Cylinder length on N vs. K/L

[Maximumbob54]

It's fairly common knowledge that the N frame .357 magnum cylinders are shorter than the K or L frame .357 cylinders. I was looking at my beat up Model of 1905 Hand Ejector (sorry, wrong era) and noticed the cylinder is a bit shorter than the modern K frame cylinders. OK, so one came from a time before the .357 magnum and at whatever point they streamlined the manufacturing by giving all the K frame guns the longer cylinder. And yet the N frame .357 magnum cylinder is still not as long like on my M28. But wait... I pull out a M29-3 (sorry, I know wrong era again) and the cylinder is longer to fit the max COAL of the .44 magnum. So my question is if they made parts fitting of the K frame easier by giving them all magnum length cylinders boring them so magnums won't seat as required, then why did they leave the N frame cylinders short? Do the N frame cylinders not start as the same blank and get bored for whatever they are chambered? I just find it odd that I have to shoot a K frame magnum with certain cast bullets as they won't fit in the N frame unless I seat them deep.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Have you actually measured the .357 cylinder on a K/L frame and an N frame? You might find out that the frame window in the N frame is larger thus making you think the N frame cylinder is shorter than the K frame which fills the window in the K/L frames. Compared to the cylinder length of a .44 in the N frame, the .357 cylinder does look quite short. I don't currently have an N frame .357 or I would measure it myself.

 

[Nightowl]

I have wondered why they did not lengthen the cylinders when updating the Model 27 to the 627 or one of the other changes.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Have you actually measured the .357 cylinder on a K/L frame and an N frame? You might find out that the frame window in the N frame is larger thus making you think the N frame cylinder is shorter than the K frame which fills the window in the K/L frames. Compared to the cylinder length of a .44 in the N frame, the .357 cylinder does look quite short. I don't currently have an N frame .357 or I would measure it myself.

All it takes is to drop a .357 magnum cartridge into a M19 and then try the same cartridge in a M27. You will see the M19's cylinder has plenty of room for a longer heavy bullet while the M27 quickly runs out of room.

I have wondered why they did not lengthen the cylinders when updating the Model 27 to the 627 or one of the other changes.

I don't get it either. There is plenty of excess barrel through the frame that could be shortened for a longer cylinder like the M29 has.

I just thought there might be some engineering aspect that I am not aware of that someone here might know the reason behind the design.

 

[Nightowl]

All it takes is to drop a .357 magnum cartridge into a M19 and then try the same cartridge in a M27. You will see the M19's cylinder has plenty of room for a longer heavy bullet while the M27 quickly runs out of room.



I don't get it either. There is plenty of excess barrel through the frame that could be shortened for a longer cylinder like the M29 has.

I just thought there might be some engineering aspect that I am not aware of that someone here might know the reason behind the design.

If its like a lot of things we do, "it is because we have always done it that way and it was always good enough." I guess they don't see a reason to change. I don't shoot heavier than 158 grain bullets, so I don't have an issue, but a lot of people would shoot the heavier bullets if they could.

 

[Maximumbob54]

If its like a lot of things we do, "it is because we have always done it that way and it was always good enough." I guess they don't see a reason to change. I don't shoot heavier than 158 grain bullets, so I don't have an issue, but a lot of people would shoot the heavier bullets if they could.

I have an MP-Molds .358" 158gr mold that is really a 170gr bullet cast as a solid and a 158gr HP. It has two different sets of crimp grooves. If I set the bullet in the first set then they don't quite fit. If I set them in the top groove then they fit. So now I have to have two different sets of ammo for two different guns.

 

[PzKfW5]

Most likely the accuracy is increased in the m27 with a shorter jump to the rifling... but at a trade off of having more limited bullet selection