Besides the typically action/trigger jobs, lock removal, have you done any major mods to your revolver?
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Modifications to your revolvers -
- Thread starter ImDrRich
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A couple little easy things in addition to the above!
I was shooting a lot of PPC and I chamfered the back of the cylinder for potentially an easier time when doing a fast reload.
Also polished out the factory too tight cylinders in 3 of my S&W .22 revolvers!
michpatriot
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welding on scandium
A while back I acquired a MP340..I make my living doing Precision TIG welding so it kind of came naturally to me when I wanted the lock hole gone to fire up the tig.. probably a little crazy to most people, I media blasted all of the black finish off of the revolver and welded up the internal lock holes. I've then.benched down the area with stone and re- media blasted the whole frame to a texture I liked. I also removed the front night sight and filed the sight base to move the point of aim, and made a precision shim that was also pinned in place with the front sight. I then removed the stainless cylinder and fitted a titanium cylinder in its place.. and Polished all of the internals that needed it.
A while back I acquired a MP340..I make my living doing Precision TIG welding so it kind of came naturally to me when I wanted the lock hole gone to fire up the tig.. probably a little crazy to most people, I media blasted all of the black finish off of the revolver and welded up the internal lock holes. I've then.benched down the area with stone and re- media blasted the whole frame to a texture I liked. I also removed the front night sight and filed the sight base to move the point of aim, and made a precision shim that was also pinned in place with the front sight. I then removed the stainless cylinder and fitted a titanium cylinder in its place.. and Polished all of the internals that needed it.
one eye joe
US Veteran
HI DOC, WELCOME TO THE FORUM. GRIP SWAPS ARE PERHAPS THE MOST COMMON MOD. SIGHT SWAPS ARE PRETTY ROUTINE ALSO......
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I'VE EVER HAD DONE, WHICH MIGHT BE CONSIDERED, "MAJOR"---DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE---IS A CYLINDER SWAP.....
I HAD THE 6 ROUND CYLINDER EXCHANGED FOR A 7 ROUND CYLINDER, AT THE MOTHERSHIP, WHEN I SENT MY NO-DASH 686 IN FOR THE "M" RECALL.....
THE GUN IS SET UP FOR SD / HD---WHICH IS WHAT MOTIVATED THE URGE TO GAIN AN EXTRA ROUND OF CAPACITY. THE ACTION WAS SLICKED BY MASTER 'SMITH, DENNY REICHERT, OF SAND BURR GUN RANCH. IMHO, IT IS A FORMIDABLE WEAPON, FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.....
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I built a .44 AutoMag revolver out of a M29. Made a ported slab side barrel, put a shortened Wichita Rib on top, tig welded a hook on the trigger guard, made a steel underlug, bobbed the hammer, put 2 ball locks in the crane, did an action job, rechambered and cut the cylinder for moon clips, electroless nickel finish. As far as I know, it's the only one. That one is for bowling pins, shoots 300 gr. bullets at 915 fps. for a 275 power factor. Made 500 brass out of .308 rifle. The .308 brass has a bigger extractor groove than .45 ACP, so I had to put slits in the moon clips to make that work.
I've made 2 686s into 646s, one 4 inch, one 6 inch. Action job on both.
Rechambered the cylinders to .40 S&W, cut for moon clips, new barrels.
This one I rechambered and found a 646 takeoff barrel online, the 6" one I had the barrel rebored and re rifled. It still says .357 on it.
Built a 686 and a 625 into PPC guns with slab sided barrel, Wichita Rib, & action job.
Built a 686 into a Bianchi Open Class gun with 6" slab barrel, titanium 7 port comp., Barricade wings, Stick Shift mover scope base, action job, & custom fitted extra 7 shot cylinder cut for moon clips and rechambered for .38 Super.
All the custom barrels were made by me from a blank that was already rifled. For those who have never seen a barrel blank, it looks pretty much like a 1-3/4" diameter piece of brown sewer pipe. Very rough turned, way oversize, and no threads or anything done on the outside.
Make front and rear fiber optic sights for S&W revos.
Invented and patented 2 scope bases with presettable elevations.
Invented a system to make the trigger pull get lighter as you pull it back. Prototype gun starts at 5lb. DA and goes down to 3lb.
I do all my own work, nothing is sent off or farmed out. And that is why I'm the Toolguy.
Too much other stuff to list it all.
I've made 2 686s into 646s, one 4 inch, one 6 inch. Action job on both.
