Custom S&W in 32 magnum feasibility check

[RevolverP320]

This may be a dumb question, Would a .32 long barrel and cylinder work for 327 mag? Granted chambers would need reamed... I'm interested in making a K frame 327 mag. Finding a mod 16 barrel seems impossible. I emailed Smith last week asking them to make a K frame 327 mag with a 3 inch barrel.. of course they replied with "your opinion matters and we'll foward your email to our design team" it's a long shot but hey.

 

[steelslaver]

A 32 long barrel will work fine IF it is for a K frame and IF you can find one Same applies for a cylinder. Both are extremely uncommon. Numerich does have some 32-20 barrels for sale, but they must have been for the first early models as they have no lug under the barrel for the ejector rod and no rib, just front sight. I am going to use one of those. using everything in front of the frame threads as a liner for a drilled out model 14 barrel

A regular J frame cylinder can be reamed to 327 Federal bur the bullets would stick out the cylinder face. They do make nice 32 H&R mags

They did make J frame 327 mags, but those used a longer cylinder than any of the other J 32s and good luck finding a spare one of those.

 

[needsmostuff]

Not sayin it's right ,,, not sayin it's wrong.
But I am continually amazed at the monumental efforts taken to attain a K Frame 327. Certainly doable with the help of a talented gunsmith and a substantial mix of hard to find parts and cash.
I do like a well built S&W but I guess I'm lazy. Me,,,, I just get one of many off the shelf (made in any configuration you could want) Ruger , do some tidy up tuning , and go shooting.
Having been doing the hot 32s for quite a while ,if it HAD to be a S&W I could be quite content with a Mod 16 32mag . Properly loaded it can really knock on the door of a 327! And while expensive I would guestimate still cheaper than a custom.
Too old to fight windmills anymore when there is a easy road to take I guess.

 

[Green Frog]

Folks who are still wondering about mixing and matching recessed vs non-recessed chambers etc should go back and read the two threads I linked way back in Post #7. I've done both, and explained how and why each was used. In short, the stainless was built on a Model 66 ND (357 with recessed chambers) so I kept the recessed chambers. The faux Model 16 was built on a Model 14-3 so the cylinder was milled to match the Model 14 cylinder (non-recessed) it replaced.

To recap what I've opined in the past, it doesn't make any real difference that I can see as to which way you go... it's best to do what the gun wants you to do!

Froggie

 

[needsmostuff]

delete ,,,,Whoops,,,,, Posted in wrong section ,,,,,Sorry

 

[Green Frog]

Steelslaver, Have one last question.. My M-16 .32H&R (now .327 mag) is not countersunk, my M-19 is countersunk. When sent the K22 cylinder out to be converted to .327 should it then be countersunk or not?

Jersey Doug,

I actually was inspired to write the previous post to answer your question... upon rereading it, I'm not sure how well I did. If I've muddied the waters, please PM me and I'll try to be more clear.

Froggie

 

[LCC]

can someone explain why the heck Smith quit making the .32 mag? Just seems a 6 shot J-frame with a 3" option would become a best seller, or a K frame with a 7 shot.

 

[Hondo44]

I have reamed a 30-1 cyl to 327 Fed Mag. Most off the shelf 327 ammo works just fine, but the bullet tip is right at the end of the cyl. Bullets that stick out of the cyl .002"-.003" actually work as well because the bar/cyl gap accommodates the slight over length. However the recoil in the small frame is a thing to behold and therefore not advised!

 

[Hondo44]

can someone explain why the heck Smith quit making the .32 mag? Just seems a 6 shot J-frame with a 3" option would become a best seller, or a K frame with a 7 shot.

Every thing S&W produces (any manufacturer) is based on sales success. It wasn't/isn't that big of a seller.

Another issue was finding ammo for it, especially now! If Trump wins, that issue will subside.

It's much more fun shooting the .327 in a K frame than in a J frame, even with a 6" barrel. Although it would make a potent, dandy light packing trail gun and one could always drop back to 32 Mag or 32 long for fun plinking.

All things considered, it's basically a niche market cartridge so far, and more popular with handloaders which is a relatively small market.

 

[Green Frog]

Since the de facto standard J frame is the 357 mag length, the 327 is certainly an available round for it, however the 327 Fed Mag "is not your grandfather's 32." The K frame, on the other hand, is ideal for the 327 at factory levels or a little less. The little 32 S&W Long is kinda overwhelmed in the K platform, but with the 327/K frame combination we find a true match made in heaven. At least that's the way it seems with my Project 616.

Froggie

 

[steelslaver]

I can not imagine a 327 in a J frame being worse than a 357 in one or for that mater 45acps in my 325 with a scandium cylinder. But,I don't doubt it is snappy. I wouldn't mind trying it myself.

Hondo. I find it interesting that a 327 will fit in a standard J frame cylinder once reamed. I just happen to have a spare 32 cal cylinder and a shooter grade J frame 32. Plus, 4D has the reamer.

