Conversions to .327 Fed Mag

[Rodgunner]

Cheers to all. New here but with decades of target shooting and reloading experience. It was suggested by a fellow member to make an entry here. The purpose is to find the right individual (s) to make a conversion of a mod. 19 S&W into a .327 Fed Mag. The .32 cylinders are near impossible to obtain and I know conversions of model 17 cylinders are feasible; The second issue entails taking down the .357 barrel and replacing it with the S&W .32 H&R Mag I have. I am aware of what all that may entail, from proper gap, sight alignment, underlug end distance etc. I have contacted Cylinder and Slide and others but no luck so far; Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[cwtebay]

That conversion may get a little rocky. I am wondering about cylinder timing as well as your mention of cylinder gap. Looking forward to hearing about how your project progresses and others' experience as well.

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[rintinglen]

Green Frog, where are you? He has one that he had built, IIRC, by Andy Horvath. It is really sweet and I have toyed with the idea of having one made myself, but I fear finding the 32 H&R barrel is like finding unicorn horns. Send him a PM and maybe he will hop out of the pond and clue you in on the details. Charley is a really nice guy.

[DougGuy]

Mr. Horvath would be tops of my list as well, I was thinking to suggest his name in the forum.

I saw a 32 caliber conversion he did for Jeff Quinn and it was a flawless execution, I can find a ton of photos and forum posts regarding Mr. Horvath pertaining to Ruger single actions mostly.

[257X50]

Depends on what you want it for.

The quick and dirty?

Get a Smith with a 2 piece barrel……..no under lug problem…….just turn another inner sleeve

Then have someone make sleeves chambered in 327 to fit a reamed out chambers.

Silversolder or epoxy them in…….with a good fit you could just do the ends.

Much like the sleeves in a model 53…….but permanent………

I’m trying it soon on a Charter Arms snubby in 38 special. Got it cheap

It’s a 5 shot so no problem with it he bolt notch.

But I’ve cut up a lot of revolvers …did it with another gunsmith for a long time. …in fact except for a Manhurin,a DW and a Python……I’ll be cutting up the rest of my revolvers…..just fun to build Niche guns. and come to think of it…. the Python isn’t immune……..but it has a lot of holster wear

So take that into consideration………

[Green Frog]

I too would suggest you contact Andy Horvath. He did mine. Read this thread so you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Note that Delta is no longer in business reboring gun barrels… I would check with Alan Segrist.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...ect-616-a.html

If you PM me your e-mail address, I’ll send you a copy of the article I wrote about the project.

Froggie

[Green Frog]

Rodgunner, there was a virtually query on the Gunsmithing section of the S&W Forum in the last couple of days. You might want to look at that as well. BTW, if you already have the 16-4 barrel in hand, the hard part is done. Get a Model 17 or K22 cylinder, a Model 19 donor gun to build on, and send it all to Andy Horvath. Mission accomplished!

Froggie

[El Bibliotecario]

I understood Cylinder and Slide had ceased operations.

As for your project, with enough money anyone can make their fantasy into a reality. My experience is that given the expense and angst, one can find a production firearm which does essentially what one desires. But like most of life's lessons, this is best learned through experience. "laff" Which I did.

[Green Frog]

El Biblitechario,
I think we agree up to a point, but if somebody wants a model that can’t be easily found, or something that was never made but should have been, having a custom job does make perfectly good sense. First, I wanted a 327 Fed Mag chambered K frame S&W, hence the birth of Project 616. Then I wanted an old fashioned K32/Model 16 (pre -4). I was fortunate enough to have a NOS 16-3 barrel “fall in my lap” so what could i do? I had to have my dream gun built (the faux Model 16-3). If I didn’t have them now, would I build them again? Almost 100% certainly! YMMV.
Froggie

[Rodgunner]

Thanks Green Frog, I do have the barrel and a Model 19 so I guess all I would need is the cylinder. I will contact Horvath. Thanks

[Rodgunner]

I will check the SW forum-Thanks

[RJM52]

...another is Jack Huntington (JRH)...he did a S&W Model 53 to .327 conversion which he said was one of the easiest projects he has ever done...
Have barrel rebored
Rechamber the .22 Long Rifle Cylinder
Remark barrel
Screw back together...






Because I had an extra barrel, the gun can be put back to original .22 Jet...only loss was the rimfire cylinder...




