Would cylinder from 38-44 fit on M27-5

[Onty]

There is possibility that I might move to a country within EU where the largest permited caliber in revolvers is 38 Special. In that case, I would like to have 38-44 on N-frame, with a nice 8-3/8 barrel. Well, I doubt that such old revolver is common on today's market, so I started thinking what could be alternative. After learning about one 38-44 cylinder, I am considering building one 38-44 revolver, using M27-5 as a basic revolver.

Question: would cylinder from original 38-44 fit M27-5?

Thanks

 

[Outpost75]

The .38-44 cylinder will likely be too short.

I would look for either a US LE or an export version of the Ruger Service Six chambered in .38 Special. These have a virtually unlimited service life with .38 Special +P or +P+ LE ammunition or hot handloads.

A great many were produced for Eastern US urban police departments and corrections who didn't want their officers carrying .357 Mags. Most were 4-inch square butt, but some were produced in 2-3/4" round butt Speed Six configuration. Thousands of the 4-inch model were produced for US Army and for export. These are common and less expensive than a collectible S&W 38-44.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Ammo? what's that...better be a reloader.

 

[Onty]

The .38-44 cylinder will likely be too short.

I would look for either a US LE or an export version of the Ruger Service Six chambered in .38 Special. These have a virtually unlimited service life with .38 Special +P or +P+ LE ammunition or hot handloads.

A great many were produced for Eastern US urban police departments and corrections who didn't want their officers carrying .357 Mags. Most were 4-inch square butt, but some were produced in 2-3/4" round butt Speed Six configuration. Thousands of the 4-inch model were produced for US Army and for export. These are common and less expensive than a collectible S&W 38-44.

Ammo? what's that...better be a reloader.

Here is another twist; there is a possibility of 8-3/8 barrel from M27-2, if I am not mistaken. So, this weird revolver might be combination of:

1. Basic revolver M27-5
2. Cylinder from 38-44
3. 8-3/8" barrel from M27-2

This revolver will be used for silhouette shooting, half scale (100 meters).

If cylinder is too short, could barrel be set back? I purchased used M27-2 with 5" barrel, and cylinder to barrel gap was almost none. Fellow shooter told me that factory set gap is larger, close to .006", so mine was set back buy skilled gunsmith, since I had never experienced any dragging. Well, my ammunition was loaded somewhere half way between starting load and maximum load for 357 Magnum, so that might be the reason why revolver worked fine with such small gap.

As for ammo, definitely handloads, using Lyman 357429 clones with full dia front driving band or one of those custom molds 170-180 grains, with a long protruding nose when loaded in 38 Special..

At this moment still a pipe dream, but it's always how things are getting started.

 

[Engine49guy]

The cylinders on the Model 27 and 38/44 are the same length "at the front" the 38/44 cylinder is slightly shorter at the rear because it is non recessed (a 27-5 would be non recessed iirc so shoukd be same front and rear) but the cartridge primer is in the exact same spot for the firing pin .
Btw an older pre 1962 cylinder would have right hand threaded ejector rod theres the fitting of either the old cylinder onto the new yoke arm or might be easier to fit the older yoke arm to the new frame not sure.
Definately woukd be easier to just look for an 8" Model 14 than go through all that time, expense headache IMO.

 

[Onty]

The cylinders on the Model 27 and 38/44 are the same length "at the front" the 38/44 cylinder is slightly shorter at the rear because it is non recessed (a 27-5 would be non recessed iirc so shoukd be same front and rear) but the cartridge primer is in the exact same spot for the firing pin .
Btw an older pre 1962 cylinder would have right hand threaded ejector rod theres the fitting of either the old cylinder onto the new yoke arm or might be easier to fit the older yoke arm to the new frame not sure.
Definately woukd be easier to just look for an 8" Model 14 than go through all that time, expense headache IMO.

Thanks for valuable info. I apologize for asking so many questions, but my knowledge about S&W revolvers is minuscule. Well, some fitting must be done, but if I understood you and others, cylinder lengths of 38-44 cylinder in M27-5 shouldn't be a as big issue as I thought.

Regarding 8" (or 8-3/8"!?) M14, I never heard about such revolver. I always thought that standard barrel length is 6". As you pointed, such model should eliminate all those issues I will be facing. But, my intention is to shoot top loads, as "prescribed" for 38-44 revolver. Since we are talking about 100-150 rounds in a single day, I am afraid that M14 just isn't robust enough.

Regarding Security Six in 38 Special, I've heard about it, but as far as I know, majority of them have 4" barrel. And to be frank, it could never feel like long barrel M27.

FYI, once you past 60, memories from shooting those gorgeous revolvers in our youth are just getting stronger and stronger. And the only way to "solve this problem" is to get that same revolver we vividly remember.

 

[Tom K]

There is possibility that I might move to a country within EU where the largest permited caliber in revolvers is 38 Special. In that case, I would like to have 38-44 on N-frame, with a nice 8-3/8 barrel. Well, I doubt that such old revolver is common on today's market, so I started thinking what could be alternative. After learning about one 38-44 cylinder, I am considering building one 38-44 revolver, using M27-5 as a basic revolver.

Question: would cylinder from original 38-44 fit M27-5?

Thanks

I have a post-war Outdoorsman in .38-44, and a Model 27-2 with an 8-3/8" barrel. I measured the distance on each between the end of the barrel and the recoil shield of the frame, which is essentially the measurement that the cylinder needs to fit. The Outdoorsman measured 1.643" and the M27-2 1.649" - close enough to be identical, considering fitment tolerances between individual guns. The main difference in the cylinders is that the M27-2 is recessed and the Outdoorsman is not, but there doesn't appear to be any reason that a qualified gunsmith couldn't install an Outdoorsman cylinder in a Model 27 (although I do not have an example of a Model 27-5).

However I believe that a major sticking point in the EU is that the barrel of the Model 27 is still going to be marked ".357 Magnum". I think that if it says that on the barrel then the powers-that-be are going to still regard the gun as a .357, regardless of what cylinder is in it.