M15, a .38 special no mo'

Muley Gil · Jul 13, 2019

While it hasn't acquired its new parts yet, I am in the process of converting my M15 to a M16-5. Yes, I know that S&W hasn't built a M16-5 (yet), but about to build one. I bought a 6" M53 .22 Jet barrel, from one of our forum members, that has been re-bored to .32 caliber. A number of years ago, I bought a M16-4 cylinder, which was factory chambered in .32 H&R Magnum. Yesterday, I reamed the chambers to .327 Federal Magnum. Now, it is just a matter of swapping barrels and cylinders. I'm sure there will be a bit of tweaking required.

I once owned a 6" M16-4 that was a fine shooting handgun. It was another one that got away.

I didn't care much for the full lug barrel, but it was really accurate. This Jet barrel has the traditional S&W half-lug barrel that I prefer.

Narragansett · Jul 13, 2019

Sounds like an interesting project. Looking forward to seeing the final results!

muddocktor · Jul 13, 2019

Muley Gil, in other words, you are building a gun that Smith & Wesson should already be offering!

Good for you and I can't wait to see the finished product and read the range report.!

huthike · Jul 13, 2019

Very cool - can't wait for updates!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

andy52 · Jul 13, 2019

I just haven't acquired a interest in .32 cal. revolvers, I know that the K-16 are in high demand due to the scarcity. I'll be looking forward the build and report there in.

H Richard · Jul 13, 2019

Muley, keep us posted on this. I sort of like the .32 cal's. I do have 3 32 H&R's, but have resisted cutting the 16-4 for 327.

series guy · Jul 13, 2019

I have a couple custom made K Frame guns in .327 Federal. Definitely a gun S&W should build.

george_lehr · Jul 13, 2019

Muley Gil,
How did you ream the chambers? Did you set it up in a Bridgeport, or ream them by hand?
It's probably obvious I'm not a machinist, but I have a Model 16-4 and I'm curious.
George

cgt4570 · Jul 13, 2019

I had Hamilton Bowen build a .327 'Model 16' for me several years back using a new 8-3/8" 16-4 barrel, a pre-15 frame and a Model 17 cylinder.
It wears a vintage Buehler scope mount and Leupold scope.
It's a tack driver with all 4 ammo lengths.
I love it!

SuperMan · Jul 13, 2019

Muley...sounds like a great project....I did one much like it two years ago by taking a burned out .22 Jet barrel, had it rebored and then had the .22 LR cylinder rechambered to .327... All the work was done by Jack Huntington and came out fantastic... I still have the .22 Jet barrel that was on the gun and .22 Jet cylinder so it can be converted back to original minus the valuable .22 LR cylinder...

A question... The model 16 cylinder is based on the .38 Special length cylinder... The Model 53 cylinder is the longer Model 19 type...as such the barrel shank is going to be too short to get the proper flash gap... Do you plan on milling down the barrel and shroud shoulder to be able to screw the barrel in to correct the gap size??

Bob

SuperMan · Jul 13, 2019

series guy said:
I have a couple custom made K Frame guns in .327 Federal. Definitely a gun S&W should build.

..some details please.....

Bob

les.b · Jul 13, 2019

Wait til Green Frog hears about this.....

Seriously, Gil, this sounds like a great project..,can't wait to see the finished product and a range report.

Best Regards, Les

series guy · Jul 13, 2019

Bob I had Andy Horvath build these two guns. After reading Froggie's posts on his .327 project I began looking for parts. I had a rough Model 19 for the base. I found a 16-4 8 3/8" barrel on ebay after 4 or 5 years looking and then found a Model 17 cylinder. I now can't remember the wait time but 6 or 8 months is a safe bet. I loved the gun but was wishing for a short barrel companion. A couple years later I find a 4" 16-4 barrel on ebay and pay a crazy price for it. Then I paid crazy money for another Model 17 cylinder. I happened to find a really rough Model 15 to use as a donor. 8 or 10 months later I have a second .327 K Frame. All it takes is crazy money and patience.

LostintheOzone · Jul 13, 2019

Sounds like a great project.

I'm just getting my feet wet with 32 Long. 32 is a caliber I've always been interested in but never had the money to buy a 16. I've looked at them a lot tho.

A few weeks ago I found a 31-1 for a decent price. Loaded up some ammo and now tweaking a load. I can see why people like the 32 H&R mag. after shooting this 32 L. That's a real sweet little J frame and it doesn't eat much either. I'm not going to let my wife anywhere near it.

The one I have is a 4" but now I'm looking for a 2". These things are addicting.

Muley Gil · Jul 14, 2019

george_lehr said:
Muley Gil,
How did you ream the chambers? Did you set it up in a Bridgeport, or ream them by hand?
It's probably obvious I'm not a machinist, but I have a Model 16-4 and I'm curious.
George

I rented a hand reamer from 4D Reamer Rentals in Montana. If anyone wants to do this project, they should rent the handle also. My tap handle didn't fit. I wound up using a 10mm open end wrench.

SuperMan · Jul 14, 2019

Nice guns sg....

Earlier this year I was offered a trade for a 4" Model 16-4...have been thinking about having it rechambered for .327 from .32 H&R but haven't done so yet....

Bob

LostintheOzone · Jul 14, 2019

SuperMan said:
Nice guns sg....

Earlier this year I was offered a trade for a 4" Model 16-4...have been thinking about having it rechambered for .327 from .32 H&R but haven't done so yet....

Bob

I wouldn't do that. 16's have become collectable. If it's a beater yeah sure, but don't mess up a high condition 16. S&W will never build anymore of those.

Muley Gil · Jul 14, 2019

SuperMan said:
Nice guns sg....

Earlier this year I was offered a trade for a 4" Model 16-4...have been thinking about having it rechambered for .327 from .32 H&R but haven't done so yet....

Bob

"I wouldn't do that. 16's have become collectable. If it's a beater yeah sure, but don't mess up a high condition 16. S&W will never build anymore of those."

The best way to proceed, if you are concerned about a possible future sale, is to get a second cylinder fitted and ream that one to .327 Federal Magnum.

Personally, any gun I intend to keep will get any mods that I want or need. Over the years, I have come out ahead on all sales or swaps. Sure, I have sold a few that I have lost money on, but others have sold for a profit.

The best part is that I have had fun with my guns.

Krogen · Jul 14, 2019

Nice! Standing by with "worm on tongue" as Mork said. (baited, err... bated breath) ahem.... cough, cough....

Very interested to hear how this works out. Please keep us posted. I have a 16-2 and 16-4. Something about .32 revolvers just makes me grin.

smitholdtimer · Jul 15, 2019

Envious is an understatement!

You guys have convinced me, I am huge a fan of the .32 caliber and the revolvers that S&W should but probably will not produce. I am reluctant to ream a M-16-4 cylinder because of the potential to devalue the original. In addition to the 4" & 6" K-616 I would dearly love to have one with a round butt, 3" barrel and a potential of 7 or 8 shots in .327 Magnum. Oh Yes, No Lock Please!

M15, a .38 special no mo'

Muley Gil

US Veteran

Narragansett

muddocktor

Member

huthike

andy52

US Veteran

H Richard

US Veteran

series guy

george_lehr

Member

cgt4570

Member

SuperMan

Member

Attachments

SuperMan

Member

les.b

US Veteran

series guy

Attachments

LostintheOzone

US Veteran

Muley Gil

US Veteran

SuperMan

Member

LostintheOzone

US Veteran

Muley Gil

US Veteran

Krogen

smitholdtimer

US Veteran

Similar threads

Latest posts