S&W Model 38 Airweight Cylinder

[JJ_BPK]

Moved from : S&W-Smithing..

I have a 940-1, 9mm and was thinking I'd like to find a cylinder for 38spl. Using a blued cylinder appeals to me from the stand point that visually you can tell the caliber.

Couple questions?

1)what is the length of the older blued steel cylinders? Like the M-38? I know the 940-1 is the 1.5x length.

2)Are the moon clips used for the 9mm also good for 38 spl?

On the future. I am looking for a 337 or 342 Sc/Ti OR 360/340 PD and would like to get a cylinder reamed to use moon clips and the 9mm family.

1)can 38 spl cylinder chambers be reamed to 9mm or 9x23? or does it have to be a .357 cylinder?

2)I think I have read that the Ti cylinder can be turned for moon-clips but not re-chambered. It that true? Why?

Thanks
JJ

[snubbiefan]

I can answer some of this as I have swapped a couple of cylinders. The older 5-shot 38-spcl. cylinders are 1.535. The j-mags are longer. You may get lucky and drop one in, but you also likely realize it may take some "adjustment" of the extractor to time it. I have had them just fall right in and then again, I have had to cut the extractor to get it to work. I know my 38-2 and 640 will swap cylinders with no problems. I purchased another stainless cylinder and had to re-time it. The extractor is the problem...not the cylinder.

[Broadside]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Moved from : S&W-Smithing..

2)I think I have read that the Ti cylinder can be turned for moon-clips but not re-chambered. It that true? Why?

I would speculate that reaming the chamber would remove the protective coating S&W applies to prevent the Titanium from burning.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Broadside

I would speculate that reaming the chamber would remove the protective coating S&W applies to prevent the Titanium from burning.

Here is the TK custom milling demo video.

Machine-Cylinder - YouTube

You can see that both the star and the cylinder are shaved. The trash would suggest to me that at least as much is cut for the moon clip as would be bored in the chamber.

On the Youtube site a comment was made about no oil and "andrew" said oil is used in a live milling.

??

I sent an email to last week and did not get a reply. they may be busy..