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Old 02-14-2021, 04:04 PM
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38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag?  
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Default 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag?

Call me crazy, I have a M58 and love .41 mag. Would it be possible to convert a shooter grade 38/44? who would one suggest if so? Second choice would be .45 Colt. just love the 5" barrel.
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Old 02-14-2021, 04:08 PM
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I would go with the 41 mag or 44 special. I like a little more meat in the cylinder walls. Depending on the contour of the barrel depends what it can be re-rifled to. The cylinder part is easy. Find someone good to do the barrel work first. Nice project.
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Old 02-14-2021, 04:31 PM
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I like that idea in 41 mag! If you follow through, keep us posted on your progress.
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Old 02-15-2021, 05:47 PM
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Using a M57 or M58 cylinder? or rechambering a 38-44 cylinder to 41Magnum.

I'd feel a little safer with the former in a 38-44 frame, but not totally.

The 38-44 bbl has enough dia for a rebore to .452 (45Colt or 45acp), so it can take a rebore to .41 easily enough.

The issue is the pressures being applied. The 41Mag is in the 35/36K range.
Right there with those 38-44's that were aftermarket rechambered to 357.
Not many think that was a good idea. No, you never hear of one that let go. But then who goes around bragging about the gun they blew up except EK.

The 45Colt conversions on the 38-44 are the limit as far as dimensional size. Not a lot of metal left over. Loads must be kept on the mild side and the 45Colt is only a 14/15K psi max load anyway unless you follow into the heavy 'Ruger' type loads.
I'd probably opt for a 41 Special conversion if I was in love with the caliber. That keeps things on the same side for the older frame and bbl (and cyl?)
(But in reality I'd then go for a 38-40, but that's just me.)

A Mod 58 with the top strap and front of the frame re-shaped to the older style of the M&P like the 38-40 had (no rib on the bbl).
Then fitted with a non-ribbed bbl to match would better and safely get you there IMO.
The bbl could be made from a M57 bbl with some work.
Remove the rib, leave a small portion for the front sight base and use a pinned into place blade. The bbl profile would be filed/milled down to the slim early style of the 38-44 to replace the heavy bbl profile.
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Old 02-15-2021, 10:47 PM
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38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag? 38/44 Heavy Duty convert to .41 mag?  
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Great responses. I'm thinking use existing cylinder/barrel cuz they'realready fitted and look good. Does anybody know anybody who would do this? Most of the better renowned gunsmiths are retired, no longer doing S&W just Ruger, etc.....Looking to get pointed in right direction. Thanks
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Old 02-16-2021, 01:01 AM
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You do know that magnum frames are heat treated and .38/44 frames weren't, don't you?
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Old 02-16-2021, 07:57 AM
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Not something I would do.
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Old 02-16-2021, 09:20 AM
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Ok, you are crazy.
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Old 02-16-2021, 11:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smith61 View Post
Call me crazy, I have a M58 and love .41 mag. Would it be possible to convert a shooter grade 38/44? who would one suggest if so? Second choice would be .45 Colt. just love the 5" barrel.
Crazy,
41 Magnum . . . . No Way

That frame is not built or that kind of stress

45 Long Colt . . . . . Probably safe with a factory 45 Long Colt cylinder, not a 38-44 that has been rechambered unless your only goal is Cowboy loads
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Old 02-16-2021, 11:34 AM
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41 special?
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  #11  
Old 02-16-2021, 01:46 PM
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FWIW, the 38/44s are in such limited supply I'd look for a beat up 28-2 if I wanted to convert one to a 41 mag. There are a LOT more of the 28-2's that have seen better days than there are of the 38/44s in any condition.
Just a thought.
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Old 02-16-2021, 06:49 PM
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Okay,
Y'all win. A model 28 won't do, there's the M57, 4" adjustable sights already.
I'm Crazy. Nobody can suggest anybody to even go with the second choice .45 Colt.....
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Old 02-21-2021, 06:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smith61 View Post
Okay,
Y'all win. A model 28 won't do, there's the M57, 4" adjustable sights already.
I'm Crazy. Nobody can suggest anybody to even go with the second choice .45 Colt.....
Andy Horvath did a lot of conversions with N frame revolvers. He is still in business. Give him a call or write him a letter. He may be able to help. The hard part is getting the barrel bored and rifled. Few are left who are capable of that kind of work.

