation, you've commissioned 3 (at least)of these project rifles on Marlin actions. Snapp, Schwatz and Taylor being the smiths involved. Will you confirm this? Will you discuss your ideas and impressions with me? TIA ,Pepe Ray

Only in His name.

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