Who Does DA Caliber Conversions?

Joshua 2415 · April 23, 2018, 03:06 PM

My goal is to ...somehow... end up with something like the S&W Model 627 8-round revolver, except with 8 or 9 rounds of 327 magnum instead of 357 magnum.

Also, I currently have a S&W Model 48 22 Magnum. I love this gun, but really wish it had 7 or 8 rounds of 22 magnum instead of just 6. I realize this must be simplistic thinking, but it seems like somebody should be able to get hold of a virgin Model 48 cylinder, and drill 7 holes instead of the traditional six. There's plenty of room there, it seems to me. I assume the timing would have to be adjusted for the 7 rounds instead of 6. But, just seems like it should be do-able.

I'm wanting to stay with Double-Action, not SA.

I've called a number of custom shops, but haven't yet found anybody who does these specific things I'm looking for. Is there anybody who will essentially build an actual "custom revolver" where "custom" means the revolver is built to custom specs, and not just do cool upgrades to an existing gun?

Any suggestions?

burrhead · April 23, 2018, 03:50 PM

Quote:

seems like somebody should be able to get hold of a virgin Model 48 cylinder

I can't imagine anyone outside of S&W upper management could do that. I would guess for a few thousands of dollars you could find a very good machinist who could make one then, for some more money, get it fitted by a very good gunsmith.

How much do you want to spend?

KEYBEAR · April 23, 2018, 04:31 PM

It would be much much cheaper to buy two or three Revolvers .

Joshua 2415 · April 23, 2018, 06:33 PM

The revolvers that I want are an 8-round 327 Magnum, and an 8-round 22 Magnum. As far as I can tell, neither exists as a standard commercially available product. So, I'm hoping to find somebody who can make them for me!

Ricklin · April 23, 2018, 06:55 PM

Taurus has their 992, if you can stand 9 vs. 8

Swappable cylinder so it also does .22 S L LR 9 rounds for that one too.

Joshua 2415 · April 23, 2018, 07:21 PM

Well, thanks for the heads-up on the Taurus. I didn't now about that one. It's definitely the idea I'm looking for. Unfortunately, after reviewing some pics, I'm just not thrilled with the aesthetics, especially the big billboard style "TRACKER" written across the barrel. I'm the type of person for which the looks have to be appealing to my personal tastes, or I just won't feel good about ownership.

But, that's the kind of revolver I have in mind. Does anybody else make something like that in 22 Mag?

And of course, I'm still looking for someone who can make or convert an 8-round 327 Mag... my Holy Grail of handguns!

**4V50 Gary** · April 23, 2018, 09:04 PM

Except the Taurus lockwork is garbage.

T. O'Heir · April 24, 2018, 12:37 PM

"...a virgin Model 48 cylinder and drill 7 holes..." At over $100 per hour plus machine set up time.
"...actual "custom revolver" where "custom" means the revolver is built to custom specs..." Would be cost prohibitive.
Better to buy a Taurus M941 or 992. Or a Rossi Plinker. Or a Smith 351 PD. There are more of 'em than I thought.

Joshua 2415 · April 24, 2018, 12:58 PM

I already own the 351c, in fact I carry it in my pocket as a companion to my Model 48 which I (sometimes) carry IWB.

$100 per hour to drill 7 holes, plus setup time... well, since I have no idea how long it takes to do this stuff, let's suppose it takes a half hour to setup, and another half hour to drill the holes. That would be $100 total for the service work. Is this anything close to realistic? If so, I'd be very interested.

Also, what about finding the blank cylinder for the Model 48? Is this an easy thing, or a hard thing?

burrhead · April 24, 2018, 02:06 PM

See post #2

FrankenMauser · April 24, 2018, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Also, what about finding the blank cylinder for the Model 48? Is this an easy thing, or a hard thing?

"Funny" story...
I know where there's one sitting in the drawer of a workbench, in an unlocked garage, in the middle of nine-months-of-winter-and-three-days-of-summer Idaho, a mile from the closest neighbors, that will never be used for anything. It will roll around with the drill bits and wire brushes, getting beat to death, eventually rotting and returning to the earth, having never been given a chance to live.