Rechambered the cylinders to .40 S&W, cut for moon clips, new barrels.
This one I rechambered and found a 646 takeoff barrel online, the 6" one I had the barrel rebored and re rifled. It still says .357 on it.
Built a 686 and a 625 into PPC guns with slab sided barrel, Wichita Rib, & action job.
Built a 686 into a Bianchi Open Class gun with 6" slab barrel, titanium 7 port comp., Barricade wings, Stick Shift mover scope base, action job, & custom fitted extra 7 shot cylinder cut for moon clips and rechambered for .38 Super.
All the custom barrels were made by me from a blank that was already rifled. For those who have never seen a barrel blank, it looks pretty much like a 1-3/4" diameter piece of brown sewer pipe. Very rough turned, way oversize, and no threads or anything done on the outside.
Make front and rear fiber optic sights for S&W revos.
Invented and patented 2 scope bases with presettable elevations.
Invented a system to make the trigger pull get lighter as you pull it back. Prototype gun starts at 5lb. DA and goes down to 3lb.
I do all my own work, nothing is sent off or farmed out. And that is why I'm the Toolguy.
Too much other stuff to list it all.
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Decades back I bought a 4" 629-1. Had it Magna ported.
I had the frame adjusted from square butt to round, for Pachmyar grips that filled my palm.
Ran 48 round .44 mag. side matches, and the changes were very beneficial.
Still shoot it regularly.
Colt Series 70 set for IPSC. Sights, ejection port, ramp, mag well, mag release, recoil spring, SS barrel, ambi safety, and grips. Now pistols are factory ready.
Totally reliable so it's my carry.
I had the frame adjusted from square butt to round, for Pachmyar grips that filled my palm.
Ran 48 round .44 mag. side matches, and the changes were very beneficial.
Still shoot it regularly.
Colt Series 70 set for IPSC. Sights, ejection port, ramp, mag well, mag release, recoil spring, SS barrel, ambi safety, and grips. Now pistols are factory ready.
Totally reliable so it's my carry.
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Dieseltech56
Member
Nothing much besides some spring changes and light polishing. I installed a patridge front sight on my 686-6 for silhouette shooting. It really made a big improvement but it was difficult to install. The front sight pin is really small, slightly smaller than a 1/16" punch, and I had to buy some really tiny drill bits, like .057 and .060"
ContinentalOp
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My current EDC 642-1 is stock except for a set of cocobolo Spegel boot grips and sights painted black. I have a 642ND that's had a trigger job done, but with the factory springs retained. I can definitely tell the difference in trigger pulls between them.
I did have a 3" 65 with some significant work. Trigger job, converted to DAO, and a hammer bob. Also had the trigger radiused and polished. Very sweet action.
I did have a 3" 65 with some significant work. Trigger job, converted to DAO, and a hammer bob. Also had the trigger radiused and polished. Very sweet action.
Grips and painting the front sight are all I have done to mine. Most are bone stock.
Let's see now.
I round butted a NIB blue 4" M25-5 and a NIB blue 4" M24-3. Took a M27-2 and had it converted to .44 Special back in 1976. I have added target hammers and Ranger triggers. Ground off the serrations of many a trigger. Added red, yellow, white and green ramp front sights. Added white outline rear sight blades. Did many a action job too.
I round butted a NIB blue 4" M25-5 and a NIB blue 4" M24-3. Took a M27-2 and had it converted to .44 Special back in 1976. I have added target hammers and Ranger triggers. Ground off the serrations of many a trigger. Added red, yellow, white and green ramp front sights. Added white outline rear sight blades. Did many a action job too.
Some are just purposeful tools. Bill Jordon and the Combat Magnum come to mind.
Some have a history and untouched. Except for shooting history at the range. Often!
Some have a history and untouched. Except for shooting history at the range. Often!
squidsix
Member
I hand-cut a dovetail for a night sight in a model 10-5. Rount butted a 4" model 29-2 once. Some other stuff.
one eye joe
US Veteran
Tool guy, YOU ARE SIMPLY, AND TRULY, AMAZING ! ! !
I AM IN AWE OF YOUR IMAGINATION, AND YOUR LEVEL OF SKILL. YOU ARE EVEN MORE UNIQUE THAN YOUR CREATIONS......
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Nothing major; but on several revolvers, including my carry gun of eighteen years, I've had a smith polish the innards, polish and radius the trigger face, and install a blaze orange insert in the front sight.
