44 special

AudieMurphy

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Im building my own 44 special and have all the parts except the cylinder....I've given up looking for a 44 special cylinder. So I've heard that a 44 magnum can be machined down to work. I have 2 different types. One is a recessed 44 mag and the other is the newer type. Anyone know which one would be better to use? and roughly how much the cost? thanks for any help
 
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.44 Special conversion...........

Why alter a .44 Magnum cylinder when you can asemble .44 Special loads in .44 Magnum brass ? For many years I have been shooting the Skeeter Skelton load of 7.5 gr. of Unique in .44 Magnum brass. Skeeter used a 240 gr. bullet but I prefer a 200 gr. RNFP cowboy bullet, the load is accurate and pleasant to shoot. Try it, you'll like it !
 
Using an N-frame 357 Magnum cylinder would be an option. Throat diameter for the Model 29 was originally 0.432"-0.433", but S&W tightened the diameter specs to 0.429"-0.430" with the 29-6. At least that is my understanding of the cylinder throats with the N-frame 44's.
 
Im building my own 44 special and have all the parts except the cylinder....I've given up looking for a 44 special cylinder. So I've heard that a 44 magnum can be machined down to work. I have 2 different types. One is a recessed 44 mag and the other is the newer type. Anyone know which one would be better to use? and roughly how much the cost? thanks for any help

A lot depends on what frame you are using. The 44 S&W Special is available in L and N frames in the S&W line and a bunch from other makers.

What are you building?

Kevin
 
Definately need more details but IIRC there is no length difference between the N frame non recessed .44 special cylinder and the .44 Magnum cylinder.
The recessed one will be slightly longer at the rear to make up for the recess depth but the primers are in the exact same spot.
 
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For some reason, I am thinking that "Steelslaver" is a good source of info on doing such a project. (FWIW, I am intuiting that this will be an N frame project, and I suspect that a .357 cylinder properly modified is your pal.)
 
Definately need more details but IIRC there is no length difference between the N frame non recessed .44 special cylinder and the .44 Magnum cylinder.
The recessed one will be slightly longer at the rear to make up for the recess depth but the primers are in the exact same spot.

Minor detail - There is a different frame lug for recessed and non recessed cylinders. The recessed one can be faced off to match the non recessed one, or the frame lug changed.
 
A 44Mag cylinder will still be a 44Mag chambered cyl no matter wether you keep it a recessed chamber style or lathe it off to become a non-recessed chambered style cylinder.
Maybe I'm missing something. But if you want the revolver to be chambered in '44Spcl' when completed, you either have to start with a 44Spcl cyl,,or rechamber a 38-44 or a 357 cylinder to get there (thinking the project is an N frame).
 
Ya, if you use a recessed cylinder in a frame that originally had a non recessed cylinder, you must file the lug back .060. I have made several recessed 45 colt cylinders from recessed 44mag cylinders. My N frame 44 special was made using a 357 cylinder and as I had purchased a reamer and had an abundance of cylinders I made several.

To file a lug back I use a file that only has teeth on the edges.The teeth on the flats having been completely ground off. Then I glue a piece of stainless steel heat treating foil to the frame, by the lug. This keeps marks off the frame. It does take a bit of filing to remove .060 and you must get the portion of the lug where the frame is rounded into the cylinder window.

Turning the recesses completely off the cylinder would not be hard, but in reality if you want to go that route all that really needs removed it enough to clear the frame lug, so that is another option.

As far as the value of recessed cylinders goes. I bought a recessed model 29 cylinder just last week fir $48 including shipping. While they may not make them anymore, the actual market for them is getting pretty small as few people wreck their original recessed cylinders and fewer still actual work on revolvers. I cruise Ebay and buy parts that may come in handy
I probably have 20 odd cylinders and at least as many barrels.
 
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