Project 616

[Green Frog]

How much do the full lug barrels lack matching the non magnum frames? Can they be machined or polished to match?

The width of the top rib is the problem... it's about 1/8" too wide on each side. You would have to mill the whole rib by that amount and then re-profile the top of the curve of the barrel to blend it back in. Yes, it could be done, but the cost would probably be prohibitive. I also thought about using a 6" barrel and milling off the underlug to make a standard profile barrel. Don't even ask how much work and expen$e that would entail! It's taking me a lot longer than planned just to get the barrel rebored. All that extra machine work, besides the ¢o$t, would probably end up taking a very long time, and I'm too old to wait for it!

Froggie

 

[williamlayton]

I had much fun with my .32 H&R conversion to .327 mag and it is a fine shooter----Just what you would have thought S&W would have done for the .327 instead of a snubby.
Shame on you S&W.
Blessings

 

[Jebus35745]

Hey Froggie, I keep thinking abt your gun. Looks like it will be soon. Hope you did some casting and loading. Be ready to shoot the gun when you pick it up. You are at the 5 month stage and counting. Did you see the pics of the targets I shot with mine? I used a B-square mount with a red dot for precise aiming at 50 ft. It all came together when it shot good. I put the gold bead front site from my 627PC in the .32. I'm a happy camper, Larry

 

[Green Frog]

Hey Froggie, I keep thinking abt your gun. Looks like it will be soon. Hope you did some casting and loading. Be ready to shoot the gun when you pick it up. You are at the 5 month stage and counting. Did you see the pics of the targets I shot with mine? I used a B-square mount with a red dot for precise aiming at 50 ft. It all came together when it shot good. I put the gold bead front site from my 627PC in the .32. I'm a happy camper, Larry

Sorry Larry, but that just makes me feel more impatient. I hope Andy has been/will be working on my cylinder and fitting while he is waiting for the barrel. If the clock starts over after the barrel gets there, I may die of old age waiting!

Regardless, I can stir up some good will and congratulate you on how well your 32 is shooting. It reminds me once again that I did really have a good idea! Thanks for that.

Froggie

PS What round were you shooting on those targets?

 

[ddixie884]

This seems a lot harder than my last conversion.

 

[Jeroenw114]

@ddiexie884, what a nice conversion! I just read your old tread from 2009 about this revolver. As a 696 lover, I would sure love to have that 41 along with it!

The 616 project from Green Fog sounds super too, I hope he succeeds. Good luck!

 

[Jebus35745]

I used 2 reloads. A 98gr round nose and some HBWC's. Had some recent made Rem's on the one target but only had 10 of them. Been trying to buy any reasonably priced 32 bullets I can find. Time will tell waiting on Andy, hope you get it before X-mas. Actually mine took a year, needed to find a reasonably priced host gun to use. Larry

 

[Jebus35745]

Hey Froggie, I called Andy the other day. He went to school with a friend from a local club. Sadly, the club member passed away last Thurs. afternoon and I wanted to make sure Andy had the news abt Jim. I asked him abt you're gun and he said the bbl never came back from Clearwater. Hope Andy wasn't sure what gun I was talking abt and has you're bbl. Just an update, figured if I had him on the phone I'd ask abt the 616. Larry

 

[Jeepdeep]

Hey Froggie, any word from Andy? I'm in your same boat, I dropped off my grandfathers 10-5 to get reworked back in late May. I called him in August and he was still working on it, I didn't want to seem like I was hounding him. Maybe I'll give him a ring in the morning. Sure would make a great Christmas present.

 

[Jeepdeep]

FYI I spoke with Andy just before Christmas. He thought a little while longer, and he didn't disagree when I mentioned spring. So that will put him around 11-12 months, although I'm sure he doesn't necessarily do them in order. I hope this helps.

 

[Green Frog]

Jeepdeep, AFAIK, Andy is not the limiting factor at this point. He can't put on a barrel he hasn't got, and the barrel is still out in Washington waiting to be bored and rifled. I was told the week before Thanksgiving that it should go on the machine that weekend, but no word yet. I just hope Andy isn't waiting on the barrel to start with reboring my cylinder, etc. If he has to start from scratch after waiting over 5 months for the barrel, I'll be old(er) and grey(er) before it's ever done!

I think I'll drop Clearwater another e-mail and see what they say this time.

Froggie

 

[Jeepdeep]

I guess I should clarify that I asked him about my revolver. I simply wanted to share the turn around time that I am experiencing as it may indicate the turn around time that you can expect. I have no problem waiting for the quality work he provides. And at even 12 mo turn around he is significantly faster than other out of state smiths I looked into.

 

[Green Frog]

Well, I may have answered my own question about a holster for this project. I was going through some of my miscellaneous stuff and found a black basketweave Sam Browne belt and holster. On the back of the holster was stamped "Safety Speed Holster" with Montebello, Calif. beneath. It's further marked as being for a 4" medium frame. While I still don't have my Project 616 in hand, it does fit the 4" Model 67 with a lot of room left underneath for the underlug that will be on the 616. Now if I could only get the aforementioned barrel with underlug recut and back to Ohio and Andy's shop...

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

I got an e-mail from Jim Dubell today and it appears that the hold-ups and problems have been overcome and he will be shipping my finished barrel to Andy on Thursday. As soon as I have final confirmation on that, I'll call Andy and have him dust off the Model 66 it will be going onto and be ready for final lift-off. I may get to see this project through to the end yet!

Now I've got to dig out all that new brass I bought and fill it up to use in the finished gun. Hopefully it won't be as long now as it has been. I would love to spend my early Spring days this year in beautiful Central VA with my very own special gun at my side!

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

UPDATE: The barrel is finally in the mail. I have a tracking number and am paying closer attention to it than a NORAD station watching Sputnik in 1958!

Now if Andy is not snowed under (with work or actual snow) I should see some progress really begin. I have a set of custom grips on the way for it (coming straight here) and should have some pretty pix soon. I hope it won't be as long as it's been!

Froggie

PS It was on the mail man's truck to deliver to Andy this morning!

 

[mod34]

Froggie,
These cliff hangers are killing me!!! I can't wait to see it!!

 

[Jebus35745]

Been watching for some good news from you. I feel you're pain. What grips did you settle on? Come-on Andy!!! Do you know what twist he used in the bbl? guess what gun that is in my avatar. Larry

 

[Green Frog]

Been watching for some good news from you. I feel you're pain. What grips did you settle on? Come-on Andy!!! Do you know what twist he used in the bbl? guess what gun that is in my avatar. Larry

Schofieldkid81 made me a set of rosewood grips patterned on the old Fitz target style... they should be in the mail as I type this. I checked the tracking and Andy got the barrel today at 3:10 according to the USPS website. I'll probably call him Monday morning and get a SitRep from him directly. I'm hoping he went on and bored the cylinder while he was waiting, so the whole final assembly can go quickly. I've got my fingers crossed that I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and not the headlight of an oncoming train!

Froggie

PS Rebore is .3125" X 16 twist.

 

[Jebus35745]

I shot mine today 50 times and I'm very happy. Seems the few FTF's went away. It could be the primers that I used or the re-positioning of the firing pin (burrs). I kinda figured the twist was 1 in 16 and that's OK with me. Looking forward to seeing pics of you're gun hopefully soon. The grips made by Schofield are nice. He does good work, Larry

 

[peyton]

Give us an update when you get it together and range info!!