Hi All,
I recently purchased a very nice Model 651-1. While I have a fair amount of .22 Mag ammo, I have more .22 LR. I have a Pre 17 and Model 18 to utilize the .22LR in.

How difficult is it to do a get an extra cylinder and fit it? I'm figuring a cylinder from a model 63 should work? Just don't know what might be involved with fitting it? Thanks for any info.

Yes very do-able and not difficult. The closer the vintage of the 63 cyl to the vintage of your 651, the simpler the fitting. The cyls are the same length, 1.44"

You want a cyl with the extractor star included to avoid having to fit your extractor star and swap it every time you swap cyls. Besides there was a change in the shape of the star in 1994 on 651-1. Likely around the same time for the 63-3.

Also quicker/easier to change out at the range if you get a spare yoke with the cyl. But your 651-1 has the new yoke retention screw. So you'll want a Model 63-3 (1989) or later yoke which has the new yoke screw as well. They're not interchangeable, the yoke is machined a little differently for the new screw.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Thank you Jim for the excellent information. I very much appreciate you taking the time to explain that for me.

You want to read this thread. Will probably answer most of your questions.
Cylinder Fitment

Stu