Cylinder strength difference, 64 vs 65?

[petemacmahon]

I'm thinking of sending a cylinder off to have it converted to shoot 9mm using moon clips. I have a few possible K frames for the project. So here is my question: Is there any real actual difference in the mechanical strength of a cylinder off a model 64 vs one off a 65? I know the charge hole reaming is different, and a 357 won't fit all the way down into a model 64 cylinder - but is there any real difference in strength?

The reason I ask is: I would feel very comfortable shooting 9mm +p out of a 357 strength cylinder. NOT so much in a cylinder designed only for 38 spl!

Thanks.

 

[murphydog]

An excellent question. Someone here probably knows the answer, but one guess would be all K frame .357 cylinders were heat-treated differently than .22/.32/.38 parts (the latter are all shorter, except for the .22 Jet). The other possibility is they were made all the same to simplify and standardize production.

 

[Muley Gil]

According to Dr. Roy Jinks, S&W historian and long time employee, the factory heat treated magnum cylinders, but did not treat cylinders intended for standard cartridges.