Why are model 28 cylinders shorter than my 66-1 cylinder. I can load some heavy cast bullets in the model 66-1 that overhang cylinder of my 28. seems strange a smaller frame model having a longer cylinder than the n frame. Thanks for any help. john
question about cylinder length
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Alpo
Member
This is a picture of a 66 cylinder, or so says Midway.
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/334/334044.jpg
Flat-faced.
The thumbnail is a cylinder from a 28-2. Recessed. For a cylinder with the same overall length, you could get a longer cartridge in a chamber that does not have the rim set down inside the cylinder. Would be a difference of (according to the schematic on Steve's Pages) .060 inches.
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/334/334044.jpg
Flat-faced.
The thumbnail is a cylinder from a 28-2. Recessed. For a cylinder with the same overall length, you could get a longer cartridge in a chamber that does not have the rim set down inside the cylinder. Would be a difference of (according to the schematic on Steve's Pages) .060 inches.
Attachments
John,
You are correct. The SCSW said the model 28 cylinder is 1.62" and the model 66 is 1.67". My M66-1 measures 1.675" and the M28-2 is only 1.625". Both are recessed 0.048" so that does not account for the difference. I have no idea, not even a wild guess why this is so.
You are correct. The SCSW said the model 28 cylinder is 1.62" and the model 66 is 1.67". My M66-1 measures 1.675" and the M28-2 is only 1.625". Both are recessed 0.048" so that does not account for the difference. I have no idea, not even a wild guess why this is so.
Vulcan Bob
Member
I have no idea either, as S&W did lengthen the cylinders on the 25's for use with the .45 Colt at some point in time. In .45 ACP they had those shorty cylinders with a lot of barrel in the frame opening and I can see shortening the in the in frame barrel length to accommodate a longer cylinder to suit the longer .45 Colt, but why they cannot or would not do the same in the 27 and 28 has me mystified. Could be they never gave the Handloader using heavier than standard bullet a thought.
Dennis The B
US Veteran
I'm going to hazard a guess that bullets heavier than 158 grains began to emerge in the 1950's. As the OP noted, the heavier bullets overhang the throats of the Model 28, and the .357 Magnum K frames didn't appear until the mid-1950's. A longer cylinder would be easily engineered at the outset of the design.
This is absolutely just a WAG. YMMV.
This is absolutely just a WAG. YMMV.
OP
Thanks for the replys. I wanted to load some 160 grain lineotype cast bullets for hunting. Surprised they fit the 66-1 and not the 28. Would it be safe to load these bullets deeper in the case? This load would be max loads of 110 powder. John
I have encountered the same problem, as I have K frame and N frame 357 Magnums.
Deep seating the bullets to fit the shorter cylinders will definitely increase pressure. The amount of increase is impossible to predict, but since you are already at maximum, there is no room for increase. The N frame 357's are strong guns and maybe they could handle the increased pressure, but what if these loads found their way into a K frame? Even if the gun does not self destruct, there is certainly going to be and acceleration in wear.
I used to use that strange Keith 173 grain 0.358" bullet. It was designed for "heavy loads" (aka as over-loads) in 38 Special. If used in a 357 case they were too long to chamber. I solved the problem by going to the shorter Thompson-designed bullet. Problem solved for both 38's and 357's.
bgrone
Member
Cylinder length
At some point (-2 I think) Smith moved the forcing cone on the Model 66s this may account for the variation in cylinder length.
At some point (-2 I think) Smith moved the forcing cone on the Model 66s this may account for the variation in cylinder length.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Another part of the story is the development of newer cartridges and adapting existing revolvers for those.
The K-frames (originally the Military & Police model) were developed around the .38 Special cartridge, although also offered in .38 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32-20, .22 LR and others. Many years later the .357 magnum cartridge was adapted to the revolver, with recessed case heads.
The N-frame revolvers have utilized several cylinder lengths. Those chambered in .44 Special, .45 Colt, .357 magnum, .41 magnum, and .44 magnum utilize the longer cylinder lengths. Those chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm, etc, utilize a significantly shorter cylinder, probably having to do with avoiding an excessively long bullet jump from the cartridge case to the forcing cone.
The K-frames (originally the Military & Police model) were developed around the .38 Special cartridge, although also offered in .38 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32-20, .22 LR and others. Many years later the .357 magnum cartridge was adapted to the revolver, with recessed case heads.
The N-frame revolvers have utilized several cylinder lengths. Those chambered in .44 Special, .45 Colt, .357 magnum, .41 magnum, and .44 magnum utilize the longer cylinder lengths. Those chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm, etc, utilize a significantly shorter cylinder, probably having to do with avoiding an excessively long bullet jump from the cartridge case to the forcing cone.
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