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Old 09-18-2020, 03:23 AM
keithhagan keithhagan is offline
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Default .321 GNR in a model 616?

Does anyone have any experience or opinion on the .321 GNR?

Like many on the forum, I have a so-called "616" built on a model 66 frame chambered in .327 Federal Magnum with an auxiliary blued cylinder in 7.62x25.

I'm considering having another cylinder chambered in .321 GNR. The cartridge is one of Gary Reeder's creation and is essentially a .357 necked down to .32 caliber. I have a spare model 53 cylinder rolling around disused waiting for the right project.
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Old 09-18-2020, 10:36 AM
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If you used K frame 22 cylinders to make your 327 cylinders be aware that your model 53 cylinder is longer than them and will not fit in a frame with a barrel that they fit in. Barrel extension is to long. Also be aware that model 53 cylinders in 22 lr or 22 jet sell for good money.
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Old 09-18-2020, 11:59 AM
Green Frog Green Frog is offline
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As the guy who coined the term 616 as applied to your 327 stainless creation, I must admit that I too am looking at adding a second cylinder to my project gun, but I’m thinking 32-20 rather than your wildcat 321 GNR... which I actually had never heard of.

As steelslaver mentions, the Model 53 cylinder may be a challenge because you would have to shave length off of a Model 53 cylinder to fit it into your gun, or shave the barrel tenon which would make it unusable as a 327. I’m not sure I would want to use the 53 cylinder in this way. Maybe it would be more economical to obtain another 617 or 648 cylinder to bore to 321 GNR or build another whole gun around the longer cylinder if you need the length.

Regards,
Froggie
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Old 09-18-2020, 12:06 PM
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While I have never used the 321 GNR, I do have revolvers and single shots chambered in Gary Reeder's other calibers.

I have always found his stuff to be top notch
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Old 09-18-2020, 03:34 PM
keithhagan keithhagan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steelslaver View Post
If you used K frame 22 cylinders to make your 327 cylinders be aware that your model 53 cylinder is longer than them and will not fit in a frame with a barrel that they fit in. Barrel extension is to long. Also be aware that model 53 cylinders in 22 lr or 22 jet sell for good money.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Frog View Post
As the guy who coined the term 616 as applied to your 327 stainless creation, I must admit that I too am looking at adding a second cylinder to my project gun, but I’m thinking 32-20 rather than your wildcat 321 GNR... which I actually had never heard of.

As steelslaver mentions, the Model 53 cylinder may be a challenge because you would have to shave length off of a Model 53 cylinder to fit it into your gun, or shave the barrel tenon which would make it unusable as a 327. I’m not sure I would want to use the 53 cylinder in this way. Maybe it would be more economical to obtain another 617 or 648 cylinder to bore to 321 GNR or build another whole gun around the longer cylinder if you need the length.

Regards,
Froggie

Thanks gentlemen. I'm aware that the 53 cylinder is longer. I would use it intentionally: the (stainless) .327 cylinder is built from one of Hamilton Bowen's long body cylinders and the 7.62x25 cylinder is built from the auxiliary .22 lr cylinder of a model 53. In other words, in my case, the model 53 cylinder is necessary.

I'm more interested in what folks think about the performance of the .321 GNR in a K frame. Any thoughts on that cartridge with a 6" full lug barrel?
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Old 09-18-2020, 05:23 PM
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I see. You do need to use a 53 cylinder. I asked Bowen not long ago and he said those he had are now gone. I really want an chambered N frame cylinder. Thoughts of a hot rod N frame 30 caliber running through my head
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Old 09-22-2020, 02:22 AM
keithhagan keithhagan is offline
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Originally Posted by steelslaver View Post
I see. You do need to use a 53 cylinder. I asked Bowen not long ago and he said those he had are now gone. I really want an chambered N frame cylinder. Thoughts of a hot rod N frame 30 caliber running through my head
I've always wondered if a competent gunsmith couldn't reline the chambers of a cylinder with a barrel liner (or some other reasonably concentric material) and rechamber to the desired cartridge. That'd be the only way (currently) of getting a sub-.355 caliber cartridge in an N frame.
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Old 09-22-2020, 09:47 AM
Green Frog Green Frog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keithhagan View Post
I've always wondered if a competent gunsmith couldn't reline the chambers of a cylinder with a barrel liner (or some other reasonably concentric material) and rechamber to the desired cartridge. That'd be the only way (currently) of getting a sub-.355 caliber cartridge in an N frame.
Lining the chambers would be half the battle. Then you would have to build up the extractor to engage the smaller case head. I’m not sure whether you would weld each rim recess or make a replacement for the whole extractor star. Either way, I see lots of time and expense! An N frame 327 or one of the wildcats would be interesting, though. Thinking back to you 321 GNR proposition, since it uses a case head like a 357, that problem goes away! How about an 8 shot N frame in 321 GNR? That would be awesome!!!

BTW, I shoot a wildcat rifle (single shot) chambered in a caliber variously called 32 Dell, 32 Miller Short, etc. It’s a 357 case necked down to take a .321” cast bullet of about 200 grains. The cases are easy to form and last forever it seems. I shoot them with an old surplus equivalent of Accurate #9. They would be very interesting in an appropriate revolver.

Froggie
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Old 09-22-2020, 07:12 PM
keithhagan keithhagan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Frog View Post
Lining the chambers would be half the battle. Then you would have to build up the extractor to engage the smaller case head. I’m not sure whether you would weld each rim recess or make a replacement for the whole extractor star. Either way, I see lots of time and expense! An N frame 327 or one of the wildcats would be interesting, though. Thinking back to you 321 GNR proposition, since it uses a case head like a 357, that problem goes away! How about an 8 shot N frame in 321 GNR? That would be awesome!!!

Oh, yes, certainly this is really only feasible with a necked 9mm, 357, 41, or 44 cartridge.

Although, these are available.
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Old 09-22-2020, 07:23 PM
BillBond BillBond is offline
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When I first read the title, I thought cool, a cartridge named after Guns N' Roses.
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Old 09-22-2020, 07:36 PM
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I would machine off the extractor stars and then then put a new piece of metal on. But, my protect would be able to use a reworked 357 extractor as the case head would be larger than that. Think of a necked down blown out 30-30 case. A shortened 30 Herret.

Lots off heat treated 4140 available. Turned down B16 studs would be very good material for this. The are heat treated for high tensile strength applications.
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Old 09-22-2020, 09:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steelslaver View Post
I would machine off the extractor stars and then then put a new piece of metal on. But, my protect would be able to use a reworked 357 extractor as the case head would be larger than that. Think of a necked down blown out 30-30 case. A shortened 30 Herret.

Lots off heat treated 4140 available. Turned down B16 studs would be very good material for this. The are heat treated for high tensile strength applications.
Gary Reeder has you covered. Check out his 300 GNR, here.

If you're interested in a single action, there's one that may still be for sale, here.
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