These are probably kind of a nub questions but I am new to the whole revolver world. I have a 340 and I was wondering are there replacement cylinders that allow shooting of say 9mm without any other conversions? Or maybe someday I decide I should have gone the 340pd route is it possible to swap for the titanium cylinder?

Also second question is it possible to switch the trigger for one of a different shape?

Thanks for any responses.

I don't think this such a newby question - I have a Model 642 and answered a sale another forum member had for a Model 442 cylinder that had been cut for moon clips. Neither of us knew definitively, but both suspected this was a drop in replacement. It was and I've been using my converted 642 without problems for several years. Recently, I purchased a Model 38 (no dash), and I thought about swapping a stainless steel cylinder ala the Michigan Police Supply Bodyguards. As all of the revolvers involved are the same sized frame (J), and the same caliber (.38 Special), I assumed any old J frame .38 Special cylinder would work. WRONG!!! Neither the clinder from my Model 60, or from my Model 642 will fit the Model 38 - nor vice versa. The experts will respond shortly, but I believe you will have to either have your existing cylinder modified, or get a spare cylinder that is modified for multi-caliber usage. I know this is possible, but I don't know all of the technical steps needed/involved.

Best of luck,

Dave

Thanks for the info dave. Sounds like this might be kind of tricky.

This comes in handy. I too have a Model 38 and was going to attempt to install a SS cylinder like you (Dave) have tried. Mine is a dash 2. If the cylinders were "dimensionally" the same and the cylinder-latch machining is the same it should work. Smith did several things to all models through the 80's and one of the things they did was "fool" with the hand, cylinder-latch holes and changed the yoke retention system. Prior to this time all yokes were hand-fitted.

So....you never really know. But the answer could be yes....as long as you obtain other components that complement the cylinder for that model year gun from which the cylinder came from, or make modifications on the frame and lock-work of the "receiving" gun to accommodate the cylinder you wish to graft.

I would say that as long as you stay within dash models, or production years, it would work. The 642/442 swap sounds like a piece of cake. The only difference is the finish.

Now triggers....I have never heard of anyone asking for a different "shaped" trigger.

I have had people tell me don't even try to fire 9MM from a 38 barrel, but I know people who do it all the time in the form of cast 9mm slugs. The 9MM is .355 and the 38/357 is....well....357. Compromises had to be made with the 22/22MAG convertibles and I believe there has been offerings in 38/9MM convertibles as well. Accuracy and leading may be an issue, but the gun should not blow-up in your hand. As far as you finding a 9MM cylinder for your 340....I have no idea. Sounds like a custom-bored cylinder would be required.

Thanks snubbie. So a 340 pd cylinder if found would prolly just drop in but other than that it could be more complicated.?
Are there companies out there that sell custom cylinders or is it a find a cylinder and send it in for re-boring ordeal?

Is your objective to find a little lighter round than the 357, you just like the 9MM, or....none of our business?

I am no 340 expert, but I doubt that Smith offers a 9MM cylinder for that very expensive gun, which was built to shoot the 357MAG. Not being a SA, but you do realize it will also handle 38-specials. If you are seeking a moon-clip revolver for faster loading, I do suppose you could have that cylinder modified for moon-clips, but you would need a blank cylinder and a darn good machinist, or gunsmith to make you a 9MM cylinder.

There are other 9MM revolvers out there and my honest advice is to sell the 340 and purchase one already built in 9MM.

Take a shot at calling Smith and see what they say. They just mailed me two center-pin springs for FREE.....nice folks.

Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing

There are many places to get cylinder conversions done.
The cost of moon clips varies as well as the moon clip comparability.
I don't know if one is better than the other.
If it were me. I think it is a good enough reason to buy another snuby in 9mm.
I hate to say it but Taurus makes a 9 copy of the Smith. I would rather pay more for made in the USA.
Let us know how things turn out please.
Merry Christmas.

