Will Smith and Wesson PC make me cylinders?

Sig_Dude · June 28, 2010, 03:41 PM

I have a Smith 686P, my FAVORITE gun bar none, chambered in .357/.38 for those not familiar with the S/W nomenclature.

I'm sending it in to the performance center to have a few things done:

1. reduce barrel/cylinder gap to .003" (currently it's .010")
2. chamfer the seven charge holes (I have never really been able to get used to that number, 7)
3. bead blast to a beautiful and classy satin stainless (LOVE that look)
4. *possibly* take the barrel down to 5", which is the perfect 686 length, IMHO.

Now here's the question part of my question:

I was also thinking about asking them to make me a dedicated .38 special cylinder for it, as well as a 9mm cylinder, and maybe even go nuts and have a .357 cylinder done with no weight reduction/relief cuts, i.e. a simple built like a tank round cylinder.

note: OK I know that shooting .38 through a .357 barrel is fine if you keep up with the ring of funk in the charge holes, but, I'm kinda anal (see my post about clean burning powders) and besides the cleanliness wouldn't mind having a chamber spec'd for .38, which is 95% of what I shoot.

Has anybody ever had Smith and Wesson do cylinder work for them...will they even do it? If not, who's the next best outfit in line? Thanks!

oneounceload · June 28, 2010, 03:54 PM

No personal knowledge, but Cylinder and Slide seem to get VERY high marks on their workmanship (seems to be true as their lead time is 6 months or more)

laytonj1 · June 28, 2010, 04:33 PM

Call them and ask...

Smith & Wesson
By Email: [email protected]

By Telephone:
1-800-331-0852 (USA)
Mon-Fri 8:00AM-8:00PM Eastern Time

Jim

drail · June 28, 2010, 09:31 PM

I would be very surprised if they would unless you want to order a couple of hundred.

melchloboo · June 29, 2010, 11:06 AM

Try here:
http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver.asp

James K · June 29, 2010, 11:55 AM

I am sure you know what you want, but I would not reduce the b/c gap that much. You could run into a problem with the cylinder heating and binding if you do any rapid fire. I consider a b/c gap of .006"-.007" to be optimal.

Jim

jbaldwin · June 29, 2010, 01:35 PM

A lot of guys that shoot Dan Wesson's set the b/c gap to .002 or .003 but have to keep the cylinder face clean to prevent binding.

I had S&W do some work and I would expect them to do what you are asking for a price.

The non-fluted cylinders look very cool. Seems like I have seen some S&W with them. Below is a picture of my DW with a non-fluted cylinder.

Malamute · June 29, 2010, 03:12 PM

The non fluted cylinders arent really any stronger, the thin spot is the sidewall. On a gun with an even number of chambers, the locking bolt slot is the weak link, on odd numbered cylinders, the bolt cut is offset between the chambers, but the sidewall is still the thinnest spot, no matter whether it has flutes or not.

I think 5" gun would be nice. 6''ers seem unhandy to carry to me.

Sig_Dude · June 29, 2010, 03:39 PM

Does Dan Wesson, through CZ, still sell new revolvers?

jbaldwin · June 30, 2010, 09:51 AM

Dan Wesson is not currently making revolvers but I have exchanged messages with them and they will hopefully bring revolvers back to market next year. We have created a petition on the Dan Wesson Forum that will be sent to CZ-USA which owns Dan Wesson next week.

For anyone interested in signing the petition here is a link.

As Malamute said I don't believe the non-fluted cylinders are any stronger but they are pretty cool looking. And I also like the 5" barrel lengths as well. If you contact S&W let us know what their response is.

Jody

JackL · June 30, 2010, 10:11 AM

Thanks for the petition link. Oh, and nice forum! I always wanted a DW revolver, and if they bring 'em back I'll be all over it.

WC145 · June 30, 2010, 05:50 PM

No, they won't make you a cylinder. Nor will they sell you a blank.

However -

You can purchase a S&W 242 cylinder (titanium, 7 shot, .38 spl) from Numrich Arms and have it fitted to your gun.

You can see if S&W as a non-fluted .357 cylinder sitting around that they'll sell you. There's a good chance of that sicne they've made 686's with smooth cylinders before. Also, check Numrich Arms for that one too, they may have something.

You can have your existing cylinder rechambered to 9x23 and shoot 9mm (w/moonclips) but no more shooting .357/.38's through it.

You can search the interweb for a company whose name I can't recall that I recently saw is offering to cut custom cylinders for something like $400 for one. If I see the blurb again, I'll post the info.

Gonzo_308 · June 30, 2010, 09:01 PM

Somebody, I dont remember who, said that you lose some accuracy shooting 9mm out of a 357 bbl. I'm not sure this is the case or how much accuracy is lost but I remember hearing it from a gunsmith that did/does conversions.

I'll see if I can dig through my desk and find his name again.

laytonj1 · July 1, 2010, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Somebody, I dont remember who, said that you lose some accuracy shooting 9mm out of a 357 bbl.

