Fitting a cylinder from one revo to another.

[maxcactus]

 My turn for a smithing question: ;D
 

I bought my girls an anniversary model Single Six a few years ago that came with both the .22 LR and .22 WMR cylinders. I really don't see any reason to use the WMR cylinder in a sixgun with a 4 3/4" barrel and fixed sights. It dawned on me at some point that I have a Single Six Bisley in the toy box as well with a 6 1/2" bbl and adj. sights. MUCH more practical with the .22 WMR cylinder I thinks. 

So what's the problem? Well, the .22 WMR cylinder is too long for the Bisley SS frame - by how much, I'm not certain, but several thousandths. I think "Hey, that's an easy job for a smith or machinist just to mill a couple thou from the front of the cylinder boss/bushing and unscrew the barrel a turn or two!" But how do I know if, once that's done, the notches and chambers will align correctly with my barrel? Once the cylinder is cut, it won't function at all in the original SS and if the chambers don't align in the Bisley, my WMR cylinder is now a paperweight.

Is there a way to determine with a high degree of confidence that my WMR cylinder can be fit to my Bisley before cutting the bushing?

Thanks for your input.

[robl]

I have swapped 45 ACP , .22 mag & .22LR cylinders amongst my various Rugers with very little fitting sometimes a little care dead flat draw file work and they fit. and yeah they don't go back, but in my limited experience my ACP cylinder has been fit to 5 different blackhawks a old vaquero and a Bisely at various times gifted it to an employee this year...cheaper for him to shoot 45 ACPs...Never even considered the chambers not lining up and it's never been an issue.

[Aggie01]

Aug 9, 2012 15:14:01 GMT -5 maxcactus said:

 Is there a way to determine with a high degree of confidence that my WMR cylinder can be fit to my Bisley before cutting the bushing?

It's made by Ruger.

I have had cylinders/ guns that span 60 years of Ruger manufacturing, and havent found any yet that had timing issues going from one gun to another.

B/C Gap- headspace-cylinder length, yes not all interchange, but no timing issues.

[dlhredfoxx]

Same here, I've swap 45 colt cylinders around btwn three different NM Blackhawks and Vaqueros, they all work, they all fit. Some are more accurate in certain guns than in others, but they all work and lock up w/no timing issues.