+1 on the reason to purchase another gun....by all means, keep the 340 and buy you another model in 9MM. Most of us have a lot more guns than we do hands anyway.

As bull mentioned above, Taurus does make a model 905 in 9MM based on their small-frame 85 series and can be had for well under $400. That might be a place to start, but you are listening to a man that has owned a few Taurus weapons in the past and it can be a coin-toss as to whether-or-not you get one that works right out of the box.

Thanks for all the responses. Currently I have no immediate plans to do any changes. I actually just got the 340. For the most part this was all a curiosity question. Also the 9 is still quite a bit cheaper than 38 specials so maybe it would have been a possible source of cheaper practice rounds. From what I'm hearing I would prolly just look for a new snub in 9 as it would save a lot of hassle.


As for the different shaped trigger. When I first got the gun I kept pinching my finger when I would pull the trigger. This seems to be going away though the more I get used to it.



Edit to add. My dad has a couple taurus, pt 92 and the judge, both have been nothing but reliable for us so I have nothing against the brand.

The 940 is the only 9mm J frame that S&W has offered. A 940 cylinder will not fit your 360. As posted by ibewbull, you can have a 360 cylinder rechambered to 9mm (9x23), that would allow you to shoot a variety of cartridge through the same gun - 9x19, 9x21, .38 Super, 356TSW, 9x23, etc.

There is really no issue firing 9mm (.355) bullets through a .357 barrel. The .002 difference is not enough to make a difference. I have a 360J that has been rechambered to 9mm by Pinnacle and have not seen any difference in accuracy from what I got with .38's. If you take the time to look around you'll find tht a number of folks here have had guns rechambered with similar results.

__________________
Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Cool cool. Do cylinders ever come up for sale on their own? Or can I just order one from somewhere? Again I'm in no rush to do anything right now but never know when I'll get the bug to try something.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this concerning your pinched finger. If it is getting pinched between the back of the trigger and the frame....the trigger is going a little farther back after the sear is tripped. Older models had a stop built into the frame, but I think most modern Smiths have a pin inside the rebound (trigger) spring. I don't think they are very well adjusted and I have heard of guys simply "adjusting" the length of this pin by replacing it with a section of nail that is a little longer than the pin.....and it doesn't cost much to cut-up a nail. If that is where you are pinching your finger, you would need a gunsmith to adjust that stop, do it yourself, or just learn how to shoot it without getting pinched. It's a bit tricky to remove the rebound spring and slide and it's not for the novice to try unless you put yourself in a small empty closet and close the door so you can find parts that my fly out if you don't get it right the first time.

I found this non-fluted cylinder on GB for $80.00. It fit my M640 with no modification. After read the comments on 9mm conversion, I might have this cylinder converted.

Aw man non-fluted would be sweet. Nice find.


Snubbie I think for now I'm just going to try and learn how to not get pinched. You are right though about when and where the pinch takes place. I don't think I have the expertise to try messing with the internals. Also a small part on the ground in my house is likely to become a cat toy haha.

RE: Post #2:

Dave...I just pulled-off the installation of a SS cylinder and yoke in my M38-2. As long as you "keep it in the family" it will work. I swapped the cylinder and yoke from my 640 ND with my 38-2. They are both pre j-mag frames and both have the new yoke retention system. The j-mag cylinders are longer and will not fit. If you have a blued j-mag frame...you have to get the j-mag SS cylinder. If you have the blued pre j-mag frame....you have to get the pre j-mag SS cylinder. If you want to change the yoke, you can also do that but you have to stay with the pre or post new yoke retention system. Parts can be had for close to $100. PM me if you are interested and I will tell you how to do it.

Your 38 ND would be the old style yoke retention system , but the cylinder doesn't care. However, you can get the old style yoke in SS as well to set yours up. if you wanted to proceed further, you can even get a SS barrel, but since my frame is not cracked...I do not want to chance a barrel change.

Attached Images

M38 SS Conversion.jpg (58.5 KB, 70 views)