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03-19-2017, 10:47 AM
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Re-chamber my 28-2???
So the thread about the gent who found a snubby 28-2 re-chambered to 44spl has sparked some thought for me, particularly the post in that thread about one that was chambered to 41 mag. It got me thinking and I didn't want to jack his thread so here is my own...
I have a 6" 28-2 in excellent condition that I paid $475 plus sales tax for about 4 years ago or so. It's a very accurate shooter to boot.
Basically I am wondering about this idea of re-chambering... I'm not into my revolvers as an investment persay, but I don't want to make any of them worthless. Are there shops out there that can do a job like this that doesn't diminish the value of the revolver?? I'm thinking like Turnbull, their work does not diminish the value on anything they touch. Just as important, I would want some level of assurance that it will still shoot well. I don't want something I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from inside the barn with.
I have been wanting a 41mag but I have had to spend extra money on other things lately. I would still like to get my mitts on a 6" m57 though regardless if I convert my 28-2 or not.
What are your thoughts?
Here is my m28.
Last edited by RIDE-RED 350r; 03-19-2017 at 10:49 AM.
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03-19-2017, 11:10 AM
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If my plans were to buy a M57 regardless of what you do with your M28, I would keep the M28 as it is. That is unless you have a need for two 41 magnums. Very nice M28 you have there.
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03-19-2017, 11:15 AM
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I would look for a 6" 57 sell the 28 or keep it. By the time you had it converted you could have bought a 57.
Mark
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03-19-2017, 11:15 AM
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Absent Comrade
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Keep as is. If you want a 41 Mag,then save your money and buy one! Don't go screwin' up a perfectly good HP.
f.t.
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03-19-2017, 11:17 AM
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In my view, to re-chamber would be to spend several hundred dollars to reduce the 28's value and also take a fine Highway Patrolman forever out of the market .
You could trade the 28-2 for a 57 and even add a bit of cash. You still come out ahead in the long run. You can buy another 28 later if interested. Just a thought.
It's up to you, but I'm told that every time somebody modifies a pinned and recessed Smith & Wesson a puppy gets cancer. Not sure if that's true.
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03-19-2017, 11:19 AM
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Since I posted this thread I have been doing some googling of the subject... I'm leaning toward leaving my 28 unaltered at this point. Not finding much in the way of shops that advertise such a service so far, and results from various forum posts seem to indicate that a shop that would do it and not hurt the value of the piece would cost almost as much as finding a descent m57...
If I was looking to snubby-fy my 28 it might be worth looking into more seriously...But I want to keep the barrel as it is. I don't care for the idea of boring the barrel and installing an insert either.
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03-19-2017, 11:22 AM
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Thanks for the well intended advice and compliments guys... I think I will be heeding it.
Not sure about selling my HP though... I just like that darn thing.. I still have the original Magnas for it... not diamonds though. I found the that I like the stock targets that came with my m29 look and feel better on the HP. The 29 got factory combats..
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03-19-2017, 12:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RIDE-RED 350r
their work does not diminish the value on anything they touch.
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Well .... that's true only if your potential buyer is looking for a CUSTOM gun. Folks looking for a 28 and finding one that's been customized ..... it's ruined. (Ruined may be a little strong but hope you get my point.)
For me ...... custom's don't trip my trigger and especially not when a fine older gun was sacrificed to make the custom work happen.
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03-19-2017, 12:13 PM
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Agreed..... It was a fleeting if not bad idea. My HP will stay as-is and in my possession... Just have to wait for my 57 till I can afford to buy one.
Those m57MG's are the cats rear-end too.
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03-19-2017, 01:39 PM
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I have converted some of my guns, none of which were collectors items. But, I have a shop and can do things myself. With the price of skilled labor conversions are just not worth it. Bottom line prices, probably, re-chamber $150, barrel $100-150, fit barrel $50-100. $300 min. Completed value maybe $600. Nice model 28-2 value $600. I recently bought a 41 mag for $700 plus FFL fee. You could sell the 28-2 for $600 and toss in $300 and shopp around to get a shooter 41mag, dies, brass and bullet mold.
