Rossi 92 357 to 38/40

[Ajohns]

From above -
If you have to have a 38-40 start with a 45 colt and most of the headaches are gone.


I have tried this route. It may work. Though a spacer may have to be made for sizing, or to turn a little ring of brass in the head area off near the rim. It almost leaves a tiny belt, that from my experience made it so the brass would not chamber.
The thickness of brass (I suppose depending on brand) in the neck is what I was looking for as I had a chamber (38 WCF) a bit big in the neck area. Being a few thousandths thicker I wanted to try as I was experiencing terrible gas cutting. PSB added to the load cured it with stock Starline 38 WCF brass.

[veeman]

I have one in 44-40, it's my 3rd favorite rifle, right after my Uberti 1876 and 73. I'll just sell the 357 and get a 73. Actually I'll probably get a Colt SAA in 38-40. I'll never get one in 45 Colt, that just ain't right.

[wwmartin]

I guess I should have said 45colt rifle and rebarrel it to 38-40WCF.

Bill

[Ajohns]

I guess I should have said 45colt rifle and rebarrel it to 38-40WCF.

Bill

That would work dandy. Same rim diameter

[ulav8r]

I guess I should have said 45colt rifle and rebarrel it to 38-40WCF.

Bill

You should not have had to spell it out as that was clear from the previous posts. This thread is about converting a rifle to 38-40, not about converting brass.*

[indian joe]

The only 92 that I converted to 357 was the smaller action. This was well over 45 years ago and I said I would never do another one. A fellow came into the shop with just the action so I had to get the barrel, mag tube and wood. There was no internet so finding parts was almost impossible. The mag tube was made from a piece of oil tube. I don't know where I got the barrel blank but it may have been from Douglas. The wood came from Numrich and had some kind of medallion on the side. When I got done I told the customer $200 and he told me he could buy a new rifle for less so I ended up owning it. I ended up trading it for a chainsaw. The biggest problem was getting the feed rails to work .
The carrier on the two sizes is different.

yep - as paid work for a client this conversion (small calibre 92 to large) is just a non starter ! -- I need to challenge myself occasionally and this was one of those times but its my gun.

[Jeff Michel]

Uberti 1873, I have one in 38-40. Great shooter right out of the box.

[FergusonTO35]

This is gonna sound nuts, but I think the .40 S&W would be a sweet lever action round. It would probably exceed .44-40 ballistics out of a rifle barrel and ammo would be way cheaper and easier to find.

[indian joe]

This is gonna sound nuts, but I think the .40 S&W would be a sweet lever action round. It would probably exceed .44-40 ballistics out of a rifle barrel and ammo would be way cheaper and easier to find.

Have a mate did a couple in 41 magnum -- that worked really nice

40 s&w ? would that work ? the 92 action relies on the case rim engaging grooves in the feed rails to elevate the rear end - at the same time stopping the case from popping up vertical in the action (some call stovepiping) . I think I see problems in a 92 action.

as far as exceeding 44/40 ballistics - its been deliberately weakened years ago to protect old dodgy guns - you can take a 44/40 to full house 44magnum anytime you want in an action that will take it.

[Texas by God]

In the back of the Lyman 45th there are 200gr jacketed 44-40 loads that approach .35 REMINGTON LEVELS.....ONCE in a Rossi was plenty for me.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[John Taylor]

This is gonna sound nuts, but I think the .40 S&W would be a sweet lever action round. It would probably exceed .44-40 ballistics out of a rifle barrel and ammo would be way cheaper and easier to find.

Cartridge length might be a problem. The 92 has the loading gate to far back for shorter cartridges. Much easier to convert a Marlin to a shorter cartridge. I have done several to 45 ACP and one to 9MM.

[robg]

why not just load up some 357s up .125gn to 180gn and shoot it

[FergusonTO35]

Cartridge length might be a problem. The 92 has the loading gate to far back for shorter cartridges. Much easier to convert a Marlin to a shorter cartridge. I have done several to 45 ACP and one to 9MM.

I just meant lever actions in general, not necessarily the 92. A Marlin 1894 would be pretty sweet as would a Henry.