Model 16-4 6” barrel for deer hunting

[Green Frog]

I’m happy for you, @pacecars! As I’ve said on other threads, a firearm is meant to be a tool, and if it can be made into a more effective tool that you need or want to use, you should do so. I’ve also said you’ve gotta do you!

As this thread has progressed (and in endless others) the presence of that heavy lug under the barrel has been argued ad nauseum. I’ve come to believe that a 6” barrel like that of the Models 19 & 66 would carry well and probably give as much practical accuracy as the under lug barrel. As I think of buying out the current S&W (with my Sociable Security check) I plan to order a run of 66-1 frames be forged along with Model 66 style barrels and cylinders, only boring them for 327 FM. The frame would lack the Hillary Hole of course, but would be D&T for a scope mount. The bean counters would scream and wet their shorts, but I’d send samples to a couple of friendly gun writers and commission the manufacture of a few million rounds of amm (to eliminate that problem) and we’d sell them as fast as we could make them… or I’d have mine and the enthusiasts would have theirs, and everybody else could pound sand. A lot of what’s being made now is a lot less attractive! I’ve got a cigar out, so the nay sayers can flame away.
Froggie

 

[pacecars]

I have a 610 that has a 5” barrel that was contoured down to a 1/2 lug. S&W missed out not making that style in the 610

 

[jeffrefrig]

It's not my gun, and I kinda have a heart for .327FM, so I say go for it. Show pictures if you can, at least before & after. That chamber pressure, I'm sure you all involved know it's okay I presume. I don't see why that won't kill a Great Dane-sized animal, especially at handgun range. Have good luck with the project!
Oh, yeah, the poachers use .22 LRs up in Northern PA from what I heard from a LEO. But that's with a rifle, if it matters.
Do one of those YouTube videos with ballistic gel! I'm out...

Edit: I reread the post and see you sent it in, so you need not go for it, as you already have.

 

[Bastogne71]

I’m happy for you, @pacecars! As I’ve said on other threads, a firearm is meant to be a tool, and if it can be made into a more effective tool that you need or want to use, you should do so. I’ve also said you’ve gotta do you!

As this thread has progressed (and in endless others) the presence of that heavy lug under the barrel has been argued ad nauseum. I’ve come to believe that a 6” barrel like that of the Models 19 & 66 would carry well and probably give as much practical accuracy as the under lug barrel. As I think of buying out the current S&W (with my Sociable Security check) I plan to order a run of 66-1 frames be forged along with Model 66 style barrels and cylinders, only boring them for 327 FM. The frame would lack the Hillary Hole of course, but would be D&T for a scope mount. The bean counters would scream and wet their shorts, but I’d send samples to a couple of friendly gun writers and commission the manufacture of a few million rounds of amm (to eliminate that problem) and we’d sell them as fast as we could make them… or I’d have mine and the enthusiasts would have theirs, and everybody else could pound sand. A lot of what’s being made now is a lot less attractive! I’ve got a cigar out, so the nay sayers can flame away.
Froggie

Froggie,send me your address and I will get a down payment to you ASAP. Have you considered a name for your new product? How about calling it a model 616 Target and also offer it in a 4 inch 32 Combat Magnum. I’ll take one of each please. Let me know when you are ready to ship! Anxiously anticipating their arrival!

Bastogne71

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I sold my 4” Model 16-4 and bought a 6” S&W 16-4 .32 H&R Mag yesterday and it is in fantastic shape. I spoke to Jack Huntington and I am sending the gun, a Weigand scope mount and a S&W Model 48 .22 mag cylinder to him as soon as the mount comes in from Brownells. He is going to convert the Model 48 cylinder to .327 Federal, D&T it for the scope mount and do an action job on it. The plan is to put a Leupold 4X or 2x scope on it and use it to hunt deer. It should be a very nice light recoiling deer gun

I would buy a new 627 and save the 16, they are making a 327mag in the N frame for less cost than the 16. the 16 will go up $500 in five years.

