38/44 Heavy Duty reamed cylinder?

[yeklop]

Looking at picking up a late 30's vintage 38/44, only thing i am wondering is if a gun of this vintage is able to take a 357 case if it has been reamed out or if S&W used the same cylinders as the registered magnum?

[rocknroad]

The real experts will be along soon but, the 39-44 was more than adequate for the .357, when reamed. The RM had a slightly sturdier cylinder.

The value of the 38-44 will be lowered by reaming though. Don't pay top dollar for one that is.

[SAFireman]

The 38/44's cylinders had been modified like this for many years. The factory says don't shoot it, but many have done so safely.

If I was asked to perform this modification, I would decline. I would not be worried about owning one that had been modified, but I would not run any 357 rounds in one of mine.

[Hondo44]

No, it's not the same cyl as the RM because it will not chamber a 357 cartridge unless it's been reamed for 357. Take an empty 357 case or cartridge with you to verify.

However, having said that, from ~1920 until 1945 all S&W cylinders were heat treated, after which only center fire magnum cyls were. And many 38/44s have been reamed and shot with 357 for years without incident that I've ever heard about in 50 years.

And it will still shoot 38s just fine. But of course if you have a collector interest in it, originality is gone.

Good luck,

[yeklop]

Thanks, that's what i was looking to know.

Originally Posted by Hondo44

No, it's not the same cyl as the RM because it will not chamber a 357 cartridge unless it's been reamed for 357. Take an empty 357 case or cartridge with you to verify.

However, having said that, from ~1920 until 1945 all S&W cylinders were heat treated, after which only center fire magnum cyls were. And many 38/44s have been reamed and shot with 357 for years without incident that I've ever heard about in 50 years.

And it will still shoot 38s just fine. But of course if you have a collector interest in it, originality is gone.

Good luck,

[DWalt]

I have one with a lengthened chamber. I haven't fired .357 loads in it very much, but it does work OK. Regarding valuation, if it is in typical used condition, I don't consider that its value is diminished much, if any, by the rechambering. In high condition, that is a different story.

[steelslaver]

Knowing the diameter of an N frame cylinder and a K frame cylinder I wouldn't worry about it much. A K frame cylinder has an OD of 1.446 and an N frame 1.710. Both hold 6 rounds, so the N frame has considerably more metal. N frame chamber to chamber .165 and chamber to OD .1135

K frame Chamber to chamber is .0685 and chamber to OD is .0845.

That is over twice the thickness between the chambers and 32% more between the chamber and the OD. I fail to believe that you can gain another 34% of tensile or yield strength by heat treat improvement. 4140 has an ultimate tensile strength of 95,000psi and in a dead soft annealed state it is 60,200.

In other words if the 38/44 cylinder would have less strength is if it was in a dead soft annealed state. But, that is not the case at all. I would be surprised to find that a model 19 cylinder could tkae more than a reamed 38/55 cylinder.

In other words I would shoot one with 357 loads with little concern. Plus, it isn't really theory, people been doing it for years and how many have you heard of blowing up?

Would I ream a 38/44 to 357? No of course not. Worth more original. I got a stack of 357s. You can find a model 28 shooter for between $5-600. Heck wanted to you could buy a model 28 cylinder and fit it to a 38/44. If it was recessed you could make a small cut to back OD of 28cylinder so it would clearance the frame lug. But, again why?

[6string]

Keep in mind that a reamed cylinder doesn't affect it's original functionality. It still shoots 38 Special, whether it be standard or 38-44 loading.

Also, from the standpoint of a handloader and bullet caster the matter is largely inconsequential.
For example, if you work up a load using 2400 and the Lyman 358156 GC cast bullet, it wouldn't really matter whether you loaded it in a 38 case using the lower crimp groove or a 357 case using the upper crimp groove.

One concern would be looking out for forcing cone erosion from excessive use of high velocity jacketed ammo. But, that would be just as much an issue if it were factory chambered in 357.
In fact, S&W revolvers of this vintage, regardless of chambering, tend to be better off condition-wise if they haven't been subjected to a lot of jacketed bullet use.

Jim

[Mike, SC Hunter]

I didn't know mine was reamed till I got it home......All I shoot in it my cast 357 loads.