Model 34-1 .22LR/.22Mag question

[BrianMajors]

OK, so I bought a 34-1 snubby .22lr from a friend who needed cash. Timing, lockup and endshake all look good. The gun looks fine in all respects. About two weeks after I bought it, he brings in a box of ammo that he had left over from shooting it. They were .22Magnums! He said that's what he shot and what his grandfather shot out of it when he had it, too.

I checked, and the magnums will in fact completely chamber in all 6. None of my other .22lr revolvers would even let the cartridge case go in at all. Anybody else ever run into this? I have not shot this little gun yet, but visually and mechanically it seems just fine.

BTW, no I will not ever shoot magnums in it, I'm just trying to understand why the mags even fit in the cylinder, but not in any other revolver.

 

[murphydog]

Someone swapped out the original cylinder for one from a model 51, or rechambered it?

 

[RAMS]

Your 34 is no longer a .22 LR revolver, so do not fire .22 LR rounds in it.

 

[TACC1]

I CAN HELP WITH THIS...

You need to ship that puppy to Wisconsin ASAP! I'll think of
a good reason whilst you're packaging it up for the trip.....
TACC1

 

[jmark1651]

Saw a 34-1 at a gunshop recently that had been modified to accomodate 22 magnum. It looked great and could have come home with me for 300.00. I just am not a proponent of altered Smiths.

 

[Hondo44]

BrianMajors,

There's no good reason why you shouldn't shoot it! In the past the Model 34 could be purchased with both cylinders or have a mag cyl fitted to it. See if your buddy has the 22 LR cylinder for it or you can have one fitted to it by the factory, than you can shoot both LR & mags.

Actually you can shoot 22 LR out of it right now. It's not recommended and the accuracy may suffer some. But from a safety standpoint there's little downside. The cases will bulge but will eject fine. It won't hurt the gun at all. Then why all the "drama" about not shooting LR in a mag cylinder? Theoretically, once in a great while a case might split and release gas out the back end of the cylinder which can happen once in a great while with any ammo, especially cases reloaded many times. But the model 34 has recessed chambers to enclose the case heads for just that reason; to mitigate any malfunctions!

However you and anyone around you while shooting any gun, anytime, anywhere, should have eye protection anyway! Everyone needs to do what their comfort level dictates. I'm not telling you to do it, I'm just sharing the reality of the issue with you.

But I can tell you your gun is absolutely safe shooting mags in the properly chambered cylinder, that gun was designed for it. Confirm with your dealer or gunsmith if you feel the need.

If you ask them about shooting LRs in it, specifically ask them why not? Because they will tell you not to. The honest ones will tell you the truth, they just don't want to be held liable

 

[Hondo44]

Saw a 34-1 at a gunshop recently that had been modified to accomodate 22 magnum. It looked great and could have come home with me for 300.00. I just am not a proponent of altered Smiths.

It could have been original unless you specifically know otherwise. A call to Smith would tell you.

 

[Camster]

"There's no good reason why you shouldn't shoot it! In the past the Model 34 could be purchased with both cylinders or have a mag cyl fitted to it. See if your buddy has the 22 LR cylinder for it or you can have one fitted to it by the factory, than you can shoot both LR & mags. "

My understanding is that guns that were originally magnums could have a 22 lr cylinder fitted,not .22 lr guns being fitted for a magnum cylinder.Bore diameters are different,increased pressures shooting magnums through a 22lr bore.
I think the poster's cylinder was reamed to accmodate magnums.

 

[BrianMajors]

"There's no good reason why you shouldn't shoot it! In the past the Model 34 could be purchased with both cylinders or have a mag cyl fitted to it. See if your buddy has the 22 LR cylinder for it or you can have one fitted to it by the factory, than you can shoot both LR & mags. "

My understanding is that guns that were originally magnums could have a 22 lr cylinder fitted,not .22 lr guns being fitted for a magnum cylinder.Bore diameters are different,increased pressures shooting magnums through a 22lr bore.
I think the poster's cylinder was reamed to accmodate magnums.

The barrel is marked .22LR. The likelihood that someone reamed the chambers later is what I was afraid of. Will the .22LR barrel cause problems if shooting magnums? I don't want to do anything unsafe, but at the same time I'll take a beating on it if I sell it, which would be with full disclosure.

*ETA, I just saw in your post I quoted about the different bores and increased pressure.*

 

[surfgun]

The barrel is marked .22LR. The likelihood that someone reamed the chambers later is what I was afraid of. Will the .22LR barrel cause problems if shooting magnums? I don't want to do anything unsafe, but at the same time I'll take a beating on it if I sell it, which would be with full disclosure.

*ETA, I just saw in your post I quoted about the different bores and increased pressure.*

The barrel pressures will be higher, but a good quality Smith should be able to handle it (your steel cylinder will not blow up). There have been a lot of conversions done like this in the past with no ill effects. Not something to advise with a pot metal imported .22 LR.

 

[Hondo44]

The barrel pressures will be higher, but a good quality Smith should be able to handle it (your steel cylinder will not blow up). There have been a lot of conversions done like this in the past with no ill effects. Not something to advise with a pot metal imported .22 LR.

Agreed. Increased pressures do not mean extreme pressures in regards to this issue and therefore do not translate to doomsday, danger, catastrophy, OMG the sky is falling or even global warming.

BrianMajors,
Shoot and enjoy your Model 34 and don't worry about having to sell it and take a loss. Or if you really didn't want it in the 1st place or 22 Mags are too expensive, with this thread as you're "full disclosure", put it up for sale in the classified section for what you paid for it and see if it doesn't sell right here.

 

[alaskavett]

If it is a problem then send it to me. I will take this "dangerous" gun off your hands and I will even give you $250 as a re homing fee. I'll even be generous enough to pay the shipping on this poor little orphan. Kyle

 

[BUFF]

I have never seen an original Model 34 or 34-1 factory-equipped with a .22 Mag cylinder.

The .22 Mag kit guns were Model 51's. They often had auxillary cylinders in .22 LR.

 

[BrianMajors]

Thanks everyone for the answers and advice. I think I'll keep it, at least for awhile. I haven't even had the chance to shoot it yet, so maybe I'll fall in love with it.

All this talk about it and I forgot a picture. Here goes one.

 

[BrianMajors]

If it is a problem then send it to me. I will take this "dangerous" gun off your hands and I will even give you $250 as a re homing fee. I'll even be generous enough to pay the shipping on this poor little orphan. Kyle

LOL, $250 would be the "beating" I was referring to that I would take. Sorry, gonna keep it for awhile I think.