That said I have a slightly freckled 28-2 that is going to become my nephews 45 acp/colt. $500 28-2, $100 44 mag cylinder and a $100 45 barrel (could sell for more though). Sell 28 barrel and cylinder, own tools and reamer. Factory, S&W 45 colt 800-1200. . Free labor means low cost carry shooter for nephew who works and plays outdoors in Alaska.
Last edited by steelslaver; 03-19-2017 at 01:41 PM.
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03-19-2017, 02:35 PM
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Yeah, that sure does add up for a guy like me and I can see why I'm just better off to hunt up a 57 when I'm ready. And that's not figuring the diminished value of my Patrolman.
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03-19-2017, 03:38 PM
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If your 28 is nice you should probably leave it as-is. The one I'm having converted to .41mag is a beater that had already been round butted, had the barrel changed (but it rubs on the cylinder), and has some misc marks and dings from being knocked around. It was either get another 28 barrel and try to make something useful out of it or make something better, because it was no good the way it was. Had it been a solid gun that was a good shooter I wouldn't have messed with it.
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03-20-2017, 12:42 AM
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The cylinder on a M-28 is shorter than a M-57. Standard jhps will fit but a true Keith is too long for the M-28 cylinder in mag brass. You didn't ask, but I thought I'd mention it.
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03-20-2017, 01:27 AM
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I've had 2 M28-2 re-chamber. One to 38-40 and one to .45 colt.
picture upload
screen shot
M28-2 were not that expensive when I had them done and worth the
cost I think.
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Last edited by STCM(SW); 03-20-2017 at 01:34 AM.
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03-20-2017, 08:51 AM
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I am not totally against rechambering. But, a lot of those that are around were done when both model 28s and labor was a lot less and the big bores were a lot harder to come by.
ddixe is correct on the cylinder length. If you use a model 28 cylinder for a 45 colt of a 41 mag conversion you will not be able to load the longer bullets unless you seat them deep. I had a 25-3 which was the first of the model 25 colt guns, and it had the same shorter cylinder length as the N frame 357 and had to seat my 255 gr SWC in front of front band, same thing with my first 45 colt conversion using a 28 cylinder. The factory 42 mags and 45 colts from 25-5 on use a longer 44 mag length cylinder. I have 5 45 colt conversions now, a model 1955, 2 model 629s and a Brazilian done into a carbine. All now use reamed 44 mag cylinders. I also have a 455 triple lock that was converted by reaming before I bought it. I wish the TL was unconverted and that I had left the 1955 alone, but the 1955 was done before I knew they were something "special". To late now.
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03-20-2017, 03:00 PM
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In the 1980's my buddy converted at least 3 model 28s to 45LC, with new barrels and cylinders available at that time. I thought it was stupid then and more so now.
Good luck
Jerry
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03-20-2017, 03:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ddixie884
The cylinder on a M-28 is shorter than a M-57. Standard jhps will fit but a true Keith is too long for the M-28 cylinder in mag brass. You didn't ask, but I thought I'd mention it.
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I'm using a NOS titanium .41mag cylinder in my conversion, ordered it from Numrich's.
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03-20-2017, 04:02 PM
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Yes, i would not rechamber/re-barrel a classic gun out of production for 30 years. One consideration is that since the S&W's chamber notches are over the cylinder, rechambering might take away too much metal.
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03-20-2017, 04:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BLACKHAWKNJ
Yes, i would not rechamber/re-barrel a classic gun out of production for 30 years. One consideration is that since the S&W's chamber notches are over the cylinder, rechambering might take away too much metal.
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Same cylinder diameter as factory 41 and 44 mags as well as 45 colts, with the notches in exactly the same location. Unless you used a real old cylinder prior to improve heat treatment there would be no real difference in cylinders strength.
