I have a model 650 without the magnum cylinder. I have attempted, unsuccessfully, to locate a MRF cylinder for this gun. My question, is it feasible to bore the .22 LR cylinder to .22 MRF?

no problem in modifying the 22lr to 22 mag.
I have done the same to a mod. 34 cylinder
with great success .
You just need the proper reamer, and a qualified
person to do it.

If you shoot 22 LR from a gun barreled for a 22 Magnum the accuracy will suffer and you will more than likely have lead spitting. The diameter of the Magnum case is larger than the 22LR and the bullet shape is also a little different. Yes, they did and probably still do sell convertible revolvers, but accuracy does suffer when the Lon Rifles are shot.

The other factor is that 22 Magnums have become quite expensive, and if you need more power than the 22 LR as to offer, you might just be better off stepping up to a .38 special IMHO.

Chief38

Yes, accuracy certainly does suffer, that's precisely the reason I need to reem the cylinder to .22 mag. The model 650, apparently is a pretty rare S&W and is very handy with the 3" barrel, so I do want to keep and use this gun, so being unsuccessful in finding a .22 MRF cylinder, seems my best option is to change the .22 LR cylinder I have, to .22 MRF. Thanks for the good info.

Here's an auction for a 22lr stainless cylinder. I have a 651 with both LR and mag cylinders. I can't shoot it so well that I can tell much difference with the 22lr cylinder. It's so small it's hard to hold well. I do shoot better with full size 22lr pistols (ex Ruger MkII, Ruger single six). I haven't measured them, but suspect there is no smithing required to install, but the previous owner who sold me my set said he sent the 651 to S&W to have the LR cylinder installed. Hope you see this auction in time to get a shot at it.

I would just send it back to S&W after a call confirming they have a .22 Mag cylinder and get it done eactly right. They currently make an all stainless 22 mag revolver. Their prices are not unreasonable and will be cheaper than obtaining and custom reaming a LR cyl. You might even be able to opt for an 8 shot cylinder.

By the way, what happen to the original 22 Mag cyl?

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

I'm probably the skunk in the wood pile here but I have a 651 with both cylinders. The gun is marked 22 mag but I am too cheap to shoot it that way. Using the 22LR cylinder with good ammo I can hold the ten ring at 50 yards. The 22 mag cylinder doesn't do quite as well. I would be strongly inclines to take a really good look at the rest of the gun. I had to do a lot of work on my 651 to get it to shoot well but it does now. I also went through many many kinds of ammo looking for the one that worked best. I would be very reluctant to ream the cylinder on your gun until I had exhausted all the other possibilities.

I too, have not been able to discern a difference in accuracy once I found which ammo my gun liked in LR and which in Mag. I believe the last time this came up, it was determined the bore on S&W 22 LR guns is the same as their 2 Mag bores.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

anyone ever slugged the There supposedly is a difference of a couple of thousandth's but I wonder.

The bore size for 22LR is supposed to be .222 and the mag is supposed to be .224. My 651 slugs .223 and it works quite well with some brands of 22LR ammo. There are some other brands it doesn't like and when I try them I get the shotgun thing. I have 3 different 22s and none of them like the same ammo. I don't know why it is this way, I just know it is.

I have contacted S&W and was advised that they stopped production of the .22 mag cylinder in 2000 (?). I bought the model 650 used, and for a very good price. The man who owned it had died and the wife had moved and did not know of the mag cylinder. I would like for it to have more collector value and need the cylinder for that reason. I also do a lot of woods walking and like the size of the J frame, and the practicality of the 22 mag for that. I probably will not attempt to ream the lr cylinder, but just keep searching for a mag cylinder.Thanks all for your help and advise and I remain open to suggestions.

Hi,
Well that's not encouraging news and I'm surprised since they still list two 22 magnum SS revolvers on their website!

If it's possible, I would stay in touch with the seller's widow and make sure she has your ph #. She will run across it eventually and probably in the original box.

On the Ruger forum a fellow had a Ruger Hawkeye cylinder for sale. We asked what happened to the rest of the gun and he said he sold it a year ago w/o the cyl because he couldn't find it! Over a year later he found it in a closet in a shoe box and didn't have the buyer's name and number!

I'm sending you a PM.

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Jim
S&WCA #819