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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 04-20-2024, 09:42 AM
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I did the reaming conversion to my little 32 S&WL. Functioned perfectly, thanks to AJ and MuleyGil. It's pretty snappy shooting 32 H&R JHP Magnums in it. Nice little SD gun. Ran some 32 S&W Longs through it and that was pleasant to shoot but I would describe it as anticlimactic.
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Old 04-20-2024, 10:57 AM
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Glad to be able to hep out!
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Old 04-20-2024, 11:28 AM
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last week while at my lgs, the owner showed me a 31-1 and asked if I would be interested, and at the time I wasn't. but now after this post I'm interested. Is the work done only to the cylinder or is there another modification that needs to be made. I guess my concern would be the added pressure to the gun itself.
is the only tooling to be done is the reaming?

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Old 04-20-2024, 11:53 AM
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Yes, the only tooling needed is the chamber reaming.
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Old 04-20-2024, 11:57 AM
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wow, that is very cool to know. thanks
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Old 04-20-2024, 12:15 PM
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wow, that is very cool to know. thanks
Another thing to know is that any .32 Hand Ejector MUST be a -1 (dash 1) or higher, Model 30 or 31. That is when they went to a J frame with a slightly longer cylinder. A no dash or pre model will not work, due to the shorter cylinder, and the H&R Mag cartridge is too long.
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Old 04-20-2024, 12:32 PM
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That's pretty cool Tom. If you don't mind my asking, did you purchase the reamer? If so, what brand, where did you get it from and how much did it cost? I obtained a near new 31-1 a few months back with the intent of reaming it H&R Mag. Still need to do that, so any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
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Old 04-20-2024, 12:49 PM
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What in terms of measurement are we talking about? How many thousands are removed?

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Old 04-20-2024, 12:58 PM
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Another thing to know is that any .32 Hand Ejector MUST be a -1 (dash 1) or higher, Model 30 or 31. That is when they went to a J frame with a slightly longer cylinder. A no dash or pre model will not work, due to the shorter cylinder, and the H&R Mag cartridge is too long.
Looks like I'll have to stick to Sharpe's handload data for the .32 Long. (Though it means I'll never play with my marvelous 115-grain H&R loading in my Improved I-Frame.) Thanks for doing the measurements and saving me the effort!
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Old 04-20-2024, 01:05 PM
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The instructions I received from AJ helped immensely. The key is to take your time, keep it oiled and clean the shavings as you go. Then oil some more. When the rim of a 32 H&R mag casing fits flush to the rear of the cylinder you are done...with that chamber. I used a tap & die handle to turn the reamer. If the cylinder will not close that rim is not flush. I'll let Gil comment. I forget the brand. I know Clymer makes one. They run $100-$130 I believe.

Here is the 31-1 that I modified. It had a broken hammer spur when i bought it but I had a hammer for it in a parts drawer. It has a couple minor scuff marks from when the spur was broken and then it was put away until I bought it and brought it back to life...as a 32 Mag.
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Old 04-20-2024, 02:54 PM
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Here is the 31-1 that I modified. It had a broken hammer spur when i bought it but I had a hammer for it in a parts drawer. It has a couple minor scuff marks from when the spur was broken and then it was put away until I bought it and brought it back to life...as a 32 Mag.
Oh boy! That's just dandy! Fantastic - talk about a handy gun!
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Old 04-20-2024, 04:48 PM
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The 32 H&R has a case length of 1.076 or the 32 long case length is .920

As the throat is about .312 and the chamber .337 your removing .0125 from the radius for .115 more depth. The total amount of material removed is pretty small. I did the math and it is right at 2.9 grains of steel which has a way higher density than powder.

The 32 long max psi is 15,000psi and the H&R is 21,000psi
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Old 04-20-2024, 06:10 PM
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The 32 H&R has a case length of 1.076 or the 32 long case length is .920

As the throat is about .312 and the chamber .337 your removing .0125 from the radius for .115 more depth. The total amount of material removed is pretty small. I did the math and it is right at 2.9 grains of steel which has a way higher density than powder.

