New 4" Model 16-4

GLL

GLL

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I have searched the state of California for MANY years to find a nice 4” 16-4 but had pretty much given up ! Recently by pure luck one just fell into my lap ! :)
It came with a couple hundred rounds of ammo and a near new RCBS SWC mold as well.
Living in this state requires extreme patience and a lot of luck! :)

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Jerry
 
Well done. If the 4 inch 16-4 is not on EVERYONE's grail gun list...well, it should be.

Finding that gun is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Finding it where you live is like finding a needle in a stack of needles.

Thank you for sharing your good fortune.;)
 
Love my 16-4, 4". Had Hamilton Bowen bore out the cylinders to accept the .327 Federal Magnum. A 6" and an 8 3/8" 16-4 are on my search list. They are out there, but most are over priced.
 
Great looking revolver. I have been buying them for 10 years now and have spent quite of bit of money on them.
I did the same as Dixiejack and had the cylinder reamed out to .327 and it shoots great. The gunsmith that did it said I just ruined its value. I replied that my great great grandkids won't mind.
Did you get the box and accessories?
 
Congrats Jerry!! Being a fellow Californian, l know just how much of a feat it is to get one of those animals, and a 4" bbl version to boot? That sure makes up for the long wait in my book.

I had my 6" bbl 16-4 converted to .327 Federal by Clements Custom Guns... anyone that believes having that done ruins the gun is sadly mistaken, it's quite the opposite.
 
Congrats to GLL on purchase.
If I'm ever fortunate enough to find one, I plan to shoot the 327 mags. I'm not a collector of unfired NIB safe queens so necessary mods will be in order.
 
Darn it GLL, you found the 4" Model 16-4 that I have been looking for in CA for the last 10 years ! It's been years since I saw a Model 16-4 here of any barrel length. Good score !
 
Nice score and looks like a beauty. They don't show up often and when they do, there isn't much of a market for them, unless your a revolver guy! I scored one a couple years ago here in CA. It was such a deal (almost ashamed) I had it shipped from northern CA, so you must have been sleeping when I got it. Didn't come with ammo, but had original box, goodies, dies, brass and an extra set of grips. Believe it or not, I haven't shot it yet but will soon.

I was excited when I got mine as well, Enjoy!
 
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Jerry;
Congratulations! I have had a six inch 16-4 since they first hit the market. I have shot mine a good bit and it is a DANDY!

I have absolutely ZERO desire to rechamber mine to anything. In fact, I mostly shoot .32 S&W Long cases with a Keith 100gr SWC (group buy mould). I have shot 120 gr RF (Group Buy) and also have a Lee six cavity mould for a 90 gr full wadcutter. My favorite bullet is the Keith...

FWIW
Dale53
 
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Nice catch!! I looked for a few years for one, then ended up with two withing a few weeks, sold one for a pretty good profit and still have the other.
I cast a 115g GC bullet for it that is just terrrific, fun to shoot and very accurate, zero leading.
My advice would be to NOT convert it, but I am a collector. I thought of seeing if HB could fashion a second cylinder for the .327 but never got 'roundtoit. If ever I run across an 8 3/8" I may go for the conversion, just can't see the 4" taking full advantage of the capabilities of the cartridge.
Enjoy.
RD
 
And for giggles... .32acp can also be fired. What!!!???? Yes, even though it's mainly a semi-auto pistol cartridge, the case is semi-rimmed and works in a revolver.

I actually have two 16-4's both are 6" barrels. One was bought new when they first came out and remains original (to satisfy/appease the collector side of me) the other one I lucked onto a few years ago and it's the one l had converted to .327 Federal.

How many revolvers can you name, that can fire 4 different (5 after being converted) cartridges from the same cylinder?

.32acp, .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum :D:D Yep, you gotta love these guns!
 
Smithhound said:
Nice catch!! I looked for a few years for one, then ended up with two withing a few weeks, sold one for a pretty good profit and still have the other.
I cast a 115g GC bullet for it that is just terrrific, fun to shoot and very accurate, zero leading.
My advice would be to NOT convert it, but I am a collector. I thought of seeing if HB could fashion a second cylinder for the .327 but never got 'roundtoit. If ever I run across an 8 3/8" I may go for the conversion, just can't see the 4" taking full advantage of the capabilities of the cartridge.
Enjoy.
RD
Click to expand...

I gotta go with this guy.
I'm thinking of all the .455s that are now acp's and the 30-40 Krags that are "sporterized" and well, I could go on.
It's your gun I suppose, but it will certainly be worth far more in the future if you leave it alone.
 
ralph7 said:
I gotta go with this guy.
I'm thinking of all the .455s that are now acp's and the 30-40 Krags that are "sporterized" and well, I could go on.
It's your gun I suppose, but it will certainly be worth far more in the future if you leave it alone.
Click to expand...

Hey! I resemble that remark! Over 40 years ago I put a sporterized Krag (Bishop stock, Redfield receiver sight, Lyman Sourdough front) on layaway at the local sporting goods store and added $10 per paycheck until I'd paid all $95. I shot my first deer with it and won ammo money on speed and accuracy bets against guys with Remington 742s. It went with me on bear hunts in the UP, deer hunts in Saskatchewan, Michigan and New Hampshire and was the first centerfire my sons shot. I learned handloading with that rifle and a Lyman 310 tool.

I hope all the guys with pristine examples enjoy theirs as much as I have enjoyed mine, and I will humbly accept their thanks for the value my old deer rifle added to their collector's items by not being left in as-issued condition.

Theirs have more monetary value - mine is priceless.
 
I know this is a 16-4 thread but that 14-5 is my favorite and was by far the hardest to track down. It is such a sweet shooter with 148 gr wadcutters. Mine is from the first run of 2,000 in 1991.





I kind of wish the original Combats had a little more figure in them.....but I can fix that.

 
I obtained a 16 4" that came with a additional 32-20 cylinder. Got the .32 Magnum reamed to .327 and the possibilities seem endless.
 
Check out my post in the reloading section for a list of different 32SWL and 32 H&R Mag loads . I did not convert my 6", it is just too much fun shooting the H&R Mag loads and I have a lot of other more powerful revolvers if needed. The accuracy of all loads was good, but the 85 Gr. Hornady XTP with 6 Gr A#5 was outstanding.
 
I ordered a 6" Model 16-4 when they first came out and like a dummy sold it when I got the itch for something else. I finally scratched the itch again for a K-32 by building my own in stainless;

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/260686-project-616-a.html

In a way I wish I had kept my 16-4 and I'm sure I would be enjoying shooting it, but the other part of me is glad I went on and built the custom to my own specs. I'm not sure I would have wanted to alter the 16-4 since so few were made. A little known story about the underlug variant of the K-38 was that they were originally made by reboring K-32 barrels. If true, that was a terrible waste! :(

Anyway, congrats on a great find. I'm not sure I would alter it with the collector's value/rarity they now have, but I sure would like to own another one! :D

Froggie

PS I added the SB Combats to my old 66 that became 616. They are my favorite S&W factory grips of all time.
 

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Hand Ejector ?

AKAOV1MAN said:
I obtained a 16 4" that came with a additional 32-20 cylinder. Got the .32 Magnum reamed to .327 and the possibilities seem endless.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the old hand ejector would handle 327 with a new cylinder? I just happen to have one in 32WCF
 
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