Dumb question - Model 17 modified for .22 mag

[Lobster Picnic]

I don't think it's a travesty to alter the Model 17. The 17 is a lot more common than the 48 and usually a lot cheaper. If somebody wanted a .22 Magnum K-frame and had a hard time finding one, this is one solution. If it shoots accurately, it was probably done competently. I would shoot and enjoy it, with .22 magnum only.

 

[ralph7]

Ralph, I had heard that some model 48s came with a 22 LR cylinder as well as the 22 magnum.

Aha, I see where you are coming from, then.

 

[ironhead7544]

Dont shoot 22lr in in except in an emergency. I would get a 22lr cylinder fitted and would be happy I had it for a shooter. If the 22Mag is inaccurate, then you should be able to sell it and not lose money.

I heard the countersinking of the rims was because the early rimfire rounds would sometimes split and send pieces out the back. I doubt that would happen with todays ammo.

 

[SuperMan]

With all the handguns being de-milled and then the remaining parts being sold on various internet sites, a replacement .22 LR cylinder and .22 LR barrel are readily available. Any competent pistolsmith can make the swap for you. Keep the 22 Mag cylinder and have a two caliber handgun. It is perfectly safe and probably very accurate to shoot 22 Mag out of a 22 LR barrel. Put that scarred up original barrel up for sale and someone that wants to make a short barrel for a 'shooter' will buy it at the right price. ........... Big Cholla

Exactly what I was going to say...

Have a 17, 18 and 63 that have all had .22 Magnum cylinders fitted to them and they all shoot great with both cylinders. Have never had an issue with excess jacket material in the bores. The bore diameter of the .22 LR is .2225, and the .22 Magnum .224..which makes no difference.

I have bought cylinders off several of the auction sites. They will be anywhere from $90-200.00 depending on condition and if it just the cylinder w/star or the complete assembly with ejector rod and all the internal springs.

As to fitting, I have had some drop right in and others that needed to go to a Smith smith for fitting or timing.

You will probably find that your 17 is more accurate with Long Rifles and Magnums than a 48 twin cylinder gun because of the tighter bore. There is no reason that that Smith and Ruger had to run a bigger bore out of some type of safety concern. Freedom Arms and USFA only use the Long Rifle Bore size and their twin cylinder guns are MUCH more accurate with LRs than a 48 or a Single-Six.

For $200 you have a bargain even if you don't bother with the second cylinder.

Bob

 

[Camster]

Since it is stamped as a dual caliber, it probably had a second cylinder at one point.

As already stated 22LR in a 22 Mag chamber is a NO-NO.

It was not uncommon to create convertibles in the olden days.

Doubtful that the OPs gun had a second cylinder.It's just a poor conversion job of a .22lr,done in the cheapest way..A five year old could do a better job of adding the magnum stamping,though,at least,they did the right thing in putting it on.Some guys get real surprises with altered calibers.

 

[ken158]

Now you have a 22 barrel and a 22 mag cylinder (of sorts) - another Buba job that has ruined a gun. You would need a new barrel and cylinder before I would shoot it - costly based on value of gun.

 

[JAREDSHS]

Now you have a 22 barrel and a 22 mag cylinder (of sorts) - another Buba job that has ruined a gun. You would need a new barrel and cylinder before I would shoot it - costly based on value of gun.

Ken speaks the truth.

 

[one eye joe]

Yeah, but....one-eye Joe.....how do you really feel?!

WaMike, I TELL IT LIKE IT IS, OR I DON'T TELL IT AT ALL. IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS GUN WAS HACKED UP. HE ONLY HAS $200. INTO IT, SO IT CAN BE MADE INTO A VERY NICE GUN WITH A LITTLE INTERNET SHOPPING, AND THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT GUNSMITH. HE COULD EVEN SEND IT BACK TO S&W, AS WAS SUGGESTED ABOVE. HE'S GONNA BE OK---AND THAT'S HOW I REALLY FEEL………….

 

[Big Cholla]

Beg To Differ

Now you have a 22 barrel and a 22 mag cylinder (of sorts) - another Buba job that has ruined a gun. You would need a new barrel and cylinder before I would shoot it - costly based on value of gun.

With all due respect: IMHO, with lots of practical experience behind my opinion............This handgun is NOT ruined. It is a little ugly because of that horribly done over stamp on the barrel. 22 LR barrels have a long time well earned reputation for accurately shooting 22 Mags. The OP can add a 22 LR cylinder at minimal cost and nothing else to result in owning a very versatile handgun. My thought on swapping out the ugly barrel for a nice pretty barrel was for exactly that.....appearance sake.......not anything else.

