Fitting 8 round cylinder
- Thread starter jkd88
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No, it can not. The individual chambers will not line up with the barrel.
Engine49guy
Member
Many years ago a newer member asked the same question, a few months later he advertised a 4" N frame stainless barrel ,
An 8 shot cylinder and yoke arm for sale.
Don't know what happened.
I ended up buying the barrel then regretted not buying the other parts.
I haven't measured the barrel or compared it to the older ones but I'm almost certain the barrels will swap,
if that's true that means the bores are in the same place because if they weren't it would have required moving where the firing pin location is and I'm pretty sure the 8 shot frame is not unique to that model but thats just an assumption.
Where the problem may arise is in getting the 27_28's internals to mesh and time right as the new internals are different.
Can it be done ? I don't know but maybe.
My guess is if you throw enough time, money and expertise at a project it might be successful,
that being said I noticed SW recently had a rebate program with a $150 back on N frames and PSA had an 8 shot N frame .357 for around $800 ( a $650 8 shot 357 N frame was very tempting).
Long story short seems alot simpler to just buy an 8 shot gun if the parts needed to complete the project alone would likely cost around $300-$400.
An 8 shot cylinder and yoke arm for sale.
Don't know what happened.
I ended up buying the barrel then regretted not buying the other parts.
I haven't measured the barrel or compared it to the older ones but I'm almost certain the barrels will swap,
if that's true that means the bores are in the same place because if they weren't it would have required moving where the firing pin location is and I'm pretty sure the 8 shot frame is not unique to that model but thats just an assumption.
Where the problem may arise is in getting the 27_28's internals to mesh and time right as the new internals are different.
Can it be done ? I don't know but maybe.
My guess is if you throw enough time, money and expertise at a project it might be successful,
that being said I noticed SW recently had a rebate program with a $150 back on N frames and PSA had an 8 shot N frame .357 for around $800 ( a $650 8 shot 357 N frame was very tempting).
Long story short seems alot simpler to just buy an 8 shot gun if the parts needed to complete the project alone would likely cost around $300-$400.
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Protocall_Design
Member
Tennexplorer is right. I can tell you for sure that it won't work. The barrels will swap, but not the cylinders. The 8 shot cylinders have a .060 larger diameter bolt circle for the chambers than the 6 shot cylinders. The barrel centerline (therefore the edges as well), and the firing pin, in an 8 shot frame is .030 higher than the barrel centerline in a 6 shot frame.
That means that the chamber centerline on an 8 shot cylinder would be .030 too high for the barrel of a 6 shot frame, or the chamber centerline of a 6 shot cylinder would be .030 too low in an 8 shot frame.
That means that the chamber centerline on an 8 shot cylinder would be .030 too high for the barrel of a 6 shot frame, or the chamber centerline of a 6 shot cylinder would be .030 too low in an 8 shot frame.
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Engine49guy
Member
That is very interesting,
This now has me wondering if the barrel swaps into a 6 shot frame but the firing pin was raised does this mean that the 8 shot primer is struck off center or is the 8 shot frame only used for 8 shot guns?
Also that must lengthen the ejector rod axis to the bore axis so a ss barrel would not work with a 6 shot cylinder?
Figured the cylinder stops would be larger and be a key difference besides the hand pushing a different distance.
This now has me wondering if the barrel swaps into a 6 shot frame but the firing pin was raised does this mean that the 8 shot primer is struck off center or is the 8 shot frame only used for 8 shot guns?
Also that must lengthen the ejector rod axis to the bore axis so a ss barrel would not work with a 6 shot cylinder?
Figured the cylinder stops would be larger and be a key difference besides the hand pushing a different distance.
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Protocall_Design
Member
The 8 shot frame is only for 8 shot guns. The 6 shot frame is for all calibers of 6 shot. The ejector rod is in the same place on both. It still has to be in the middle.
The barrel mounted ejector rod latch would presumably be .030 too low with an 8 shot barrel on a 6 shot frame, but a lot of the 8 shot guns don't have that. Instead, they have a yoke mounted ball detent to hold the crane at the front.
The hand pushes the same distance for everything. The width of the hand is what determines when it disengages the ratchet. Once it does that, the hand slides on up past the ratchet. You can watch this as it happens with the sideplate off by looking in the back of the hand window. Be sure to take the tension off the mainspring, or just remove it and the hammer.
The cylinder stop is the same for all K,L,N frames.
The barrel mounted ejector rod latch would presumably be .030 too low with an 8 shot barrel on a 6 shot frame, but a lot of the 8 shot guns don't have that. Instead, they have a yoke mounted ball detent to hold the crane at the front.
The hand pushes the same distance for everything. The width of the hand is what determines when it disengages the ratchet. Once it does that, the hand slides on up past the ratchet. You can watch this as it happens with the sideplate off by looking in the back of the hand window. Be sure to take the tension off the mainspring, or just remove it and the hammer.
The cylinder stop is the same for all K,L,N frames.
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Also, please note all the 8 shot N-frames have the frame mounted firing pin. It is very easy to move that hole. There are no alignment issues because the flat faced hammer hits the firing pin that has the correct location.
