It took abt 3 mos to find a 17 with some blue wear for a better price then the perfect ones. Traded for a 17-3 today that I'm giving to Andy Horvath to make a .32 long (model 16) out of it. The model 16's are too pricey and hard to find. When the bbl is done in .32, I can have the rate of twist that I want. Heard S&W uses 1-18 3/4 in all the bbl's it produces. Hopefully the cyl will have tighter tolerances to it. I'll have the bbl cut to 5" to look like my 5" .38. Not sure if I'll use a factory front sight or a Weigand sight base that uses the interchangeable classic sights. If anyone has a pic of the Weigand base on a gun, a picture would be appreciated to see what it looks like mounted. It will most likely be re-blued. Any ideas on this project would be appreciated. I want to shoot the gun first just to make sure it shoots OK. I'll use different .22's in it when I shoot it. I may finish it off with a set of KB grips. Larry

How do you deal with the firing pin being in the wrong place since it's a rimfire frame?

Very interested in how your project progresses. I am giving thought to trying to see just what would be involved in reworking a K-Frame into a .327 Fed. Mag. As time and opportunity permit please do put up pictures of how things are progressing. Sincerely. brucev.

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Not sure how Andy handles the center fire, rim-fire part. I do have a couple center-fire hammers to give him to use. When I called him, he said he enjoyed doing this conversion. Won't be able to show pics of the progress, I'll get the gun back when its done. If I use a gold bead front sight a "U" notch rear would be great. Love the way M&P targets line up with this combo. Any pics of Weigand front sights?

I had Hamilton Bowen build one for me. I gave him a complete pre-model 14 5-screw frame, an 8-3/8" factory 16-4 barrel, and a Model 17 cylinder. I had him mount a vintage Leupold scope with Buehler mounts. It's a tack driver!

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

I'd think that would be a far simpler way to go. A CF frame with a .22LR cylinder and barrel.

Hey Larry your gonna be pleased with Andys work, I have a few things to take over to him myself... just waiting for spring..

wheres andy located north east ohio here

This is a Wiegand.

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If you want Andy's address, google his name. he has no web site, goes by word of mouth. Reddog, thats a nice gun. What frame did it start as? How does it shoot. Is that the weigand front site? We're busy at work and I havn't had a chance to shoot the 17-2. Called Andy and all I have to do it get it to him after its shot. Larry

Chopped 27-2

Larry,
Above is a link to my gun, which started out as a 6.5" 27-2 with a swelled barrel. It's a great shooter! Hope yours works out as well!
Dick

Glad to hear you found your donor gun Larry. You going to try it out at N.O.S.C.? My cousin and I joined up a couple of weeks ago. Just waiting for all the paperwork to go through.

Glad to see you joined NOSC. I want to shoot the gun first just to make sure there are no real timing problems or cyl hole to bbl mis-alignment issues. Some S&W's are accurate and some just don't shoot good. Andy will have it for up to 3 mos after I get the gun to him. I have a range officer card so I can go anytime. Larry

Groo here
Andy did some single actions for me .
His work is top notch.

I'll be at Andy's tomorrow morning. Decided on the Weigand Front site base so I can use the fiber optic or gold bead on it. I do mostly double action shooting and it would be nice to easily change the front site.
Any one from Ohio or any state close is welcome to come to the S&W group I hold. Its at a gun club and we're having a blast. There are around 60 people attending. Lots of S&W's, food and good conversation. Spread the word. Watch for my post in the public lounge abt march 4th when I get back from vacation. Larry

Well the gun is in Andy's hands. Now the waiting game starts, will be abt 3 months. Does anyone know a good rate of twist for the barrel? Will be shooting 98 gr rnd nose or 100 gr hbwc. Larry.