 

[Muley Gil]

It is on hold right now, but I'm working on a M15 conversion to .327 Federal. I have a M16-4 cylinder that has been rechambered to .327 and a 6" M53 barrel that has been re-rifled to .32. I had an extra .32-20 cylinder and it appears to be a drop-in fit.

 

[Hondo44]

I can not imagine a 327 in a J frame being worse than a 357 in one or for that mater 45acps in my 325 with a scandium cylinder. But,I don't doubt it is snappy. I wouldn't mind trying it myself.

Hondo. I find it interesting that a 327 will fit in a standard J frame cylinder once reamed. I just happen to have a spare 32 cal cylinder and a shooter grade J frame 32. Plus, 4D has the reamer.

Yes, not as bad as a 357 J frame, 327 is just snappy and not too much fun to shoot many.

 

[steelslaver]

I am sure it is not fun to plink with. But, its like my 325. It is my carry gun, I take it to the range and put some clips though it and carry it. Not much plinking. But, with a J 327 you could plink all day long with 32 longs, then stuff it with 327 for a small carry gun. But, I have to wonder if the advantage over good H&R magnum loads is enough to make it worth it.

My wife likes to carry one of my small 32 longs which I load on the warm side witth cast semi wad cutters for her. Small hands and recoil sensitive. She once shot my 500 S&W though. She was at the range with me and got curious. I explained all about it, a scoped 8 3/8" model. She was still game. Said it hurt her back and prefers the 32s

 

[SuperMan]

It is on hold right now, but I'm working on a M15 conversion to .327 Federal. I have a M16-4 cylinder that has been rechambered to .327 and a 6" M53 barrel that has been re-rifled to .32. I had an extra .32-20 cylinder and it appears to be a drop-in fit.

Have you ever solved the issue with there being too much cylinder gap because the barrel shank on the 53 barrel is shorter than a 17 or 16 barrel?

Easiest, but probably the most expensive, way to get a .327 K-fame is using a Model 53... Rebore the barrel...rechamber the .22 Rimfire cylinder and you are done... The expensive part of course being the doner gun...

Still have the original barrel and cylinder so it can be put back to .22 Jet in the future.

Bob

 

[Green Frog]

Have you ever solved the issue with there being too much cylinder gap because the barrel shank on the 53 barrel is shorter than a 17 or 16 barrel?

Easiest, but probably the most expensive, way to get a .327 K-fame is using a Model 53... Rebore the barrel...rechamber the .22 Rimfire cylinder and you are done... The expensive part of course being the doner gun...

Still have the original barrel and cylinder so it can be put back to .22 Jet in the future.

Bob

Bob,

The limiting factor here seems to be the (long) 22 RF cylinder from the Model 53 since there a few reports of shot out Mod 53 barrels being available for sale. I like the idea of being able to reverse your process as you suggest here, but if you've found the barrel and cylinder, you could just as easily use a Model 19 donor, couldn't you? IIRC, the cylinder window in the 19 and 53 are the same size, but the 53 barrel tenon just doesn't extend as far into the window to make room for the longer cylinder, right?

Froggie

 

[Muley Gil]

"Have you ever solved the issue with there being too much cylinder gap because the barrel shank on the 53 barrel is shorter than a 17 or 16 barrel?"

I'm going to set the barrel back.

 

[SuperMan]

Froggie...IF one could find a Jet barrel and .22 Rimfire cylinder then yes, it would drop right into a 19 frame... The last Model 53 cylinder I saw for sale was on ebay about three years ago...and it went for $800.00...

Last year I was surfing the completed auctions on GunBroker and saw where I had missed a 1961 4" Model 53 that only had the .22 Rimfire cylinder....and it went for ....$800.00... I would have sent that right down to Jack Huntington and I'd have a pair of .327s...the ones S&W should have made.

 

[Hondo44]

Have you ever solved the issue with there being too much cylinder gap because the barrel shank on the 53 barrel is shorter than a 17 or 16 barrel?

Easiest, but probably the most expensive, way to get a .327 K-fame is using a Model 53... Rebore the barrel...rechamber the .22 Rimfire cylinder and you are done... The expensive part of course being the doner gun...

Still have the original barrel and cylinder so it can be put back to .22 Jet in the future.

Bob

Yeah like Muley Gil posted, set the barrel back. The only real option; and it might have to be set back a little anyway to clock the barrel. The great thing is it'll never show on the straight HB. The tapered barrels are the problem if you have to set the barrel back very much.

You have a great dual set up there. If I find a 53, I always wanted to rechamber the .22 cyl or the Jet cyl to the Super Jet. Then fire form the cases to the sharp shoulder Super (like the .256 Win Mag). No more sticking cases and more powder capacity.

 

[SuperMan]

Hondo...I can only imagine that if a .22 Jet will burn out a barrel in about 1500 rounds, if that, a Super Jet will do it even faster...

As I posted a little while ago on the Model 53 thread, these guns were not made for "shooting" they were made for hunting.