L frame in 44 Spl

[mscampbell2734]

Given the amount of material in the cylinder and size of the frame window I see no reason the L frame could not be made as a 6 shot 44 Spl.

 

[Sebago Son]

Obviously, S&W's Design Engineers thought differently. The Model 696 is a 5-shot gun.

 

[mscampbell2734]

Hey you learn something new every day. Too back they could not make it a 6 shooter, I'm certain they could sell all they made.

 

[jag312]

How about a 6 shot .41 Special? I have actually thought about converting a 586/686 revolver to .41 Special.

 

[S&W forever]

Obviously, you are not aware that the 696 are very hard to come by and if you do see one for sell, it's going for a premium.

Hey you learn something new every day. Too back they could not make it a 6 shooter, I'm certain they could sell all they made.

 

[-db-]

I'd have to look it up in his book again but if I remember correctly, Hamilton Bowen has built some custom big bore L-frames but they're all 5-shots. Apparently there just isn't enough cylinder material to safely put 6 rounds of calibers starting with 4 in an L-frame.

 

[ColdBlueSteel]

I don't know, the 646 was a 6 shot L frame .40 cal, .44 spcl. seems feasible to me.

 

[-db-]

There's an overall difference of .198" comparing case diameters of 6 .40 S&W and 6 .44 Spl. cartridges. While not much, it may be just too much, I don't know. I do know that if anyone were capable of building a 6-shot .44 L-frame, it would be Bowen, so there's got to be a good reason he doesn't do it.

Edit: I just found this. Looks like Bowen will rechamber an L-frame for .41 Spl. but that's as big as it gets: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/186508-does-l-frame-41-mag-exist.html

More on this topic here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...king-about-l-frame-41-special-conversion.html

 

[Sebago Son]

How about a 6 shot .41 Special? I have actually thought about converting a 586/686 revolver to .41 Special.

That's actually been done. A poster on this board a year or so ago had one made up and gave his shooting impressions.... Looked pretty favorable to me.