.38 barrel in .357 frame

[Irod]

Can I install a barrel from a S&W .38 special revolver on a .357 magnum S&W revolver frame?

 

[Alk8944]

This is too general a question. If the barrel is from the same size frame, J, K, N, etc, then possibly, there are too many dimensional variables to answer without more specific information.

Why are you asking? Is it because there is a reason you want or need the gun to not be marked as a .357 Magnum for some legal reason?

 

[Irod]

...
Why are you asking? Is it because there is a reason you want or need the gun to not be marked as a .357 Magnum for some legal reason?

I'm not trying to evade the law, on the contrary. The sport of shooting is very supervised in Mexico by the army, and I was offered a S&W revolver marked as . 38 spl, blued, fixed sigths; but the cylinder seems strange to me, and I decided let it go.

It gave me distrust because the .357 is not for civilians here, and when you register a gun, it's checked, if it turns out to be .357, it's confiscated and I lose my money.

It's definitely not a 38/44 or an M10. Maybe an M13 with an M10 barrel.

P.D.: I´m very happy with my classic pre Model 10 .38 Spl. revólver…

 

[StrawHat]

To answer your question, yes, a barrel marked 38 S&W Special can be installed on a Magnum frame. It may require a bit of work but most barrel installs require work.

Considering your laws, you made the correct choice.

Kevin

 

[DWalt]

Some years ago there was a participant here who lived in Mexico and spoke about that .38 Special limitation. I believe that he said was that the only thing the Mexican authorities checked for was that the revolver barrel was caliber stamped as .38 Special or smaller. He also said that it was not unusual that Mexican shooters handloaded .38 Special cases up to .357 levels. Of course, it is well known that there is a complete absence of any illegal firearms in Mexico.

 

[Alk8944]

Of course, it is well known that there is a complete absence of any illegal firearms in Mexico.

You forgot the , the . and the !

 

[Alk8944]

To answer your question, yes, a barrel marked 38 S&W Special can be installed on a Magnum frame. It may require a bit of work but most barrel installs require work.

Considering your laws, you made the correct choice.

Kevin

You cannot install a K-Frame .38 Spl. barrel in an N Frame or L Frame revolver or an L Frame barrel in either an N or K Frame gun. That's why I told him the question needed more information before it could be answered!

 

[WR Moore]

OP, it would be possible to install a barrel from a model 10 in a model 13, or from a model 64 in a model 65. That way you'd have a handgun labeled .38 Spl but able to chamber .357 magnum. Which, I expect, can get you into much trouble.

Besides the chambering, a .357 K frame cylinder is longer than that of a .38 Spl. A .38 Spl will have about 5 mm between the front of the cylinder and the frame. The .357 cylinder less. So to fit a .38 barrel to a .357, you'd have to shorten the barrel shank to fit.

 

[steelslaver]

Yes, if you stay in the same frame size it is pretty easy

 

[jculloden]

I Have a 14-3 PPC Revolver and the cylinder is a factory .357 cylinder

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

When I was a LEO and we were issued S&W Model 64 revolvers...the detectives were given 2" M64s. One of them was marked Model 65 on the frame but with a .38 Special marked barrel. Whether that was a genuine .357 frame I never knew nor did I ever try and see whether a .357 would chamber.

Just one of those vagaries of manufacturing it seems.