Don't mess with springs, etc. I'm not a handgun hunter or target shooter: my guns are for home and personal defense, and a fairly (but not excessively) heavy DA trigger is what I prefer.
Don't mess with springs, etc. I'm not a handgun hunter or target shooter: my guns are for home and personal defense, and a fairly (but not excessively) heavy DA trigger is what I prefer.
one eye joe
US Veteran
I HEAR YA, M1A. I DID NOT GET INTO MY EXPERIENCE WITH COLT SEMI AUTOS--MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE MARK IV, SERIES '70, GOLD CUPS. A COUPLE OF THE FEATURES THAT YOU DID NOT MENTION, THAT I FAVORED, WAS SKELETONIZE HAMMERS, CUSTOM, UPTURNED GRIP SAFETIES, AND 10 ROUND EXTENDED MAGAZINES BY CHIP McCORMICK.....
UPON MY RETURN FROM VIETNAM, I ROUTINELY CARRIED A MODIFIED COLT, WITH 11 ROUNDS IN THE PISTOL, AND 2 TEN ROUND MAGS ON MY BELT, GIVING ME A TOTAL OF 31 ROUNDS, OF .45 ACP HOLLOW POINT. I REASONED THAT IF I COULD NOT GET OUT OF A JAM, WITH THAT KIND OF FIREPOWER, IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO CALL FOR A DUST OFF CHOPPER......
AFTER 30 YEARS, LIKE MANY OF MY BROTHERS, I BEGAN TO SUFFER THE EFFECTS OF MY EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE, IN VIETNAM. I AM NOW PARTIALLY PARALYZED, AND CAN NO LONGER RELIABLY OPERATE THE CONTROLS OF A 1911, WITH JUST ONE HAND. HENCE, MY SWITCH TO S&W REVOLVERS FOR EDC.....
THE COLTS THAT I SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND MONEY CREATING, CAN NOW BE REPLICATED, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, BY SEVERAL MANUFACTURERS, WITH FACTORY WARRANTIES, AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.....
rbrbrb6
Member
I have had two model 58's reworked by Hamilton Bowen. The first simply got his new combat sights and action work with Fishpaw French walnut stocks while the other one is redone to 45 Colt with a 5" 1950 barrel and the same combat sights, actin work and keith Brown Roper grips.
Who, me modify a revolver?
2 629-1 were made into a 5" 45 colt, the other into a 4" 45colt/acp via cutting for clips
A 25-5 colt its 8 3/8"barrel cut to 5" and a recessed 29 cylinder reamed to 45 colt. A 5" pinned and recessed 45 colt.
A 1955 45 acp got an colt/acp cylinder fitted.
A model 10 got adj sights added, a 22 barrel installed and has cylinders for 22 Harvey Kay Chuck and 22 TCM fitted
A 1917 got adjustable sights added, a cut 1950 45 barrel down to 3" and round butted.
A 10-2 got round butted, a recessed model 19 cylinder in 357 and a 2 1/2" 19 barrel.
a Brazilian got a 16 1/2" barrel a forearm, the grip frame reworked for a stock and adjustable sights added as well as fit for an 45colt/acp cylinder. Nice little carbine
There are a couple 28-2 cylinders by the mill as we speak. I just picked up a Brazilian with a round butted 45 snub in mind.
Most of my guns are stock, but if one comes to me cheap with issues it may well get a trip through the shop.
2 629-1 were made into a 5" 45 colt, the other into a 4" 45colt/acp via cutting for clips
A 25-5 colt its 8 3/8"barrel cut to 5" and a recessed 29 cylinder reamed to 45 colt. A 5" pinned and recessed 45 colt.
A 1955 45 acp got an colt/acp cylinder fitted.
A model 10 got adj sights added, a 22 barrel installed and has cylinders for 22 Harvey Kay Chuck and 22 TCM fitted
A 1917 got adjustable sights added, a cut 1950 45 barrel down to 3" and round butted.
A 10-2 got round butted, a recessed model 19 cylinder in 357 and a 2 1/2" 19 barrel.
a Brazilian got a 16 1/2" barrel a forearm, the grip frame reworked for a stock and adjustable sights added as well as fit for an 45colt/acp cylinder. Nice little carbine
There are a couple 28-2 cylinders by the mill as we speak. I just picked up a Brazilian with a round butted 45 snub in mind.
Most of my guns are stock, but if one comes to me cheap with issues it may well get a trip through the shop.
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