Model 15/16 Conversion

[TED338]

Several years ago I converted a M15 to 32 H&R Mag by boring out and relining the barrel to .32 and installing a new 32H&R Mag M16 cylinder I had found. From 32 S&W shorts to the H&R's it is my most accurate Smith and a pleasure to shoot in the K frame. Now a question: Will it handle the .327 Federal pressures if I ream the charge hole to the correct depth? They do chamber that round in the J frame.

 

[brucev]

The following is just my opinion. You have a nicely accurate K-Frame .32 H&R Mag. Find a .32 S&W cylinder or else a .22 Mag. cylinder. Have that cylinder rechambered for the .327 Federal round. This will allow you to keep your revolver in its current and accurate configuration. It will also allow you to enjoy shooting the .327 Fed. round. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[PMRet]

I know that a few of the members here have converted 16-4's to .327 federal and have been pleased with the results. However, I agree with brucev that the extra cylinder in .327 would be the way to go. This 16-3 and 16-4 are the most accurate and pleasant to shoot revolvers I own, and I wouldn't consider altering either one of them.

 

[Jebus35745]

Nice guns PMRet, I have the 16-4 but mine doesn't seem to shoot so good. The other 16's are too hard to find and expensive. Andy Horvath has a 17-2 of mine to make into a .32 long. He's cutting the bbl to 5" and using a Weigand interchangeable front sight base. It will be a double action gun and I'll be able to change the front sight from a gold bead to fiber optic as needed. He's had it one month and hopefully it will take only abt 3 mos or less to complete. Its a lot cheaper then a model 16 and I should have tighter tolerences then the factory. If I ever sell it I'm sure I could get my money back. I hope to have it for my NE Ohio bunch meeting on May 12th. for display and I hope Andy attends the meeting. Larry

 

[TED338]

Thanks for the thoughts. The ugly process of trying to find a new cylinder begins.

 

[Jebus35745]

Some people don't like e-bay but I've seen a couple of 22 cyl's on there. Larry

 

[PMRet]

Nice guns PMRet, I have the 16-4 but mine doesn't seem to shoot so good. The other 16's are too hard to find and expensive. Andy Horvath has a 17-2 of mine to make into a .32 long. He's cutting the bbl to 5" and using a Weigand interchangeable front sight base. It will be a double action gun and I'll be able to change the front sight from a gold bead to fiber optic as needed. He's had it one month and hopefully it will take only abt 3 mos or less to complete. Its a lot cheaper then a model 16 and I should have tighter tolerences then the factory. If I ever sell it I'm sure I could get my money back. I hope to have it for my NE Ohio bunch meeting on May 12th. for display and I hope Andy attends the meeting. Larry

Larry, that sounds like a really cool project, I like the idea of a 5" barrel and interchangable front sight. Be sure to post pics and details when you get it back.

I have been very fortunate as far as K frame .32 revolvers go. My first one was a 4" 16-4, followed by a 6" 16-4 a few months later. I always figured an older one was out of the question, but then one day I just stumbled on a 5 screw K-32 at a price I couldn't pass up. It was so nice I felt guilty shooting it, so when I found the 16-3 at an attractive price I bought it and sold the 5 screw.

 

[peyton]

I went ahead and had two of my 16-4's converted to .327. Sadly, an unexpected trip to Afghanistan interrupted my range time so I never got a chance to shoot them!!

 

[Jebus35745]

What a bummer peyton, new guns to shoot and you can't. If you're in the service, thanks for the job you are doing for this country. Larry

 

[Rawhyde]

Thanks for the thoughts. The ugly process of trying to find a new cylinder begins.

Not an ugly process, just kinda pricey....

+ Bowen Classic Arms + Parts Store

$295 in blue or stainless, then whatever the charge for chambering and fitting to your gun...

 

[cab32]

TED338
I'd like to learn more about the specifics of your conversion M15 to quasi M16. because it is one that I have been planning. I have a cosmetically worn M15, an M14 barrel and a 32mag M16-4 cylinder so I am very interested in the method you used to bore and reline your barrel to 32. Did you modify the relining process to keep the seam out of the forcing cone? What did you use for a liner?
In addition, the center pin and ejector rod of the M15 does not seem to fit the M16 cylinder correctly. Do they use different parts?

 

[bgrafsr]

I've had Bowen Classic Arms make me cylinders in .32-20 WCF and .32 S&W Long for my Model 16-4, 6 inch. He also re-chambered the .32 H&R Magnum cylinder to ..327 Federal Magnum. The work was pricey and I will never get my money out of the gun IF I were to sell it, but as it will go to our son, I don't worry about the cost.

 

[TED338]

CAB...Sorry not to have responded sooner, have been away. The liner was turned to such a diameter the it removed all of the old cone. The seam was therefore not in the cone's incline. The liner itself was from an unrifled section of .32 barrel that was then rifled for the correct twist. As for the cylinder, I was lucky enough to to get one with its original star and rod so I had no problems.

Thanks to all for the Bowen information, now all i have to do is sell a kidney.