K22 CYLINDERS FOR RECHAMBERING

[45MAN]

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A K22 CYLINDER THAT CAN BE RECHAMBERED TO 32 MAG?

[bushog]

It has to NOT have serial numbers on it and it has to have the thick ejector star….

[45MAN]

Jan 31, 2023 15:32:56 GMT -5 bushog said:

It has to NOT have serial numbers on it and it has to have the thick ejector star….

BUSHOG: I KNEW YOU WOULD KNOW. I HAVE A COMPLETE K22 CRANE & CYLINDER ASSEMBLY ON THE WAY, PLUS "I THINK" I HAVE A K22 CYLINDER IN MY PARTS INVENTORY. JUST MAY MAKE ME A 32 MAG USING THE BARREL I GOT FROM YOU, PLUS IF I HAVE A SPARE K22 CYLINDER I MAY FIT IT TO MY 6" MODEL 48. 

[bradshaw]

Jan 30, 2023 20:24:20 GMT -5 45MAN said:

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A K22 CYLINDER THAT CAN BE RECHAMBERED TO 32 MAG?

*****

Might want to check with Jack Huntington. Jack is a certified S&W mechanic; it’s possible he has knowledge of heat treatments in K-frame revolvers. The .22 Long Rifle has been chambered in a profusion of rifles, revolvers, and auto pistols. To rechamber a barrel or cylinder to a hotter cartridge, it helps to get on the information trail. All sorts of steel, heat treatments, and absence of heat treatment has been used in the production of rimfires. As an example, Ruger used to use the same steel & heat treatment on Single-Six frames as iused on Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk magnums. Somewhere along the line, according to Bill Ruger, Jr., heat treatment for the Single-Six frame was changed. Whatever the change was, the rimfire Ruger continued as an exemplar of strength.

It is my impression a great many .22 LR frames have been manufactured without heat treatment. When in doubt, a Rockwell on the rear cylinder face may help.
David Bradshaw

[bushog]

The cylinders without serial #s are heat treated per Bowen and Huntington. I’ve had them both build small bore K-frames using rebored barrels and M17 and M48 cylinders.

You have to have the earlier thick extractor to be able to cut out for the cartridge rim.

[needsmostuff]

If I might jump in here with another mildly distracting questions. K frames?
I know they get very successfully used as 32/327 but?
I have wondered why, back in the day, there were warnings about hot-rodding a K frame 32-20 as the frame would stretch etc.
Yet 32/327 seems OK.
I know all 32-20s are pre-war but I believe they were heat treated very early on.
Just wondering.

[45MAN]

I JUST CHECKED 2 PRE-WAR K FRAME 32-20's (A 3rd AND A 4th CHANGE) AND BOTH HAD THEIR SERIAL NUMBER ON THE REAR FACE OF THE CYLINDER. I MUCH PREFER MY PRE-WAR COLT OFFICIAL POLICE 32-20's TO THEIR CONTEMPORARY SMITHS.

[45MAN]

I FORGOT THAT I HAD A COMPLETE K22 CRANE/CYLINDER ASSEMBLY SO I ORDERED ANOTHER ONE. LOOKS THEY BOTH WOULD QUALIFY FOR RECHAMBER TO 32 MAG OR ALSO HAVE A K22 CYLINDER FOR MY DUAL FIRE PIN MODEL 17 22 K-CHUCK BUT I WANT TO KEEP IT FOR THAT UNIQUE REVOLVER.

NOW I ASK MYSELF: WHAT SHUD I DO WITH THESE LITTLE TREASURES?

[wiresguy]

There might be some tidbits of information on Green Frog's 616 project:

smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/260686-project-616-a-print.html

And these items for sale:

smith-wessonforum.com/accessories-misc-sale-trade/695003-ashland-4-barrel-22lr-22-wmr-cylinders.html

Note that I have no connection with the sale of these items, just offering the link for anyone who might be interested.

I do have a 1989 era K22 that was converted to 32 H&R Magnum and it is a good shooter, along with my old K32 that got a replacement cylinder for 32 Magnum. Fun guns!