30-1 conversion question

[Tyree1867]

I just bought a shooter grade 30-1 with the idea of having the cylinders reamed to shoot the 32 H&R Magnum. Will this affect accuracy with the 32 Longs?

Also, according to the SCSW # 3, the SN 753793 dates it to 1961-1970. I'm wondering if anyone can help with a closer date. It has diamond stocks which number to it and a flat cylinder release latch, together which could put it before 1966 and no later than 1968.

Thanks for your help. Bill

 

[steelslaver]

I don't know about the date. Don't have my book handy. My 16-4 fires both 32 long and the H&Rs very well and I don't see why the same would not be true with a correctly reamed 30-1. I have one and am probably going to ream it. Really not that much different than firing 38 specials in a 357 and that works very well for many.

 

[McShooty]

The 30-1 is one of the nicest 32 longs ever produced, and with handloads it will give you 1000 fps or better with 85 - 100 gr bullets. To scrimp and save until you find a gun chambered for the 32 H&R makes sense and would be the most fun.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

If you run a 100 grain bullet at 1,000 fps as McShooty suggests, I think you will find it will do all you need to do with that gun. That load in a 32 H&R mag is my go to carry load out to the ponds to shoot fish eating, duck killing, turtles. I hate turtles!

 

[Tyree1867]

Thanks for the comments. I have a 16-4 but it's not a carry gun. Since my 30-1 is shooter grade it sounds like there is no downside to having the cylinder reamed.

Can anyone help with my dating question?

 

[H Richard]

The 32 H&R with a 100 Hornady XTP and from a 6" barrel (16-4) does 1224 fps, will go 1020 fps from a 1 7/8" barrel in a 431PD. By judicious hand-loading that might be able to be improved a "little".

 

[cherrypointmarine]

There used to be people on here who knew how to get ahold of someone who did the reaming on .32 cyl's to .32 Magnum. I think he might have been a member. Hopefully somebody will chime in with the info. If anyone knows where to get extra cyl's, I'm sure there are more than a couple of us who would buy them for this reason.

 

[wrangler5]

You need Big Cholla. He has done two for me, a 30-1 and 31-1. Each took about a week from my mailbox to back again, using Priority Mail. (All he needs is the cylinder and extractor, so you can use USPS both ways.)

 

[Dillyp]

not meaning to thread hack, but ive considered this with my wifes 30-1. I'm wondering if the cylinder has enough length to ream to .327 fed?

 

[Tyree1867]

"not meaning to thread hack, but ive considered this with my wifes 30-1. I'm wondering if the cylinder has enough length to ream to .327 fed?'
Good job for "not meaning to".

Where are the people who track dates& serial numbers?

 

[Dillyp]

If it helps you any, my wifes # is 780175. receipt in the box showed a purchase date of jan 66. The flat latch is intriguing for your serial, I believe they went away in 62ish...

 

[Dillyp]

I stand corrected. the thumbpiece changed in 66. My wife's is a standard thumbpiece.

 

[gen3guy]

The 30-1 is one of the nicest 32 longs ever produced, and with handloads it will give you 1000 fps or better with 85 - 100 gr bullets. To scrimp and save until you find a gun chambered for the 32 H&R makes sense and would be the most fun.

Agree! I would not do this to my 30-1.

 

[Tyree1867]

Thanks for the info. I checked the OAL of the .327 on Wikipedia and based on that, the cartridge looks to be too long for the cylinder. There may also be pressure issues based on what I've read here on the forum. Best to doublecheck me on both tho.

 

[Tyree1867]

"Agree! I would not do this to my 30-1."

I have a number of nice 30"s & 31's, as well as several 32 magnums. I bought this one- shooter grade- with the intent of having it reamed. The others- I agree with what you said.

 

[jack the toad]

I recently had a very clean 4" 30-1 that I was going to ream to .32 mag and a 332 prelock that was already in .32 mag but sold them both when I ran across a nice shooter grade 16-4 that I promptly reamed to .327 mag.
I prefer the K frame for my shooting type but the 332 was a nice carry piece. Kinda wish I had them both back now.

 

[McShooty]

We are folks,some of us anyway, who admire, respect, and revere 20th century Smiths for what they are. The 30-1, in addition to being a very nice 32 as I said before, was the first 32 Long to be built on the J frame. For me that adds collector interest, something most mid-century S&Ws have. Listen to Uncle Roy; do not, repeat, DO NOT rechamber a mid-century Smith & Wesson. If you want to shoot a certain round there are other options.

 

[RWJ]

My option was this...

I had the same thought as the original poster, but went with a replacement (used) cylinder from a 632 that I picked up years ago off a popular auction site. It took only a little fitting, and gave me the 32 Mag option without altering the original. Brownells shows the new cylinder assembly in stock @ 129.85 (940-000-786WB) , if you have a 'smith who can fit one for you. The two-tone doesn't bother me.


Just a thought

RWJ

 

[Tyree1867]

We are folks,some of us anyway, who admire, respect, and revere 20th century Smiths for what they are. The 30-1, in addition to being a very nice 32 as I said before, was the first 32 Long to be built on the J frame. For me that adds collector interest, something most mid-century S&Ws have. Listen to Uncle Roy; do not, repeat, DO NOT rechamber a mid-century Smith & Wesson. If you want to shoot a certain round there are other options.

My shooter grade has many marks on the right side flats so I doubt there would be any collector interest. I have several 30's that are in much better shape but I went looking for a much cheaper, shooter grade 30-1, I wanted the J frame to handle the extra length & additional pressure of the .32mag. It just worked out that it is an early 60's vintage. The important factors are that it was cheap and a shooter.

 

[Tyree1867]

I had the same thought as the original poster, but went with a replacement (used) cylinder from a 632 that I picked up years ago off a popular auction site. It took only a little fitting, and gave me the 32 Mag option without altering the original. Brownells shows the new cylinder assembly in stock @ 129.85 (940-000-786WB) , if you have a 'smith who can fit one for you. The two-tone doesn't bother me.


Just a thought

RWJ

Thanks for the suggestion and stock #. I looked at it & it is tempting but it is only a five round cylinder. The advantage of the J frame 32's, both 30-1 & 31-1 is that they give you six rounds. IMO that is too big a SD advantage to pass up.

 

[RWJ]

Must be a typo...

That must be a typo, as it's a factory part, and even the picture shows 6 charge holes. I'd be willing to wager that if you called the tomorrow, they could confirm it; they also list the factory part number, if you wanted to check with S&W. It specifically says it's for a 631 and a 631LS, both of which are 6 shot cylinders.

(they probably just copied the verbiage from the Model 60 description....)

Added: Midway shows it at the same price but is a special order, with a date of 4/29/17 if ordered today.

• Product #: 444985, with the same S&W part # as Brownell's

RWJ