From what I have seen the easiest conversion would be a Model 14/15, rebore a Model 17/48 barrel and rechamber a 17/48 cylinder.

Bob

[MT Gianni]

I would also hit the auction sites hard. 18 months ago I bought a 16-4 S&W 6" unfired in the box with tools and papers for $1999. I was the only bidder. It is still in excellent shape though no longer unfired. Prices are coming down a little on these especially if they are not collector grade. I think you're less money to find one and have someone else ream it to 327 F.

[Rodgunner]

Well. It was done. So like Green Frog I have now a faux model "16-4" which shoots .32,32 H&R and .327 Fed Magnum; I had an original S& W .32 H&R Mag 6" barrel and a model 19 and a .22 mag cylinder. It took 3 months only. The job was done by J Huntington. The revolver looks now like a model 16-4. I have not fired tested it yet. My next project is a conversion of a Colt MKIII .357 into a .327. I already have the gun and a .32 Colt Diamondback barrel converted from a .22. I am looking for a Trooper .22 cylinder, preferably a .22 Mag one. Any help will be appreciated

[Lance Boyle]

Congrats!

I went the easy route.......I ordered a 4.2” SP101 in .327 but it isn’t the 4” Model 16 I would prefer. I don’t even have it yet. It’s coming in tomorrow and I still have to do the add to my stupid state permit before i can shoot it.

[shooting on a shoestring]

I’m hoping the internet rumor is true that Lipsey is working with S&W to have a K-Frame 327 out in a year or so. They just did the J-frame 432 Ultimate Carry and it went well. Still the new Smiths are not the same as the old ones. So, I can understand the desire to convert an old Model 14/15/19 to 327. 327 is a great fit for the K-Frame. Of course so is 32-20. And that was first done in what? About 1902?

[Green Frog]

Welcome to the club. Be sure and join our 32 Retinue up in the community groups. My latest 327 project is a little longer, a Ruger #3 being converted to my most favoritest caliber, the 327 FM. Here are pics of my completed Project 616 and the #3 before I shipped it off. Check out the markings on the barrel of the 616!

Froggie

[Lance Boyle]

I’m hoping the internet rumor is true that Lipsey is working with S&W to have a K-Frame 327 out in a year or so. They just did the J-frame 432 Ultimate Carry and it went well. Still the new Smiths are not the same as the old ones. So, I can understand the desire to convert an old Model 14/15/19 to 327. 327 is a great fit for the K-Frame. Of course so is 32-20. And that was first done in what? About 1902?

Ooh that’d be nice to see it in a K frame. A 4 inch +/- 1” with adjustable sights. A model 16 classic or a 616 ��.

[Green Frog]

I’m hoping the internet rumor is true that Lipsey is working with S&W to have a K-Frame 327 out in a year or so. They just did the J-frame 432 Ultimate Carry and it went well. Still the new Smiths are not the same as the old ones. So, I can understand the desire to convert an old Model 14/15/19 to 327. 327 is a great fit for the K-Frame. Of course so is 32-20. And that was first done in what? About 1902?

Actually, the primitive forerunner of the K frame was developed about 1899 and was available in 38 and 32-20. About that same time the first I frames came out in 32 S&W Long. and somewhere in there the tiny little M frame came out for the 22. It was a big step forward to build the "Heavy Frame Target", aka the 22/32 on the I frame. K frame 22s and 32s (S&W L) didn't show up until about the 1930s to satisfy the target shooting community. They referred to the I frame as the 32 frame and the K as the 38 frame... why would anyone want a bigger frame for pipsqueak cartridges?
Then came the serious pistoleros of the '20s-'50s and we started stretching the envelope with what was expected of a handgun! That's why I feel like a K-327 "Model 616" for the stainless one is so right. Following S&W's numbering, Model 16-5 should be the blue one and I "claimed" Model 616 as the logical designation for the stainless version.
Froggie

[Green Frog]

It’s a shame that S&W seems to regard revolvers as legacy items that they must continue building, but only in limited quantities for the hard core, old school minority. Plastic guns and MSRs are OK and seem to sell, but nobody builds DA/SA revolvers like S&W. If they would go back to making old style revolvers without the internal lock and fewer tricky features like two piece barrels, I honestly believe they would sell. Then if they made them in the 327 chamberings we are discussing here, they would sell briskly.
We have an old saying, “Dance with the girl you brought to the Ball.” Maybe the folks at S&W should think about it.

Froggie