Generally, but not always. 9mm = .355 vs .357 so it's .002 undersized which is not optimum for accuracy.

Jim

Jim Watson · July 1, 2010, 08:28 AM

A .355" bullet loaded into .38 Special brass sized down enough to hold it will shoot pretty well in a .357" barrel.

But if you rechamber a .357 cylinder to 9mm, the long jump through the .54" left of the original .357 chamber will hurt ballistics and accuracy. Another board had some chrono figures. As I recall, a 9mm shot out of a converted .38 Special was at lower velocity than standard... but still more than a light bullet .38 Special.

Hamilton Bowen is making cylinders to convert S&W revolvers to things like .327 Ruger. Maybe he would build you one for 9mm, but it won't be cheap.

Or you could try this outfit:
FAMCO Inc. will custom manufacture any cylinder, in any caliber listed in the S.A.A.M.I. spec, for any revolver (provided cylinder caliber matches barrel).
http://floridaarms.com/catalog/custom-cylinders.php

WC145 · July 1, 2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Somebody, I dont remember who, said that you lose some accuracy shooting 9mm out of a 357 bbl.

I haven't seen any appreciable loss in accuracy from my rechambered 360J.

CarbineCaleb · July 4, 2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melchloboo

Try here:
http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver.asp

Yep, that guy seems to know a good deal about cylinder modifications.

kraigwy · July 5, 2010, 11:27 AM

Smith and Wesson will make you another cylender.

I had a Model 25 in 45 ACP that I sent back to Smith and had them make a 45 LC cylender. It worked great.

I modified the display box for the extra cylender and it really looked nice.

The only problem some dumb a$$ traded it, which he regretted every since. I traded a Model 547 at the same time.

That idiotic trade was what convenced me I'll never trade or sell another gun as long as I live.

WC145 · July 5, 2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Smith and Wesson will make you another cylender.

I had a Model 25 in 45 ACP that I sent back to Smith and had them make a 45 LC cylender. It worked great.

Model 25's have been produced in .45LC, all they had to do was take an existing .45LC cylinder out of stock and fit it to your gun. That's a totally different job than making one cylinder to someone's specs in a caliber they've never offered that gun in.

Gonzo_308 · July 5, 2010, 09:38 PM

I remember who it was now. The guy from Moonclips.com TK customs.
http://www.moonclips.com He will recess your cylinder for moonclips. I asked him about the possibility of machining my Scandium gun to use 9mm. He told me he would but I wouldn't be happy with the results.

Call him yourself and ask him.

KMG5402 · July 5, 2010, 10:43 PM

Will Smith... pshh. Yyyeah

June 28, 2010, 03:41 PM	#1
Sig_Dude Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2010 Location: Southeast PA Posts: 115	Will Smith and Wesson PC make me cylinders? I have a Smith 686P, my FAVORITE gun bar none, chambered in .357/.38 for those not familiar with the S/W nomenclature. I'm sending it in to the performance center to have a few things done: 1. reduce barrel/cylinder gap to .003" (currently it's .010") 2. chamfer the seven charge holes (I have never really been able to get used to that number, 7) 3. bead blast to a beautiful and classy satin stainless (LOVE that look) 4. possibly take the barrel down to 5", which is the perfect 686 length, IMHO. Now here's the question part of my question: I was also thinking about asking them to make me a dedicated .38 special cylinder for it, as well as a 9mm cylinder, and maybe even go nuts and have a .357 cylinder done with no weight reduction/relief cuts, i.e. a simple built like a tank round cylinder. note: OK I know that shooting .38 through a .357 barrel is fine if you keep up with the ring of funk in the charge holes, but, I'm kinda anal (see my post about clean burning powders) and besides the cleanliness wouldn't mind having a chamber spec'd for .38, which is 95% of what I shoot. Has anybody ever had Smith and Wesson do cylinder work for them...will they even do it? If not, who's the next best outfit in line? Thanks!

June 29, 2010, 03:12 PM	#8
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	The non fluted cylinders arent really any stronger, the thin spot is the sidewall. On a gun with an even number of chambers, the locking bolt slot is the weak link, on odd numbered cylinders, the bolt cut is offset between the chambers, but the sidewall is still the thinnest spot, no matter whether it has flutes or not. I think 5" gun would be nice. 6''ers seem unhandy to carry to me. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

June 30, 2010, 10:11 AM	#11
JackL Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2008 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 187	Thanks for the petition link. Oh, and nice forum! I always wanted a DW revolver, and if they bring 'em back I'll be all over it. __________________ Latinum malum ex rectum extractum. A wrong note played timidly is a mistake. A wrong note played boldly is an interpretation.

June 30, 2010, 09:01 PM	#13
Gonzo_308 Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2000 Location: Sunbury, Ohio Posts: 1,367	Somebody, I dont remember who, said that you lose some accuracy shooting 9mm out of a 357 bbl. I'm not sure this is the case or how much accuracy is lost but I remember hearing it from a gunsmith that did/does conversions. I'll see if I can dig through my desk and find his name again. __________________ Loaded like a freight train, flyin' like an aeroplane!

