Question for the "DAY" 40. cal???

[Slamfire]

if the military& law are using 40. cal ,,,,,  can we get barrels & cyls.,,for our 72's ,to chang out like "Flint" and some of the others have for their OT'S Is it even pratcial, would like opinions ,,.  ( I'm asking about the same ammo they  are using ).





  Hootnix.

[Seth Hawkins]

What cartridge would you shoot?

[Abilene]

Over the years I've seen a number of folks wish for an OT in 44-40, and recently Springfield Slim posted how he reamed a 44 Spcl cylinder to 44-40.  It made an oversize chamber but useable.  And of course he can use the same barrel as the 44 Spcl.

Now, as for .40 caliber, the only thing I can think of than one might want would be the 38-40 (which is actually .401 caliber).  And that would not be easy.  You would need to probably re-bore a 38 cylinder if it could be done without cutting through the bolt notches, and then sleeve a barrel.  Not a cheap thing.  Don't know why anyone would attempt it unless they just loved the 38-40.

[Slamfire]

 " Sorry", Seth, same cartridge as law enforcement& military. But now that i'v posted  ( not thinking) ,I believe the s&w's are straight cases. I just thought the gov., might have a overstock sale ,,,,,,,,someday !!!!!!!!.

[Blair]

Slamfire,

Yes, the .40 and/or 10 mm are both auto loaders. No out sized rim on the casings.
They would have to be head spaced off the front edge or mouth of the case within the chambers.
Bore dia. would also be an issue from Cowboy standards.
Could it be done? I suppose so, if you are willing to pay for it.
Would it be practical... that would depend on you.
My best,
Blair

[Slamfire]

 Didn't "RUGER" MAKE A 357, w/ a 9mm convertible cylinder,??

[Blair]

Slamfire,

Yes they do. (or did) In the same manner as I had suggested, along with a .45 auto conversion as well.
But, conversion from percussion to cartridge or an OT dose not a "Ruger Make"!
Did I miss understand your quest???
Blair

[Slamfire]

 Hey Blair ,thanks for hanging in here with me,,i'm just thinking ,,,since we can chang both the barrels & cyl., on our 72-OT ,to diff., cals.,I guess I am wondering if it would even  be feasible to have a barrel& cyl., in s&w 40. cal.  MY 72 is a new model army Taylor ( some of ya'll remember my post and helping me with it) in 44/40 . I don't shoot BP.




Hootnix

[Slamfire]

  I  LIED!!!!! MY 72 IS A 38 SPL. MY 75'S ARE 44/40 " SORRY PEOPLE KEEP BUGING ME,FUZZZZZ'N MY WEAK MIND".





Hootnix

[Pettifogger]

A full pressure .40 S&W cartridge would probably disassemble on Open Top.  Safety coupled with complete lack of demand probably means you will never see such a set up.

[Slamfire]

 yes ,sir thanks to all , but idle minds ,,,,you know .






Hootnix

[Shotgun Franklin]

Awhile back I read about the idea of making a a rimmed .40 for revolvers. I think S&W threw the idea out but no one bit.

[Seth Hawkins]

My thoughts were that if you were going to use an actual .40 that you would use moon clips to hold the cartridges.  This would be much simpler than boring the chambers to index on the case mouths as they do with autos.  But, as mentioned, I'm not sure these guns could handle a .40-cal factory load.  And you mentioned that you don't shoot BP.  So...

It's an interesting concept, but there's probably a good reason why no one's made one.

Now, that .38-40 idea has promise.  I just finished a '72 project that took 3 years.  It might be time to add a calibre conversion to it.  Actually, I'd do a 44WCF conversion first.

[Slamfire]

Seth!! might we see your 72 project? I totally love 44/40's , they seem to push back more than buck-up,.

[Shotgun Franklin]

The SAA in .38-40 is the closest you'll get without eventually tearing the gun up.

[Blair]

Cylinder length will be the determining factor on percussion conversions to cartridge.
The next factor will be in the wall thickness between chambers and the cylinder pin wall thickness even within the OT variations.
Ever wonder why no original OT's were ever made in .45 Colt?
Blair

[Seth Hawkins]

Cylinder length will be the determining factor on percussion conversions to cartridge.
The next factor will be in the wall thickness between chambers and the cylinder pin wall thickness even within the OT variations.
Ever wonder why no original OT's were ever made in .45 Colt?
Blair

All true.  However, there were a few '72's chambered for the 44WCF cartridge.  If you check the dimensions on that cartridge I think you'll find that the body of the cartridge comes close to those of the 45 Colt.  Not the same.  But pretty close.  (I like to think of the 44WCF as a 45 Colt that's been necked down to shoot a 44-cal bullet.)

We have to remember that the '72 was designed from the beginning to be a cartridge gun.  It wasn't a conversion, and to my knowledge didn't use any leftover parts from the percussion era.  The cylinders are larger than the percussion/conversion cylinders.

If the OP really wanted to give this a try, and be "authentic" with his choice of OT gun to use, the '72 would be the best choice.  Not that I would condone such a project from a safety or "authenticity" standpoint.  But I do understand that we all march to the beat of a different drummer.  But there are also times when we have to ask "Why?".  Or tell someone "No. You can't do that.".
Or tell them "You'll shoot your eye out."

[Seth Hawkins]

Seth!! might we see your 72 project? I totally love 44/40's , they seem to push back more than buck-up,.

Yeah.  I need to get some good pics of them.  They turned out great.  They are chambered for the .44 Colt heeled cartridge, just like the originals.  I only shoot 3Fg BP in them.  And they are very accurate!  Paul Persinger fitted checkered ivory grips to them and refinished the wood grips.  As soon as I get some decent pics of them I'll post them.

[Blair]

Seth,

The '72 OT do have a cylinder length that will accommodate a 44-40 cartridge.
The bore dia. difference from .427 (44-40 bore dia.) to .451 (4) of the 44 Colt heel base bullet, is the one factor I would tend to question.
Have you found any bore variations like this in the '72 Colt OT's?
Blair

[Slamfire]

 " Sorry  gang, " been gone ,. This what i'v read ,,,, .40 cal S&W " QUOTE" ASINGLE ACTION REVOLVER IN 38/40 ,,CAN BE MODIFIED TO FIRE THE .40 OR THE 10MM.,,,,IF IT HAS AN EXTRA CYL."  Found this on .40 S&W History??
   Do this mean it mighth be done just not on our 72's ,,because of safety concerns,,but more on ,,,say   75's or a ruger???                                                                         
                                                                           
  Bullet dia.-----.4
  Neck  "---------.423
  shoulder dia. --.423
  base dia.--------.424
  rim. dia.--------.424
  case length-----.850