Ash,

I do understand the idea of wanting a different toy........doesn't have to make alot of sense...you just want one.

I built myself a 92 Winchester in .45 Long Colt out of a .38/40. Pretty simple conversion. New barrell and some modification to the front of the feed rails. It now wears a pistol grip stock as I like it better than the straight grip stock.

I've shot it on pigs (translates to "feral hogs") with Hornady XTPs and they don't complain. Haven't really tried to ring the most out of it as far as heavy loads are concerned as it does the job already.

With a .45 Auto on a large calibre Winchester 92 I'd say the loading gate, magazine, cartridge stop and bolt would work but you may need to do the "thingy" on the cartridge lifter that determines how far the cartridge goes onto the carrier (possibly build it up so the cartridge doesn't go too far into the gun....so there's not excessive "run up" to the chamber), cartridge feed guides and extractor (??).

Being rimless I don't know if the "rim guide area" on the cartridge guides would have to be filled/filled and altered for position (closer towards front to allow for shorter cartridge length). You'd cut your chamber with a "headspaces on case mouth" type reamer and load cartridges for it just the way you'd load them for your semi auto handgun.

That's my "off the cuff" observations.....I don't have an action and cartridge in front of me to add more accuracy to my ponderings. If your reloading manual gives the dimensions for .45 Auto and whatever your donor actions original cartridge is/was, and you understand the machinations of your action, you should be able to extablish if it's doable.

Just remember "free advice is usually worth everything you gave for it".