July 1, 2010, 08:28 AM	#15
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	A .355" bullet loaded into .38 Special brass sized down enough to hold it will shoot pretty well in a .357" barrel. But if you rechamber a .357 cylinder to 9mm, the long jump through the .54" left of the original .357 chamber will hurt ballistics and accuracy. Another board had some chrono figures. As I recall, a 9mm shot out of a converted .38 Special was at lower velocity than standard... but still more than a light bullet .38 Special. Hamilton Bowen is making cylinders to convert S&W revolvers to things like .327 Ruger. Maybe he would build you one for 9mm, but it won't be cheap. Or you could try this outfit: FAMCO Inc. will custom manufacture any cylinder, in any caliber listed in the S.A.A.M.I. spec, for any revolver (provided cylinder caliber matches barrel). http://floridaarms.com/catalog/custom-cylinders.php Last edited by Jim Watson; July 1, 2010 at 08:34 AM.

June 28, 2010, 03:54 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	No personal knowledge, but Cylinder and Slide seem to get VERY high marks on their workmanship (seems to be true as their lead time is 6 months or more)

June 28, 2010, 04:33 PM	#3
laytonj1 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2005 Posts: 4,443	Call them and ask... Smith & Wesson By Email: [email protected] By Telephone: 1-800-331-0852 (USA) Mon-Fri 8:00AM-8:00PM Eastern Time Jim

June 28, 2010, 09:31 PM	#4
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	I would be very surprised if they would unless you want to order a couple of hundred.

June 29, 2010, 11:06 AM	#5
melchloboo Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2008 Posts: 279	Try here: http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver.asp

June 29, 2010, 11:55 AM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I am sure you know what you want, but I would not reduce the b/c gap that much. You could run into a problem with the cylinder heating and binding if you do any rapid fire. I consider a b/c gap of .006"-.007" to be optimal. Jim

June 29, 2010, 01:35 PM	#7
jbaldwin Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Salem, VA Posts: 78	A lot of guys that shoot Dan Wesson's set the b/c gap to .002 or .003 but have to keep the cylinder face clean to prevent binding. I had S&W do some work and I would expect them to do what you are asking for a price. The non-fluted cylinders look very cool. Seems like I have seen some S&W with them. Below is a picture of my DW with a non-fluted cylinder.

June 29, 2010, 03:39 PM	#9
Sig_Dude Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2010 Location: Southeast PA Posts: 115	Does Dan Wesson, through CZ, still sell new revolvers?

June 30, 2010, 09:51 AM	#10
jbaldwin Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Salem, VA Posts: 78	Dan Wesson is not currently making revolvers but I have exchanged messages with them and they will hopefully bring revolvers back to market next year. We have created a petition on the Dan Wesson Forum that will be sent to CZ-USA which owns Dan Wesson next week. For anyone interested in signing the petition here is a link. As Malamute said I don't believe the non-fluted cylinders are any stronger but they are pretty cool looking. And I also like the 5" barrel lengths as well. If you contact S&W let us know what their response is. Jody

June 30, 2010, 05:50 PM	#12
WC145 Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Downeast Maine Posts: 1,836	No, they won't make you a cylinder. Nor will they sell you a blank. However - You can purchase a S&W 242 cylinder (titanium, 7 shot, .38 spl) from Numrich Arms and have it fitted to your gun. You can see if S&W as a non-fluted .357 cylinder sitting around that they'll sell you. There's a good chance of that sicne they've made 686's with smooth cylinders before. Also, check Numrich Arms for that one too, they may have something. You can have your existing cylinder rechambered to 9x23 and shoot 9mm (w/moonclips) but no more shooting .357/.38's through it. You can search the interweb for a company whose name I can't recall that I recently saw is offering to cut custom cylinders for something like $400 for one. If I see the blurb again, I'll post the info.

July 5, 2010, 11:27 AM	#18
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Smith and Wesson will make you another cylender. I had a Model 25 in 45 ACP that I sent back to Smith and had them make a 45 LC cylender. It worked great. I modified the display box for the extra cylender and it really looked nice. The only problem some dumb a$$ traded it, which he regretted every since. I traded a Model 547 at the same time. That idiotic trade was what convenced me I'll never trade or sell another gun as long as I live. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

July 5, 2010, 09:38 PM	#20
Gonzo_308 Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2000 Location: Sunbury, Ohio Posts: 1,367	I remember who it was now. The guy from Moonclips.com TK customs. http://www.moonclips.com He will recess your cylinder for moonclips. I asked him about the possibility of machining my Scandium gun to use 9mm. He told me he would but I wouldn't be happy with the results. Call him yourself and ask him. __________________ Loaded like a freight train, flyin' like an aeroplane!

July 5, 2010, 10:43 PM	#21
KMG5402 Junior member Join Date: April 28, 2008 Posts: 96	Will Smith... pshh. Yyyeah