Who could produce custom L frame cylinders?

[8shot]

If someone wanted a duplicate of a 986 (9mm 7shot) titanium cylinder but in steel...where could one have one or a couple produced.

Not interested in a 357 cylinder conversion - would like the 9mm cylinder non-fluted and with tighter bores than the factory .358 986 cylinders.

Just thinking!

 

[Doug M.]

I suspect that any good machinist could. The first issue is getting a block of suitable metal. The second is what you need to pay for that kind of custom work. I bet it would be a ton.

 

[colt_saa]

Hamilton Bowen used to make cylinders.

Give him a call

 

[glenwolde]

With enough money, anything is possible.

 

[8shot]

Hamilton Bowen used to make cylinders.

Give him a call

He's too busy with his other product line (very nice guy), he referred me to another shop in Ohio - but also committed with existing product line.

 

[PhilT]

If someone wanted a duplicate of a 986 (9mm 7shot) titanium cylinder but in steel...where could one have one or a couple produced.

Not interested in a 357 cylinder conversion - would like the 9mm cylinder non-fluted and with tighter bores than the factory .358 986 cylinders.

Just thinking!

TK Custom can do it anyway you want it.

 

[trulyapostolic]

He's too busy with his other product line (very nice guy), he referred me to another shop in Ohio - but also committed with existing product line.

Here's the response I received from Hamilton last month:

Owing to the press of core Ruger work, sight manufacturing and publishing, we are no longer able to undertake non-catalog, remedial or a la carte projects such as your M629 S&W. I would suggest you contact Andy Horvath of Diagonal Road Gun Shop in OH to see if he can be of assistance. He is a good hand by all accounts and can be reached at (440) 458-4369.

 

[StrawHat]

Andy is a top notch gunsmith. He is busy. I have proposed two cylinder projects to him. The one that required him to machine a new cylinder was turned down by him. The other project is in his shop now.

Give him a call, leave a message. He will get back to you.

Kevin

 

[8shot]

Andy is a top notch gunsmith. He is busy. I have proposed two cylinder projects to him. The one that required him to machine a new cylinder was turned down by him. The other project is in his shop now.

Give him a call, leave a message. He will get back to you.

Kevin

Contacted him previously...same situation ie can't do it...too committed.

Might consider a half dozen or so if there was an interest for a non titanium 986 cylinder out there?

 

[gerhard1]

Just curious: what advantages would a steel cylinder have vs. the titanium?

 

[8shot]

Just curious: what advantages would a steel cylinder have vs. the titanium?

The stock titanium 986 cylinder has .358 ports (not .355, .356 etc) and requires specific attention while cleaning not to wear out the protective coating (certain ammo can also destroy the protective coating)


I rebarreled my 986 with a 6" .355 barrel (factory 5" barrel is .357)

 

[steelslaver]

The steel would be easy to get. Multiple suppliers even sell it pre hardened as 416R round stock in various diameters. Lots of reamers available also.

How much money are you willing to spend? One offs are spendy. The only way it would be profitable under a thousand or so apiece would be to have a CNC program written to make enough spread the cost out.

Turn stock to diameter, and drill center pilot. Broach the center hole. Machine in relief for gas ring. Somewhere in this period machine to correct length. Set up in rotatory table with a precision divider and drill pilots for the chambers, then ream chambers, cut recess for extractor. Either machine each spot for odd end on new style ratchet arms or easier use old style ratchet and drill for 2 locator pins. Set up cylinder in frame with no barrel. Make an insert to screw in frame in place of barrel with correct hole in center. Use an insert to place in and mouth of each chamber to position it correctly inline with bore. Mark location of cylinder stop location for each chamber through stop window. Setup and machine each of the stop notches to right depth with small correct sided key way cutter, then set up and machine in each notch's lead in either with correctly ground ball nose mill or position and use side of end correct diameter mill. You could also use the divider rotary to do the stop notch cuts, But, you would be able to nail each cylinder with a locator method. Or you could locate one then turn rotary 51.43 degrees and do another. A 7 shot it actually 51.4285714. But if you used 51.43 to do the chamber pilots and started on same first chamber to do the stops they would match, just between #7 and #1 you would have an extra tiny bit for the hand to deal with but that would work out when you filed the ratchet tooth for that. If you mess up just one cut on any step, it is becomes scrap.

Did I miss anything??


I have considered making a couple different custom cylinders and even hustling along I bet it would take me 40 hours or so.

 

[8shot]

How much money are you willing to spend? One offs are spendy. The only way it would be profitable under a thousand or so apiece would be to have a CNC program written to make enough spread the cost out.

Did I miss anything??


I have considered making a couple different custom cylinders and even hustling along I bet it would take me 40 hours or so.