But, no. They're not easy to find. Consider the concept to be fantasy, bordering on insanity.

The one I mentioned above was obtained in about 1973. (Don't ask. I can't buy it. If I could, I'd already have it.)

Joshua 2415 · April 24, 2018, 02:29 PM

Based on the insights of posts #11 and #2, lets suppose I miraculously come up with a blank cylinder for the Model 48, and then somehow get the 8 holes drilled in it. Are those my main challenges? Or, will there also be an issue with adjusting the timing, given that my regular Model 48 is a six-shot? Is the timing adjustment a big thing, or a little thing?

burrhead · April 24, 2018, 04:56 PM

Supposing the heavens open and you miraculously acquire the cylinder you want, then yes it'll have to be timed. That would not be a huge problem for a compatant gunsmith.

**4V50 Gary** · April 24, 2018, 09:18 PM

The metal can be fabricated from round stock. A milling machine is needed to bore out the center pin hole and the cylinder holes. It's also needed to cut the star extractor and the cylinder notches and you'll need an index head for that.

Joshua 2415 · April 24, 2018, 09:29 PM

Ok...but, I don't know how to do any of those things. Do you know somebody who does that kind of work?

Jim Watson · April 24, 2018, 09:58 PM

There was a place in Florida making odd cylinders as well as BHP clone parts. Unfortunately I cannot find it now.

There were full custom "high capacity" revolvers before the factories bothered. It has been done, it can be done. But not cheaply.

Scorch · April 25, 2018, 12:12 AM

Quote:

let's suppose it takes a half hour to setup, and another half hour to drill the holes.

Quote:

.but, I don't know how to do any of those things.

First off, a good machinist that is willing to do one-off prototype work will likely charge $200/hr or more. You will pay for developing and making fixtures needed to hold the cylinder during machining. Then you will pay for set-ups. probably at least 3. You will pay for cutting tools. And you will pay for reamers (cylinder and throat and center pin). You will pay for the time to make drawings, order the materials and tooling, and machine maintenance. You will probably be into the manufacturing for more than $5,000 before your machinist even starts to make chips. One-off work is expensive.

Joshua 2415 · April 25, 2018, 10:12 AM

Wow! I was more hopeful when I was more naive about these costs.

But, it's good to know what is and isn't realistic.

Ledslnger · April 25, 2018, 04:08 PM

Might want to check what Freedom Arms has. They will set you back closer to $2k I would guess.
Clarify...for their stock offerings. Not sure they will have what you want exactly though. They make some nice stuff.

Maybe check into a BFR...they may have something. They do customs too. You can get a .300 BLK revolver from them.

Jim Watson · April 25, 2018, 04:23 PM

Just occurred to me, S&W makes a TEN shot M617. Rechamber to WMR.

Cylinder is $157.95 at Numrich but they say it is "bead blasted" which means it is probably aluminum for the earlier guns. They list another which might be steel, but it is out of stock. I don't know if the bolt circle is the same as M48, though.

Joshua 2415 · April 25, 2018, 06:42 PM

The S&W M617 and also M63 are both interesting ideas for a re-chamber to a high capacity 22 WMR. While I would prefer to modify my M48 if possible, I will pursue these other two.

Does anybody have suggestions for who would do the re-chambering work?

Jim Watson · April 25, 2018, 08:49 PM

M63 is on J frame. I guess you could squeeze in seven.

All this is Type 3 modification, physically possible but hard to find somebody willing to go to the trouble.

Clemson · April 25, 2018, 09:18 PM

I'm not saying that these folks would make what you want, but they certainly could:

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/

Hamilton Bowen is a master revolver smith.

Clemson · April 25, 2018, 09:21 PM

p.s. It won't likely come for $100 either. The extractor star has to be fabricated, the cylinder stop holes have to be milled, the chambers are reamed -- not just drilled.........

Maybe $1000 would do it??