 

[steelslaver]

I would buy a new 627 and save the 16, they are making a 327mag in the N frame for less cost than the 16. the 16 will go up $500 in five years.

They make a model 327 N frame but it is a 357mag not A 327 MAG

In fact right now S&W isn't making any 327 and the only one they ever made was a J frame. They did make some 16-4 32 H&R mags, that are easily reamed to 327

Or you can just do as I did and make your own K frame 327s
a 6" made from a 10-7 with a K22 cylinder reamed to 327 and a barrel that uses a reamed out 6" barrel for a sleeve

Same same except a 3" barrel and I didn't mill the frame for adj sights

I also made one using an alloy 38+P frame a 32 barrel and a 32 H&R cylinder, the recoil is way snappy in such a light gun

I have a steel J frame and an H&R cylinder under going surgery to become a 327 on my bench

 

[pacecars]

Jack called and said the gun is on the way to me!!

 

[ACE10000D]

That's one of the dumbest things I've heard of somebody doing to a collectible like that. What a shame, one more collectible down the drain.

 

[Muley Gil]

That's one of the dumbest things I've heard of somebody doing to a collectible like that. What a shame, one more collectible down the drain.

His gun, his choice. It's not like he is altering J Edgar Hoover's Registered Magnum.

I sold my 6" M16-4 a number of years ago. If I still had it, I'd probably do the same thing.

 

[long colt frazier]

I bought a Ruger in 327 mag when they first came out. Liked it so I found a 6 inch 16-4 and had Bowen ream the cylinder. Couldn't be happier with it;-)

 

[pacecars]

Just think, it increased the value of the rest of them. I didnt consider this one collector quality which is why I bought it with the intention of making it the gun that S&W should have made. Many guns have been customized by their owners to meet their personal needs. How many Savage 99s and Winchester 71s have been D&T for side mounts? I plan to shoot the **** out of it. I don’t buy guns to not shoot them

 

[pacecars]

She is home now. Here is the Leupold 4X mounted. Jack did a great job on the action. It is smooth as silk

 

[steelslaver]

That's one of the dumbest things I've heard of somebody doing to a collectible like that. What a shame, one more collectible down the drain.

It is a gun, NOT a "collectable". While they are collected, that was never their intended purpose. It is now better able to accomplish its actual purpose.

Very few collectable guns would have anywhere near their current prices if their original owners had treated them as such.

 

[pacecars]

I had some Olive Wood Ropers laying around so I switched out the Combats. It feels better and looks better to me

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Southern whitetails are very small in comparison to Midwest whitetails or Rocky Mountain mule deer, and the range at which the deer is likely to be targeted is generally quite short. I've taken dozens using a .45ACP pistol and several using a .22LR, most field-dressing out at maybe 60 or 70 lbs. Removing the hide and head, then butchering for the freezer might leave 30 lbs. of meat. A downed whitetail can usually be picked up and carried by the hunter, or hung up for field-dressing without assistance.

In many areas wildlife control officers regularly use .22LR to cull problem deer, usually during hours of darkness using spotlights or night vision devices. Ruger and other makers will provide .22 rifles with integral suppressors for such agency uses in areas where noise would be a problem.

A competent shooter using the .327 Federal should have little difficulty taking a Florida whitetail at moderate range with little vegetation intervening. Assuming this is allowed under Florida hunting regulations I see nothing wrong with the idea.

Here in Colorado where a nice mule deer buck can exceed 250 lbs. and a mature doe can be 200 lbs. live weight, and shooting distances are frequently 100 yards or more, we would be having another discussion.

 

[Ameshawki]

The caliber isn't deer legal in Iowa. Seems a bit small to me but corn fed deer in this state tend to bulk up.

 

[44wheelman]

Florida fish & wildlife says:

"Adult male deer in Florida average 115 pounds, but can reach 190 pounds or more in North Florida. The smaller females average 90 pounds with larger females weighing 120 pounds or more."

115lb deer, 80yds, 4x scope.... .327 is not enough?