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03-20-2017, 04:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steelslaver
I have converted some of my guns, none of which were collectors items. But, I have a shop and can do things myself. With the price of skilled labor conversions are just not worth it. Bottom line prices, probably, re-chamber $150, barrel $100-150, fit barrel $50-100. $300 min. Completed value maybe $600. Nice model 28-2 value $600. I recently bought a 41 mag for $700 plus FFL fee. You could sell the 28-2 for $600 and toss in $300 and shopp around to get a shooter 41mag, dies, brass and bullet mold.
That said I have a slightly freckled 28-2 that is going to become my nephews 45 acp/colt. $500 28-2, $100 44 mag cylinder and a $100 45 barrel (could sell for more though). Sell 28 barrel and cylinder, own tools and reamer. Factory, S&W 45 colt 800-1200. . Free labor means low cost carry shooter for nephew who works and plays outdoors in Alaska.
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Uncle Steelslaver, it's been so long!
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03-20-2017, 04:53 PM
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Turnbull is one of the very best but you will pay top dollar! You would be far better off just buying what you want, keeping or selling your M28 - your choice. While Turnbull's work is impeccable, his prices are quite high and his wait times quite long - that said, he will not ruin your gun like many other do.
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03-20-2017, 04:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RIDE-RED 350r
So the thread about the gent who found a snubby 28-2 re-chambered to 44spl has sparked some thought for me, particularly the post in that thread about one that was chambered to 41 mag. It got me thinking and I didn't want to jack his thread so here is my own...
I have a 6" 28-2 in excellent condition that I paid $475 plus sales tax for about 4 years ago or so. It's a very accurate shooter to boot.
Basically I am wondering about this idea of re-chambering... I'm not into my revolvers as an investment persay, but I don't want to make any of them worthless. Are there shops out there that can do a job like this that doesn't diminish the value of the revolver?? I'm thinking like Turnbull, their work does not diminish the value on anything they touch. Just as important, I would want some level of assurance that it will still shoot well. I don't want something I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from inside the barn with.
I have been wanting a 41mag but I have had to spend extra money on other things lately. I would still like to get my mitts on a 6" m57 though regardless if I convert my 28-2 or not.
What are your thoughts?
Here is my m28.
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I'll offer you $500 to make you whole again on your 28-2 and start you toward your M-57, because I'm that kind of guy!
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03-20-2017, 05:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwt1405
I'll offer you $500 to make you whole again on your 28-2 and start you toward your M-57, because I'm that kind of guy!
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I appreciate the kind offer, but I'm more of a collector than a flipper... And I just like the darn thing too much.
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03-20-2017, 05:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RIDE-RED 350r
I appreciate the kind offer, but I'm more of a collector than a flipper... And I just like the darn thing too much.
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I'm here for ya buddy, if you change your mind!
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03-20-2017, 05:57 PM
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These days, conversions don't make as much sense as they did back in the '70s and '80s. If you want a tapered barrel .41 Magnum, see if you can find a .41 Magnum Mountain Gun. However, you are limited to a 4" barrel.
If you do want to go ahead with a conversion, try Alan Harton down in Houston. He did a M28 to .44 Special for me. I did send him a 6 1/2" factory barrel though. He also did two Old Model Ruger .357 Blackhawks to .44 Special as well.
I have heard that Turnbull no longer does S&W work.
Back when Skeeter Skelton was having .45 Colt conversions done, he did run into a few cylinders that had overly deep notches. A few dimpled and one actually bored through.
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03-20-2017, 08:51 PM
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Hello RED RIDE, I to LOVE 41 mag, and can't Find enough of them, I to have a 28-2,4", and lucky to find a cherry 57-1, 6". And a first year Blackhawk 3 screw,4 5/8". I think the 41mag is a cal for reloaders like me. I cast and load.
I'm glad you said you would keep your 28'. Just look around and you can find 57's, got mine for 700 last year, and P&R.
Good luck
SEMPER PARATUS
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03-22-2017, 06:18 PM
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If you're going to rechamber, go 10mm!
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03-23-2017, 11:45 PM
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Why not?
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