Joshua 2415 · April 25, 2018, 09:58 PM

Yes, I've been exchanging a few emails with Hamilton Bowen. He seems to specialize in Single-Action revolvers, while I am wanting DA. He hasn't yet conclusively said he can't help me, and we are still exchanging thoughts about this, but I'm not optimistic that this avenue will be fruitful.

As per posts #20-22, it would be good to find somebody who would do 22 LR to 22 Mag conversion on a S&W Model 63. That might scratch my 22 Mag itch.

Will also continue to hope for a way to get an 8-round 327 Mag. I discovered Janz Custom Revolvers (Germany) and have confirmed that they will build exactly what I am looking for, but it would cost ~10,000. I'm considering it, if only I can figure out how to sell everything in my wife's jewelry box, and her car, without her noticing.

April 23, 2018, 06:55 PM	#5
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,013	Taurus Taurus has their 992, if you can stand 9 vs. 8 Swappable cylinder so it also does .22 S L LR 9 rounds for that one too. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

April 23, 2018, 09:04 PM	#7
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Except the Taurus lockwork is garbage. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 24, 2018, 12:37 PM	#8
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...a virgin Model 48 cylinder and drill 7 holes..." At over $100 per hour plus machine set up time. "...actual "custom revolver" where "custom" means the revolver is built to custom specs..." Would be cost prohibitive. Better to buy a Taurus M941 or 992. Or a Rossi Plinker. Or a Smith 351 PD. There are more of 'em than I thought. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

April 24, 2018, 02:06 PM	#10
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	See post #2 __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

April 24, 2018, 02:29 PM	#12
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Based on the insights of posts #11 and #2, lets suppose I miraculously come up with a blank cylinder for the Model 48, and then somehow get the 8 holes drilled in it. Are those my main challenges? Or, will there also be an issue with adjusting the timing, given that my regular Model 48 is a six-shot? Is the timing adjustment a big thing, or a little thing? Last edited by Joshua 2415; April 24, 2018 at 05:38 PM.

April 23, 2018, 03:06 PM	#1
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Who Does DA Caliber Conversions? My goal is to ...somehow... end up with something like the S&W Model 627 8-round revolver, except with 8 or 9 rounds of 327 magnum instead of 357 magnum. Also, I currently have a S&W Model 48 22 Magnum. I love this gun, but really wish it had 7 or 8 rounds of 22 magnum instead of just 6. I realize this must be simplistic thinking, but it seems like somebody should be able to get hold of a virgin Model 48 cylinder, and drill 7 holes instead of the traditional six. There's plenty of room there, it seems to me. I assume the timing would have to be adjusted for the 7 rounds instead of 6. But, just seems like it should be do-able. I'm wanting to stay with Double-Action, not SA. I've called a number of custom shops, but haven't yet found anybody who does these specific things I'm looking for. Is there anybody who will essentially build an actual "custom revolver" where "custom" means the revolver is built to custom specs, and not just do cool upgrades to an existing gun? Any suggestions?

April 23, 2018, 04:31 PM	#3
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	It would be much much cheaper to buy two or three Revolvers .

April 23, 2018, 06:33 PM	#4
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	The revolvers that I want are an 8-round 327 Magnum, and an 8-round 22 Magnum. As far as I can tell, neither exists as a standard commercially available product. So, I'm hoping to find somebody who can make them for me!

April 23, 2018, 07:21 PM	#6
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Well, thanks for the heads-up on the Taurus. I didn't now about that one. It's definitely the idea I'm looking for. Unfortunately, after reviewing some pics, I'm just not thrilled with the aesthetics, especially the big billboard style "TRACKER" written across the barrel. I'm the type of person for which the looks have to be appealing to my personal tastes, or I just won't feel good about ownership. But, that's the kind of revolver I have in mind. Does anybody else make something like that in 22 Mag? And of course, I'm still looking for someone who can make or convert an 8-round 327 Mag... my Holy Grail of handguns!