Kevin
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Old 02-21-2021, 08:53 AM
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I must be really crazy. I have converted 2 model 629-1 into 45 colts. I have a whole selection of 45 colts, from 3" to 6 1/2". Only 1 of them came from the factory as a 45 colt and 1 lonely 41 mag that I have never bothered to shoot. My 44 mags just sit in the safe too.
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Old 02-21-2021, 09:34 AM
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...go .41 Special not Magnum...as to who...Jack Huntington at JRH Advanced Gunsmithing... He did a Uberti Cattleman .357 to .41 Special conversion and it came out great...

I have a 1952 HD that I bought with the thought of sending it to Jack for conversion but have been having such a great time with shooting real .38-44 HIGH SPEED loads though it I have left it alone...

Bob

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Old 02-21-2021, 09:50 AM
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...then of course there is ...Bowen...
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Old 02-21-2021, 09:55 AM
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Just curious, what would be the cost to rebore and rifle a suitable barrel from whatever to .41, and do the same to a suitable cylinder, then fit them to a suitable frame?

Seems like it would be just as expensive, but a lot easier, to find such a caliber gun as you want, already made. I assume you already load for .41 Magnum to want another one, or else look for a conversion to do you can actually find ammo for.

FWIW, I love .41, too, I have both M57 and M58.
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Old 02-21-2021, 10:12 AM
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"Depending" on what you want done...not really that much for a "basic" conversion...

Bought a rusty 27-2 5" and wanted to convert it to .41 Special but the cylinder was too pitted to make it worth it. Happened to have a 58 cylinder out of a parts kit purchased on ebay... Local factory trained Smith smith pulled the barrel, sent it to JES for rebore, fitted the 58 cylinder, put the barrel back on and shortened the shank of the 27 barrel to fit the longer Magnum cylinder. The conversion work was less than $300...

Jack Huntington charged $650 to convert the Uberti Cattleman from .357 to .41 Special. He sends the barrel out to be rebored but could have also just made a new barrel from .41 stock... Had David Clements do the same to a USFA Shooting Master. Had a second cylinder in .357 he rebored and made the barrel and sight...have the original barrel and cylinder so the gun can be put back to original one day...

You just have to shop around but it doesn't have to cost $3k...

Bob
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Old 02-21-2021, 09:16 PM
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You can have nearly anything you want made up if you are willing to pay for it. Meanwhile check the current price and availability on what you want and if it is available it will usually be cheaper. It will usually give better service, too..........
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Old 02-22-2021, 07:37 AM
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You can have nearly anything you want made up if you are willing to pay for it. Meanwhile check the current price and availability on what you want and if it is available it will usually be cheaper. It will usually give better service, too..........
Since the OP considered using a 38/44 for this project my guess is he wants a 41 Magnum with a skinny barrel and fixed sights. Unfortunately, non exist.

He could use a Model 520 as a chassis for the conversion.

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Old 02-22-2021, 10:10 AM
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...I have a 520 barrel and have thought about doing the same thing...
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Old 02-22-2021, 11:57 AM
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I have one. I used a M58 cylinder and a much reshaped M57 barrel. Made a rather nice long action. The barrel was rehaped to the 38 44 configuration with some grinder work and a lot of file work. I don't know about frame strength but it is mostly used with 1000 fps loads. It has never given any indication of frame stretch and does have the capability of handling full loads if needed.
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Old 02-22-2021, 12:37 PM
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cw...any pics available...that sounds like a great gun...
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Old 02-22-2021, 01:19 PM
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...then of course there is ...Bowen...
Well, there's your answer right there.
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Old 02-22-2021, 05:59 PM
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Is Bowen still working on S&W revolvers? I heard one of the big names is not.

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Old 02-22-2021, 06:14 PM
S&WIowegan S&WIowegan is offline
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Wink Bowen is not doing S&W Heavy Duty conversions...

..any more. He announced a few years ago he was done with that particular job. I believe he pioneered the conversion of Heavy Dutys to 45 Colt. He felt that's what S&W should have done back in 1930. He also did at least one 44 Special conversion which I own. Bowen quit doing these partly because several of the sub-contractors he relied on went out of business. He also just got tired of doing them and wanted to play with some other concepts. Visit his website. Heavy Dutys are not good candidates for magnums.
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