Midway has the J-frame titanium cylinders they have in stock on sale right now if anyone needs one for a project or replacement.
s&w cylinders - MidwayUSA
s&w cylinders - MidwayUSA
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titanium cylinders - J-frame
- Thread starter armorer951
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Wee Hooker
Member
I have to wonder what weight you would end up with if a titanium cylinder was installed on a basic airweight. I'm guessing 13 oz +/-?
OP
One poster in an earlier thread advised it shaved almost 3oz. off the weight of his 442.
ridgewalker
Member
Thanks for the heads up. I have one on order.
Get soft grips...
A Hogue monogrip improved the comfort of my lightweight tremendously. Have fun.
A Hogue monogrip improved the comfort of my lightweight tremendously. Have fun.
ridgewalker
Member
Okay, I have some follow up news. I recently received the Titanium cylinder from Midway. While I occasionally remove the yoke and cylinder for cleaning, I never unscrewed the central cylinder shaft before. I was aware it has a reverse thread but I watched a YouTube video because I didn't want to be surprised by flying springs or something. Looked like I could handle it.
I compared the Ti cylinder to the cylinders on my 642 and my MP 340. The Ti cylinder package was marked 357 magnum. The length and size looked identical to the steel cylinders on both guns. Although the 642 is marked 38 special on the barrel, I decided to try the Ti cylinder on the 642.
I removed the yoke screw and the yoke and cylinder. I placed 3 fired shells into the cylinder to keep the star aligned. I chucked up the cylinder shaft into a portable electric drill and loosened the shaft just enough so I could turn it by hand. I unscrewed it and the 2 springs on the shaft are not under pressure so it was very easy to remove. Then I took out the shaft the star is attached to. I decided to reuse the original star although the Ti cylinder came with a star too. Just put it all back together in reverse order. Remember reverse thread on the cylinder shaft. I only tightened it hand tight. I'll keep an eye on it to see if it loosens.
Got the yoke screw in and checked the barrel cylinder gap which looked fine. Tried some dry firing and there were no problems. It seemed to be functioning perfectly.
Then the question was this is a 357 magnum cylinder on a revolver marked 38 special +P. Now I reload and most of my revolvers are 357 but I load them lightly into the 38 special range so I can enjoy shooting them at the range but it is easier to clean after shooting. So I asked a couple of my range buddies and we all agreed it should be okay to shoot the 38 special level loads in the 357 magnum shells through the 642. I tried a few shells and it worked fine.
So I weighed the 642 with a postal scale when I got home. It weighed 12.5 ounces. I didn't weigh it before I swapped cylinders but I weighed a stock 442 which weighed 14.6 ounces.
So overall I am very pleased with the 642 with Ti cylinder. It is noticeably lighter. It is now so light that I am going to load some even lighter loads for practice at the range.
Here are some pics before and after swapping the steel cylinder for the Ti cylinder.
I compared the Ti cylinder to the cylinders on my 642 and my MP 340. The Ti cylinder package was marked 357 magnum. The length and size looked identical to the steel cylinders on both guns. Although the 642 is marked 38 special on the barrel, I decided to try the Ti cylinder on the 642.
I removed the yoke screw and the yoke and cylinder. I placed 3 fired shells into the cylinder to keep the star aligned. I chucked up the cylinder shaft into a portable electric drill and loosened the shaft just enough so I could turn it by hand. I unscrewed it and the 2 springs on the shaft are not under pressure so it was very easy to remove. Then I took out the shaft the star is attached to. I decided to reuse the original star although the Ti cylinder came with a star too. Just put it all back together in reverse order. Remember reverse thread on the cylinder shaft. I only tightened it hand tight. I'll keep an eye on it to see if it loosens.
Got the yoke screw in and checked the barrel cylinder gap which looked fine. Tried some dry firing and there were no problems. It seemed to be functioning perfectly.
Then the question was this is a 357 magnum cylinder on a revolver marked 38 special +P. Now I reload and most of my revolvers are 357 but I load them lightly into the 38 special range so I can enjoy shooting them at the range but it is easier to clean after shooting. So I asked a couple of my range buddies and we all agreed it should be okay to shoot the 38 special level loads in the 357 magnum shells through the 642. I tried a few shells and it worked fine.
So I weighed the 642 with a postal scale when I got home. It weighed 12.5 ounces. I didn't weigh it before I swapped cylinders but I weighed a stock 442 which weighed 14.6 ounces.
So overall I am very pleased with the 642 with Ti cylinder. It is noticeably lighter. It is now so light that I am going to load some even lighter loads for practice at the range.
Here are some pics before and after swapping the steel cylinder for the Ti cylinder.
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wingsuitkeith
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Do these titanium cylinders work in the 638s?
hyena
Member
I put the titanium cylinder on my 642-1. With Altamont rosewood boot grips it weighs 12.0 ounces. With Uncle Mike's boot grips it weighs 12.9 ounces.
OP
Looks a bit strange, but the cylinder fit well with very little work in terms of fitting. This is a 442-1
ridgewalker
Member
I’m glad that this old thread was revived. I just want to reiterate that the Ti cylinder that I used 5 years ago was marked 357 magnum and will chamber the 357 magnum cartridges which are longer than 38 special cartridges. This revolver is marked 38 special. The barrel and forcing cone and frame are not designed to handle the greater pressure of 357 magnum cartridges. Great care must be taken to use 38 special level cartridges only. If someone mistakenly loads 357 magnum level loads, potentially very dangerous and deadly consequences may result. Because of this concern, I switched the cylinder back to the 38 special cylinder and I will use the 357 magnum cylinder on a revolver rated for 357 magnum. Be safe.
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