I have put a 22 LR cylinder into a M 48 with less than satisfactory results. The accuracy is just not there. I have put several 22 Mag cylinders into M 17s and M 617s. The resulting accuracy with the Mag ammo is startling to me because it is so good. I really like the 22 Mag cartridge. While on paper it doesn't seem to be that all fired better than the hotter 22 LR ammo, IMHO, the practical results are about twice as good.

As far as availability of parts goes; I have in my parts horde two sets of 22 mag cylinder/yokes awaiting my next acquisition of the right 22 LR S&W handgun.

And, I have shot many 22 LRs thru 22 Mag cylinders as an experiment to educate myself. It works best with the 'hotter' 22 LR ammo as it tends to obdurate and seal best. I never had a split case. Accuracy was terrible at best. YMMV................ Big Cholla

 

[Budnjax]

keep it and use it as is.....

to put this gun back into proper shape (plus what you paid for it)
will be more expensive than you could buy a good condition 17. 22LR and 22WMR are different diameter bullets and you'll be lucky to find any gun that shoots well with both.

 

[Big Cholla]

YMMV

to put this gun back into proper shape (plus what you paid for it)
will be more expensive than you could buy a good condition 17. 22LR and 22WMR are different diameter bullets and you'll be lucky to find any gun that shoots well with both.

As I keep saying; My M 617s are very accurate with both 22 LR and 22 Mag. The proof is in the pudding. It is not luck. The 22 LR barrel is bored at 0.2225" and the 22 Mag barrel is 0.224". To put those measurements in perspective; that is only 0.0015" difference in diameter and therefore 0.00075" in radius. The tighter barrel seems to help not hurt the accuracy obtainable from 22 Mag ammo. Then there is the tolerance factor and with that the wear on tooling factor. Probably most 22 LR production barrels run about 0.223" bore.

A couple of years ago, I built up a couple of single shot 22 Mags from Remington bolt action 22 LR rifle starts. Their 22 LR accuracy was so-so, but after conversion to 22 Mag the accuracy was dramatically better.

If I had the OP's M 17 on my workbench, I would have a 4" lugged barrel in it in about 20 minutes. Merely because I have one in stock. Then I would install a 22 LR cylinder. I would keep the headspacing for the existing now 22 Mag cylinder so everything works while switching cylinders back and forth. This isn't rocket science and this sort of conversion has been done ever since the 22 Mag ammo was first produced. ................ Big Cholla

 

[jmace57]

Big Cholla - wish you lived down the street from me!

 

[Aviator]

Since the gun in question is a 17-3 would the location of the gas ring be different than the other dash models.
I think the ring is located on the cylinder in all but the -3.
Is it as simple as knocking the gas ring out of say a -4 cylinder in order to install it on a -3?

 

[Frank237]

There are people who should NEVER be allowed grinders, electric pencil type engravers, Dremel tools, files, hack saws and now....letter and number stamps.

How could ANYONE have thought THAT was a good idea?

 

[gscrasher]

On first looking at the OP's picture I didn't notice that the maker of this conversion lined out 'Long Rifle' and stamped magnum above that in addition to adding / .22 mag. So he actually didn't intend for .22 long rifle ammo to be used in it. Thus the safety issue of shooting .22 LR in this specimen is less relevant.

 

[jmace57]

Follow-up - As I had never followed up. I found a beautiful .22 LR cylinder and crane assembly and it works great. I also acquired a replacement barrel from a forum member here, but have not replaced the barrel yet. With the replacement cylinder/crane and the new barrel, I'm probably $425 into it, which I can live with.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Just as a point of information, at one time, S&W offered the Model 48 (.22 WMR) with two cylinders - the other for .22 LR.

John

 

[gwpercle]

Follow-up - As I had never followed up. I found a beautiful .22 LR cylinder and crane assembly and it works great. I also acquired a replacement barrel from a forum member here, but have not replaced the barrel yet. With the replacement cylinder/crane and the new barrel, I'm probably $425 into it, which I can live with.

Did you ever shoot it with 22 magnums , just wondering if you have. A 22 magnum revolver wouldn't be a bad thing as long as it was accurate enough .
Gary

 

[steelslaver]

The only real sin I see is the dim bulb stamping all over the barrel. Shooting the slightly over sized 22 mag bullets down a 222 lr barrel is a total nothing in something like a K22. Cylinder, frame or heavy forcing cone don't even notice the burb. I would just find a k22 cylinder and have a dual caliber gun.

Once you replace thee ugly but functional barrel you have a great gun at a very decent price.