Picked up a 4inch 28HP. Average finish, nothing to scream about.No pits,worn blue. Was going to send it out to get made into 45ACP. Now thinking
it would be cheaper to do in .44 with a barrel change and a rechamber job. 10 month wait for it to be done in ACP.Its still the Holidays guys, dont beat on me too hard..

Picked up a 4inch 28HP. Average finish, nothing to scream about.No pits,worn blue. Was going to send it out to get made into 45ACP. Now thinking
it would be cheaper to do in .44 with a barrel change and a rechamber job. 10 month wait for it to be done in ACP.Its still the Holidays guys, dont beat on me too hard..

A simple re-chamber and re-barrel would give you a darn nice .44 special. I almost did that to my 28-2 before I sold it.

Personally, I think you will spend more money on the conversion than you would by selling the Model 28 and getting the revolver you desire.

Where's he gonna find a 4" adj sight .44 special? (for that matter, where are you gonna get the barrel?)

I'd like one myself...

Don't bother with the conversion. Just buy a 4-inch 24-3 or 624. It will be much less expensive.
John

Stophel Have you looked into buying one from S&W? They say they are available

Found a 29 four inch barrel for $60.00. I know what your saying, but I have been watching the price's of Smith's for awhile.. Snagged this one at a fair price.

Have you seen the price's of those lately??

I don't know where it is that everyone seems to think that you can pick up a 24 at. The few I've seen here on this forum went for four times what I know I can get the conversion done for. Now, you already have the barrel, get a GOOD gunsmith to chamber your cylinder to minimum saami specs and have a ball shooting a nice and accurate .44 special!

Sir, just so you know, a Model 29 barrel is too short for a Model 28's cylinder. It doesn't extend far enough into the frame--you'd have about 1/8-inch barrel-to-cylinder gap.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Good point Ron! I should have caught that when I read his post about having the barrel and responded to it . I'm not sure, but I believe someone was selling a .44 special barrel here in the classifieds a few weeks ago.

Yes Sir Ron, and I do know..BTW Semper Fi to you, BROTHER..USMC 78/98 Ret 3rd MarDiv Recon Good night Chesty were ever you are.............Any "GOOD" Smithy worth his salt could cure that.....

Originally posted by Ron H.:

"Sir, just so you know, a Model 29 barrel is too short for a Model 28's cylinder. It doesn't extend far enough into the frame--you'd have about 1/8-inch barrel-to-cylinder gap."

This is not a big deal. A gunsmith will chuck the barrel in a lathe and trim the barrel's shoulder back far enough to allow the barrel to be screwed into the frame an appropriate amount.

BUFF, wouldn't that mess up the ejector rod to locking bolt dimension? Wouldn't the 'smith have to install a shorter length ejector rod and center pin to make functioning correct? Would this be a custom made length?

Yes, a part of the ejector rod must also be shortened. Also not a big deal to an experienced pistolsmith.

Thanks, that's always good to know. While I like the pencil barrels, they are hard to come by, so this is another good option.

With all of that going on wouldn't a blue M29 cylinder be less expensive to install? No barrel set back, no ejector rod mods.

Then again sell the M28 buy a M29 MG, It would weight the same as M24 with equal barrel lengths.

I had a M624, 4 inch and a M629 MG, Both weighted the same, were the same length Etc. I sold the M624 and kept the M629 MG.

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Semper FI

I would forget about the M/29 barrel, the extra work to fit it properly would only add cost to the conversion. Have your m/28 converted as is, you will like the balance of the tapered M/28 barrel better than the added weight of the M/29 barrel. I have owned a 6 1/2" M/28 that had been converted when I bought it and have had a M/27-2 5" converted by Jim Stroh/Alpha Precision and a 5" pre-27 converted by Hamilton Bowen. All three guns have great balance and feel in the hand and point naturally.

With all due respect, what's with changing 28s to something else? Pre-IL N frame .357s are awesome in their own right (and not being made anymore). There are 25s, 625s, 24s, 624s, 29s and 629s around in appropriate bbl. lengths and as Sara Noh pointed out, there are previously converted guns out there. I have a 625-4 w/5" bbl. that is fun because it's heavy enough for easy shooting and accurate enough to make me smile after a shooting session. Get one of the above, a fine trigger job, plenty of ammo and have at it.

Lots of really good Model 29s out there for pretty nice prices. Have one bead-blasted and reblued and you'll have your .44 Highway Patrolman.

If money isnt a factor go ahead. But haveing done these things, you will be far ahead selling the 28, takeing the money you would have spent on the conversion and just buy exactly what you want!

Not around here....With all due respect.

I bought this CHEAP..Most 29's that I have seen are BIG bucks now...

If you want to lose money, convert your 28-2 and enjoy the experience. If you want to have a .44 and not lose money, sell your 28-2 and buy a 24-3 or 624. Either way, enjoy. "My dog ain't in this fight."
Mike

Really? Haven't really checked. Are they NOS from the 80's or something? All I've seen them make recently for the 24 is that stubby 3" thing. (a .44 conversion has been a potential project that has been knocking around in my mind for a while. It is way on the back burner right now, as I just bought myself a 21-4).



You're probably not going to just "find" a 24-3, much less a 4 inch one. They don't grow on trees. Oh, you'll find one eventually, but don't expect to just saunter up to your local gun shop and see one under the counter. I bought a 6 1/2" 624 (the guy had a 24-3 also) at a gunshow recently for $650 (the blued one was the same price). I can imagine that the rarer 4" ones are rather more expensive...if you can find one. Oh, I also saw an old 4" model 24....I didn't even ask...

Downside to the conversion is that it's so dang expensive. Like $600 at least.

I'd be happy by NOT converting my 28. And trading(Buying) into a four inch 29. NOT looking for a collector grade 29, just a shooter/that is not beat..Thanks to all that posted on my "RANT". really would rather not mess with this 28.I'm sure someone would like to have one of these ole gals.............