rebarreling and cylinder?

[rjh]

Does anyone know if S&W will take one of their firearms and put a different caliber barrel and cylinder on it?

I like many others do not care for the IL frames. Would like to hunt for an N frame M&P and have a .44 spec barrel and cylinder fitted. Does anyone know if new parts can be fitted to an older gun?

A few years ago, had a timing problem on a 1950 target. The factory fitted a newer type cylinder to it. It worked. Thanks, Bob in Texas.

 

[bountyhunter]

Are the barrels different on .44 spec and .44 magnum? I know the cylinders are different but I thought the barrels were the same(?)

SW might put a new cylinder on it. Couldn't hurt to ask. You might also buy a used .44 spec cylinder assembly and try to have it gunsmith fitted.

 

[rjh]

Bounty hunter, believe I read when the 21-4 first came out, the writer in G&A or Shooting Times, made the statement that all cylinders are the same length now. We will not see the shorter cylinders of the 44 spec or 45 acp as compared to mag and long colt. Thanks for responding. Bob in Texas

 

[squidsix]

I'm curious too. For example, could a new model 21-4 barrel be fitted to my 2nd model HE?

 

[tennexplorer]

Originally posted by squidsix:
I'm curious too. For example, could a new model 21-4 barrel be fitted to my 2nd model HE?

No, the cylinder on the 21-4 is the same length as a .44 Magnum cylinder. You would have a barrel cylinder gap that would be many times too much. If you wish to rebarrel, You will have to find an original barrel.

 

[squidsix]

Back to the drawing board.
The current project is, 58 frame, 29 cylinder, and 21-4 barrel.
Steve

 

[shovelwrench]

Originally posted by tennexplorer:

Originally posted by squidsix:
I'm curious too. For example, could a new model 21-4 barrel be fitted to my 2nd model HE?

No, the cylinder on the 21-4 is the same length as a .44 Magnum cylinder. You would have a barrel cylinder gap that would be many times too much. If you wish to rebarrel, You will have to find an original barrel.

Cylinder gap to me is only limited by how far you set the barrel back. Bore is bore.

 

[tennexplorer]

Originally posted by shovelwrench:

Originally posted by tennexplorer:

Originally posted by squidsix:
I'm curious too. For example, could a new model 21-4 barrel be fitted to my 2nd model HE?

No, the cylinder on the 21-4 is the same length as a .44 Magnum cylinder. You would have a barrel cylinder gap that would be many times too much. If you wish to rebarrel, You will have to find an original barrel.

Cylinder gap to me is only limited by how far you set the barrel back. Bore is bore.

True, but the difference is such that you will have to shorten the underlug and the ejector rod. It will be almost to the point of the short underlug that was on the three inch Model 24-3. Frankly I have been there and done that. It looked funny. Another option is to remove the rib on a 24-3 barrel. Time consuming and expensive but the outcome has better esthetics.