New Cylinder Issues

[qballwill]

I am craving a 9mm revolver so rather than waiting on an expensive 940 or 547, I was thinking about ordering a new cylinder for one of my current 38s or 357s and have it reamed. What issues can I expect to run into with a new cylinder without it being fitted by a gunsmith and can they easily be fixed by the tinkering type of gun owner.

 

[dfariswheel]

I'm not "up" on the 9mm types, and don't know what issues there might be in fitting to a .38 frame, but fitting a new cylinder is a tough job unless you know exactly what you're doing first.

What you really need is a new cylinder and a new, not used, ejector.
When fitting a cylinder, you have to adjust/fit/gage the following:
Cylinder head space.
Cylinder end shake.
Barrel cylinder gap.
Chamber alignment on all chambers.
Timing on all chambers.

For a full description and explanation on cylinder fitting, buy the Jerry Kuhnhausen shop manual on the S&W DA revolvers:
HERITAGE GUN BOOKS : THE S&W REVOLVER - A SHOP MANUAL - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

Bottom line, 9mm issues aside, yes you "can" fit a new cylinder but its an involved and critical job that's not for the average untrained and ill-equipped home hobby gunsmith.
Then to, S&W usually won't sell a cylinder and ejector assembly and insist on factory fitting.