32 Federal Magnum- what Happened??

[BC38]

For those looking for the S&W revolver in the 327 Mag caliber and can't find one, make one! This is the gun that S&W should have produced!

This is a 16-4 chambered in the 327 Mag. The cost of the rechambering is not very high and is easy to do for most gunsmiths. Your cost will be in finding he 16-4!
jcelect

Cool idea, but I could never do that to an original, valuable, pricey, scarce gun like a Model 16.

Now if I had a second cylinder for it...

 

[seldon14]

If you want a 32 Fed Magnum, but can't find one from Smith and Wesson, there are alternatives. I went with a Taurus 327 and am quite happy with it, with about 600 rounds through it in the past 2-3 months.

I'm not trying to push a Taurus here, but they are available in the $350-450 range. The 3" pictured came with two grips, a tritium night sight, factory bobbed hammer, and was drilled and tapped for an RDS, mount included.

That 327 will surprise you if you go into it thinking "It's just a 32." It has some serious "pop" to it.

I'm not really a Taurus guy, but that ticks just about all the box's.

 

[seldon14]

News from the symposium is that there may be a new K frame .32 in the very near future…

Any other details?

 

[jack the toad]

This one’s not for sale either.

 

[jack the toad]

And as previously mentioned, the 16-4’s make a good platform for the .327 IMO but if slick as these two 4”, I dunno if did the right thing or not? Both are high condition so only did one. If had to do over, I’d probably keep original and get 2 cylinders, one for.327 and maybe

other in.32-20? I’d also get the longer barrel, 6 or 8 to utilize the potential of the .327.

 

[jcelect]

Cool idea, but I could never do that to an original, valuable, pricey, scarce gun like a Model 16.

Now if I had a second cylinder for it...

I agree 100%! However, in the picture, this gun appears to be in much better condition than it actually is! The gun pictured came to me as it is today. The previous owner bought it from someone that used it as a truck gun, so the exterior is in rough shape, but the internals are in great condition!
For those that would consider having another cylinder chamber in another caliber, I ask, "Where are you going to find another cylinder for a 16-4?"
jcelect

 

[Green Frog]

I agree 100%! However, in the picture, this gun appears to be in much better condition than it actually is! The gun pictured came to me as it is today. The previous owner bought it from someone that used it as a truck gun, so the exterior is in rough shape, but the internals are in great condition!
For those that would consider having another cylinder chamber in another caliber, I ask, "Where are you going to find another cylinder for a 16-4?"
jcelect

Who says you’ve gotta start with a Model 16 cylinder? K-22 cylinders make perfect “blanks” for this kind of project. Or at least they did for my Project 616 (Mod 617 cylinder rebored to 327 FM) and my faux 16-3 (Mod 17 cylinder rebored to 32 S&W L). In fact I’ve got a stainless 648 cylinder that may become a 32-20 cylinder if I live long enough.
Froggie

 

[M29since14]

The frame lug (for the original .32 HRM cylinder) will be in the wrong place for a re-chambered M17 cylinder.

Edit - meant to say cylinder stop.

 

[jack the toad]

For those that would consider having another cylinder chamber in another caliber, I ask, "Where are you going to find another cylinder for a 16-4?"
jcelect

I wouldn't even hope to be lucky enough to locate another 16 cylinder, that's why I reamed the -4 to .327 to begin with. I'd hope to maybe find something to modify but it's currently not even near the stove, let alone on a burner.

 

[steelslaver]

any 6 shot K 22 Cylinder can become a 327 cylinder.

It is easy to machine the recess off the back of the K22 cylinder. In fact you only need to machine off part of it as the lug only sticks out of the frame maybe .05 or so. Or you can set the frame lug back .045 and run a recessed cylinder.

I have 3 K frame 327 cylinders made that way, my J frame was made from a J frame 32H&R cylinder and is not recessed.

I know from experience the 327 in an alloy J frame is way snappy. I do not recommend it

 

[Green Frog]

The frame lug (for the original .32 HRM cylinder) will be in the wrong place for a re-chambered M17 cylinder.

Edit - meant to say cylinder stop.

HUH? If you’re talking about the recessed chambers on the M17 cylinders, the Model 16-4, like all magnums of that vintage, had the same configuration… no alteration required.
If on the other hand you are trying to use a K-22 cylinder on a Model 16-3 or earlier version of the K-32, you will indeed have to mill the rear of the cylinder to fit.
This was my experience in building a stainless 327 FM on a Model 66 donor (recessed chambers) and a Model 16-3 homage on a Model 14-3 (flush chambers). Either way, it can be done… “Been there, done that.”
Froggie

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

No, it's not for sale (yet)

All guns have a price.

Its supply and demand. I had a Ruger Blackhawk .45 Caliber Convertible (Colt & ACP cylinders) I was on the Range and another shooter offered twice the MSRP. He paid me in $100 bills and it went home with him.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

The bottom line, IMHO, is the oft-repeated phrase, “All handgun rounds suck.” Because they do.

Velocity matters. Bullet mass matters. But where that bullet goes matters much, much more than either.

I will never tell someone which caliber/cartridge they should use. I would, however caution that they probably shouldn’t use numbers on a page to make their choice.

I agree and very well put.

When I was a cop we were issued 38 Special 158 LRN and you just did your "due diligence" and it was effective.

 

[M29since14]

HUH? If you’re talking about the recessed chambers on the M17 cylinders, the Model 16-4, like all magnums of that vintage, had the same configuration… no alteration required… Either way, it can be done… “Been there, done that.”
Froggie

Froggie, you’ve not been there and done that long enough. The Model 17 cylinders (always counterbored) will not work in a stock 16-4 frame (non-counterbored cylinder) without modification of the cylinder stop. Yes, “it can be done,” but alteration is required.

Remember that the 16-4 was made (~1989) quite a while after S&W stopped counterboring the cylinders for the “magnum” calibers (~1982). I’ve never seen a stock 16-4 with a counterbored cylinder, and don’t expect I will.

 

[Cotis]

any 6 shot K 22 Cylinder can become a 327 cylinder.

It is easy to machine the recess off the back of the K22 cylinder. In fact you only need to machine off part of it as the lug only sticks out of the frame maybe .05 or so. Or you can set the frame lug back .045 and run a recessed cylinder.

Frame lug? Not familiar with that vernacular…

 

[wrangler5]

I am with the Detective Special gang. Six rounds in a sexy package similar in size to a J frame.

For those who are interested in going down this road, the re-introduced Colt Cobra is essentially the old Detective Special but now in stainless steel (yay!) with the updated internals (yay!) and a "snake" name (who really cares?)

 

[Green Frog]

Frame lug? Not familiar with that vernacular…

I believe they are talking about the little bump that sticks out of the frame to guide the cylinder into place as it is closing.

 

[Green Frog]

For those who are interested in going down this road, the re-introduced Colt Cobra is essentially the old Detective Special but now in stainless steel (yay!) with the updated internals (yay!) and a "snake" name (who really cares?)

If you guys are gonna start throwing around four letter words, you may get banned!
Froggie

 

[BC38]

I believe they are talking about the little bump that sticks out of the frame to guide the cylinder into place as it is closing.

Actually, the frame lug is a protrusion from the side of the frame, and its primary function is to keep the cylinder from sliding off the yoke when the action is open and the cylinder is swung outside the frame. See the yellow circled part in the picture below.

The frame lug was a pressed-in part in all S&W revolvers up until sometime after the internal lock was added. Sometime after that it became an integral part milled into the frame. That was after the introduction of CNC machined (rather than forged) frames.

 

[dickydalton]

I love mine!
632-2again | The High Road