The 32 long max psi is 15,000psi and the H&R is 21,000psi
Sometimes I get a little over my head and that just roared past me. Help me understand Slaver. Is that a good thing or a bad thing. Remember, I'm not a gunsmith or a machinist. I do know the amount of metal shavings I got out was minuscule. I will probably lose sleep thinking about that.
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Old 04-20-2024, 06:17 PM
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Sometimes I get a little over my head and that just roared past me. Help me understand Slaver. Is that a good thing or a bad thing. Remember, I'm not a gunsmith or a machinist. I do know the amount of metal shavings I got out was minuscule. I will probably lose sleep thinking about that.
Sleep well. You won't overstress that J frame with factory .32 H&R magnum ammo.
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Old 04-20-2024, 07:18 PM
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I did the reaming conversion to my little 32 S&WL. Functioned perfectly, thanks to AJ and MuleyGil. It's pretty snappy shooting 32 H&R JHP Magnums in it. Nice little SD gun. Ran some 32 S&W Longs through it and that was pleasant to shoot but I would describe it as anticlimactic.
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Glad to be able to hep out!
Let's see if I have this straight. the head space is the measurement of the case fitment of the .32 mag in the cylinder bore 1.075 , using a 32 mag case as a guide which is the depth were after with the reamer. the pilot fits the 32 long bore as the guide. I was looking at brownells at the .32 mag reamer and I'm assuming the pilot fits the 32 long.

am I missing anything in my assessment of this job?
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Old 04-20-2024, 07:59 PM
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The .32 S&W Long and the .32 H&R Magnum cartridges both headspace on the rim.

You use the .32 H&R Mag reamer to deepen the chambers enough for the H&R round to rest against the rear face of the cylinder.
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Old 04-20-2024, 08:07 PM
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The .32 S&W Long and the .32 H&R Magnum cartridges both headspace on the rim.



You use the .32 H&R Mag reamer to deepen the chambers enough for the H&R round to rest against the rear face of the cylinder.
Thanks, appreciate the feedback.

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Old 04-21-2024, 01:22 AM
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"That's nice shooting soldier! Two can play at that game!" A great ccw gun.
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Old 04-21-2024, 03:03 AM
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Sometimes I get a little over my head and that just roared past me. Help me understand Slaver. Is that a good thing or a bad thing. Remember, I'm not a gunsmith or a machinist. I do know the amount of metal shavings I got out was minuscule. I will probably lose sleep thinking about that.
Your removing the thickness of the brass on a case neck for a bit over 1/10 of an inch.

J frame 38 specials cylinders handle +P loads which run at 20,000 psi and the outer chamber wall is thinner on them than it is on a 32.

If it was a bad thing I wouldn't have done it to all of mine
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Old 04-21-2024, 12:24 PM
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PS. A smaller diameter tube will handle more pressure than a larger diameter tube even if they have the same wall thickness

Not only is a 32 chamber smaller in diameter than a 38 shamber but, it has thicker walls.

Of course on the 5 shot J frame the 38 has the cylinder notch offset to the chamber, while the 6 32 it does not, BUT, the stop notch is a small percentage of the wall which gains support by the rest of the wall around it. I am regularly involved in pressure testing and inspection of pressure tubes and some small sections of corrosion thinning do not cause failures. They may however cause rejection, but that is because of concerns over additional future corrosion thinning a larger area. A cylinder chamber does not corrode
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Old 04-21-2024, 01:49 PM
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I never considered the stop notch being lined up with the chamber but I see what you mean. It looks like that might be a weak point under really high pressure even though there is plenty of metal around the chamber.
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Old 04-21-2024, 02:43 PM
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Tom,

You did it right as the directions you were given. Great little revolver made even better by the reaming to .32 H&R Magnum. You told me that is was a bit "snappy" when fired. Then down load a bit for target shooting and leave the hotter true Magnum loads for self defense. "Snappy" is a good word for my 31-1 as it is a snub nose. I have put Hogue Grips on mine to give me more to hang on to when shooting (better contrlability). Hang on to that gun!
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Old 04-21-2024, 11:34 PM
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A friend on here converted my wife's 31-1 to 32mag. Dandy little gun!
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Old 04-22-2024, 10:10 AM
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I'm on the fence about reaming my 30-1 and 31-1. With a 432UC, Charter Undercoverette, and an SP101 it is hard to justify converting them.

The 432UC has the nicest trigger of all, with the 30-1 and 31-1 tied at second. The Charter is in third place with the Ruger lagging far behind, even after shimming and some light stoning.
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