Thanks - I understand the process, one short cut would be to use the factory ratchet. The CNC route would be the only way to go, anyone willing to invest would need to own the rights to production or some type of agreement with the manufacturer for final distribution. Of course a market study would be in order which would probably end the idea anyway I do see custom single action cylinders selling for under $500 the reason for my interest. Wish the 986 was a true 9mm revolver to start with, maybe I need a Ruger

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Thanks - I understand the process, one short cut would be to use the factory ratchet. The CNC route would be the only way to go, anyone willing to invest would need to own the rights to production or some type of agreement with the manufacturer for final distribution. Of course a market study would be in order which would probably end the idea anyway I do see custom single action cylinders selling for under $500 the reason for my interest. Wish the 986 was a true 9mm revolver to start with, maybe I need a Ruger

And who made it would also own the liability if it spontaniously disassembled itself while shooting.

 

[8shot]

And who made it would also own the liability if it spontaniously disassembled itself while shooting.

That would apply to any gunsmiths work.

 

[CALREB]

I have always been a little disappointed in the accuracy of my 986 at 25 yards. Tried about 7-8 factory loads of varying bullet weight and velocity. Mine is a very early gun. Once I discovered that the cylinder was actually 9X21, I just figured that was the culprit. I would love to have a regular steel cylinder in 9X19 but no viable L-frame cylinders to work with. It's not so bad that I would invest more than a few hundred to switch it out. I just wanted a 9mm revolver due to having a lot of 9mm ammo, and thought it would be fun. Have plenty of model 14s and a few 3-4-6 inch L frames to shoot 38 accurately. Always thought S/W should have advertised the gun as what it really in 9X21.

 

[steelslaver]

IF I had a L frame 9mm, from what is being said, I would simply use 9x21 brass and .357 or 358 bullets. Lot simpler and cheaper than getting such a cylinder made.

My other thought is depending on the amount of steel in a 7 shot L frame cylinder is to ream one as far as possible and still have it stay together, then install inserts in each hole and ream those to a preferred 9mm chamber. I have a S&W 500 cylinder on my bench I have reamed to .625 and at some point will stick inserts and ream to 30 Herrett

You could own the CNC program you had written, but
nobody could own the rights to production of a steel 9mm cylinder, except possibly S&W.

In my description of making a cylinder I did propose using a factory ratchet. BTW Numerich has a bunch of blank ratchets (no teeth) for sale, but a stock 986 or a 686 ratchet would work. You would need to machine the arm thickness down on a 686 ratchet.

But, I really have very little interest in 9mm revolvers. I do own a couple K frames with modified 9 mm cylinders, just because I had the spare cylinders and a reamer. You could make a perfect K frame 9mm cylinder by starting with a K22 cylinder.

The absolute best solution would be to convince S&W to make the cylinders correctly orto sell them with just the pilot holes instead of chambers.

God luck

 

[8shot]

I have always been a little disappointed in the accuracy of my 986 at 25 yards. Tried about 7-8 factory loads of varying bullet weight and velocity. Mine is a very early gun. Once I discovered that the cylinder was actually 9X21, I just figured that was the culprit. I would love to have a regular steel cylinder in 9X19 but no viable L-frame cylinders to work with. It's not so bad that I would invest more than a few hundred to switch it out. I just wanted a 9mm revolver due to having a lot of 9mm ammo, and thought it would be fun. Have plenty of model 14s and a few 3-4-6 inch L frames to shoot 38 accurately. Always thought S/W should have advertised the gun as what it really in 9X21.

Have seen various posts that loading .358 bullets (lead anyway) in the 986 increased accuracy significantly.

 

[Protocall_Design]

The 2mm of extra chamber length in a 9x21 won't hurt the accuracy much. It's less than the 1/8" (3mm) of extra with a 38 special in a 357 chamber, and those will shoot great. The killer for 9mm is the 358 cylinder throat and the 357 barrel. Those allow a 355 9mm bullet too much wiggle room. That's why 357/358 bullets work better. You have to tightly control the bullet from the case on out if you want it to shoot straight, and always go from larger to smaller going forward. A 356 throat and 355 barrel would fix it. Sadly, they aren't made like that.

 

[steelslaver]

And who made it would also own the liability if it spontaniously disassembled itself while shooting.

I do not believe that is necessarily true. They could be sold without liability using an experimental tag, instructions to only use low pressure loads at your own risk etc and have the buyer sign an acknowledgement of such. But, of course you can sue for almost any reason if you have enough money or can find a lawyer or firm willing to risk a bunch of hours on the hopes that they can both prove the load that blew the cylinder and beat that statement in court AND that the producer has enough cash to make it worth their while. You could also sue the steel manufacture. Good luck

If such liability was true NOBODY in their right mind would work on or sell a gun. More than one gun has let go, but I don't think many manufacture have been found liable. Remington finally got nailed for their safety issues but it took a lot of errant bangs before anyone found a understanding jury.