.38/.357 to .22lr set

[Anton Dee]

Not sure whether this is the right place to put this?
But I came accross a set to convert a 3" .38/.357 revolver to shoot .22lr ammo I wanted to show to you. Is this legal practice in the USA? Overhere, you can add it to your permit IF you own a gun it can be fitted to.
It is for sale at one of the better gunsmiths/gundealers of the Netherlands.
(from whom I bought my S&W's Model 34 and 18-2 from a single photo)

 

[k22fan]

Hello from Washington State.

That conversion kit is just gun parts. There are no federal laws regulating it and no state laws in most states. I have not read that any state or local laws control ownership or transfer of that kit but some states might regulate it and some states allow local counties and cities to make their own laws regulating guns. Our federal laws only regulate a gun's frame and all the other parts that complete the assembly are unregulated but the whole gun must be a legal configuration. Silencers and machine gun parts are the only exceptions I can think of.

I'm curious what it costs and how accutare it would be. If you buy it let us know how well it shoots.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[Anton Dee]

Thank you Gil, for explaining this.
Sadly, I do not own a gun to fit this set to. I always hear that some laws are quite 'easy' and others are as strict as ours, in some states.
This set intrigued me and I was wondering about the legality of it in the United States.


The price would be no object, it is for sale at 50 Euro, less than 70 US Dollars.

 

[Engine49guy]

Hello and thank you for your post.

I live in Florida USA and there is no registration or restriction on such a conversion kit, They are gun parts.

50 Euros (70 dollars) is a very good deal as the 45 to 22 1911 conversion kits are closer to $150 to $200 here in the USA.

I would love to have a kit like this and will be investigating finding one now that I know they exist.
From what little research I have done so far it appears that they do not export them to the USA.

Just found this link

http://www.lothar-walther.de/200.php

The conversion set is very interesting because although conversion kits for semi auto Colt 1911 style handguns are very popular here revolver kits that include a barrel are non existant.
Up until today I have only seen drop in chamber inserts but without the rifled barrel which results in the bullet exiting without spinning.
End result is innaccuracy.

I realize you said you have not purchased the set yet but may I ask a few questions?

It occurrs to me that the 22 is a rimfire cartridge and the firing pin needs to strike the cartridge on its edge.
Are the cylinder inserts offset to allow the firing pin to strike off center?
If not what prevents the firing pin from striking the .22lr cartridge at its center?

If they are offset how does one align the barrel and offset inserts and what prevents the inserts from rotating out of alignment in the cylinder?

From the photgraph it appears like each insert has some sort of spring clip to prevent rotation once inserted?

Why does one cylinder insert look different than the rest?

Do you know the installation procedure?
I am guessing the barrel inserts from the muzzle then a bushing slips over it centering it in the barrel breech with the threaded knurled brass nut at the muzzle pulling it together tight?

If you do buy the kit would you mind posting a few more pictures especially of the cylinder chamber inserts from the back?

BTW,
Another European posted a question with pictures of a 22 conversion kit for a S&W Model 39 last week,
Thats another kit we dont see here in the USA.



Thank you for the post
Best regards

 

[Anton Dee]

The knurled rod is indeed for extracting the casings after firing.
The gunsmith who is selling this, is at the other end of the Netherlands.
And although Netherlands is small, it is still almost a 3 hour drive. I am not completely sure about how the barrel is fixed.
I think you could be right, as far as I know it works somewhat similar to a lathe-collet?

Now I'm off to find that post on the Model 39!

Maybe I shoud add this is a USED set?

 

[m1gunner]

If you look on the Walther site, they have some 22lr adaptors that have a firing pin plug that is inserted behind the 22 cartridge in the adaptor. That plug has an offset tit that hits the rim and fires the round .

 

[Engine49guy]

Thank you for your reply and good luck with the kit.

Here is a link to the Model 39 adapter post.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...ls/169546-m39-2-conversion-kit-conundrum.html

I am still confused at what prevents the firing pin from striking the 22lr round dead center as it does in the 357/38 round if the inserts are not offset.

Cheers

 

[Anton Dee]

Thank you for your reply and good luck with the kit.

Here is a link to the Model 39 adapter post.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...ls/169546-m39-2-conversion-kit-conundrum.html

I am still confused at what prevents the firing pin from striking the 22lr round dead center as it does in the 357/38 round if the inserts are not offset.

Cheers

First I like to clarify that it is NOT my set!
I have no gun to fit it to...

Although not shown as a seperate part in tne photo, there are small inserts with an eccentric protrusion you place behind the .22lr cartridge.

In the catalog, downloadable as pdf, there is an example on another cartridge conversion.
See leftside of the page on the link you gave us.
(thanks for that BTW!)

 

[m1gunner]

There is one for sale on gunbroker. From the pic there, it is obvious how it works.

 

[RRF]

I went to the USA website and the DE. I can not find this? Does anyone know where I c

Not sure whether this is the right place to put this?
But I came accross a set to convert a 3" .38/.357 revolver to shoot .22lr ammo I wanted to show to you. Is this legal practice in the USA? Overhere, you can add it to your permit IF you own a gun it can be fitted to.
It is for sale at one of the better gunsmiths/gundealers of the Netherlands.
(from whom I bought my S&W's Model 34 and 18-2 from a single photo)

Does anyone know where I can purchase this?
Like with the part number and order info?
Thanks

 

[bigggbbruce]

They offer them here. But I don't think you can have it shipped..
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