38-44 Conversion

[mscampbell2734]

I was looking at a thread a member had posted asking about longevity of his model 27 with magnum loads and it reminded me of a posting on another forum.

Seems a member had found and purchased a model 38-44 that at some time the cylinder had been reamed for it to accept magnums. Some people, myself included, cautioned the new owner about shooting magnums because of heat treating and metallurgy issues.

Other said the sheer size of the cylinder and frame should be more then adequate to handle magnum loads.

What's your thoughts????

Shoot just realized this should be in the hand ejector section. Sorry

 

[TSQUARED]

I would not use it with full power 357 Magnum loads.

 

[Iggy]

I git a little "puckery" shootin' Elmer's hot .38 loads outta mine.

Don't see any sense in beatin' it to death.

 

[delta-419]

38/44

I have an HD that was bored out to .357 mag and while it will shoot them to POA, I don't make it a habit to push mags thru it. One knowledgable gunsmith warned me that he had seen several 38/44s that had stretched frames from such guns with hot loads. I would think a 44 special conversion would be more in line with a more durable, safer gun. Just my thoughts.

 

[mscampbell2734]

I have an HD that was bored out to .357 mag and while it will shoot them to POA, I don't make it a habit to push mags thru it. One knowledgable gunsmith warned me that he had seen several 38/44s that had stretched frames from such guns with hot loads. I would think a 44 special conversion would be more in line with a more durable, safer gun. Just my thoughts.

Yeah, that and timing issues were what I had heard.

 

[Shooting4life]

I have always wanted a he 4 inch long action bored out to 45 colt.

 

[j38]

I would like to hear an expert's take on this. I suspect all N frames were made with the same heat treating process and would stand up to both the .357 cartridge and .44 special ammo satisfactorily. Not that it would necessarily make a difference, but was this a pre-war gun or post-war?

Jerry

 

[mscampbell2734]

I honestly don't know if it was a pre or post war gun.

As for the heat treating, I don't think it would be the same for the magnum gun as pre-magnum guns. After all the chamber pressure for 357 Mag is something like TWICE 44 or 38 Spl.