J-Frame Cylinder Interchange??

[snubbiefan]

I am contemplating changing the cylinder and yoke on my Model 38-2 Airweight to a stainless cylinder and yoke. According to what I "think" I know....the Model 38-2 has the improved yoke retention system and radius stud package....etc.

Is there any reason for this not to work as long as I get the proper "improved" yoke and cylinder?

Barrel lengths are the same, so the stainless extractor rod should change over. Does anyone see any problems with this? I would think that as long as I stay with the same yoke retention system and the cylinder stop, etc. parts are the same PN's.....I would be okay????? The PN's for the blued and stainless cylinder I have in mind are different, but that may be because one is blued and one is stainless.

Any help appreciated. Where are the road-blocks?

 

[captainjohnsofd]

As long as you stick with the proper vintage cylinder- all the newer J frame .38 Special cylinders are longer than the old ones- S&W standardized cylinders at the .357 Magnum length- and the retaining screw is different also- check the barrel-to-cylinder gap if the S/S cylinder fits-

 

[snubbiefan]

That is what I think I may have an issue with. I believe before the older Model 38 went out of production, they produced a -3, which made it +p capable and may have had a longer cylinder. Mine is a -2 (circa 1994) and I know it has all the yoke retention upgrades.....just not sure of the cylinder length. I have a model 640 ND....maybe I will see if this 640 SS system will fit my Model 38 blued system. I believe my 640 ND has a 92-93 birthday.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Is the 38-2 on the old J frame or the newer J magnum frame? If it is the old frame you will have problems trying to fit a new frame yoke and cylinder as the J magnum frame is a bit bigger. Easy way to tell is that the newer Magnum rame has the cylinder retention stud integral with the frame while the older ones have the stud.
The 38-2 is a fine gun as it is. I would leave it alone.
if you want to sell yours or trade-shoot me a PM.

 

[snubbiefan]

I think that will be the sticking point CAJUN. I believe the 38-3 was the j-magnum frame. This 38-2 I have has the stud.

Why do I even want to try this....he!!...I don't now. Just something to try I suppose. Before I break anything (on this 38-2 I mean)....I may consider a sale/trade. It is a pretty clean little gun, nice-n-tight and if the pin-trail in the recoil shield is any indication....it has not been fired a great deal....just a little holster wear on the blued components (barrel and cylinder). I picked it up off a "civilian" passer-by at the last gun show.

I just happen to be a nut about all stainless, or alloy guns. If this does not work-out for me....I am only "slightly in Mississippi"...not too far from you and I go to Hammond and NO all the time. I'll stick a picture on here for you a little later.

__________________________________________________

EDIT:
Just stuck a picture below.

 

[Tyrod]

My 1994 vintage 442 has the old length cylinder while my 2011 vintage 642 has the J magnum length cylinder.

BTW my 442 barrel is not emblazed +P.

P.S. It's prolly do-able, But I'd want to hold the new(er) cylinder in my hand and measure it myself.

 

[tomcatt51]

What are the cylinder lengths? "Old" and .357 Mag.

 

[snubbiefan]

You bet....I am NOT going to destroy this gun messing around with it. I have a 640 ND that should be of similar "gender". Maybe I will see if it will interchange.

I suppose I have/had the hots for the Model 38's they produced for one of the State Police agencies....Michigan I think....with the stainless cylinders and barrels. Actually, there is one of those on Gunbroker that will not seem to sell. It's been re-listed at least once and the seller had a buy-it-now at around $360 last time I looked. Don't know if the collectors are not watching, have no interest, or nobody wants that old ND gun. It is a little rough and not what one may consider as collector quality IMHO. I won't purchase that well-fired gun just to get the cylinder and barrel, which will not likely fit my -2 anyway either. I am not interested in risking a barrel change on this 38-2 anyway. It ain't cracked.....so...I need to leave it alone!

tomcat....I don't know. I don't have a j-mag.

 

[shoot]

I happen to have a model 60 cylinder and yoke assembly, not sure what vintage, but if you want to take some measurements of what you need and send them to me I can check it out for you.

Chuck

 

[Tyrod]

What are the cylinder lengths? "Old" and .357 Mag.

These measurement come directly from my 2 model 60s. The old one is circa 1987 and uses the old style cylinder retention. The other is a circa 2011 with the new retention.

Old cylinder length: 1.535"
New cylinder length: 1.591"

The old cylinder length is exactly the same as my 1994 442 with new cylinder retention system.

So, I'm sure there is a stainless cylinder & yoke that will fit your gun.

 

[snubbiefan]

shoot....give me the measurements on your Model 60 cylinder.....if it's 1.535 long.....that's what I need. My stock M38-2 cylinder measures exactly what Tyrod says....1.535 (39mm) and 1.300 (33mm) in width.

Look at the picture below folks. This is my Model 640/Model 38 flip-flop.

ALL I need to do is find the SS cylinder 1.535 in OAL and I'm home free.

shoot....check your yoke/crane assembly to see if it's the "new" model...it will have a beveled end. You may have what I need, but I think worst case would be to have a GOOD machinist shave a few thousandths from the longer/newer cylinder....that I have access to. The yoke is not that hard to find. I have a new style yoke on the way in the mail.

Can I get an Amen here! Or....maybe an oh S**T....what the he!! is he thinking.

I have not checked the BTC gap, but I have no reason to believe it could be that far out of whack on either gun. They both function and I have dog-eyed the gap, just not measured it.

 

[snubbiefan]

shoot.....scratch that.

I already have a cylinder (complete with the guts) on the way from Gunbroker. I don't know if you would have taken any less than $75 for yours, but if you would have....you may have saved me a little bit.

I don't mind putting another $100 into this gun. I got it at a very reasonable price to begin with and now I will have an anomaly....for what that's worth.

Somebody may run across this thread and get a bright idea that it looks sexy and want your cylinder. Thanks for the offer....but I'm done here.

Thanks to you other folks as well....maybe we all learned something that could be useful.