April 24, 2018, 12:58 PM	#9
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	I already own the 351c, in fact I carry it in my pocket as a companion to my Model 48 which I (sometimes) carry IWB. $100 per hour to drill 7 holes, plus setup time... well, since I have no idea how long it takes to do this stuff, let's suppose it takes a half hour to setup, and another half hour to drill the holes. That would be $100 total for the service work. Is this anything close to realistic? If so, I'd be very interested. Also, what about finding the blank cylinder for the Model 48? Is this an easy thing, or a hard thing?

April 24, 2018, 04:56 PM	#13
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Supposing the heavens open and you miraculously acquire the cylinder you want, then yes it'll have to be timed. That would not be a huge problem for a compatant gunsmith. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

April 24, 2018, 09:18 PM	#14
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	The metal can be fabricated from round stock. A milling machine is needed to bore out the center pin hole and the cylinder holes. It's also needed to cut the star extractor and the cylinder notches and you'll need an index head for that. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 24, 2018, 09:29 PM	#15
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Ok...but, I don't know how to do any of those things. Do you know somebody who does that kind of work?

April 24, 2018, 09:58 PM	#16
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	There was a place in Florida making odd cylinders as well as BHP clone parts. Unfortunately I cannot find it now. There were full custom "high capacity" revolvers before the factories bothered. It has been done, it can be done. But not cheaply.

April 25, 2018, 10:12 AM	#18
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Wow! I was more hopeful when I was more naive about these costs. But, it's good to know what is and isn't realistic.

April 25, 2018, 04:08 PM	#19
Ledslnger Member Join Date: March 20, 2018 Posts: 60	Might want to check what Freedom Arms has. They will set you back closer to $2k I would guess. Clarify...for their stock offerings. Not sure they will have what you want exactly though. They make some nice stuff. Maybe check into a BFR...they may have something. They do customs too. You can get a .300 BLK revolver from them.

April 25, 2018, 04:23 PM	#20
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Just occurred to me, S&W makes a TEN shot M617. Rechamber to WMR. Cylinder is $157.95 at Numrich but they say it is "bead blasted" which means it is probably aluminum for the earlier guns. They list another which might be steel, but it is out of stock. I don't know if the bolt circle is the same as M48, though. Last edited by Jim Watson; April 25, 2018 at 04:31 PM.

April 25, 2018, 06:42 PM	#21
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	The S&W M617 and also M63 are both interesting ideas for a re-chamber to a high capacity 22 WMR. While I would prefer to modify my M48 if possible, I will pursue these other two. Does anybody have suggestions for who would do the re-chambering work?

April 25, 2018, 08:49 PM	#22
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	M63 is on J frame. I guess you could squeeze in seven. All this is Type 3 modification, physically possible but hard to find somebody willing to go to the trouble.

April 25, 2018, 09:18 PM	#23
Clemson Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2001 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 875	I'm not saying that these folks would make what you want, but they certainly could: http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/ Hamilton Bowen is a master revolver smith. __________________ NRA Endowment Member, NRA Certified Instructor CWP Holder US Army veteran Gunsmith www.boltandbarrel.com

April 25, 2018, 09:21 PM	#24
Clemson Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2001 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 875	p.s. It won't likely come for $100 either. The extractor star has to be fabricated, the cylinder stop holes have to be milled, the chambers are reamed -- not just drilled......... Maybe $1000 would do it?? __________________ NRA Endowment Member, NRA Certified Instructor CWP Holder US Army veteran Gunsmith www.boltandbarrel.com

April 25, 2018, 09:58 PM	#25
Joshua 2415 Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Posts: 82	Yes, I've been exchanging a few emails with Hamilton Bowen. He seems to specialize in Single-Action revolvers, while I am wanting DA. He hasn't yet conclusively said he can't help me, and we are still exchanging thoughts about this, but I'm not optimistic that this avenue will be fruitful. As per posts #20-22, it would be good to find somebody who would do 22 LR to 22 Mag conversion on a S&W Model 63. That might scratch my 22 Mag itch. Will also continue to hope for a way to get an 8-round 327 Mag. I discovered Janz Custom Revolvers (Germany) and have confirmed that they will build exactly what I am looking for, but it would cost ~10,000. I'm considering it, if only I can figure out how to sell everything in my wife's jewelry box, and her car, without her noticing.