S&W 624

[SteveC99]

Just a real simple question for my first post. Is there any reason not to rechamber a 624 to 44 Mag or will the 624 accept a 629 cylinder? I'm not trying to magnumize anything. This is a 4" bbl and will create sufficient bang for my uses with the Special chambering. I am just curious as to whether there are mechanical/structural differences between the 624/629 that say not to do this. The question arises because I saw a 629 cylinder on a table at a gun show. I didn't buy it because it occurred to me I had no idea if this was a bad idea or not.

I figured this would be the place to ask. Thanks for the input.

Steve

 

[SteveC99]

Just a real simple question for my first post. Is there any reason not to rechamber a 624 to 44 Mag or will the 624 accept a 629 cylinder? I'm not trying to magnumize anything. This is a 4" bbl and will create sufficient bang for my uses with the Special chambering. I am just curious as to whether there are mechanical/structural differences between the 624/629 that say not to do this. The question arises because I saw a 629 cylinder on a table at a gun show. I didn't buy it because it occurred to me I had no idea if this was a bad idea or not.

I figured this would be the place to ask. Thanks for the input.

Steve

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, the 629 cylinder is too long to fit into a 624--the 624's barrel extends farther into the frame "window" than the 629's does. I also understand that the frames are heat treated differently, so even if the 629 cylinder would fit, it would be unwise to shoot it with magnum loads.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[oldRoger]

For what it's worth, I called S&W looking for a 5" barrel for my 624. He said there are none and never had been. He said that I could put a 44 mag cylinder and 5" mag. barrel in it, which were available, the frames being exactly the same. He said S&W as a manufacturer wasn't allowed do it since it constituted a caliber change, but any competent gunsmith could. As Ron H. points out the 44spl barrel is longer to fill the gap.
Of course I could simply buy a 629 w/5".

 

[Andy Taylor]

Welcome. I have heard that the heat treatment is different and not being a metalurgist myself, I would not attempt it.

BTW I grew up in the Yakima Valley, Outlook and Sunnyside to be exact. I still have family in Yakima, Zillah & Sunnyside. I miss it, although I realize that Sunnyside it not what it was 30 years ago.
What part of the Valley are you in?

 

[diamonback68]

Originally posted by oldRoger:
Of course I could simply buy a 629 w/5".

+1
By the time you pay for a cylinder and a 5" barrel and pay a gunsmith to do the work, you almost have enough in it to buy a 629 outright. The 624 would now be a very expensive, questionable strength, cobbled gun that no one else would want, afford or trust.

 

[rfo1]

The 4 inch 624-3 is a tough find.I'd be content to shoot milder .44 special out of it all day long.Keep your eyes open for a nice 4 inch 629 and then you'll be able to shoot both rounds safely out of it if that's what you want to do--
rfo1

 

[deanodog]

I don't really know if this is possible but the cost would be in the range for a good used 629 I believe. Get the 629 and you will have the best of both words.

 

[44wheelman]

I wouldn't trust the tapered barrel of the 44 special to handle full magnum pressures.

You could handload to increase your performance; most factory 44spl are not anything close to what the S&W can handle.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Originally posted by 44wheelman:
I wouldn't trust the tapered barrel of the 44 special to handle full magnum pressures.

Thin tapered barrel 629 .44 Magnum

 

[Dale53]

You can safely get 1200 fps out of a 6.5" Model 624. Of course, it will be running slower from a 4" but I doubt if what you shoot with it will know the difference.

I have both a 624 and a 629 in 4". I load the .44 Special with Skeeter loads (7.5 grs Unique behind a 250 gr Keith) and reserve the 629 for full magnum loads.

"Horses for courses."

Dale53

 

[The Maxo]

When replacing a cylinder with a like cylinder there will be the issue of head space and cylinder gap to deal with. There may or may not be timing and alignment problems. Head space is usually not too much of a problem.

A 44 Mag cylinder is longer so the barrel breech on the 44 Special would have to be shortened to allow the 44 Mag cylinder in. How ever this has the advantage of being able to set the cylinder gap correctly.

The "strength" issue involves not the frame, but the yoke tail. If there is a difference in heat treating it will be in this area. This is the Achilles' heel on the S&W, there is a very small surface area to limit forward travel of the cylinder. It does not impose a pressure limit but is subject to being gradually beaten down by the use of heavy loads resulting in end shake. It's the reason the S&W 25 in 45 Colt is not recommended for the hefty loads used in Blackhawks.

As far as pressure is concerned, the 24 or 624 will take more pressure than I'm going to admit to here.

 

[SteveC99]

Well thanks to all for your replies. Looks like the 624 stays as is, even though the chances of my changing it were slim even if possible. Thanks, curiosity now satisfied.

Lucky Derby, where you were is where I am.

Steve

 

[jimmy]

Wise choice. The 4-inch 624 is a Thing of Beauty and best left as is.

Personally, I'd opt for a 629 Mountain Gun if I wanted a similar configuration in .44 Magnum.

 

[Cartouche]

Originally posted by SteveC99:
Well thanks to all for your replies. Looks like the 624 stays as is, even though the chances of my changing it were slim even if possible. Thanks, curiosity now satisfied.

Lucky Derby, where you were is where I am.

Steve

Bless you my son! The 44spl, is the grail. to me anyway. Also to alot of others. Keep it like it is. It is a sacred thing ya got there. Whew, that was a close one.