Who to do N Frame caliber conversion?

Doug M.

Doug M.

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For a variety of reasons, I am considering have an M28 converted to 45 ACP/AR with some additional work (action, sights for aging eyes, etc). I am aware this is not a perfect economic choice, but 4" barrel revolvers in that caliber are not common. I do not want that ***** full lug barrel, so the majority of 625s are a non-consideration. (I had a 625-6 5" stolen a few months ago - pisses me off no end.) The most desirable production gun is the Springfield Armory commemorative, but that's a rare and expensive gun for a shooter. So - conversion.

I am considering Bowen, of course. Any other suggestions? (And yes, I have to get a shooter grade M28 to do this, and I think a 45ACP cylinder as I understand it - this is not a short term project.)
 
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re: 45 conversion

Why don't you start with a .45 Colt mountain gun? I don't think the model 28 barrel is big enough to be bored to .45 because of the taper.

It may be possible just to have the .45 Colt cylinder cut for moon clips so you could shoot .45 acp or .45 colt. Even if you needed to get a cylinder and have the barrel set back a bit it should be less cost.
 
Hmm

Had not thought of that. Is there a reasonable supply of older Mountain Guns (pre-lock of course, preferably pre-MIM/firing pin change)?

My understanding is that the M28 barrel does have enough meat, but I've been wrong before.
 
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Conversion...

Doug M. said:
Had not thought of that. Is there a reasonable supply of older Mountain Guns (pre-lock of course, preferably pre-MIM/firing pin change)?

My understanding is that the M28 barrel does have enough meat, but I've been wrong before.
Click to expand...

It's heavy enough.

Alot of 28 barrels were bored and either re-rifled or more commonly, relined to .452" or .454.

Dave Woodruff of Bear, Delaware did mine in 1976.

Consider this... why not use a 625 model of 1989 and simply remove the portion of the barrel lug that you dislike?

This will not require any major surgery, just a nose job...

Drew
 
Not to disparage some of the ideas that go with using a different platform as the basis, but I am also looking at sight changes due to decrepitude, etc. It may also just reflect my lack in breadth of knowledge. Do you mean a barrel swap or actual metal work?
 
Doug M. said:
Had not thought of that. Is there a reasonable supply of older Mountain Guns (pre-lock of course, preferably pre-MIM/firing pin change)?

My understanding is that the M28 barrel does have enough meat, but I've been wrong before.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how many pre mim .45 Colt mountain guns are out there but they are much more common than the .45 acp Springfield run of 500.
 
Did a little research on that idea, and the results and feedback seem mixed. Has anyone used Bowen's for a project such as this?

(And I'll be - I didn't notice until now that the forum software wrote over that combination of two words I used to describe the unattractive full lug barrel.)
 
These conversions have been going on for some time now... I have a .455 HE2nd that was converted by S&W in the 1930's to .45 Colt.

One thing to keep in mind that most folks miss when converting a .357 to either .44 Spl. or .45 Colt. That's the front sight. You will need to add a much taller one or you will be forced to shoot lighter bullets at a higher velocity.

Drew
 
Try your library or your favorite auction site and scare up a copy of the 1981 Gun Digest Deluxe Edition. There's allot info there that might help you.

Theres a long article by Ed Harris on how to build a .45 Colt / ACP Convertible S&W 1917. He used a .357 cylinder (I think) and re-chambered to for .45 Colt.

It's been a long time since I read it but, much of the work involved the cylinder length / clearance, retaining lug, and barrel shank length.

If your goal is a cheap 45 ACP N Frame that uses moon clips with a 4" barrel the better route would be to get yourself a 1917 or a Brazilian contract 1935. Most all of the work is already done for you, just cut down the barrel. Revolvers in not so great shape good for a project can be had for under $400. If you watch the auction sites 1917s and 1935s show up fairly often with the barrels already chopped.


For an interesting N Frame conversion how about a .22? :)

One of these days if I can get my hands on a basket case or badly bubba'd 1917 for short money, I'm gonna see if it can be done.
 
Just my thought is why not look for a shooter grade 25-2 and have the barrel/sights done the way you want? May be alot cheaper in the long run and just as effective. And you'll still have your Model 28 to shoot or sell.
 
2 replies in one

I am not looking for a fixed sight revolver of this nature - I already have a modified M58. Due to age and the deteriorating eyes that come with that, aggravated by a medication reaction that made this worse and faster, I have pretty significant eye issues that need to be compensated for. My genetic nearsightedness was addressed fine until the last few years, but it's far harder to overcome the combined problems. For me, the fixed sight S&Ws have too many drawbacks.
The 25-2 would be an option but for the problems with cylinder/barrel dimensions; I am not inclined to mess with that. Combine these two issues and a couple other user specific decisions, and this seems the better route. They are not really significantly more common, either.
I am more inclined to do this on a 28 than a 27 simply because I hate to waste a good 27 on such; a 5" 27 has its own appeal.
 
Several years ago I had Hamilton Bowen convert a 5" Pre 27 5 screw to .44 Special. Best decision I ever made, the gun is the "ne plu ultra" as far as .44 Special conversions go. The .44 Special that S&W never made but definately should have.
 
Iowahunter said:
Just my thought is why not look for a shooter grade 25-2 and have the barrel/sights done the way you want? May be alot cheaper in the long run and just as effective. And you'll still have your Model 28 to shoot or sell.
Click to expand...

I agree, to me this looks like the easiest, least expensive option.
Get a Mod 25 In 45 ACP and have the barrel cut to 4".

I used a 6 1/2" Mod 25, and later a 6" [the 6 1/2" was by Bullseye revolver] for duty guns for several years. If I could have bought a 4" I would have.
I just could not bring myself to have the 6" cut down, it was such a good shooter.

I still feel IF a person does not need the Thump of full power 44 Mag loads a S&W revolver in 45 ACP is the best choice.

I find it hard to believe they never made the 25-2 in a 4"...
 
Ok, am I dain Brammaged? I was thinking it is the 25-2s that had throat dimension problems. Is it really the 1950s, and not the 1955s?
 
Call Hamilton Bowen at BOWEN CLASSIC ARMS and discuss your thoughts with him. He converted a Model 28 to 38WCF for me and a Heavy Duty to 44 Spl and Heavy Duty to 45 Colt. Hamilton is VERY good and always willing to talk out an idea.

Alan Harton is also very good. He does some real serious restoration work as well as conversions.

MDaly
 
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