Model 51 and custom .22lr cylinder

buckyjames1 · Jul 9, 2009

I have been in search of an ever elusive model 51 .22mag 4inch and seem to be 1 day too late on the last 2 attempts. I might give my quest a bit more time and then perhaps settle on a model 651 but my question is:

1.Can you get a custom cylinder made for say a model 34 or 17 in .22mag?

2. If a cylinder is made does a timing headache begin if i do a cylinder swap at the range?

and one last thing...Did I mention WTB Model 51 or 650 in 4inch...hmmm

Camster · Jul 9, 2009

Answer: No. .22 mag guns have a larger bore than a .22lr-can't shoot a magnum through a .22lr bore. .The reverse conversion:Had been done in the past,but Smith no longer offers lr cylinders for magnum guns.

feralmerril · Jul 10, 2009

I done exactly what you have proposed back in the early 1970s. First I bought the gun (model 51) new, then got ahold of S&W, told them I wanted a model 34 clyinder & crane and had it fitted for a convertable. A few months later smith made it a option for awhile. I would like to think I had something to do with it, but even if so, all that I did was ask them why they didnt do as ruger does on the idea. I sold the gun, bought it back, traded it off for something else. Guy I traded it to (a co worker) died. I assume his son, also a gun enthusit still has it.

colt_saa · Jul 10, 2009

Of course it is possible to get a Model 17 or 34 or 63 and have a second 22 Magnum cylinder made for it.

As Camster points out the 22LR bore is slightly tighter than the 22 Magnum bore. This would result in elevated chamber pressure. So you could not use one of the model 17 aluminum cylinders for this conversion. The cylinder would need to be steel.

Remember, just because you exceed SAAMI pressure specifications does not always mean that you have approached a pressure level that can cause catastrophic failure.

Elmer Keith routinely pushed 44 Specials beyond the 15,000 PSI SAAMI pressure limit. Part of what made S&W produce the 44 Magnum with a 36,000 PSI limit. The thing is not to do it Willy nilly but to make good choices in your firearm and maintaining it in good condition.

Here is a model 34 with dual cylinders that was the property of one of the older S&W factory workers, a metallurgist actually. It is now 28 years old. While it has fired mostly 22LR while I have owned it, there were several occasions where it went to the range set up for 22 Magnum. I changed the service stocks out for the rubber boot grips about eight years ago. The original owner bobed the hammer and polished the face of the trigger. This makes it a cool little trail gun.

MakeMyNight · Jul 10, 2009

BuckyJames;

FWIW: a 651 square or round butt model, with exterior polished, action smoothed, and lightened trigger/hammer springs, makes a great lightweight outdoor gun.

Bwilli88 · Jul 10, 2009

The bore diameter difference is .222/.223 for 22lr and .224 for 22mag, a whole 1/1000 of an inch.

Model 51 and custom .22lr cylinder

buckyjames1

US Veteran

Camster

Well-known member

feralmerril

Absent Comrade

colt_saa

Well-known member

MakeMyNight

Well-known member

Bwilli88

Well-known member

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